This Easy 4-Ingredient Guacamole recipe is the perfect dip to bring to all of your summer parties this year. It's made simply with avocado, onion, lime juice, and salt and is ready to serve in only 10 minutes.
Summer is a time for fresh, flavorful ingredients. And every year like clockwork, as soon as I can feel the warmer weather in the air, I start craving guacamole.
Made with a handful of simple ingredients, this 4-ingredient guacamole is the best guacamole recipe ever. It's easy to whip up in just 10 minutes, leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine with your friends and family.
Whether you're hosting a backyard BBQ or bringing a dish to a potluck, this guacamole is sure to be a hit.
So, grab your avocados, limes, onion, and salt, and let's get mashing!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Healthy- Full of good fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, guacamole is one healthy snack you can happily indulge in. Plus, it's naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, and vegan.
- Only 4 Ingredients- This 4-ingredient guacamole recipe is a basic guacamole recipe that is delicious as-is or can be customized with your favorite guacamole mix-ins.
- Ready in 10 Minutes- It doesn't get any quicker than this! Just some cutting, mashing, and mixing, and you're good to go.
- Easily Doubles for a Crowd- Making guacamole for a party and don't want to run out? This 4-ingredient guacamole recipe can be doubled (or tripled) for a crowd.
- Perfect for Summer Parties- Whenever I'm at a summer cookout, the first dip to go is always the guacamole. Served with plenty of tortilla chips, it's everyone's favorite party dip.
Ingredient Notes
Here are some notes on the key ingredients. For the full list of ingredients, check out the recipe card below.
- Avocados- My favorite avocados for guacamole are hass avocados. A ripe avocado should be firm, but yield to pressure when gently squeezed.
- Lime Juice- Freshly squeezed lime juice is best for flavor. The acidity of lime juice plays well with the other flavors in guacamole.
- White Onion- The best onion for guacamole is sweet white onion. The flavor is sweet and oniony without being overwhelming.
- Kosher Salt- I prefer to use kosher salt because the coarse grain seasons food gently and evenly.
🌱 Sustainability Tip: Save onion peels and ends in the freezer and use them to make chicken stock.
How to Ripen Avocados
Want to make guacamole, but can't find ripe avocados anywhere? Here are a few tips for speeding up the process of ripening avocados:
- Store in a brown paper bag. Placing the avocados in a brown paper bag at room temperature can speed up the ripening process by a few days. An unripe avocado typically ripens in about 2 to 5 days in a brown paper bag.
- Add an apple. Placing an apple inside of a brown paper bag with an avocado can ripen the avocado in as little as one day. The more fruit you add, the quicker the avocados will ripen.
- Store in the refrigerator once ripe. If you find yourself with ripe avocados, but no time to use them, store them in the refrigerator. They will keep for at least 2 days.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few ways you can try customizing this 4-ingredient guacamole recipe to fit your diet and taste preferences.
Substitutions
- Lime Juice- Substitute lime juice for lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, or orange juice.
- White Onion- Swap white onion for sweet onion, red onion, yellow onion, shallots, green onion, or garlic. Alternatively, use ½ tablespoon of onion powder in place of fresh onion.
- Kosher Salt- Replace kosher salt with sea salt, table salt, or pink Himalayan salt.
Variations
- Vegetables- Add diced tomatoes, jalapeño, bell pepper, cucumber, corn, black beans, and garlic.
- Herbs- Fresh cilantro, parsley, and chives are wonderful guacamole mix-ins.
- Seasonings- Cumin, chili powder, coriander, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper give guacamole a boost of flavor.
- Salsa- Stir in salsa or fresh pico de gallo for a dip duo that can't be beat.
- Fruit- Try adding mango, strawberries, pineapple, or pomegranate for a fruity twist.
- bacon- Crumbled bacon on top of guacamole takes it to the next level.
- Spicy- Add minced jalapeño, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce for a spicy kick.
Equipment Notes
Here are some notes on any special equipment I used to make this recipe.
- Potato Masher- I find the easiest way to mash avocados is with a potato masher. Of course, you can mash them with a fork, but if you happen to have a potato masher, it makes quick work of this easy guacamole recipe.
How to Make 4-Ingredient Guacamole
Here is how to make this simple guacamole recipe.
Step 1: Mash the avocados. Scoop all of the avocado flesh into a large mixing bowl. Using a fork or a potato masher, mash the avocados until smooth and creamy with a few large chunks remaining.
