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Holy Guacamole! You just stumbled upon the BEST guacamole recipe out there—and yes, it’s the ONLY one you’ll ever need. Trust me on this. It’s fresh, flavorful, and has a secret ingredient that takes it from great to absolutely mind-blowing.
Table of Contents
- Why This Is the Best Guacamole Recipe
- Fresh Ingredients + One Game-Changer
- The Secret Ingredient That Changes Everything
- How to Make Guacamole
- How to Pick Perfectly Ripe Avocados
- Can You Freeze Avocados?
- Rave Reviews About this Guacamole
- Frequently Asked Questions About Guacamole
- How to Serve Your Guacamole (Beyond Chips!)
- More Must-Try Mexican Recipes
- The Best Guacamole Ever Recipe
Why This Is the Best Guacamole Recipe
I know, I know—everyone claims they have the best guacamole recipe. But here’s the deal: every time I whip this up for a party, potluck, or family get-together, people literally flock to the bowl. My family can barely wait for me to set it down before they start sneaking chips in for a taste. One bite, and you’ll see why this recipe is a keeper. You might even want to bookmark it right now… just saying.
Fresh Ingredients + One Game-Changer
Want to know the real secret? It’s all about fresh ingredients and one unexpected twist—Green Tabasco. Yep, just a few shakes of this magical stuff add a zesty kick that perfectly complements the creamy avocados and fresh veggies.
Ingredients
- Ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
- Finely diced red onion
- Garlic, minced
- Fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
- Jalapeño, finely chopped (remove seeds for less heat)
- Tomato, diced
- Fresh lime juice
- Green Tabasco sauce (trust me on this!)
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
The Secret Ingredient That Changes Everything
I first discovered the Green Tabasco trick at a restaurant in Boise called Barbacoa. They make incredible tableside guac, and I noticed they added a dash of Green Tabasco. I tried it at home, and WOW—it was a total game-changer. It adds just the right zing without overpowering the fresh flavors. (Not sponsored, just obsessed.)
How to Make Guacamole
Making guacamole is super easy and fun! Here’s how to do it:
- Prep the Avocados: Cut the avocados in half, remove the pits, and scoop the flesh into a mixing bowl. If you love chunky guac, coarsely chop the avocados before adding them to the bowl. Prefer it smooth? Mash them with a fork or potato masher until you reach your desired texture.
- Add the Good Stuff: Toss in the finely diced red onion, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, jalapeño, diced tomatoes, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, and a few shakes of Green Tabasco sauce. Don’t forget the salt and pepper to taste!
- Mix It Up: Stir everything together until all the ingredients are evenly distributed. Give it a taste and adjust the seasoning if needed—maybe a little more lime juice, an extra dash of Tabasco, or a pinch more salt.
- Serve and Enjoy: Scoop it into a serving bowl, grab some tortilla chips, and dig in!
How to Pick Perfectly Ripe Avocados
Nothing ruins guacamole faster than bad avocados. Here’s how to pick the best ones:
- Color: Look for dark green skin.
- The Stem Test: Pop off the little stem—if it’s green underneath, it’s ripe.
- The Squeeze Test: Gently press; it should yield slightly but not feel mushy.
Pro Tip: Need to speed up ripening? Store avocados in a paper bag with the top rolled down. Want to slow it down? Pop them in the fridge.
Can You Freeze Avocados?
Absolutely! Whether you have leftover guac (rare, but it happens) or extra avocados, freezing is a great option. Just store in airtight containers with plastic wrap pressed against the surface to prevent browning. Check out our post on Four Simple Ways to Freeze Avocados for all the details.
Rave Reviews About this Guacamole
“This was so delicious and made this not so confident cook look amazing. Everyone loved it so much! Excellent recipe.”
-Laura
“OMG, ABSOLUTELY the BEST GUACAMOLE EVER!! This is the 1st review I’ve ever left, I had to because it is soooo good. I won’t need to add olive oil because it doesn’t stay in my refrigerator long enough lol. Definitely a family favorite, thank you for sharing.”
-Mynique
Frequently Asked Questions About Guacamole
To keep guacamole fresh and green, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to minimize air exposure. Adding a little extra lime juice also helps slow oxidation.
Yes! You can make it a few hours in advance. Just store it in an airtight container with plastic wrap pressed against the guac to keep it vibrant.
If you like heat, try adding extra jalapeño, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or even a dash of hot sauce. Adjust the spice level to your taste!
Absolutely! Avocados are packed with healthy fats, fiber, and vitamins. Just be mindful of portion sizes if you’re watching your calorie intake.
Yes, you can swap lime juice for lemon juice. While lime gives a more traditional flavor, lemon adds a bright, tangy twist that’s still delicious.
How to Serve Your Guacamole (Beyond Chips!)
Sure, guac and chips are a classic combo, but why stop there?
