Copycat Chipotle Guacamole Recipe

Guacamole is one of the most delicious foods out there by far. When you think about it, it's remarkably versatile, too. Chef and food writer Susan Olayinka of The Flexible Fridge says that while of course this copycat Chipotle guacamole "is perfect with some tortilla chips," that misses a lot of great opportunities. While there's nothing wrong with some classic chips and guac, consider the universe of guacamole possibilities that await you. Olayinka says that you should be slathering the stuff "on toast, onto loaded sweet potatoes, in burritos and tacos, on bread for sandwiches, atop steak, with fries — [there] are so many great matches."

So why aren't you enjoying guacamole on a more regular basis? One reason is the likely possibility that, as Olayinka says, "unfortunately it doesn't keep too well." It is true that guacamole may oxidize and turn brown rather quickly, though there are a couple of tricks you can use to make it last a little longer in the fridge.

Another common food misconception out there is the one that says great guac is hard to make. The fact is that this super simple recipe takes all of five minutes to prep and requires no special equipment or culinary prowess. If you can safely wield a knife and mash up some avocado in a bowl, you're ready. In fact, the only real issue when it comes to making this copycat Chipotle guacamole recipe will be deciding whether or not you're going to share once it's done.

Like so many guacamole recipes, you can always play with the spices here. But, for basic and thoroughly excellent guacamole, you'll need 2 ripe avocados, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, 1/8 teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt, 1 tablespoon of finely chopped red onion, and a 1/4 cup of cilantro. Once you're familiar with this recipe, you should consider all the ways you can riff on this guac in the future, whether it's with a hit of spice, more lemon or lime juice, or any number of other possibilities. Just try to avoid adding tomato to your guacamole, okay?

Also, it's a good idea to keep a couple more lime or lemon wedges handy, as "putting a squeeze of lemon or lime over the guac will keep it from going brown as quickly," says Olayinka.

With a good, sharp knife, slice all the way around the circumference of each avocado, pressing the blade in until it hits the large pit. Now pop the avocado open, dig out the pit with a spoon, and scoop the "meat" into a bowl. If you see any brown or black spots in the avocado, discard those. While you're here, consider keeping that avocado pit, as it has some surprising uses that you may want to access later.

Mash the avocado with a fork or spoon until it's generally creamy and free of large lumps. That said, don't go nuts with this part of the process just yet, as there's plenty more mixing to come that will help smooth the guac's texture. Also, be sure to move to the next step immediately, as the avocado will start browning quickly without the addition of some citrus juice.

You already finely chopped the onion, minced the cilantro, juiced the lemon and lime, and measured out the salt, right? After all, good preparation is a key secret in the chef's repertoire. Take all of your prepped ingredients, then toss the lemon, lime, pepper, salt, red onion, and cilantro into the bowl atop the avocado.

Now mix and mash and press and stir everything together until it has all mixed into the consistency of your favorite Chipotle guacamole. Done with that part? Well, guess what? That was the last step. Seriously. You're done, so now serve the stuff and enjoy it. Remember to add in a touch more citrus to keep your guac fresh if you're still worried about browning.