Name: Easy Guacamole Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 avocados (cut into halves, pitted & peeled or flesh scooped out); Juice of 1/2 lime; 1-2 tablespoons cilantro (finely chopped); Salt & pepper (to taste); 1-2 tablespoons onion (chopped); 1 small jalapeño or serrano pepper (chopped, seeds removed); 1 small tomato (chopped)

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This easy guacamole recipe uses simple, fresh ingredients and is bursting with incredible flavor. It's just like you'd get at your favorite Mexican restaurant!

If you need another crowd-pleasing recipe, try this Jalapeño Poppers recipe next.

homemade guacamole in a molcajete being scooped by a tortilla chip

Why you'll love it

Because it's the best. Ok, everyone claims their guacamole recipe is the best, but mine for real is. The secret? It's perfectly simple. That's it. I find that many versions out there have unnecessary additions. You're not going to find any of that here! There's nothing to take away from that creamy, fresh, bright, and utterly addictive deliciousness.

My favorite part about going to Mexican restaurants is when they make the guacamole right at your table. When I make it at home, I try to replicate the technique. It's actually really easy and tastes a million times better than the store-bought variety.

Ingredients you'll need

Avocados - when you find the perfect avocado, you don't need much else to enjoy it! I go for Haas avocados.
Lime juice - always use fresh lime juice
Cilantro - it's a classic herb in Mexican dishes. If you have an aversion, leave it out or use Italian parsley instead
Salt & pepper - salting your guac enough is very important to bring out the flavors
Onion - red onion is my go-to variety if I'm eating it raw
Jalapeño - for that classic kick. You could also sub with a serrano chili, which are similar in taste but slightly spicier. Simply omit if you don't like it.
Tomato - honestly, use whatever variety looks freshest at the grocery store, or from your garden would be amazing

ingredients for guacamole on a marble surface

How to tell if an avocado is ripe

A trick to finding perfectly ripe avocados is to flick off that little nub that's on top. If you see green underneath, the avocado should be good. If you see brown, don't get it!
An avocado should have the slightest bit of give when you gently squeeze it. It'll be very dark green in color as well. You don't want one that's completely black and has no firmness at all to it.

How to make guacamole

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Prep your ingredients, including removing the stem and seeds from the jalapeño pepper. In a molcajete add the cilantro, onion, jalapeño pepper, and salt & pepper and grind into a paste. Add in the avocado and lime juice. You can also make it in a bowl!

adding tomatoes to guacamole in a molcajete

Using the pestle (or a fork if making in a bowl), mash it gently to your desired consistency. We like keeping it a bit chunky. Stir in the tomatoes, give it a taste and adjust as necessary, and enjoy immediately.

What is a molcajete?

It's basically the traditional Mexican version of a mortar and pestle. Molcajetes are typically made of volcanic rock or granite and come in a variety of sizes.
I use this molcajete. If you have one, it needs to be cured/seasoned before you use it, and this molcajete guide from my friends at Chili Pepper Madness explains how to maintain it. Don't worry, it's not a lot of work at all!
I love to make guacamole in my molcajete, but you can certainly just use a bowl. I included instructions for both methods in the recipe card below.

Substitutions and variations

Our kitchen feels this recipe is perfectly balanced as written, but it is very flexible! You can definitely adjust quantities to your liking and leave something out if you're not a fan.
In terms of texture, it's entirely up to you how finely you chop the ingredients and how much you mash the avocado. Everyone's tastes vary, and there's no right or wrong.
Want to make it taste more like the guacamole at Chipotle? They use an equal mixture of fresh lemon juice and lime juice for theirs, so you could definitely try that.
Sprinkle some cotija cheese on top as a finishing touch if you like.

What to serve with guacamole

I love to put it on tacos, wraps, and burritos. It pairs great with my Super Easy Ground Beef Tacos.
Serve it on a party platter along with tortilla chips and other dips like this Sun-dried Tomato and Basil White Bean Dip and my Super Easy Cream Cheese Corn Dip.
This guacamole is perfect served with my friend Isabel's frozen margaritas. I use her recipe whenever we host Mexican Night at my house!

Leftovers and storage

I recommend eating guacamole right away. It doesn't keep too well. But if you do need to store it, give this tip to stop guacamole from turning brown a try. Basically, you're putting plastic wrap directly on its surface to keep it completely airtight so that you can refrigerate it for a day or two.
If it's been sitting out for a long time, I'd just dispose of it.

More delicious Mexican-inspired recipes

easy guacamole in a molcajete surrounded by tortilla chips

Did you enjoy this homemade guacamole? Questions? Let me know in the comments below!