Learn how to make Homemade Guacamole with this quick and easy guacamole recipe. It’s made with just 5 ingredients and comes together in a pinch!

A platter of scoops of guacamole with pico de gallo and tortilla chips.

This easy guacamole recipe is healthy, delicious and super quick to make!A platter of scoops of guacamole with pico de gallo and tortilla chips.

What Is Guacamole?

American style guacamole is a thick and chunky dip made with avocados, while authentic Mexican style guacamole is much thinner from blending the ingredients together for a smooth and creamy sauce.

Easy Guacamole Recipe 

  • Avocados: The best avocados to use for guacamole are Haas Avocados (3 large ripe ones)
  • Onion: We like to use a mix of red and green onions.
  • Garlic: We love to add a little garlic flavor to the mix.
  • Lemon Juice: We like to use lemon juice for our guac, but lime juice works just as well.
  • Cilantro: Cilantro adds a nice flavor to guacamole. 
  • Seasoning: Add just a pinch of salt to the mix.

Variations

This Homemade Guacamole recipe is a versatile one.  Here’s a few ways you can switch things up.

  • Add chopped tomato
  • Toss in minced jalapeno
  • Add cumin, coriander, chili powder, ancho chili powder
  • Grilled corn kernels add a nice sweetness
  • Use lime juice instead of lemon

How to Make Guacamole 

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a good guacamole, this easy guacamole recipe is foolproof!

  1. Prep Garlic and Onions: Finely chop onion and mince the garlic and add to a bowl. 
  2. Prep Avocados: Cut the avocados in half and remove the peel and seed. Using a spoon, scoop the meat out and place in a mixing bowl. Cut the avocados into chunks and mash avocado to desired consistency.
  3. Squeeze Lemon Juice:  Squeeze fresh lemon juice and pour it all over the avocado.
  4. Add Cilantro: Chop the cilantro and add it to the bowl.
  5. Mix Ingredients: Using a fork, fold and gently mash ingredients together.
  6. Seasoning: Season with salt to taste.

How to Keep Guacamole from Turning Brown

By drenching the avocado with lemon juice (or lime juice) immediately after its been chopped will slow down the process of oxidation and the avocado turning  brown.

Is Guacamole Healthy?

Guacamole is healthy because guacamole is made with mashed avocado, and avocados contain more soluble fiber and protein than any other fruit. Only 1/2 of an avocado contains more potassium than a banana. Avocados are loaded with heart-healthy oleic acid, a fatty acid that is a major component of olive oil and associated with reduced inflammation.  Avocados are a rich source of fiber, potassium, folate, vitamins B5 and B6 and antioxidants. 

Serving Suggestions

Guacamole dip doesn’t always have to go in a bowl!  Here’s a fun way to serve this Homemade Guacamole.  Use different size ice cream scoops and arrange the scoops of guac on a platter.  Sprinkle pico de gallo in the crevices and layer in the chips all around it.  You can also toss in a veggie or two (celery, carrots, jicama fries, radishes) to make things healthier.  Of course you’ll want to serve your guacamole with freshly made homemade tortilla chips

A platter filled with tortilla chops, pico de gallo and dip.

How Do You Know When An Avocado Is Ripe?

You can tell if an avocado is ripe by gently applying a little pressure to it with your finger tips. If the avocado yields slightly to gentle pressure, it is already ripe enough to eat. If pressing on the fruit leaves a small indent, the the fruit is too ripe, but might be good for mashing to make guacamole or to add to smoothies. Another way to check for ripeness is to flick off the stem of the avocado where you will see a little dimple. If the color of the dimple is brown, that means the avocado is overripe and may have bruising underneath the skin, but if the color of the dimple is a light yellowish-green, then the fruit should be a good choice. If the stem doesn’t come off easily, then the fruit isn’t ripe yet.

How Do You Ripen Avocados?

If you have avocados that need to be ripened, you can easily speed up the process by placing them in a paper bag with an apple or banana.  Fold the opening of the bag and leave it on your kitchen counter for a day or two.

How Do You Cut Avocados?

To pit an avocado, cut it lengthwise or crosswise all the way around the fruit and twist the two halves apart. You can either use a spoon to pry out the large seed or carefully strike the seed using the blade of a knife. The knife should be partially embedded in the seed so you can easily twist and remove the seed from the fruit. If the skin won’t peel easily, slice the avocado halves into three strips which should make it easier to remove the skin.

Scoops of guacamole on a platter with pico de gallo and tortilla chips

Looking for More Healthy Snack Recipes

A platter of scoops of guacamole with pico de gallo and tortilla chips.
Yield: 6 servings

Homemade Quacamole

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Learn how to make Homemade Guacamole with this quick and easy guacamole recipe. It's made with just 5 ingredients and comes together in a pinch!

Ingredients

  • 3 Haas avocados (medium to large in size)
  • Juice of 1 lemon (or lime)
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Finely chop onion and mince the garlic and toss in a bowl. 
  1. Cut the avocados in half and remove the peel and seed. Using a spoon, scoop the meat out and place in a mixing bowl. Cut the avocados into chunks and mash avocado to desired consistency.
  2. Squeeze fresh lemon juice and pour it all over the avocado.
  3. Chop the cilantro and add it to the bowl.
  4. Using a fork, fold and gently mash ingredients together.
  5. Season with salt to taste. 

Notes

How to Keep Guacamole from Turning Brown

By drenching the avocado with lemon juice (or lime juice) immediately after its been chopped will slow down the process of oxidation and the avocado turning  brown.

How Do You Know When An Avocado Is Ripe?

You can tell if an avocado is ripe by gently applying a little pressure to it with your finger tips. If the avocado yields slightly to gentle pressure, it is already ripe enough to eat. If pressing on the fruit leaves a small indent, the the fruit is too ripe, but might be good for mashing to make guacamole or to add to smoothies. Another way to check for ripeness is to flick off the stem of the avocado where you will see a little dimple. If the color of the dimple is brown, that means the avocado is overripe and may have bruising underneath the skin, but if the color of the dimple is a light yellowish-green, then the fruit should be a good choice. If the stem doesn’t come off easily, then the fruit isn’t ripe yet.

How Do You Ripen Avocados?

If you have avocados that need to be ripened, you can easily speed up the process by placing them in a paper bag with an apple or banana.  Fold the opening of the bag and leave it on your kitchen counter for a day or two.

How Do You Cut Avocados?

To pit an avocado, cut it lengthwise or crosswise all the way around the fruit and twist the two halves apart. You can either use a spoon to pry out the large seed or carefully strike the seed using the blade of a knife. The knife should be partially embedded in the seed so you can easily twist and remove the seed from the fruit. If the skin won’t peel easily, slice the avocado halves into three strips which should make it easier to remove the skin.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 170Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 106mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 7gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.