Easy Guacamole Recipe

This 3-ingredient simple guacamole recipe is easy, delicious, and never fails to wow everyone who’s ever tasted it. Made with ripe avocados, salt, and lime juice, you’ll never use another guacamole recipe again!

For more Mexican-inspired dips, check out my easy recipes for 5-Minute Fish Tacos Sauce, Fire-Roasted Salsa, and Cilantro Avocado Ranch Dressing.

A few years ago, the hubs and I took a cruise to Mexico where we ate at an outdoor restaurant where the servers made guacamole right at the table. I watched him use avocados, lime juice, salt and, wait for it…nothing else. It was the actual best guacamole I’d ever eaten and since then, I have been making my guacamole like this (usually weekly as we LOVE guac in our house, even my little kids), bringing it to parties, and serving it when we have company, and it never fails to impress!

Here’s Why this Recipe Works

Easy – This 3-ingredient simple guacamole recipe is as easy as it gets while still being able to call this recipe guacamole. You cannot find a simpler guacamole recipe. Go ahead and try…I’ll wait…

Delicious – In the “tips” section, I discuss the ingredient qualities more, but you have to understand, this guacamole IS delicious, but it’s because of the choice of the 3 ingredients. What makes it delicious are perfectly ripe avocados, fresh lime juice, and a good salt (none of that table salt garbage).

Perfect for entertaining – This is the best guacamole for every occasion. Unexpected guests? Short on time? Need to bring something for a picnic or potluck but aren’t sure what? Guacamole, guacamole, guacamole, is always the best answer.

Pairs well with everything – Guacamole is amazing on tortilla chips, of course. But its delicious gifts go well beyond the chip. I like to dip veggies in guac and top my tacos, quesadillas, (like my Flank Steak Tacos and Slow Cooker Chicken Quesadillas) and empanadas in guacamole. I put it on my burgers, chicken sandwiches, and on top of grilled shrimp skewers. When I say it goes with everything, I’m not joking.

Recipe Ingredients

• Avocados – Choose two avocados that are as perfectly ripe as you can find (see my section on selecting an avocado for ripeness, below).
• Lime juice – I use only freshly squeezed lime juice, it’s key to getting the best flavor in the guacamole.
• Sea salt – Just like fresh lime juice, using sea salt is also another key ingredient to this guacamole. It works and tastes the best when you use sea salt.

How to Tell if An Avocado is Ripe

Avocados are tricky! It’s hard to tell if they’re ripe or not. Try these tricks to check for ripeness and get that perfect avocado every time.

Give it a gentle squeeze with your hand to check the firmness – it should have some give (not be hard as a rock!) but not so much that it feels mushy or bruised. If you feel very soft spots or if it feels like there is a bit of a gap between the skin and the inner fruit of the avocado, it is way too ripe, and you should skip it. 

Pull the stem off to check for color ripeness. At the top of the avocado there is usually a little stub of a stem, use your finger to roll it off and check the color underneath. If it is bright green, the avocado is likely not yet ripe enough. The color under the stem should be dark. A dark color under the stem and a little bit of give when you squeeze is the best combo!

How to Make Guacamole

Whether you’re making your guacamole tableside (fancy!) or in your kitchen, this homemade guacamole will soon become your go-to recipe!

1. First, cut your avocados in half, lengthwise, and remove the pits. Use a spoon to scoop out the avocado flesh and put it in a bowl. (photo 1)
2. Next, sprinkle cracked sea salt over the top of the avocado and then drizzle the lime juice over that. (photo 3)
3. Using a fork, mash the avocado together with the salt and lime juice to your desired consistency. If you like it a little lumpy, that’s fine if you like it smooth, also fine! (photos 2 & 4)
4. Taste the guacamole then add more lime juice or salt. Remember you can always add more ingredients, but you can’t take them away if you’ve over salted or juiced the guac.
5. Serve with tortilla chips or as a topping on anything and everything.

How to Store Guacamole

Don’t you hate it when your guacamole turns brown? It’s almost always a given. However, these tips can help keep it looking green and fresh when stored.

• Add a little water – this might sound weird, but trust me, it works. Once you’ve gotten your guacamole into an airtight container, smooth it down with the back of a spoon. Then pour about ½ an inch of water over the top. Cover it tightly and put it in the fridge. This will keep the guacamole from browning for about 2 days. (Pour off the water before serving.)
• Want a little extra tang to your guacamole? The trick above also works if you use lime juice instead of water to keep your guacamole from browning. You simply mix in the lime juice into the dip before serving, and cover tightly with plastic wrap.
• Another topper option? Try sour cream. That’s right, add a layer of sour cream over the top of the guacamole before covering and putting in the fridge. Scrape it off before eating or mix it in for a creamy guac.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Since this recipe only calls for three very simple ingredients, each ingredient is key! Here are my best tips for choosing an avocado for guacamole:
• Give it a gentle squeeze with your hand to check the firmness – it should have some give (not be hard as a rock!) but not so much that it feels mushy or bruised. If you feel very soft spots or if it feels like there is a bit of a gap between the skin and the inner fruit of the avocado, it is way too ripe, and you should skip it. 
• Pull the stem off to check for color ripeness. At the top of the avocado there is usually a little stub of a stem, use your finger to roll it off and check the color underneath. If it is bright green, the avocado is likely not yet ripe enough. The color under the stem should be dark. A dark color under the stem and a little bit of give when you squeeze is the best combo!
• Make sure you are using FRESH squeezed lime juice. Do not use concentrate, as fresh-squeezed lime juice is key to the best guacamole flavor. 
• I never ever use iodized/table salt for cooking. In fact, I don’t even keep it in my pantry, I only use sea salt and pink/Himalayan salt. You can find these at any grocery store these days and they make SUCH a big difference in the flavor of your food. Sea salt or pink/Himalayan salt is especially important in your guacamole as it will give your guac the very best flavor. I like to use a salt grinder and crack the salt coarsely, or I use sea salt flakes. 

Ways to Customize Your Guacamole

• If you like your guacamole to have a little bite, try adding finely diced red onion or any onion you like – just a tablespoon will do.
• You can use chopped cilantro as a garnish or mix it in to the guacamole for that awesome cilantro flavor.
• If the fork-smashing method doesn’t work for you, you can also use a potato masher for mashing up the avocados.
• I like to add some diced tomato to my guacamole from time to time. It’s a great way to add texture, flavor, or use up those tomatoes you have that are just waiting to be eaten.
• If you love the taste of lemon juice, why not try adding that to your guacamole instead of lime juice? Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best, of course!

More Appetizer Recipes

• Best Baked Potato Wedges
• Crispy Oven-Baked French Fries
• Baked Buffalo Cauliflower
• Baked Korean BBQ Chicken Wings
• Cole Slaw with Amazing Cole Slaw Dressing
• Mango Pomegranate Guacamole
• Baked Guacamole Tortilla Chips
• Chicken Avocado Corn Salad
• Tex Mex Turkey Burger
• 9-Layer Dip

Did you make this incredibly easy guacamole recipe?? YAY! Please rate the recipe below!