- Guacamole Chicken Torta Sandwiches: A tasty sandwich with this guacamole as a spread.
- Cafe Rio Recipes: We always serve this guacamole when we make our Cafe Rio recipes.
- ALL of our MEXICAN recipes: Here’s a quick link to ALL of our delicious Mexican recipes.
- Recipes for Cinco de Mayo: A list of all the recipes you need to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
- Simple Nachos: You can also just pile some tortilla chips on a plate, top with shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole dip, and some salsa, and go to town.
More Must-Try Mexican Recipes
Our family is obsessed with Mexican food, and this guacamole pairs perfectly with:
The Best Guacamole Ever
Video
Ingredients
- 3 avocados
- ¼ cup finely diced red onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ bunch cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1 jalapeno, finely chopped
- 1 large tomato or 2 small tomatoes, diced
- 1 lime, juiced
- 4-5 shakes green Tabasco sauce
- kosher salt, to taste
- fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pit avocados and place in a bowl. If you like your guac chunky, coarsely chop the avocados. If you like your guac smooth, mash it instead.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl.
- Stir until all the ingredients are distributed evenly.
Nutrition Information
This guacamole isn’t just a recipe; it’s a crowd-pleaser, a family favorite, and your new go-to for every occasion. Whether you’re hosting a party, heading to a potluck, or just craving a delicious snack, this guacamole will never let you down. Its creamy texture, fresh ingredients, and zesty secret ingredient make it irresistible.
Plus, it’s incredibly versatile. You can tweak it to your taste—add more lime for extra tang, jalapeño for heat, or tomatoes for a juicy bite. The possibilities are endless, and that’s what makes it so special. It’s more than just a dip; it’s a vibrant, flavorful experience that brings people together.
So grab those avocados, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to make the best guacamole you’ve ever had. Trust me, once you taste it, you’ll be hooked. Enjoy every creamy, zesty bite! 🥑
If you’re adding cilantro you might as well throw it in the trash lol. That ruins the flavor of any food it’s added to
Wow.. sooooo goood.. love it. we all do.. thank you for sharing.
This is a great recipe! The only suggestion I would make is to quantify the avocado by cups rather than number. Hawaii backyard avocados yield 2 cups of mashed avocado each😁. Also, suggest cilantro should be similarly quantified since I pick it from my garden.
Good recipe with the exception of the tomato. I leave that out. The key is the cilantro which I am fortunate to have growing in my front yard where a tree used to be. I didn’t plant it there, it made its way from my herb spot and now comes up every year by reseeding itself and makes it through winter. It is quite amazing!!
Having been raised in Texas, I feel I know a thing or two about guacamole and this is as close to the way we do it in Texas as possible. This is the best ever and absolutely delicious. I’ve never come across another recipe online that even came close to my family tradition but this is it! Well done!
This is possibly the best guacamole I’ve ever had. I cut the recipe into one third, as I was just craving guacamole for lunch for myself. I used a hot sauce I love called a Mango Blaze for the hot sauce. I loved how all ingredients were bought at my local fruit and veggie stand, except the salt and pepper. Awesome recipe. I think the jalapeño and hot sauce took it up a notch. It was so good, I ate it on its own, no chips, no carrots, nothing on the side.
This guacamole is really good! Guacamole is probably my favorite food and this recipe is perfect.
This was so delicious and made this not so confident cook look amazing. Everyone loved it so much! Excellent recipe.
Love that little kick!! I could eat this all day long…it’s so addicting!!
This is nearly identical to the guacamole I’ve been making for many years. Even the green Tabasco! I don’t even remember when I started making it this way… but it’s always a huge hit. I rarely use the jalapeño chiles though, as I don’t like my guac too spicy, and found it was unpredictable used the chiles, so I either use more Tabasco or add some green enchilada sauce. A little chili powder adds some variety too. It’s pretty hard to screw up guac if you just use the flavors you love!😋
Mine tastes like it’s missing something… am I not using enough salt maybe? Do you typically put quite a bit in there? Also, I could have used too small of garlic cloves?
We are very generous in our salt when it comes to guacamole! I would definitely start there.
This is awesome guacamole!
This is AMERICAN guacamole, not REAL Guacamole. Real guacamole is just avocados, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and DONE. No tomatoes, no cilantro, no Tabasco sauce… that’s all white-washing the Mexican simple DELICIOUS topping. I can say this because I am white. No Pico de Gallo goes into authentic guacamole -it is it’s own topping (tomatoes, cilantro, onion) and added to the meal IF the person wants it not within the guacamole. You dilute, disgrace guacamole to serve it as anything other than pure avocados with simple seasoning mentioned above.
I made this recipe to take a friends house for a get together, it was a hit. I will absolutely make it again. Full of awesomeness.
I recommend doubling this recipe. 👍