There’s something happening with guacamole these days.
People are junking it up with this and that (beans, tomatoes, tequila?) and causing it to lose it roots. In my opinion, guacamole should be simple! Five ingredients or less with an emphasis on creamy, ripe avocados and limes. There’s no need for all that fancy funky stuff. Get back in the game, people. This doesn’t need to be difficult.
This recipe is for the guacamole I’ve been making for years and years. It’s the guacamole mom made for my eighteenth birthday party when we all sat around my family’s kitchen table, eating red velvet cake and guessing what we would be doing in five years, the guacamole I made for my college roommate and I during numerous Lifetime movies and the guacamole I continue to make for each and every function I attend.
It’s simple, really. And so, so, so good.
And I’m blogging about this today because I figure every girl needs a good guac recipe. It comes in handy for those hot summer nights when the cute boy from the beach asks you over for dinner and the only thing you can think of is if your favorite sundress is clean.
I’m telling you—you can go FAR in this world with a good guacamole recipe.
It’s okay. You’ll thank me later. I promise.
The Only Guacamole Recipe You’ll Ever Need
serves 6-8
Ingredients:
4 ripe avocados
1/2 red onion, small diced
3 limes
1/2 tsp salt
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
Directions:
Place avocados, onion and jalapeno pepper in a large bowl. Use a fork to mash avocado and mix everything together well. Squeeze in lime juice and sprinkle with salt.
Eat and be happy.
Time:
5 minutes
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{ 109 comments… read them below or add one }
sounds amazing, but i say you gotta have some tomatoes in there too! the contrast in texture is fantastic and goes so well with the red onion. now you have me craving guac!
i agree! i love the addition of tomatoes!
Sometimes simplicity is the best!! I only recently started to like guacamole because normally I find avocados too bland. Love the lime and jalepeno additions!
Can you believe I’ve never tried guacamole before?! But your photos make it look super tasty and I might just need to try this
I grew up eating & making guacamole. This recipe looks perfect
Can you believe I’ve never tried guac before?! But if you’re saying I might snatch up a cute boy by whipping up a batch – I might just have to do so
Oops…sorry for the duplicate. I left the 1st comment, left the site – then came back and it was gone. So I re-posted. Now it appears to be back up their.
My bad ;( Sorry Jenna!
amy*
i agree that i love simple guac! i was thinking that yesterday when i made it. my favorite combo is avocado, onion, a little tomato, lime, garlic and S+P. of course i guess that isn’t that simple. sometimes i just totally fake it and just mash up the avocado, add S+P and pretend that’s guac. why not??
I also prefer the classic form of guac… anything else is just something different (not bad, just different)!
i’m sorry, but this recipe NEEDS cilantro. cilantro is key!
I second that! Great recipe but needs finely chopped cilantro.
I love classic guacamole. But I agree with some previous commenters that it needs some tomatoes
I am going to have to agree with Sofia. Cilantro is key. I also love garlic. With those two additions – perfect!
I actually use a can of Mexican flavored Rotel which comes with enough tomatoes, limes, seasoning, etc. So, avocados, Rotel, red onion and of course FRESH cilantro. Now I have to admit I do fall into that group that can get carried away if I know that I am eating most of it during a football game on Saturday and add chipotle chili powder to it which gives it a smokier flavor than straight jalopenas. Chips and guac, just may become dinner now.
I’m sitting here eating a bowl of oatmeal, reading about guacamole and somehow now craving it at 8:45am!
I love the simplicity of this. I hate the new “throw in everything under the sun” trend that does seem to be happening everywhere. I usually make it pretty much the same, sometimes I add some diced tomato. only sometimes
I can do without the tomatoes but I have got to have cilantro!
Weird – when I go to leave a comment – the information from the previous commenter is still wrote in there – (name, email, etc.) I think that’s why yesterday my name was showing up under other’s comments!! (when I didn’t say it!)
Is it your system or mine?
Other than than – very green
This is what was happening to me too…it’s not just you
Ditto!
Amen! It drives me nuts when I see a recipe for “mock-a-mole” with peas or cashews. Avocado is delicious! It doesn’t need that all that jazz!
I use basically this same recipe although I add a chopped tomato, a sprinkle of cumin and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper.
