Homemade Guacamole Recipe

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Guacamole is one of my favorite healthy snacks. It’s easy to make, gluten-free, vegan, and like all my favorite recipes, it can be personalized and adjusted to your taste.

This guacamole recipe with lime is a classic, no-frills recipe. You can get creative by adding different herbs and spices, but this is an excellent base for any guacamole recipe. It’s fresh, tangy, and creamy. Perfect for serving alongside tacos for the family or bringing to a potluck with friends. 

Guacamole with Tortilla chips

Keep reading for some more creative ideas to use this fresh, homemade guacamole. 

Ingredients

Ingredients for Guacamole: cilantro, green onion, garlic avocado, jalapeño, lime and salt on table
  • 2-3 ripe avocados
  • 1 jalapeño
  • 1-2 garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro 
  • 2 green onions (or ¼ cup minced red onion)
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 small Roma tomato (optional)

How to Tell If an Avocado is Ripe

The biggest issue with making guacamole is making sure your avocados are ripe enough. 

The look and feel of an avocado is your first indicator. A green avocado with a very firm feel and smooth skin is not ripe. A dark, almost black avocado with bumpy skin that has a good amount of give when you squeeze is just right. 

You can also try lifting the cap of the avocado, where the stem would have been. If the cap pops off easily and the color underneath is green or yellow, it is ripe. If the cap won’t come off, it’s not ripe yet.

If your avocado looks dark on the outside but feels extremely squishy under the skin, it is likely too ripe and should be discarded. Similarly, if the skin under the cap is brown, it is also likely overripe and you wouldn’t want to use it.

Instructions

Here are all the steps you need to make a deliciously simple, fresh guacamole.

Step 1 – Prepare the Ingredients

avocados open in half with chopped ingredients on chopping board

Guacamole is really all about preparing and chopping the ingredients. Wash and dry all of the ingredients thoroughly before you begin.

Be sure to rinse the cilantro really well. If there is any sand or debris, it can ruin the guacamole. Chop the cilantro leaves and tender stems. Discarded the tougher stems.

Seed and devein the jalapeño. You can leave some seeds if you like a little heat, but remove them if you prefer mild guacamole. Dice it finely.

Thinly slice the green onion. I like to use all of the whites and most of the greens. You can save some of the green for garnish if you’d like. If using a red onion, mince it finely.

Peel the garlic cloves and the avocados and remove the avocado pit. 

Step 2 – Build the Guacamole

guacamole ingredients in a bowl ready to mash

In a medium bowl, use a fork to mash the avocados into a chunky paste.

Stir in the jalapeño, cilantro, onion, and tomato if using. Grate in the garlic cloves and squeeze in the juice from a lime. Stir just until combined.

Step 3 –  Season and Serve

guacamole ready to eat

Once combined, salt to your preference. I usually use about ⅓ to ½ of a teaspoon. Serve with tortilla chips or keep reading for some other recipe ideas for homemade guacamole.

Cookware Used

Here are all the tools you’ll need to make this delicious guacamole recipe with lime.

Flexible cutting boards: I love to use these so I can slice, chop, and mince and then use the flexible board to get my ingredients neatly into my mixing bowl.

Sharp knife: This recipe calls for a lot of prep work. A sharp, high-quality knife makes it a breeze. Use something that can easily slice through a variety of produce. I like a sharp chef’s knife for this guacamole, but there are many knives you can use.

Citrus juicer: A key ingredient in this guacamole recipe is lime. A citrus juicer makes quick work out of juicing limes and you don’t end up with lime juice in your eye. 

A microplane/grater: I love to use a microplane to grate my garlic directly into this guacamole. It is finer than mincing it and mixes well throughout the guacamole.

How to Stop Guacamole From Turning Brown

Much like apples, avocados tend to turn brown as soon as they’re exposed to air. 

Using an acid, like lime juice, will slow the oxidization process giving you a little more time with your perfectly green avocados. Be sure to add lime to your guacamole quickly and serve it fresh.

To keep it green longer, spread it evenly into an air-tight container. Cover the guacamole with a thin layer of cold water and then put it in the fridge. This helps stop air from getting to the avocado.

This should help your guacamole stay green for a few days. Just drain the water and stir before serving. 

Can You Make Guacamole Ahead of Time?

You can make guacamole ahead of time, but I wouldn’t recommend any more than 1-2 days ahead. By using lime juice and storing it in an airtight container, as explained above, you can keep it green and fresh for a couple of days. 

But since guacamole is so easy to make, I recommend making it the day of or no more than 24-48 hours ahead of time. 

Ways to Use Homemade Guacamole

If you made a big batch of guacamole and aren’t sure if you can eat it all before it turns brown, don’t fret. There are lots of different recipes using guacamole, such as:

  • Serving it on toast or with eggs for breakfast
  • Using it in place of mayo on a sandwich or juicy hamburger
  • Adding the guacamole to a blender with some additional lime juice, olive oil, and a little greek yogurt for a creamy salad dressing
  • Eating it with veggies in place of hummus
  • Creating a Mexican pizza using guacamole as the pizza sauce
  • Using it as a topper for a truly loaded baked potato

Now It’s Your Turn!

Guacamole in a bowl with Tortilla chips ready to eat

Are you ready to try this 3-step guacamole? Just a few fresh ingredients, some prep time, and a handy fork and you’ll have homemade guacamole in no time!

Don’t forget you can customize this recipe. Like heat? Add more jalapeño. Prefer a tangier guacamole? Add more lime juice. 

Serve it up with lots of tortilla chips or on the side with some homemade fish tacos and your family will thank you!

Print

Homemade Guacamole Recipe

  • Author: Beatriz García
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 46 servings 1x
  • Category: Dip/Snack/Side
  • Cuisine: Mexican
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 23 ripe avocados
  • 1 jalapeño
  • 12 garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 green onions (or 1/4 cup minced red onion)
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 small Roma tomato (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the ingredients 

Chop the cilantro leaves and tender stems. Discarded the tougher stems.

Seed and devein the jalapeño. Dice it finely.

Thinly slice the green onion.

Peel the garlic cloves and the avocados and remove the avocado pit. 

Build the Guacamole

Mash the avocados into a chunky paste.

Stir in the jalapeño, cilantro, onion, and tomato if using. Grate in the garlic cloves and squeeze in the juice from a lime. Stir just until combined.

 Season to taste

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 111 g
  • Calories: 141 kCal
  • Sugar: 1.3 g
  • Sodium: 34 mg
  • Fat: 12.4 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 8.8 g
  • Fiber: 6 g
  • Protein: 1.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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