29 Guacamole Recipes You'll Want To Eat by the Spoonful

Whether you scoop it up with tortilla chips or pile it high on a crispy tostada, there’s no denying that homemade guacamole makes everything from taco night to your Cinco de Mayo party so much better. An essential part of many of our favorite Mexican dishes, it’s well worth learning to make at home.

They key is knowing how to choose the right avocados for guacamole. Look for ones that have very dark green bumpy skin (smooth avocados still need to ripen more) and that have a little bit of give when you squeeze them. If you're not making your guacamole the same day you buy your avocados, you can store them in the refrigerator for a few days to slow down the ripening process.

Once you've selected your avocados, the rest of the process is a breeze. Peel and pit your avocados, prep your other ingredients and mix everything together. And trust us when we say, the best guacamoles are simple, letting the mild flavor and rich creaminess of the fruit shine.

That simplicity is exactly the reason we love Marcela’s traditional take; she keeps the add-ins to a minimum, using just onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper. The result? A go-to guac you’ll want to eat by the spoonful!

Alton’s easy hack for making guacamole? Use your potato masher to break up the avocado and blend it with the lime juice and spices. It makes quick work of this crowd-pleasing dip — and leaves you with the perfect, chunky texture.

Ellie doesn’t mash the avocado for her super-chunky take on classic guacamole. Instead, she simply dices the fruit and stirs it together with lime juice, salt, cilantro and red onion.

Marcela takes a straightforward approach to guacamole, sticking to a handful of basic ingredients: avocado, fresh cilantro, chile pepper, lime juice, onion and salt.

We think we’ve cracked the code to Chipotle’s famous guacamole. The secret--using equal parts fresh lemon and lime juice — adds just enough brightness and tang. If you're feeling fancy, go all out and add a couple tablespoons of diced tomatoes.

A bright, zesty salad that gives guacamole a fresh twist, this mix of creamy avocado, black beans, tomatoes and jalapeño comes together in just 10 minutes for an easy crowd-pleaser.

No limes? No problem! Ina uses freshly squeezed lemon juice in her guac. Fresh lemon keeps the avocado from turning brown just like lime would — and it bring a subtle sweetness to this oh-so-delicious dip.

This guacamole has got it all: creamy avocado, spicy Fresno chile, herbaceous cilantro and smoky charred pineapple. It’s a must-make whenever you’re grilling.

If you’re out of citrus fruit you can still make a great batch of guac. Vinegar provides the same tart acidity that fresh lime or lemon juice would. Plus, it helps the guacamole stay greener, longer.

The simple pantry ingredient that will take your guac from basic to over-the-top delicious? Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Chop them into small pieces and add them to the mix (along with a little bit of the adobo sauce) for a wonderfully smoky twist on the classic.

How do you give your guacamole an extra kick of flavor? Try adding lots of finely chopped jalapeno and garlic, along with a smoky chipotle pepper in adobo.

This fresh take on guacamole uses many of the classic ingredients in Ranch dressing (like sour cream, buttermilk and fresh chives) to take your favorite dip in a whole new direction.

If you ask us, guacamole is a summer cookout must-have. It’s creamy, refreshing and easy to snack on while you’re grilling. That’s why we love Bobby’s creative take; he incorporates another one of our seasonal favorites into the dip: kernels of charred sweet corn.

Thought guac couldn’t get any better? Wait until you get a scoop of this bowl topped with sour cream, queso fresco, pickled jalapenos and smoky chipotle hot sauce.

Rachael’s 5-star guacamole has more than 100 rave reviews. Fans say it’s “fantastic” and report that they “usually have to double the recipe”. It’s that good!

Ree’s giving guacamole a Greek-inspired twist by adding in some of our favorite Mediterranean ingredients: roasted red peppers, kalamata olives, crumbled feta and fresh dill.

Simple ingredients in perfect proportion make a this dip a crowd-pleasing favorite for any event. We decided not to use tomato in ours (it makes the guac watery) and included both onion and garlic for extra zip. A healthy dose of fresh lime juice balances and brightens the flavors.

Tomatillos have a nice, bright flavor that’s perfect for perking up your run-of-the-mill guacamole. Just chop them up and throw them into the food processor along with your other ingredients and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind dip in a matter of minutes.

Often times, you’ll see small-diced jalapeno peppers in guacamole. Tyler opts for the smaller, spicier serrano chiles instead — and he cuts them into big, bold rounds for an extra pop of flavor.

Simply add this to avocados for instant guacamole. The versatile seasoning mix is great to have on hand for more than just guac, though. Use it to flavor eggs, meat, vegetables, or even the rim of a glass for margaritas.

This recipe is perfect for autumn or winter when petite seckel pears are in season, although you can use any other variety of pear, too. The pistachios on top make this dip extra special and contrast nicely with the fruit.

Get the perfect balance of sweet heat with Marcela's easy guacamole. It's nice and chunky, too — perfect for scooping up with salty tortilla chips.

This lighter version of guacamole is extra-creamy because of the addition of protein-dense silken tofu. Not only does it make a super-smooth puree, it reduces the fat and calories in the overall recipe.

Bobby keeps it simple with his homemade guacamole, using just a handful of simple ingredients. Diced jalapenos add a hint of spice, while lime juice and fresh cilantro keep things bright and flavorful.

The ingredient list for this recipe is deceptively short — because this guac packs some serious flavor. Charred poblano, onion and lime add smokiness and a mix of fresh chorizo and crushed chicharrónes provide undeniable savor. You won’t believe you only used a handful of ingredients to make it!

Giving your avocados and jalapenos a nice char before dicing will add tons of smoky flavor to your bowl of guac. Rachael uses an indoor grill pan but you could just as easily throw them on an outdoor grill.

The spiciness in this simple guacamole comes from jalapeno pepper. Bobby recommends 1 full pepper for 2 avocados, but you can add more (or less) to suit your taste.

Avocado is a fruit (it’s actually a berry!) so it should come as no surprise that it pairs well with sweet mango and strawberry. Jeff takes advantage by including all three fruits in his simple guacamole (along with the traditional lime juice, cilantro and onion) for a sweet-and-savory spin on guacamole that you’re guaranteed to make again and again.