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    Home / Recipes / Condiments, Sauces & Marinades

    Easy Homemade Guacamole Step-By-Step

    Jump to Recipe
    Homemade guacamole in a rainbow-striped bowl, with half an avocado in the background.

    Homemade guacamole is easy to make from fresh ingredients! It enhances the taste of tacos, nachos, tostados, and more! It also makes a great low-carb, gluten-free, vegan dip for parties or game night.

    easy homemade guacamole without seasoning mix

    Jump to:
    • ⏲️ Time needed
    • ❓ Homemade Guacamole FAQ
    • 💭 Tips
    • 🥑 How to cut an avocado
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 📌 Pin this recipe

    ⏲️ Time needed

    This recipe only takes 10-15 minutes to prepare and mix.

    ❓ Homemade Guacamole FAQ

    Can I make guacamole without mix?

    Yes! There is no need to use any kind of mix to make homemade guacamole.

    What do you put in homemade guacamole?

    avocados
    chopped onion
    chopped tomato
    seeded and diced jalapeno pepper
    salt
    lime (juice plus zest)
    chopped fresh cilantroHomemade guacamole ingredients: avocado, onion, tomato, salt, jalapeno, lime, cilantro

    How do you make homemade guacamole?

    Homemade guacamole is super simple to make using fresh ingredients (no mixes required)! Follow our tips below for choosing ripe avocados, then use the step-by-step instructions in the recipe card with images to prepare the guacamole.

    Is this an authentic guacamole recipe?

    Like all authentic guac recipes, this one uses all fresh ingredients and no mixes or seasoning packets. The type of chili pepper used may vary from recipe to recipe.

    Some recipes call for garlic, but I prefer just onion. It's really just a taste preference.

    How do I choose avocados for guacamole?

    How to choose avocados correctly is important. You won’t be able to mash them if they are unripe, but they go from perfectly ripe to past their prime in about 15 minutes.

    Unripe avocados can be purchased if you plan to use them later in the week. It is an exercise in futility to try to use them before they are ripe, though.

    I usually buy the Hass variety, which turn darker as they ripen (other varieties may not darken with ripeness). The color of this variety, in addition to the feel when you give them a gentle squeeze, will help you determine the level of ripeness.

    For immediate use, avocados should be firm but have some give when you squeeze them gently in the palm of your hand. Do not use fingertips when you squeeze—that can bruise them. If they have a lot of give, they are close to or past their prime. If they have no give, they will need a few days to ripen.

    How do I ripen avocados?

    You can hasten ripening by putting the avocados in a paper bag and rolling down the top. Leave them in the bag at room temperature, checking them each day with a gentle palm squeeze—they do not take long to ripen in the bag.

    Can I prepare it ahead of time?

    I generally prepare it no more than an hour before serving for the best results and freshest appearance. If you really need to prepare it early, I recommend prepping everything except the avocados no more than a day in advance. When ready to serve, peel, pit, and mash the avocados and add to the prepped ingredients.

    How long does homemade guacamole last?

    It perishes quickly, and the quality peaks within a couple of hours of preparation. By the second day, the guacamole starts turning brown and separating.

    How should I store guacamole? How can I keep it from turning brown?

    Store guacamole in an airtight container, and seal the guacamole from exposure to oxygen with water, lime juice, or avocado oil.

    I usually use glass containers with snap-lock lids for storage and follow this procedure to prevent browning:
    - remove air pockets by pushing on the guacamole all across the surface and sides
    - smooth the surface of the guacamole so it is flat with no peaks
    - cover the surface of the guacamole completely with water, lime juice, or avocado oil (I use avocado oil)

    To use the guacamole, pour off the liquid or oil (I reserve this in case I will not use all of the guacamole and need to refrigerate leftovers), use as desired, then repeat the procedure from above with the reserved liquid or oil for any leftovers.

    Vacuum sealing also helps retain freshness (these FoodSaver canning jar sealer attachments are great for vacuuming the air out of canning jars; affiliate link).

    Can you freeze homemade guacamole?

    Although guacamole won't go bad in the freezer, the texture and flavor degrade when it is frozen. Guacamole is best eaten fresh shortly after it is made.

