This easy homemade Guacamole recipe from Alton Brown is the best you’ll ever try! Pair it with some salsa and crunchy tortilla chips for dipping and enjoy the fresh flavors of summer!

Serve this with my Loaded Nachos, Baked Tacos, Chicken Quesadillas, Steak Fajitas, and Chicken Enchiladas!

Wooden bowl filled with Guacamole with a black tortilla chip in the middle.

It doesn’t get much better than a big ol’ bowl of homemade guacamole with fresh ingredients!

There are so many different ways to make this recipe, and there’s no right or wrong way, but in my opinion, nothing beats the Alton Brown’s Guacamole recipe.

Let’s talk about the best ingredients for guacamole, how to tell if an avocado is ripe, and how to keep guacamole from turning brown!

Overhead image of ingredients needed to make guacamole.

How to Tell if an Avocado is Ripe

A ripe avocado will have these 3 signs:

    • The Avocado is soft (but not mushy) on each end when you gently press it.
    • It’s darker in color (vs. a brighter green.)
    • The stem of the avocado comes off easily and is green or yellow underneath.

A hand holding each end of an avocado to test for ripeness.Close up shot of a hand holding an avocado with an arrow pointed at the pit.

How Long Does it Take for an Avocado to Ripen?

  • An unripe avocado generally takes 4-7 days to ripen when stored at room temperature.

How to Ripen an Avocado Faster

  • Placing an avocado in a brown paper bag will speed up the ripening process.
  • Conversely, placing an avocado in the refrigerator will slow down the ripening process.

How to Keep Guacamole From Turning Brown

  • Air is the enemy when you’re keeping guacamole fresh.
  • Pack the guacamole down in an airtight container and remove as much air as you can.
  • Use a good, sticky plastic wrap to create a tight seal on the top of the guacamole with no air in between. I swear by this kind.
  • Pour water over the top of the plastic wrap and then place the lid on the container to really seal it good. Avocado is so dense that it doesn’t absorb the water if any touches the surface.
  • Coating the avocados in Lime Juice also helps to keep it fresh and green

Do Avocado Pits Keep Guacamole Fresh?

  • Not as well as you may think.
  • Long Story Short: Only the surface area of the guacamole that the pit is touching is protected from browning. This article explains it best.

 

How to Slice an Avocado

  • This avocado slicer makes slicing an avocado and removing the pit much easier.
  • Otherwise, use a sharp knife and start at the avocado stem and work your way around as evenly as you can.
  • Carefully tap the sharp end of the knife into the pit and twist/pull up to remove.

Sliced avocados with their pits removed on a white surface next to an avocado slicer.

Close up view of a hand dipping a tortilla chip into a bowl of guacamole.

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Guacamole

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
5 from 3 ratings
Servings: 6 servings
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This easy homemade Guacamole recipe from Alton Brown is the best you'll ever try! Pair it with some salsa and crunchy tortilla chips for dipping and enjoy the fresh flavors of summer!

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric
  • 3 ripe avocados
  • 1 Tablespoon lime juice
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ cup white onion, diced
  • 1 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
  • 1 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1 Jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

Instructions

  • Dice up the onion, garlic, tomatoes, cilantro, and jalapeno and set aside.
  • Slice the avocados and scoop the pulp into a medium bowl.
  • Add the lime juice and use the back of a spoon or a potato masher to mash the avocado, leaving some larger chunks for texture.
  • Stir in the salt, cumin, and cayenne.
  • Use a silicone spatula to mix in the diced vegetables, garlic, and cilantro.
  • You may serve immediately with salsa and loaded nachos, or Alton Brown suggests that you cover with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for 1 hour prior to serving.

Notes

Pro Tip: Want to try creamy guacamole? Add 2 Tablespoons of sour cream to the mix!

How to Keep Guacamole From Turning Brown

  • Air is the enemy when you're keeping guacamole fresh.
  • Pack the guacamole down in an airtight container and remove as much air as you can.
  • Use a good, sticky plastic wrap to create a tight seal on the top of the guacamole with no air in between. I swear by this kind.
  • Pour water over the top of the plastic wrap and then place the lid on the container to really seal it good. Avocado is so dense that it doesn't absorb the water if any touches the surface.
  • Lime Juice in the guacamole also helps to keep it fresh and green

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 202mg, Potassium: 531mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 295IU, Vitamin C: 16.1mg, Calcium: 15mg, Iron: 0.7mg
Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican
Author: Stephanie

Recipe Source: Alton Brown