Best Homemade Guacamole (with or without Cilantro)

I think this recipe is the Best Homemade Guacamole, and it’s delicious whether you make it with or without cilantro! And of course every Mexican restaurant has their own version of this famous avocado appetizer, but I love the ingredients in my homemade guacamole, and make it often!

PIN the Best Homemade Guacamole to try it later!

There’s a reason why fresh guacamole made at the table is such a thing in Mexican restaurants, and I think guacamole should be included in every Mexican food dinner. And this recipe for Best Homemade Guacamole (with or without Cilantro) is the one I’ve used and loved for years. This weekend is Cinco de Mayo and avocados are on sale, so today I’m reminding you to try my favorite guacamole recipe! 

I remember the first time I tasted guacamole, on the menu as “Guacamole Salad” at a now-long-gone restaurant named Tampico’s in downtown Salt Lake City. It was creamy, slightly spicy, with just a touch of lime, and I thought it was one of the most heavenly things I’d ever tasted. Now this homemade guacamole with avocado, lime, red onion, cilantro, ground Ancho Chile, Vege-Sal, and Green Tabasco Sauce is the recipe I’ve loved for years!

I know cilantro is an ingredient that’s not a winner for some people, so see below for how to substitute that.

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

• avocados
• freshly squeezed lime juice, I used my fresh-frozen lime juice
• red onion
• fresh cilantro
• ground Ancho chile (affiliate link), or use any spicy ground chile you have
• Vege-Sal (affiliate link) or use slightly less regular salt
• Green Tabasco Sauce (affiliate link), or use any hot sauce that you like the flavor of)

What if you’re not a cilantro lover?

If you don’t enjoy the flavor of cilantro, you can easily switch that for thinly sliced green onion in this homemade guacamole recipe. And whether or not you add the cilantro, this guacamole is always a treat!

How to eat Homemade Guacamole without chips:

If you’re trying to avoid corn chips, Guacamole is great with thinly sliced jicama or Sweet Mini-Pepper scoops!

Want my variation for extra-easy Guacamole?

For years I made “Easy Guacamole” for parties with just avocado, lime, and a bit of chili powder, and it was always a hit. There are still a few recipes on the website that mention that easy version. This recipe came about after I started adding finely chopped cilantro. red onion, and a few more spices to that easy guacamole recipe.

Is Cilantro-Lovers Perfect Guacamole low in carbs?

This perfect guacamole recipe makes six servings, and each serving has only 2 net carbs, with a small amount of protein!

How to make the Best Homemade Guacamole (with or without Cilantro):

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

1. Start with two perfectly ripe avocados. Peel avocados, dice into chunks, and toss with lime juice.
2. You’ll also need chopped red onion and finely chopped cilantro (or green onion).
3. Grab some ground Ancho chile (affiliate link), Green Tabasco Sauce (affiliate link), and salt or Vege-Sal (affiliate link).
4. When you’ve added avocado, lime juice, finely chopped red onion, finely chopped cilantro (or green onion), Ancho chile pepper, Vege-Sal, and Green Tabasco, it’s time to start mashing the guacamole with a fork. I don’t mind a few chunks in my guacamole, but that’s a personal preference.
5. Serve the homemade guacamole right away or chill for an hour or so, your choice!

Make it for a Low-Carb Mexican Meal:

Homemade Guacamole could be a great appetizer or side dish for any of these recipes:

• Salsa Verde Chicken Bake
• Cheesy Low-Carb Taco Casserole
• Instant Pot Salsa Pork Chops 
• Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
• Baked Stuffed Chicken Breast with Green Chiles and Cheese

Want ideas for Low-Carb Mexican Food?

On the blog I’ve shared Low-Carb Mexican Food Favorites and Keto Mexican Food Dinners, so check out the options if you’re planning your Cinco de Mayo menu. Personally I wouldn’t mind a whole week of Mexican food!

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Yield: 6 servings

Best Homemade Guacamole (with or without Cilantro)

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

There are many recipes for guacamole, but this Cilantro-Lover's Guacamole with has red onion, lime, and chiles for the perfect combination of ingredients!

Ingredients

• 2 medium avocados (see notes)
• 1 T freshly squeezed lime juice (see notes)
• 3 T very finely minced red onion
• 1/4 cup very finely minced fresh cilantro (see notes)
• 1/4 tsp. ground Ancho chile pepper
• 1/2 tsp. Vege-Sal (or use 1/4 tsp. regular salt)
• 1/2 tsp. Green Tabasco sauce (more or less to taste, or use any hot sauce that you like the flavor of)

Instructions

1. Peel avocados and dice into pieces. Put avocado into a glass or plastic bowl and toss with the lime juice.
2. Finely chop red onion and cilantro (or green onion) and add to the avocado.
3. Add ground Ancho chile pepper, Vege-Sal (or salt), and Green Tabasco Sauce to the bowl (all links are affiliate links).
4. Using a fork, mash and stir the avocado until other ingredients are mixed in and avocado is mostly mashed, with some small chunks remaining.
5. Taste for seasoning and add more salt, chile pepper, or hot sauce if desired.
6. This recipe for the Homeade Guacamole is best made just before eating, but it will keep in the fridge for a day or so. (The top will brown slightly, but if you stir you’ll find the lime juice has kept the rest of the avocado from darkening.)

Notes

The avocados must be perfectly ripe for good guacamole; the flesh of the avocado should barely give when pressed with your thumb.

I used my fresh-frozen lime juice. Use finely minced green onion if you're a cilantro avoider.

Nutritional info is based on 1/4 cup serving size.

This recipe created by Kalyn after experimenting with guacamole through the years.

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 112Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 0mgSodium 17mgCarbohydrates 7gFiber 5gSugar 1gProtein 2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

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Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
The ingredients in my Best Homemade Guacamole are low-carb and also approved for all phases of the original South Beach Diet (although limit to 1/3 avocado per day for South Beach if you’re really following the plan.) Of course the traditional corn chips often served with guacamole aren’t low-carb or South Beach Diet friendly, but avocado is great with thinly-sliced jicama “chips” or sweet mini-pepper scoops!

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Appetizer Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
The recipe for this perfect homemade guacamole with or without cilantro was first posted in 2009! The recipe was last updated with more information in 2026.