Fresh Homemade Guacamole – 10 Minutes!

You’re going to love this easy guacamole recipe! Made from scratch with fresh and flavorful ingredients including perfectly ripe avocado, cilantro, red onion, jalapeño, and fresh lime juice. It is zesty, SO delish, and ready in less than 10 minutes.

The best homemade guacamole

Easy homemade guacamole belongs at the center of every Mexican meal!

The best part about this guacamole is how it’s made with simple ingredients that come together to create something that is absolutely delicious.

Last summer I shared a recipe for our favorite jalapeño peach guacamole, and this version is equally tasty!

We’ve been making this guacamole for as long as I can remember, and it always disappears shortly after it hits the table. A dip that’s perfect for snacking, tacos, and everything in between – fajitas, nachos, enchiladas, etc!

All you need is one bowl and a handful of fresh ingredients for guacamole that is SO much better than a store bought version. I walk you through some simple tips and tricks for making the best guacamole below (including how to keep it from turning brown!) so you can whip up a perfect batch in your kitchen.

For more Mexican inspired dip ideas be sure to check out our recipes for Dairy Free Cashew Queso, Dairy Free Queso Fundido with Ground Beef, or this Avocado Herb Green Sauce!

Why you’ll love this easy guacamole recipe

This simple guac is:

• Fresh
• Flavorful
• A little bit spicy (or not if you leave out the jalapeño!)
• Bright & citrusy
• Versatile
• Quick & easy
• Creamy
• SO Irresistible!

Ingredients

One nice thing about making guacamole at home is that you can customize it to your preference. Don’t like spicy guacamole? Leave out the jalapeño. Not into cilantro? Make it without! Like your guacamole extra citrusy? Juice an extra lime.

You get the idea – all options are yours!

These are the ingredients I fall back on, but you can make substitutions and swaps as you like.

• Ripe avocado – Perfectly ripe avocados are the key to super creamy guacamole. I share my tips for picking the best avocados in a section below.
• Jalapeño – Finely diced jalapeño adds just a hint of spice to this guacamole. You could also use serrano for more heat, or leave out the chili peppers all together if you’re not into spicy guac.
• Red onion – I use finely diced red onion but you could also use white or yellow onion instead. Even thinly sliced green onion works in a pinch!
• Cilantro – Cilantro adds such a nice authentic flavor to this guac, but it can be left out if you prefer your guacamole without cilantro. (I see you supertasters!)
• Lime juice – Always, always fresh lime juice! It tastes much better than any jarred or bottled option.
• Salt and pepper – A bit of each brings all the flavors together!

How to make the best homemade guacamole

Making guacamole from scratch couldn’t be easier!

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients it comes together in less than 10 minutes. I even have some tips below for making it ahead of time, and how to keep it from turning brown!

Here’s the step-by-step

• Cut avocados in half and scoop out the flesh into a large bowl.
• Add diced jalapeño, finely diced red onion, chopped cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper to the bowl with the avocado.
• Using a fork mash guacamole to desired consistency – it can be as smooth or as chunky as you like.
• Taste guacamole and add more salt and/or lime juice as desired and serve!

How to keep guacamole from turning brown when you make it in advance

There’s a few simple tips you can use to keep your guacamole fresh and green when you plan to make it ahead of time.

• To keep the guacamole from turning brown, “seal” the guacamole with a layer of plastic wrap. Make sure to chase out as many air bubbles as you can from the surface of the guac (where it meets the plastic wrap) to prevent little brown spots from forming!
• Alternatively, you can make the surface of the guacamole as flat as possible and cover it with a thin layer of cold water (about 1/2 an inch) and a lid. Before serving just pour the water off and stir it together again!

How to pick perfectly ripe avocados

Since avocado is the backbone of guacamole it’s a good idea to try and find the best avocados you can get your hands on.

I tend to buy avocados that are slightly underripe and then let them ripen on the counter or in the refrigerator – depending on how soon I plan to use them.

If you’re searching for a perfectly ripe avocado to use right away here’s some tips for finding the best ones:

• Look for avocados that appear smooth and firm on the exterior. If there’s big dips or depressions in the skin it’s probably over ripe.
• Gently press the flesh of the avocado to test its firmness. You want it to feel fairly firm with a small amount of give. If it feels totally solid, mushy, or the skin feels brittle I would pass and keep looking.
• Check to see if the avocado still has the stubby little stem intact. If it does, pop it off and peek at the color inside. If it looks green and is free of brown / black spots then it’s probably a good one!

How long is guacamole good for?

If you use the tips I shared in the last section to store your guac, it will likely last for 2-3 days in the fridge. But the best texture and flavor will be during the first 24 – 36 hours.

Can you make guacamole with just one avocado?

Yep! To make this guacamole recipe with just 1 avocado all you have to do is half the recipe.

Here’s a list of the approximate measurements to make this guac with one avocado:

• 1 avocado
• 1-2 teaspoons diced jalapeño
• 2 tablespoons finely diced red onion
• 2 tablespoons roughly chopped cilantro
• juice of half a lime + more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon salt + more to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

If you enjoyed this recipe, we’d love it if you would take 5 seconds to rate and review it below! It’s also super helpful for other readers if you share any modifications you made to the recipe. 

Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK. We’re so grateful you’re here!

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