Who’s ready to have a party at home?! Cinco de Mayo falls on a Taco Tuesday this year, and few things are more fun to serve in the kitchen on this day than a make-your-own guacamole bar! So many things pair well with avocado. That’s why I love setting up guacamole bars at our house any chance I get. Plus, setting up a guacamole bar can also double as weekly food prep (if you plan your meals and want it to).
Some of our favorite guacamole ingredients can also be used for other dishes like this Yellow Rice with Peppers and Onions!
The recipe card below is for my personal favorite “classic” guacamole. But if you want to get crazy this Taco Tuesday, take a cue from the lists below and do whatever makes you happy! Haven’t gone grocery shopping in a while? Don’t worry! Just grab whatever you have around the house and make it work! Don’t let anyone tell you “what” to put in your bowl or “how much” of something to mix with your avocado. That’s the beauty of homemade guacamole. You can mix-and-match whatever you want, and everyone eats happy!
How to make guacamole
IMHO, you can add just about anything to avocado to make a guacamole that suits whatever cuisine you are serving. Mediterranean, Mexican, Indian – it’s all good! Just plan to have enough avocados based on the number of people you are serving. My husband and I can easily down an entire avocado each in one sitting, but if you’re serving guacamole with a larger meal, you might plan for half an avocado per person.
Guacamole is one of the few things I recommend NOT making more of than you need for a single meal. It’s hard to keep avocado from browning, and while it’s more visual than anything, it can still be unappetizing to see brown mush in tupperware. You can prep all the other ingredients in advance but leave the avocado for when you’re ready to eat.
The trick to making guacamole comes, first, in making sure your avocados are ripe (the skin will be more brown than green, and the avocado on whole should feel soft but not mushy when you give it a light squeeze). Second, pay attention to the order in which you mixing everything together. Start with the mashed avocado, herbs, spices, and non-solids (like citrus juice, olive oil, and sour cream). If you’re eye-balling measurements or throwing caution to the wind and just dumping randomly into your bowl, make sure you taste-test along the way! After that, mix in your hearty ingredients (like onions and diced garlic). Finally, finish off with your soft ingredients (like tomatoes).
What to put in guacamole
There are a few basic ingredients you probably always want to including in your guacamole:
- Avocado (okay, maybe this doesn’t count, but I’ll state the obvious)
- Salt (one healthy pinch of plain table salt per whole avocado used should do the trick)
- Citrus juice of some kind (lemon and lime are traditional, but don’t be afraid to get creative here!)
Beyond that, depending on what else you’re serving with the guacamole, consider adding any of the following:
- Cilantro (some may call this mandatory, but if you want to please everyone, including those who think cilantro tastes like soap, I would recommend keeping it on the side)
- Tomatoes
- Yellow Onion
- Lettuce
- Garlic
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- Red Onion
- Cucumber
- Artichoke
- Spinach
- Sprouts
- Rice
- Corn
- Beans
- Green, Yellow, Red Peppers
- Pablano, Jalapeno, Cayenne Peppers
- Dried spices
- Fresh herbs
- Flavored Olive Oil
- Sour Cream
- Crème Fraîche
- Shredded Cheese
- Citrus juice of another kind (orange, tangerine, grapefruit)
What to serve with guacamole
If you’re wondering what else you could serve with guacamole (and yes, I said that right – guacamole is always the star of the plate when it’s served!), here are a few ideas:
- Ground Beef Tacos
- Sriracha Brown Sugar Pork Tacos (recipe coming soon!)
- Chicken Rice Bowls
- Fajita Steak Burritos
- Curry Chicken Plate
- Salsa & Tortilla Chips
- Nachos Grande
- 7-Layer Dip
- Straight from the bowl with a spoon (I won’t judge!)
Conclusion
The next time you have a few ripe avocados at home, don’t be afraid to get a little creative and mix ’em with whatever else you have around the house at that time. That’s the joy of this dish. You can make it anytime, anywhere, with anything! And the best part about a homemade guacamole bar is it is such an easy way to please a crowd. Everyone can make their own exactly as they want it, and it adds a little fun activity to your party or gathering!