I’ve been craving guacamole for days but don’t know what I’d eat with it, so I haven’t made it. I think a bowl of guac & chips is a suitable dinner, though, right?
This is the best! My simple guac recipe is a little different from yours (no onions because I hate raw red onions) plus a bit of garlic, but I’m otherwise with you — no fancy stuff. I love guacamole.
I love simple guacamole! I’ll take creamy avocado and salty chips over sweets any day! Yum yum!
My favorite guac recipe right now comes from this awesome tacos and tapas joint down the street, Babalu. They make the guacamole at your table and use sun dried tomatoes. It’s so good, I could cry.
I’m a-drooling over this one, of course!
I. love. guac! Definitely going to have to give this guac recipe a go, very simple, but looks very delicious.
I love how simple guacamole can be! I use a similar simple recipe when I make it, but I’ve never tried lime in mine. Great idea and I definitely need to try it out!
Oh man are you in for a treat! As far as I am concerned it CANNOT be guac without lime!
All the other spices are up for debate but lime is CRUCIAL to the guacs awesomeness!!! 
I always use lemon, sounds like I must try lime next time.
Really three limes? Is that not a lot of lime jice?
Looks & sounds great & healthy….making it! Thanks!
I agree with you almost 100% except I think guacamole also needs garlic
Fresh guac says summer and spring like nothin’ else, no lie. I love how vibrantly green yours is, it’s begging to be dived into!
I like my guac simple too. Avocado, garlic, lime juice, salt, and a spoonful of pico de gallo stirred in. Simple is always better in my book.
Make the salt garlic-salt, finish with fresh cilantro and I’m sold. I leave the tomatos out, too!
Sounds bomb! I agree, less ingredients in guac the better.
Looks wonderful! I’ve gotta have tomatoes, too!
I have a similar recipe for simple guacamole. Mine always has garlic in it too – essential for my garlic loving ways! I’m not 100% against it being tarted up from time to time (I can support the diced tomato people) but I just love it simple.
This way, in the summer, you almost always have all ingredients on hand. Love it!
Ok when I just went to comment, the comment field was pre-populated with Brandi of BranAppetite’s information. And this is my laptop. Ok that was weird!
Anyway though..the guac..looks delish and I agree, KISS method (keep it simple, sweetie). I have what i call “cheater’s” guac which is avos, lime juice, and a few shakes of Mrs Dash (b/c it already has the onions,garlic,peppers, jalepenos) in it. Not for everyone but sure saves me time
My guac recipe is simple. Avocado and lime juice. Maybe salt and pepper. Though when I went to a restaurant this past weekend with tableside guacamole service, we added cilantro, tomatoes, and garlic.
For some reason I’m not into spicy stuff in my guac. I figure I have the salsa for that.
Perfect! I do avocados, salt, crushed red pepper, a bit of black pepper
Use a sharp knife or two to combine and smoosh. Yum! The flavors speak for themselves!!
YES! This is the best way to make it–the trick is fresh produce and ripe avocados. No tequila, beans, tomato, pepper, cilantro, or anything else necessary. THANK YOU.
*if this comment duplicates, sorry*
Ok when I just went to comment, the comment field was pre-populated with Brandi of BranAppetite’s information. And this is my laptop. Ok that was weird!
Anyway though..the guac..looks delish and I agree, KISS method (keep it simple, sweetie). I have what i call “cheater’s” guac which is avos, lime juice, and a few shakes of Mrs Dash (b/c it already has the onions,garlic,peppers, jalepenos) in it. Not for everyone but sure saves me time
RIGHT ON. When you’ve got good avocados the guacamole should be as simple as possible. The only thing I would add to this recipe? A bit of garlic. Perfection.
Sounds AMAZE and simple. I agree with having to have my maters though. I’m a true southern gal I guess. Maters = happiness.
Thanks for the recipe!
That looks alot like mine! The only difference is that I add a little garlic & some diced tomato.
I actually went to the store yesterday with the intention of making guacamole but the avocados in FL have been horrific lately! I just ended up buying Wholly Guacamole, which ended up being really good!
My recipe is almost exactly like yours except I find it NEEEDDDDDSSS tomatoes! I LOVE guac with tomatoes! YUM!
