Easy Homemade Guacamole

Nothing says summer like some fresh guacamole. This Easy Homemade Guacamole is my favorite dish to bring to a summer cookout or barbeque. It is so easy to throw together and uses lots of fresh produce from the garden, a win-win.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy – It is really just as easy as chopping and mixing, no special steps to this recipe.
• Delicious – This easy guacamole packs tons of flavor into just a few basic ingredients.

Ingredients for Easy Homemade Guacamole

• Avocados – You’ll want perfectly ripe avocados for this recipe. Too soft and they will be brown, too firm and you’ll have a hard time mixing
• Lemon & Lime Juice – Necessary to add a citrusy kick, but these also help to prevent spoiling in any leftovers.
• Bell pepper – Any color works! I use a full bell pepper in this recipe because I like my guacamole on the chunkier side. If you like yours smoother, reduce to ½ of a bell pepper.
• Jalapeno – I only use ½ here, but feel free to use a full jalapeno or a hotter pepper if you like it spicier.
• Shallot – Red onion works here as well, I just prefer the milder flavor of the shallot – total personal preference.
• Tomatoes – I find that the smaller varieties like cherry are easier to dice into small enough pieces and don’t have a lot of juice to make this runny. You could use any kind of tomato, I would just make sure to remove the seeds and inner goo and use just the flesh.
• Spices – THIS is what makes this recipe different in my opinion. I add lots of spices. Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, chili powder and Paprika. I feel this really makes the flavor of this guac stand out. Beware, the chili powder and paprika will give it a bit of a red/brown hue – that’s normal!

How to Make Easy Homemade Guacamole

Start by slicing and pitting your avocados. I find it easiest to do this by slicing lengthwise all the way around the pit with a large chef’s knife. Then twist the two sides until they come apart and one side keeps the pit. Carefully remove the pit with a spoon. Next, carefully slice the avocado into cubes inside the skin, then squeeze as you would a lemon into the mixing bowl.

Once all the avocados are sliced and in the mixing bowl, use a potato masher to mash the avocados until they’re smooth (or leave them chunkier if you prefer).

Next, dice the remaining veggies. Add them to the bowl with the avocado and mix until everything is evenly distributed.

Add the spices and the lemon and lime juice and mix again. Top with fresh ground black pepper if desired. Add more salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with your favorite tortilla chips and enjoy!

How to Store Easy Homemade Guacamole

• Fridge: Leftovers will last 2-3 days in the fridge when stored in an air-tight container.

More Tips for Making Easy Homemade Guacamole

• Not Vegan? Mix in some cotija cheese for added flavor.
• Want more spice? Add more jalapeno or a hotter pepper like habanero for more of a kick.

Looking for more Mexican-Inspired dishes? Try this Southwest Pot Pie or Sweet Potato Quinoa Chili.