Easy Homemade Vegan Guacamole Recipe

This easy homemade vegan guacamole is the perfect dip for a delicious snack or appetizer.  It's easy to put together using fresh ingredients like creamy avocado, red onion, jalapeño, fresh cilantro, lime juice, and fresh garlic.

The recipe is adaptable and can be altered to your preference, I would say this is more of a suggestion than a recipe.  If you don’t like red onion, leave it out.  If you don’t like cilantro, leave it out.  If you’re like my husband and prefer more of a “one jalapeño to one avocado” ratio, add more.  

Change up the ingredients for this plant-based guacamole and make it your own. Then enjoy it on walnut lentil tacos, vegan nachos with naturally vegan pico de gallo, refried bean taquitos, or by itself with tortilla chips. It also works great on vegan taco bowls and vegan burrito bowls.

For an easy weeknight meal try vegan avocado toast.

Jump to:

• Ingredient notes
• Picking a good avocado
• How to make vegan guacamole
• Storage
• Frequently asked question
• Serving Suggestions
• Related recipes
• Recipe
• Comments

Ingredient notes

Only a handful of ingredients are needed to make this easy vegan guacamole recipe.  Please check out the recipe card below for exact measurements for this simple recipe using simple ingredients.

Avocado - Good ripe avocados are needed for the base of this easy guacamole recipe.  

Red onion - The red onion can be replaced with yellow or white onion.  If you're not a fan of onions, they can be left out.  In a pinch onion powder can also work.

Jalapeño peppers - For a little kick add a fresh jalapeño pepper.  Keep the seeds and ribs in for more heat or remove them for less.  The jalapeños can also be left out.

Fresh cilantro - The fresh herb adds a lot of flavor to the avocado dip.  Make the guacamole recipe without cilantro if you're not a fan of the herb.  Adjust to suit your preferences.

Lime juice - Add lime juice to help preserve the mashed avocado and the tangy flavor pairs well with rich creamy avocados.  Fresh lime juice is best, but lemon juice can also be used as a substitute.

Garlic - Use a small clove of garlic that has been crushed or finely minced.  Fresh is best, but in a pinch garlic powder can be used instead.

Salt - Add to make all of the flavors pop and adjust the amount to suit your palate.

Tomatoes, optional - The recipe is written without tomatoes but they are a lovely addition.  Roma tomatoes have less water so they work great for homemade guacamole or try cherry tomatoes.

Picking a good avocado

The hardest part of making this vegan guac is waiting for the avocados to be just right.  To check for ripeness gently press the avocado (not too hard, as the avocado might bruise), it should be firm but give a little under the pressure.  Ripe avocados are not too soft and mushy, nor too firm and hard.  When you find a good one, check it for soft indentations.  If you find soft spots, they may be overripe or bruised.    

If you can’t find a good ripe avocado that’s ready to use, then pick one that’s not ready yet and ripen it at home. To speed up the ripening process, place the avocados in a brown paper bag with a couple of bananas.  The time it takes to soften the avocados will vary depending on how much they need to ripen.  It may take a couple of days or it could be ready overnight.  

If the avocados are ready but you're not, then store them in the refrigerator.  This will not halt the ripening, but it will slow it down.

How to make vegan guacamole

The delicious vegan guacamole recipe is easy to make!  Start by prepping your ingredients.  Finely dice the red onion to make a ¼ cup's worth and mince or crush 1 clove of fresh garlic.  Then, slice open a jalapeño and remove the seeds and ribs (or leave them in), then finely dice.  Next, chop fresh cilantro to have 3 tablespoons worth, use mainly the leaves and the top tender parts of the stems.  

Slice open the avocados and remove the pit.

Slice a cross-hatch pattern for cubes, but don't cut through the skin of the avocado.  Then scoop out the avocado flesh with a spoon, avoid any brown spots. You can also make slices or just scoop out the flesh as it is with a spoon.

In a mixing bowl, mash the avocados with the back of a fork or a potato masher until it reaches your desired texture.  For a chunkier texture, leave some small avocado pieces.

Then add the diced red onion, diced jalapeño, crushed garlic, lime juice, and salt to the mashed avocados.  Then stir to combine.

Finally, taste the vegan guac and adjust to your preferences.  Do you prefer more salt?  Add a pinch more.  Prefer a little more tang?  Add a little more fresh lime juice. 

Storage

Guacamole is susceptible to oxidation, which is why that beautiful green color turns brown.  The lime juice in the recipe will slow this process down and keep it from immediately turning brown, letting you enjoy your freshly made avocado dip.  It’s only a temporary solution and won’t prevent leftovers from browning. 

It's really best to enjoy the guacamole the day it's made. 

Method 1: I did a little testing to see if red or yellow onions would help preserve leftover guacamole.  I used a red onion because, well, the recipe calls for it and that would be convenient.  I also tried yellow onion, because I’ve read about others having success with mainly yellow onions.  Both onions slowed the browning of the guacamole, but not to the point that would will stay fresh for days.  I stored both servings in glass containers with lids that clipped on for an airtight seal.

Photo A shows the leftover guac with peeled onion halves on the day it was made.

Photo B shows the leftover guac three days later.  The guac is starting to brown and there is some residual liquid. 

Method 2:  Another option to store leftover avocado dip is plastic wrap.  Store the dip in an airtight container, spread the surface of the guac flat, and press the cling wrap directly on top of the guacamole.  Make sure it is attached to the surface of the dip.  Then place the lid on the airtight container.

These methods are only temporary for preserving guacamole.  For more ways of storing the dip check out 9 methods for keeping guacamole.

Frequently asked question

Is guacamole vegan?

It is usually vegan since guacamole is made from avocados and other plant-based ingredients, but ask the vendor and read labels to be sure.  Sometimes sour cream, yogurt, and other non-vegan-friendly ingredients are added to make it into an avocado dip. 

Serving Suggestions

The plant-based guacamole can be added to a variety of dishes.  Enjoy it as an appetizer or add it to your favorite Mexican-inspired dishes. 

• Serve with tortilla chips
• Sliced raw veggies
• Quesadillas
• Vegan burrito bowls
• Walnut Lentil tacos
• Vegan taco salad bowl
• Refried bean taquitos
• Vegan red lentil chili or plant-based quinoa chili topping
• Use it as a condiment on sandwiches or toast

Related recipes

• Oil-Free Hummus
• Vegan Curry Chickpea Salad

I hope you enjoy this plant-based guacamole recipe!  If you like the recipe feel free to rate it and leave a comment.

Originally published back in 2019 and updated on February 12, 2022.

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