I love how perfectly ripe these avocados are. Any suggestions on picking them? Mine are rarely ever perfect and more likely under or over ripe when I open them.
Looks like the perfect guac to me!
I have a love affair with all things avocados, and to think I didn’t even like them a year ago! This looks so vibrant, and delish!
p.s. I was having weird commenting issues yesterday also (as Averie was experiencing above)
I make mine differently, but love them all the same. You’re right, every girl needs a good guac recipe! I put garlic, lime juice and tomatoes in mine. So yummy.
I agree that the simpler the better when it comes to guacamole. Your recipe is the perfect go-to version. The only other thing I like to add to my guacamole is a little bit of minced cilantro.
I eat avocados like apples, Or rather grapefruits. Minus the sugar, plus the salt. I LOVE GUAC!!!
Preach! Totally agree that guac needs no fancy adornment or off-the-wall ingredients. Like others have mentioned, I fancy mine with garlic and cilantro, but other than that, our recipes are pretty much soul sisters. Guacamole is green gold!
This is just like my recipe except in place of the jalapeno I mix in some homemade salsa that I canned last summer. Oh so good!!
That’s the exact recipe I use for guacamole! It sure is a winning and so simple too!
LOVE a good guac. And I agree, when you have good avocados – and california has GOOD avocados – you need little else to make a delicious bowl!
LOVE a good guac. And I agree, when you have good avocados – and california has GOOD avocados – you need little else to make a delicious bowl!
I love guac too!!! Thanks for the Jenna
THis recipe looks sooo good!
Looks good, but I need cilantro in my guac.
I always think I need a dash of cumin, garlic, some tomatoes and cilantro in there! What’s wrong with me? I’ll have to give your recipe a try
Simple guacamole is definitely the best!! Great recipe!
Um, love guac. I never add lime and jalapeno to it, because I’m lazy and never have them at my house when a craving strikes. I do believe you have convinced me though
I have a very similar recipe and love it! I agree, a good guac can go a long way.
Looks delicious! You are totally right – a good guac recipe WILL get you far!
wait! but I think I have the best guac recipe, haha! No serioulsy I agree yours is looking very close to the way I like to make it…just missing one thing. muhaha!
Less is always more and I agree with lime over lemon juice.
Um, amen. I can’t stand it when gauc is junked up with tons of stuff. It’s not necessary and usually tastes gross. Avocado, lime, salt and fresh cilantro. Presto. That’s it.
Um, amen. I can’t stand it when gauc is junked up with tons of stuff. It’s not necessary and usually tastes gross. Keep your tomatoes, cumin, edamame, etc. Avocado, lime, salt, fresh cilantro and garlic if you’re feeling fancy. Presto. That’s it.
You said it sistafren – simplicity is best! Love this, will be making it soon!
Guacamole. Best.Idea.Ever. And I’m with you on the recipe, though I like to add a little black pepper for a bit more pizazz
You can never go wrong with guacamole. I want a greenhouse just so I can grow my very own avocado trees…and I would of course throw in some citrus as well. My very own guacamole garden. Sigh. Ah, dreams…
Love this! I am all about simple guac that emphasizes the avocados! That’s what makes it good!
Yeah, I gotta disagree, you definitely should have some tomatoes in your guac, and garlic! But yours sounds pretty yummy
We’re way too obsessed with guac ourselves. Your recipe is very similar to mine but with two small difference — I shake in a few sprinkles of dried cilantro (sometimes fresh but usually dried) and I use smoked hot sauce instead of jalapeno.
So good, though. So good. And now I’m going to have to make some for dinner.
That’s the base recipe I use already, but like others who commented, I use tomatoes, garlic, and some cayenne pepper as well.
Totally agree! But I would throw some cilantro in there
so glad you have onions in there! I approve!!
I love the look of this, but I would add a bit of garlic, and if I left out the coriander (cilantro) my husband would probably divorce me!
nah girl, you’re missing the cilantro! that’s basic!!!
This is exactly how I make it every time! Yum!
nah girl, you’re missing the cilantro! that’s basic!
You got me! I can’t say no to this and avocados are in season here in Sydney so I’m definitely giving this a go!
