Simple Lemon Guacamole (No Cilantro)

A simple and delicious twist on a favorite dip, this lemon guacamole recipe uses fresh lemons in place of lime. Made without cilantro, onions or limes, this version uses just avocados plus 5 other basic ingredients for those times when you forgot to buy cilantro, onions or lime (or if you simply don't like cilantro or onions!).

Jump to:

• The Ingredients
• The Method
• Leftovers and Storage
• Make it Your Own
• Serving Ideas
• And if you liked this recipe...
• Recipe Card
• Comments

Before you make this guacamole recipe, I must warn you. It is delicious. Too delicious. It might disappear much quicker than you intended.

I know from experience. The day that I made it to take the photos, it was gone within 10 minutes. The whole batch. And that 10 minutes includes the time I spent taking photos!

Fortunately, though, this lemon guac is super easy to make so you can have more ready in no time!

It is great along with some Canned Tomato Salsa and Easy Queso for the ultimate tray of dips if you want a fun snack, dish for a potluck or are entertaining!

The Ingredients

• Avocado- Look for medium avocados that are firm but still have a slight give. We want it to be ripe enough to mash easily but to still be nice and green. I typically use Hass avocados so if you choose another variety which is smaller, you may need to use 3-4 of them.
  • Each avocado should yield about 4-5 oz (120-150 g) for a total of about 9 oz (270 g)- just over 1 cup.
• Lemon Juice- I like the twist of making guacamole with lemon but you definitely can use lime juice if you have it. (And if you love lemon, try these oat flour lemon poppyseed muffins too!)
• Garlic- I love garlic in guacamole so I use two cloves. Feel free to reduce it to one or use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder instead. Garlic powder is a great option if you don't like the strong bite of fresh garlic but still want garlic flavor.
• Sea Salt- Table or kosher salt will work as well. Be sure to taste and add more salt if needed. If it tastes bland, it likely needs more salt.
• Black Pepper
• Hot Sauce- Add more if you would like it a bit spicier or leave it out completely. For reference, I used "Frank's Hot Sauce".

The Method

1. Prep avocado. Slice the avocado in half and carefully remove the pit and then scoop out the flesh into a bowl. Mash the avocado leaving it a bit chunky.

2. Add seasonings. Add the salt, pepper, garlic, lemon juice and hot sauce.

3. Mix. Stir together and then taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

4. Serve.

Leftovers and Storage

Make Ahead: Because guacamole has the tendency to brown, I highly recommend making it fresh! That said, you could make it up to one day in advance. See the tips below to prevent it from going brown.

To Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Tips to Prevent Guacamole from Browning: Store in an airtight container (I like to use snap and lock types) and use plastic wrap (or a similar reusable type of product) on the surface to prevent contact with the air. It will still go brown over time but a tight seal will help to slow it down! The citrus from the lemon juice in the recipe also helps.

Make it Your Own

Use this recipe as a starting point and feel free to add or customize it however you like! You could:

• Add:
  • Red Onion- I like to add ¼ cup finely chopped onion for some bite. You can also use white or yellow onion.
  • Tomatoes- A ½ cup of diced tomatoes adds some nice freshness. If adding a juicy tomato, dice it and allow the juices to drain over a strainer so that they don't make the guacamole too watery.
  • Chopped Cilantro- If you like cilantro, try including 2 tablespoons of finely chopped plus adding a bit more for garnish on top.
  • Jalapeño- For some spice, try adding a diced jalapeño. For a bit less spiciness, remove the seeds and membrances.
• Garnish with:
  • Chimichurri
  • Cotija or Feta
  • Pepitas

Serving Ideas

This easy guacamole is perfect for dipping:

• Tortilla Chips (Or Corn Tortillas)
• Crispy Baked Plantains
• Fresh Vegetables
• Crackers
• Pretzels
• Fries

Lemon guacamole is also a great side or topping to:

• Ground Beef Tacos
• Carnitas or Pulled Pork
• Huevos Rancheros
• Chicken Nachos
• White Chili
• Toast (and try this Avocado Chickpea Toast next!)

LET ME PLAN YOUR DINNERS! Join my email list and receive My FREE Meal Plan (Including Grocery List!) as a gift>>>

And if you liked this recipe...

...you might also like:

• Easy 5 Minute Salsa
• Healthy Queso
• Beet Hummus
• Corn and Black Bean Salsa

Recipe Card

More Mexican Inspired Recipes!