Step 2: Add seasonings. Squeeze in the lime juice and stir well to combine. Then, mix in the diced onion and kosher salt. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
Quick Tip: If storing in the refrigerator, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the guacamole to prevent it from browning.
Tips for Success
- Choose the right avocados. A ripe avocado should give slightly when squeezed, but not so much that your fingers can break the skin.
- Don't over-mix. Guacamole should have some chunks remaining. Over-mixing may result in a mushy, overly smooth texture.
- Adjust salt and lime juice to taste. Two key ingredients in guacamole are salt and acid (lime juice). Taste the guacamole as you make it to ensure both of these flavors are balanced.
- Customize. This 4-ingredient guacamole recipe is a good start, but feel free to get creative and add other ingredients. Cilantro, jalapeño, and diced tomatoes are delicious additions.
- Chill before serving. Giving the guacamole some time to chill in the refrigerator before serving allows the flavors to meld together.
What to Serve With 4-Ingredient Guacamole
The most classic and popular pairing for guacamole is, of course, tortilla chips. Try making homemade tortilla chips out of these Sourdough Tortillas. Other dippable choices include Air Fryer Butternut Squash Fries, Sourdough Crackers, pita chips, pretzels, and fresh vegetables.
Guacamole also pairs well with Mexican dishes. I love serving guacamole alongside Chipotle Chicken Tacos, Beef Fajita Tacos, Tequila Lime Shrimp Tacos, and Honey Chipotle Shrimp Tacos. It's also delicious on quesadillas, burritos, burrito bowls, enchiladas, nachos, and more.
How to Use Up Leftover Guacamole
There are a handful of creative ways to use up leftover 4-ingredient guacamole that go beyond tacos and nachos. Here are a few ideas:
- Spread it on toast
- Turn it into a creamy salad dressing
- Top your burgers and sandwiches with it
- Serve it with scrambled eggs for breakfast
- Use it as a baked potato topping
Storage
- Room Temperature- If you're serving guacamole at a party, just remember to think about how long it will be sitting out. Like most foods, guacamole is safe to leave out at room temperature for up to 2 hours.
- Refrigerator- Leftover guacamole can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Guacamole will usually turn brown on the surface, but is still good to eat.
- Freezer- While you can technically freeze guacamole for up to 4 months, the texture of the creamy dip will likely change once thawed. If you do opt to freeze it, I recommend using it in another dish rather than as a dip on its own.
Can Guacamole Be Made Ahead?
Yes, guacamole can be made up to 24 hours in advance. However, the closer you can prepare the guacamole to the time you plan to serve it, the better. Although, I do recommend chilling the guacamole for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator prior to serving to allow the flavors to blend together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional guacamole is typically made of avocado, onion, cilantro, fresh lime juice, and kosher salt. Other common ingredients include diced tomatoes and jalapeño.
The key to the best-tasting guacamole is all about balancing salt and acid. Start by adding the amount of lime juice and kosher salt called for in the recipe, taste the guacamole, and adjust from there.
Sweet white onion is the best onion for guacamole because it has a sweeter, more mild onion flavor. Red onion and yellow onion tend to be too strong and can overwhelm the other flavors in a guacamole dip.
Yes, guacamole is safe to eat even after the surface begins to turn brown. Typically, guacamole can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Let's Connect!
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📖 Recipe
4-Ingredient Guacamole
Ingredients
- 4 ripe avocados
- 2 limes juiced
- ½ large white onion finely diced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Scoop all of the avocado flesh into a large mixing bowl. Using a fork or a potato masher, mash the avocados until smooth and creamy with a few large chunks remaining.
- Squeeze in the lime juice and stir well to combine. Then, mix in the diced onion and kosher salt. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. If storing in the refrigerator, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the guacamole to prevent it from browning.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The guacamole may turn brown on the surface, but it is still safe to eat.
- Adjust salt and lime juice to taste. Two key ingredients in guacamole are salt and acid (lime juice). Taste the guacamole as you make it to ensure both of these flavors are balanced.
- Chill before serving. Giving the guacamole some time to chill in the refrigerator before serving allows the flavors to meld together.
- Customize. This 4-ingredient guacamole recipe is a good start, but feel free to get creative and add other ingredients. Cilantro, jalapeño, and diced tomatoes are delicious additions.
Patricia says
Delicious and so easy to make! I love guacamole .. enjoyed this with some tortilla chips.
Ashley Petrie says
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed 🙂