4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (2024)

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This Super Simple Guacamole recipe is easy to make in 5 minutes using only 4 ingredients! Super easy and super delish!

4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (1)

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The 4 Ingredients

Steps and Avocado Tips

How to Keep Guacamole From Turning Brown

Upgrade Your Basic Guacamole

Creative Uses

Recipe Tips and FAQs

4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon

The 4 Ingredients

  • Avocados: In this recipe, I used two regular avocados but on the larger side. I usually like using the jumbo avocados when their availble though for the extra avocado!
  • Garlic: 1 large clove finely minced adds the perfect amount of garlicky flavor.
  • Lemon: Serious question: Are you a lemon or lime in guacamole kinda person? I know the traditional way uses lime, but I personally prefer guacamole with lemon! I like the flavor better with lemon juice, but lime works too. If you're out of fresh lemons or limes, try using bottled lime or lemon juice. Although, freshly squeezed juice is definitely the best!
  • Salt: Salt enhances the flavors and brings it all together. Add a smaller amount than you think you'll want and then taste and adjust as needed.
4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (2)

Steps and Avocado Tips

Guacamole really is a taste as you go kind of recipe. The amounts of salt and lemon vary depending on the size of avocados and of course, your taste preference.

But before we get into the recipe steps, a few avocado tips!

  • Ever wondered how to tell when your avocados are ripe? Gently press near the top by the stem and when you get a little give or softness - it's guacamole time!
  • If you need to ripen an avocado, place it in a brown paper bag and seal it shutting it from getting outside air. If you want to speed it up even more, add an apple or banana to the bag with the avocados to help the process.

Onto the recipe steps! Start by mashing up the avocado in a bowl with a fork or potato masher. Add the minced garlic, lemon juice and salt.

Stir to combine well. Taste and adjust salt and lemon as needed.

I usually use the juice of about half a lemon - I love the zesty flavor!

How to Keep Guacamole From Turning Brown

I learned this tip from others, and it's a life saver to keep that guac fresh!

To avoid the brown color that comes with exposure to oxygen, place saran wrap on the guacamole. Make sure to press the saran wrap into the bowl so that the wrap touches the guac. This reduces the exposure to oxygen, which slows the guacamole from turning brown.

Acidity helps as well, so you can never have too much lemon juice!

Upgrade Your Basic Guacamole

There's nothing wrong with basic guac, but if you're feeling ready for a change-up, here are some ideas!

  • Spicy Guacamole: Add jalapeno, cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes
  • Tropical Guacamole: Add pineapple, mango, or papaya to the mix
  • Harvest Guacamole: Add corn, beans and tomatoes
4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (3)

Here, I made a spicy guac with jalapenos and red pepper flakes, and I added some fresh flavor with cilantro and tomatoes. I love this mix of ingredients, but there are truly endless varieties of guacamole you can make.

Do you have a favorite guacamole spin-off? Let me know in the comments!

Creative Uses

Guac can go with so much! Try it as a toast spread, mix it in with salads and grain bowls. It makes a good sandwich addition or chip and veggie dip.

I know avocado toast was all the rage and tbh it's my breakfast 5 days out of the week, but if you have guac already made, you got avocado toast practically done with extra delicious flavor! Try it next time and let me know what ya think!

4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (4)

Recipe Tips and FAQs

Can you freeze guacamole?

Yes! The texture won't be as creamy, but it'll still have delicious flavor. Place extra guacamole in a zip lock bag and remove as much air as possible before sealing the bag and freezing.

4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (5)

4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon

This super simple guacamole is easy to make in 5 minutes! All you need is 2 avocados, lemon juice, garlic and salt.

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Author: Monica Nedeff

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 2 avocados
  • 1.5 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Slice avocados lengthwise around the pit. Twist and pull avocados apart and remove the pit.

  • Using a spoon, scoop out the avocado from the 4 halves into a bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher.

  • Add the minced garlic, lemon juice and salt. Stir, taste and adjust as needed. Try starting with 1 tablespoon lemon juice and ¼ teaspoon salt if your avocados are on the smaller side.

Notes

  1. The proportions of lemon juice and salt will depend on how large the avocados you use in your recipe and your preference. Start with less salt and juice than you think you need and taste test as you go to make sure you don't overpower the creamy avocado flavor....unless that's what you're going for!
  2. Other add-in ideas include: jalapeno, onion, cilantro, red pepper flakes, tomatoes, paprika and really anything your heart desires!

Nutrition

Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 496mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 147IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

(Nutrition values are calculated by third-party software and an estimate that can vary based on product brands and cooking methods.)

Course: Dip

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: lemon juice, super simple

Tried this recipe? I love seeing your creations!Mention @monicanedeff.rdn or tag #monicanedeff so I can share them with the community!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chuck Grohs

    4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (6)
    Easy recipe packed with flavor! Especially nice for someone who prefers lemons to limes! I did a little bit of diced onion.

    Reply

    • Monica Nedeff

      I prefer the lemon to lime too - glad you enjoyed it! Love the addition of diced onion!

      Reply

  2. Helena Size

    4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (7)
    Amazing 🤩

    Reply

    • Monica Nedeff

      So happy to hear it, Helena!

      Reply

  3. JaLee

    4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (8)
    This is the simple classic recipe I grew up with in Houston, TX! Going to be making a classic 7-layer dip with an added ground sausage layer for New Years Eve. Thank you so much for sharing this!