Have your heard that putting in the avocado seed keeps the guac from oxidizing as quickly?
This is great! I’ve been trying to find a good recipe for guacamole. Lately, i’ve just been using those instant seasoning packets from the grocery store. This will be much better. Can’t wait to try it out!
Your photos drew me right in! I used to think that guac always had mayo in it and I’d refuse to eat it (mayo makes me gag…). Until, a friend made it simple like yours and I am now addicted. Yumms…
Just wanted to chime in and mention that I too have someone else’s info in the comment field when I open your site (on my laptop).
I’m aware of this annoying problem and currently trying to fix it—so sorry! I switched to a more high powered server yesterday and there’s still some glitches we are trying to work out.
I always make a simple guacamole. I don’t need much in there, just plenty of lime.
Looks like a great recipe! When I’m in a hurry I just mash up some avocados and throw some salsa in there. This looks easy and fresh! YUM!
hmm if this recipe gets me a boyfriend then I owe a lot to you!
There are so many ways to make good guacamole, but we agree that guac should be made with avocados! We raise avocados and ship monthly subscriptions and gift boxes direct from our family farm. Most of the time we use salsa and cilantro in our guacamole…with a little garlic powder and other seasonings. If you like fresh avocados and want them direct from a USA farm, please look us up! Thanks for the beautiful recipe and photographs of our favorite fruit!
Um, this is my favorite meal. Yes, I eat this as a full course meal all of the time. Love the recipe plus a boost of garlic. The pictures make my raining today much better!
I love reading the comments on this post, everyone has their own spin on it! I like pretty much any version as long as the avocado is completely blended, I hate chunks of avocado in my guac.
I add tomatoes and cumin to mine- but otherwise my recipe is very similar! And yours looks especially glorious and neon green.
Looks simple and amazing. Thanking you now
Heidi xo
Oh yes!!!! That’s exactly how we make it in Mexico. No fancy things. Maybe a little tomato, for a bit of color. That’s it!!
xoxo
Lola
We’ve made guac this same way for years except for one minor change. We don’t add the red onion.
We run it through the food processor then squeeze the onion juice through a clean towel into the avocado mixture. And if it’s the right time of year we’ll use a sweet onion (Walla Walla type) instead of red.
Nothing beats a good bowl of guac – for me, the ultimate comfort food! Glad to see you are keeping it simple…with creamy avocodos, not much more is needed, right?
-E
I sometimes go even easier if I don’t want to chop anything or bought avocados and forgot the jalapeno and red onion – smash the avocados (and keep it chunky, please!) with salt, a squeeze of lime, and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper.
This is exactly the way I make my guac. Simple and delicious. My friends are all wild about it and demand I bring it to all social gatherings. Thank you for standing up against all the yucky, unnecessary additions to a perfect dish.
I TOTALLY agree with your guacamole statements. My dad, who pretty much throws garlic in everything, tried adding it to guacamole. He strongly warns against it. I think he was slightly bewildered that garlic didn’t make it better, haha. But he learned his lesson after that experiment. Guacamole should be simple. I’m glad he tested it out and passed the lesson along, so I don’t have to.
making it tonight!!
(catching up on posts) Yesssssss, I totally love this recipe, can’t wait to try it! I’ve been eating an avocado for lunch just about every day lately! It makes my skin glow from the inside out, literally!
Thanks for all of your recipes, I have tried so many and they are amazing!!
I agree it should be simple. I make mine nearly the same, sans the jalopeno and add a clove of garlic, generous dash of cayenne and a very light splash of worcestershire sauce. Num!
I made this today and it’s delicious, and very addicting! I usually add more things like tomatoes and garlic, but I really liked the simplicity of this one. Definitely will make again!
Having grown up with an avocado tree I say agreed! It should be about the avocado! Like!
Great recipe! I think the juice of one lime would be just perfect for our taste though. It was so limey, I couldn’t taste much of anything else.
My recipe is VERY similar, sometimes it’s lemon if I don’t have lime…and I do half a red bell pepper (small dice) because I can’t eat spicy foods
love it. I always tell my friends, when it comes to guac the simpler the better.
Another amazing recipe. Every recipe I use from your blog motivates me to continue on my culinary adventure. Thanks Jenna!
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