This homemade chunky guacamole is a simple guacamole made with big pieces of avocado, lime, and salt. It's made for dipping, spooning over tacos, or serving on the side with fish, steak, and chicken.
Homemade chunky guacamole is made with ripe Hass avocados, lime, garlic, salt, cilantro, and jalapeño. It's thick, fresh, and works as a dip or a side with tacos, fish, chicken, or steak. Use Hass avocados for the best flavor. Keeps for up to two days if stored properly.
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What To Serve With Guacamole
Serve your guac with tortilla chips and veggie sticks as a topping for tacos, burritos, or seared chicken breasts or with quesadillas and fajitas.
Great with tacos and wraps:
- Swordfish Tacos
- Key West Shrimp Tacos
- Blackened Chicken Tacos
- Chicken Fajitas
- Chicken Tortilla Wraps
Serve on the side:
Add a bowl of Mexican slaw and cilantro lime crema to any of these mains and you have a whole fiesta!
Hass Avocados vs. Florida Avocados
Although there are many types of avocados, a good bowl of guacamole starts with Hass avocados. Skip the large, shiny green Florida avocados for guac.
Hass avocados are the smaller, dark ones you see in grocery stores year-round. They have bumpy skin that turns nearly black when ripe. The flesh is rich and creamy, with a higher fat content that gives guacamole its flavor and texture.
Florida avocados are much larger, with smooth, bright green skin, and can weigh up to two pounds. Common varieties include Booth, Lula, and Taylor. They contain more water, are lower in fat, and have a mild, slightly nutty taste. When picked fresh, they're one of the best fruits you can eat.
Florida avocados are great sliced or stuffed with tuna salad or shrimp salad. But for guacamole, you want fat and creaminess. Stick with Hass avocados.
How to Ripen Avocados for Guacamole
For the best guacamole, start with avocados that are ready to eat.
According to the California Avocado Commission, ripe avocados should give slightly when pressed gently in the palm of your hand.
If they're still firm, leave them on the counter to ripen. To speed things up, place them in a paper bag with an apple or banana for a day or two.
What You Need
- Garlic
- Kosher salt
- Ripe Hass Avocados
- Onion (yellow, white, or red)
- Cilantro
- Fresh lime juice
- Jalapeno pepper
Equipment Needed
- Wooden cutting board
- Chef's knife
- Mixing bowl
- Fork
How To Make Guacamole
This recipe calls for 3 avocados. If you're serving more people, just double or triple the ingredients. The proportions stay the same, just make more of it!
- Crush garlic with the side of a broad knife on a wooden cutting board. Pour salt over the garlic and chop until minced. The salt bulks up the garlic making it easier to mince into a smooth paste.
- Mash avocado until smooth in a big bowl with the back of a fork. Mix in the garlic.
- Add onion, jalapenos, lime juice, and cilantro to the bowl; stir to combine.
- Season with additional salt to taste.
Variations
- Creamier Texture: Add a tablespoon of cream cheese, sour cream, or Greek yogurt. Mash until smooth.
- Spicy Guacamole: Include finely diced serrano or habanero peppers.
- Zesty Kick: Mix in a pinch of ground cumin or smoked paprika. You can also add the seeds from the jalapeno for extra heat.
- Garnish: Garnish with chopped cilantro and lime wedges.
Tips for Success
- Use ripe Hass avocados for the best texture and flavor.
- Mash avocados first before adding other ingredients to ensure a smooth consistency.
- Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface before refrigerating to keep guacamole green.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container with a tablespoon of avocado oil poured over the top.
Cover with plastic wrap pressed onto the surface to prevent browning. It will keep fresh for one or two days in the refrigerator.
Pairing Ideas
- Easy Blackened Snapper Tacos Recipe
- Pan Fried Yellowtail
- Crispy Pan Fried Mahi Mahi
- Pan-Seared Chuck Steak
- Roasted Yellowtail Snapper with Old Bay
For more quick appetizers, check out 25 Five Minute Appetizer Recipes!
Summary
This homemade chunky guacamole is for people who like real avocado flavor. It's a simple, classic mix of Hass avocados, lime, garlic, salt, cilantro, and jalapeño.
The big pieces of avocado give it good texture. It works as a dip, a topping, or a side on the plate.
Use ripe Hass avocados for the best results. They're richer and make better guacamole than the large green Florida avocados.
Serve it with tacos, grilled fish, chicken, or steak. Adjust the heat if you like it spicier.
Store leftovers properly and it will stay fresh and green for up to two days.
Homemade Chunky Guacamole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (3-4 cloves)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 Haas avocados
- 3 tablespoon minced onion yellow, white, or red
- 1 jalapeño pepper seeded and deveined, finely chopped
- juice of one lime or more to taste
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Crush garlic with the side of a broad knife on a wooden cutting board. Pour salt over the garlic and chop until minced.
- Mash avocado until smooth in a big bowl with the back of a fork. Mix in the garlic.
- Add onion, jalapenos, lime juice, and cilantro to the bowl; stir to combine.
- Season with additional salt to taste.