    Reply

    • Monica Nedeff

      Absolutely! So happy to hear how much you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  4. Steph

    4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (9)
    Excellent 👍

    Reply

  5. Elaine

    Love the recipe I didn’t know I could make it with lemon thank you I love it and I’m going to try all the different kinds of ingredients

    Reply

    • Monica Nedeff

      So happy to hear it, Elaine! Hope you enjoy the other recipe spin-offs!

      Reply

  6. Sally wright

    4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (10)
    I Love knowing I am not alone!
    I wish I could use onions and tomatoes, but I have learned since after gallbladder surgery, I can still eat some foods I love. Avocados help my tummy feel so good ♥️🤗

    Reply

  7. Roe

    4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (11)
    Thank you!! It was great and simple to make, but I would definitely try adding the tomatoes cut very thinly. My family is Italian and I think we just add tomatoes every which way! Lol

    Reply

    • Monica Nedeff

      Thank you for the review and rating, Roe! I love the idea of adding tomatoes!

      Reply

  8. Sylvie

    Delicious thank you 😁

    Reply

  9. Mike

    4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (12)
    I found this recipe after searching for "lemon instead of lime guac". This is my first time making guacamole and it was really good! I wanted to save some for later but I failed and ate it all. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Monica Nedeff

      Haha too funny, Mike! So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  10. Frances

    Wonderful recipe... thank you

    Reply

    • Monica Nedeff

      Glad you enjoyed it, Frances!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

4 Ingredient Simple Guacamole with Lemon - Monica Nedeff (2024)

FAQs

What is a good substitute for lemon juice in guacamole? ›

I like the flavor better with lemon juice, but lime works too. If you're out of fresh lemons or limes, try using bottled lime or lemon juice. Although, freshly squeezed juice is definitely the best! Salt: Salt enhances the flavors and brings it all together.

Does lemon or lime juice keep guacamole from turning brown? ›

I checked for browning after one hour, one-and-a-half hours, and two hours. Results: I couldn't believe how well this worked! Not only did the lemon juice work well to prevent browning on the surface of the guacamole, but it also did a noticeably better job than the lime juice.

Why do people put mayo in guacamole? ›

Although adding mayonnaise to guacamole can be a divisive topic, plenty of people swear by it for its textural benefits. Blending just a little bit of mayo into your guacamole will help make it extra creamy and silky smooth for dipping or spreading.

Why do people put sour cream in guacamole? ›

Sour cream is a simple addition to your favorite guacamole recipe. Just a few tablespoons to a small batch recipe will do it. The sour cream adds a nice tang without being too overbearing and it also creates a creamy, silky mouthfeel. A fabulous contrast to the crunch of tortilla chips.

Why should you leave the lime out of guacamole? ›

You see, lime is a very strong acidic flavor and it can easily overpower the delicate flavor of the avocado. Instead, finely dice red onions and pickle them with lime juice for 15-30 minutes.

What can I add if I don't have lemon juice? ›

Apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, and rice vinegar can all be substituted at a ½:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, then, sub 1 tablespoon vinegar and replace the rest with water if needed. Usually you won't need to add any extra liquid but it depends on the recipe.

How do restaurants keep avocados from turning brown? ›

The main goal is to prevent oxygen from touching the avocado's flesh. Plastic wrap is a practical, albeit not foolproof way to slow down the natural course of fruit aging. The trick is to make sure the plastic wrap is sealed flush with the flesh.

What do Mexicans eat guacamole with? ›

This treat is usually served with chips at local Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurants, such as Moe's or Chipotle, but is also a popular ingredient on tacos, nachos, burritos, quesadillas, and more.

Is guacamole just mashed avocado? ›

What Is Guacamole? Guacamole is an avocado-based dip or spread that originated in Mexico. It's typically made with mashed avocado and lime juice, then seasoned with salt and cilantro. Guacamole often contains tomatoes and onions.

What can I use instead of sour cream in guacamole? ›

Yogurt is your best substitute for sour cream. Whether you're baking or making a dip or sauce, yogurt is a 1:1 sub. That means if your recipe calls for 1 cup of sour cream, you can replace it with 1 cup of yogurt. Full-fat Greek or natural yogurts work best, but low-fat or even nonfat can be used, too.

How to jazz up guacamole? ›

Other seasonings and spices like paprika or cayenne can add a kick to standard guacamole. Crushed red pepper, cayenne, paprika, or even garlic powder can up the flavor in a store-bought guacamole and allow you to cater it to your own tastes.

Is guacamole or salsa better for you? ›

Guacamole is also calorie-dense, but is high in unsaturated fat and has some important vitamins. Salsa is lower in calories, with no fat and has many beneficial vitamins.

What can I use instead of lemon to stop avocado going brown? ›

Add pineapple juice

As with lemon juice, coating your avocado with pineapple juice may keep it from turning brown.

What is a substitute for 3 teaspoons of lemon juice? ›

When cooking savory dishes, lime juice and orange juice make a good substitute for lemon juice. Replace the lemon juice with lime juice in equal amounts (e.g. 1 teaspoon for 1 teaspoon). Or, you could substitute the lemon juice with half as much white wine or white vinegar.

Is lime juice necessary for guacamole? ›

All you really need to make guacamole is ripe avocados and salt. After that, a little lime or lemon juice—a splash of acidity—will help balance the richness of the avocado. If you want, add chopped cilantro, chilis, onion, and/or tomato.

Why should we add lemon juice into the bowl of avocado? ›

Avocados are not shelf-friendly, and once ripened will go brown quickly. Lemon juice and salt can slow the decomposition and add flavor.

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