This easy 4 ingredient guacamole recipe is a healthy and delicious appetizer that is ready in just 5 minutes. The perfect addition to all your favourite Mexican dishes and a must-make at taco night.
If you asked me what the best part of taco night is, I'd tell you without hesitation that it is guacamole. Yes, crunchy taco shells are wonderful, the ground beef filling is delicious and I enjoy a good salsa and a spoonful of sour cream.
But to me, it is guacamole that brings it all together.
So, when we found ourselves preparing a super short-notice, spontaneous Mexican dinner a while ago, I found myself with only 4 ingredients in my kitchen to make a simple guacamole dip.
And you know what? It was perfect in its splendid simplicity. This is how we have been making guacamole ever since!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Quick And Easy. 4-ingredient guacamole is a speedy dip that you can stir together in just 5 minutes. Come on, you'll always have 5 minutes to spare!
Fantastic Flavor. This pared-down healthy guac has all the essential flavors we want: The creamy freshness of the avocado, the citrusy zing of the lime, the crunchy spice of the red onion and the lift that a dash of sea salt lends.
Healthy! Avocado is packed with heart-healthy fats and lime adds an extra portion of Vitamin C. And did you know that red onion is a secret superfood? It contains an antioxidant called quercetin, which fights inflammation and boosts the immune system.
Ingredients
Let's talk ingredients!
- Avocado - It is essential that the avocados are ripe. The flesh must be soft, light green and without any dark spots. I recommend buying ripe avocados instead of ripen-at-home ones. The latter tend to go from hard straight to brown and I rarely catch them when they are perfectly ripe.
- Lime - Fresh lime juice is the key ingredient for any guacamole! It is essential for that classic fragrant and zesty flavor. If you have run out, use lemon.
- Red Onion - Adds texture, a color pop and crunch. Shallots work as an alternative.
- Salt - Sea salt lifts and enhances the flavor of the dip.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Instructions
There are 2 ways to enjoy this easy guacamole - chunky or smooth. There is no right or wrong here, it's all down to personal preference!
PREPARATION
Slice the avocados in half and remove the seeds. Scoop out the flesh with a large spoon.
Next, chop the onions. Rinsing them under cold running water for 30 seconds after chopping removes any pungency and softens the flavor. Pat dry. (This is an optional step.)
STEP 1
Place the avocado, lime and salt in a bowl and mash it with a fork or a potato masher until well combined.
Or, add the ingredients to a small blender. Pulse briefly for a chunky texture or continue blending until silky and creamy.
STEP 2
Stir through the finely chopped red onion. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve.
Expert Tip
Let the flavors meld. If I have time, I cover the guacamole tightly with plastic wrap and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes. This allows for the flavors to mingle and it will taste even better.
Variations
I view my 4-ingredient guacamole as a baseline recipe. It is perfect the way it is. However, feel free to add these optional ingredients to add color, texture and change up the flavor:
- Chopped tomatoes. Use 1 medium tomato or a handful of cherry tomatoes. It is important that you scoop out the seeds first. Stir into the guacamole.
- Cilantro. Also called coriander. 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro are a fragrant addition. Ask your guests if they like it before adding it as to some people, it tastes like soap! It's a genetic thing.
- Fresh garlic or garlic powder. Fresh is always best, in my opinion. I find that ½ garlic clove is plenty - unless you absolutely adore garlic. Remove the core and chop it very, very finely. If you go for garlic powder, add ⅓ teaspoon.
- Chili. A pinch of red chili flakes tastes fabulous in guacamole, if you enjoy a bit of heat. A generous amount of cracked black pepper is also delicious in the recipe.
Recipe FAQs
Press gently into the skin with your fingers. If the avocado gives a little, it means that it is ripe. On the other hand, if there is no give at all, you cannot use the avocado yet because the flesh is still hard. If the skin gives a lot, the avocado is over-ripe and won't taste good any more.
Avocado contains an enzyme that causes the flesh to brown when it is exposed to air.
There are two things you can do to prevent guacamole from turning brown:
1. Preventing oxygen from reaching the avocado
2. Slowing down the oxidation process.
Here is how to do it:
Lime. The acid in lime juice slows down the enzyme function and preserves the guacamole.
Plastic wrap. Cover leftovers with clingfilm touching the guacamole so there are no air pockets. I have added an image below to illustrate this.
Fridge. Always store guacamole in the refrigerator. The cold slows down the enzyme breakdown.
Yes, you can. Lemon juice does not taste as fragrant as lime juice, but it works just as well in guacamole. It adds freshness, zing and the acid needed to help preserve it for longer.
Of course. Replace it with deseeded, chopped tomatoes and cilantro to add flavor and texture to the guacamole. Or, just use ⅓ teaspoon of onion powder instead.
Serving Suggestion
This easy homemade guacamole tastes wonderful with SO MANY dishes! Here are a few ideas on how to serve it.
- As a dip for veggies or with these low carb tortilla chips or pepperoni chips
- On chicken or ground beef enchiladas
- Alongside any Mexican favorites, from keto burritos to fish tacos and nachos.
- On top of a good chili! We love this quick turkey chili.
Storage
Just like I do with my avocado spread, I store leftover guacamole in the fridge in a bowl covered with clingfilm touching the guacamole so there are no air pockets. It stays fresh for up to 2 days.
You cannot freeze guacamole. Freezing and thawing change the texture, color and flavor of the dip.
More Easy Avocado Recipes
- Avocado Chicken Salad5 Minutes
- Avocado Milk2 Minutes
- Keto Avocado Smoothie2 Minutes
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
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Recipe
4 Ingredient Guacamole Recipe
from Sugar Free LondonerNote: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.
Ingredients
- 2 medium avocados 280g flesh
- 1 tablespoon lime juice Juice of ½ lime
- ⅓ small red onion finely chopped (20g)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt or more to taste
Instructions
- First of all, slice the avocados in half and remove the seeds. Scoop out the flesh with a large spoon.
- Chop the onions. Rinsing them under cold running water for 30 seconds after chopping removes any pungency and softens the flavor.
- Place the avocado flesh, lime juice and sea salt in a bowl and mash with a fork or a potato masher until well combined, leaving some chunks. Alternatively, pulse briefly in a small blender for a smoother guacamole.
- Stir through the finely chopped red onion. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve.
ROSE BASINGER
Made this today and it is so good. Thank you.
Zara
Holy guacamole this was delicious, I've been making it this whole week with my abundance of ripe avocados and breakfast has never tasted to good! I really liked the garlic mixed in there, it as a nice new side with my usual scrambled eggs and keto bread.
Clover
I'm not sure why I didn't think of this sooner: making homemade guacamole is so easy! I used to just buy it from the store, but now that I've learned how to make it myself, I can't imagine going back. It's so much better when you know exactly what's in it and how fresh it is. Plus, it's super easy to do—just mash up some avocado and add a little lime juice, red onion, and sea salt (I use kosher salt).
Anne
This recipe is quick and delicious. The creamy guacamole has a zesty twist perfect for chips or as a topping.
Robyn Pascoe
Adding a teaspoon of Ascorbic Acid (Vit C) per avocado keeps it much longer and prevents browning, also giving you a Vitamin C boost, and who doesan't need that.
Katrin Nürnberger
That is such a great tip! Thank you for sharing.
Sarah
This was so good and was a perfect snack for my kids after school with some veggies. They devoured it!
Ali
I love how this recipe is deconstructed without cilantro or tomatoes but with the option to just use those as toppings for people who like them - In my house everyone is so picky, I sometimes have to make a recipe 10 different ways to please everyone ahahah this is the perfect way to do it!!! Thank you!