    How many carbs are in guacamole? Is it keto-friendly?

    This step-by-step homemade guacamole recipe has 2 net carbs per serving (this recipe makes 12 servings using 4 medium-sized avocados).

    How can I eat guacamole without chips?

    Guacamole is delicious with low-carb tortillas or on toasted low-carb bread, and it makes a great topping for low-carb Tex-Mex bowls and chili.

    What should I serve with guacamole?

    Tortilla chips and corn chips are my favorite guac holders! If you or your guests follow a low carb diet, baked wedges of low carb tortillas work well in place of chips.

    Guacamole is a great topping for tacos, tostadas, fajitas, and tortas.

    💭 Tips

    Always wear gloves when working with jalapenos, and wash your hands carefully before touching your face. If you don't have plastic gloves, this is a great way to reuse clean grocery store produce bags.

    🥑 How to cut an avocado

    Cut each avocado in half lengthwise, then cut in half lengthwise again. With each cut, take the knife all the way to the pit and, with the avocado on the cutting board and the knife horizontal and parallel to the cutting board, rotate the avocado carefully while holding the knife in place. If the avocado is ripe, it should be fairly easy to cut through.

    how to cut an avocado (horizonatally)

    Take the quarters apart and remove the pit by gently twisting with your fingers.

    peeling avocado quarters

    Peel each section of avocado.

    Several quartered and pitted avocados on a cutting board

    📖 Recipe

    easy homemade guacamole in a bowl

    Easy Homemade Guacamole Step By Step

    Homemade guacamole is easy to make from fresh ingredients and enhances the taste of tacos, nachos, tostados, and more! It also makes a great gluten-free and vegan dip for parties or game night. Follow our easy step by step instructions with images to make it.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 114

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 ripe avocados
    • 1 small onion, chopped
    • 1 medium tomato, chopped
    • 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
    • ½ teaspoon lime zest
    • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Cut each avocado in half lengthwise, then cut in half lengthwise again. With each cut, take the knife all the way to the pit and, with the avocado on the cutting board and the knife horizontal and parallel to the cutting board, rotate the avocado carefully while holding the knife in place. If the avocado is ripe, it should be fairly easy to cut through.
    • Take the quarters apart and remove the pit by gently twisting with your fingers.
    • Peel each section of avocado.
    • Cube each avocado quarter, place in a medium bowl, and mash gently, leaving some chunks.
    • Add remaining guacamole ingredients and mix thoroughly.
    • Adjust seasonings to taste and serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to use.

    Notes

    Always wear gloves when working jalepenos, and wash your hands carefully before touching your face. If you don't have plastic gloves, this is a great way to reuse grocery store produce bags.
    Choosing avocados: For immediate use, avocados should be firm but have some give when you squeeze them gently in the palm of your hand. I usually buy the Hass variety, which turns darker as they ripen (other varieties may not darken with ripeness). The color of this variety in addition to the feel when you give them a gentle squeeze will help you determine the level of ripeness. If you end up with unripe fruit that you need to use, you can hasten ripening by putting them in a paper bag and rolling down the top. Leave them in the bag at room temperature until they ripen, checking them each day with a gentle squeeze.

    Nutrition per serving

    Calories: 114 calCarbohydrates: 7 gProtein: 2 gFat: 10 gSodium: 200 mgFiber: 5 gSugar: 1 g
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    📌 Pin this recipe

    Homemade guacamole in a rainbow-striped bowl, with half an avocado in the background.
    Homemade guacamole in a rainbow-striped bowl, with half an avocado in the background.
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    More Condiments, Sauces & Marinades

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    Posted by Mary Ann on December 22, 2020; Updated on January 17, 2022Filed Under: Appetizers, Condiments, Sauces & Marinades, Quick & Easy Recipes, Spreads

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Leigh

      May 14, 2021 at 8:58 am

      5 stars
      Delicious recipe with things that I typically have on hand!

      Served it with chips and then made guacamole toast topped with a poached egg for breakfast the next morning. The only reason we had leftovers is because a squirreled some away knowing there wouldn't be any left if I put it all out ;)

      Reply
      • Mary Ann

        May 14, 2021 at 9:17 am

        I'm so glad you liked it, Leigh!

        Reply

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