I’ve always loved guacamole but my consumption this summer has been off the charts.
So much so that creating my own guac bar is only fitting.
If you’re like me, you don’t have to throw a party to set out a spread like this. I can down this by myself on a random Monday.
I’ve made more meals out of The Best Peach Mango Salsa and guacamole than I can count. I don’t even need chips, just a spoon.
After the avocado is mashed in a bowl with a squirt of lime juice and dash of salt, it’s time for the add-in’s. I love the textures and flavors of veggies in guac and they really help to stretch one avocado. I try to limit myself to one avocado per day, but sometimes that’s impossible.
A big tip if you just need a few tablespoons of various veggies is to buy a ‘fajita mix’ or ‘stir fry mix’ in the refrigerated case of the produce department. It’s an easy and more cost-effective way to incorporate a wide variety of veggies without having to buy a whole one of each.
For pops of color and nice texture I like tomatoes, bell peppers (any color), corn, black beans, or olives.
If you’re a heat seeker like I am, add diced jalepenos, green chili peppers, poblano peppers, ground cayenne pepper, or cumin. Stirring in a couple tablespoons of spicy salsa works, too.
For bold flavor, add onions, garlic, salsa, or pico de gallo. And I love cilantro and always go overboard with it because it adds big flavor and for me it’s what makes guac taste authentic.
Get creative and if you think crumbled goat cheese, char-grilled corn, pickled jalepenos, mango or pineapple sound good, add them.
Serve your DIY guac with chips, flatbread, toasted pita bread or baguette slices. To keep carbs down and veggie intake up, sometimes I use speared bell peppers as my dippers. Sometimes I just use a spoon and shovel.
If you plan to do a guac bar for an event, only mash about half the avocados you think you’ll need in the beginning (I budget 1 avocado per person), and as time passes, mash as needed. Even if it doesn’t turn brown, guac turns darker and looks less appealing over time.
Whatever you add to your guac, I highly recommend washing it down with a couple of The Best Homemade Margaritas or a non-alcoholic 5-Calorie Lime-Raspgberry Margarita Fizz.
Just remember avocados are loaded with healthy fats. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway.
Pin This Recipe
Enjoy AverieCooks.com Without Ads! 🆕
Go Ad Free
Do-It-Yourself Guacamole Bar
Ingredients
Essential
- 1 medium ripe avocado, mashed
- juice of 1/2 lime, or to taste
- pinch salt, to taste
Optional Add-Ins
- bell peppers, any color
- tomatoes
- onions, red, white, yellow, Vidalia, green, scallions, etc.
- garlic
- cilantro
- pico de gallo
- jalepeno peppers, fresh, canned, pickled, etc.
- green chili peppers, fresh, canned, fire-roasted, etc.
- poblano peppers
- serrano peppers
- ground cayenne pepper
- red pepper flakes
- cumin
- salsa
- corn, fresh, frozen, char-grilled, etc.
- black beans
- olives
- cheese, crumbled Cotija, feta, goat, blue, etc.
- mango
- pineapple
- anything else you love
- Serve With, optional
- sour cream
- salsa
- pico de gallo
- margaritas
Serve With (optional)
- sour cream
- salsa
- pico de gallo
- margaritas
- Serve On
- tortilla chips
- flatbread
- toasted pita bread
- baguette slices
- crackers
- speared bell peppers
Serve On
- tortilla chips
- flatbread
- toasted pita bread
- baguette slices
- crackers
- speared bell peppers
Instructions
- Peel and de-seed the avocado. Scoop out and mash the flesh in a medium bowl.
- Add the lime juice, salt to taste, and stir to combine.
- Add as many add-ins, to taste, as desired and stir to combine.
- Serve with optional ‘serve with’ items (sour cream, etc.) and serve on chips or alternate dippers. Guacamole is best enjoyed fresh.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
©averiecooks.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Related Recipes
Avocado, Cream Cheese, and Salsa-Stuffed Puff Pastries – One of my most popular recipes to date
The Best Peach Mango Salsa (vegan, GF)
Sweet Potato, Corn, and Black Bean Enchiladas
Cheese, Black Beans, and Corn-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Avocado Crema (vegan, GF)
Lightened Up Corn and Bean Quesadillas with Avocado-Mango-Chipotle Salsa – (vegetarian/vegan, GF)
Loaded BBQ Chicken Nugget Nachos (with vegan option)
The Best Homemade Margaritas:All Natural, 3-Ingredients
5-Calorie Lime-Raspgberry Margarita Fizz
great
In a world where cooking evolves, kitchen appliances shall evolve as well. We believe that life is much better when we can eat what we want in the most efficient way. Kitchen appliances help us prepare our food better and easier.
Here in Kitchen Critics, you can explore different kitchen appliances from different stores and know its specifications. We feature a wide selection of brands per category to ensure you get what you want. We make sure to feature quality products from different brands and kitchen appliances in a categorized and orderly manner. We also feature reviews and ratings that were made by different people from online stores as well as video reviews from different platforms.
visit us at: kitchencritics.com
Love how vibrant and pretty these photos are! Guacamole is one of my favorites and this do it yourself bar is such a fun idea!
Mmmmm……..
Very fun idea Averie! I’m loving all of the colors.
I love the presentation ! This is my favorite appetizer !
I love guac! Honestly I would bathe in it. haha. All of these dishes look delicious.
Brian and I are huge avocado fans and we often make guacamole as a party dish, and next time I think we are going to have to steal the “do it yourself” bar idea. So cute and clever!!
Healthy fats, healthy fats…yes I need more avo in my life! This is fabulous cuz so often one person likes this another likes that, and sometimes those flavors such as cilantro can make or break how much you enjoy the guac!! This is a fabulous idea :)
Cilantro I have determined is like raisins. Such a ‘little’ thing but people who don’t like it, despise it! Total make it or break it item indeed!
Brillant~I can’t think of anyone that would not come to a “make it yourself ” guac party! Awesome idea!
This looks wonderful. I believe there’s not much better than salsa or guacamole. I slice jicama up and use it dipping sometimes. Keeps me from feeling guilty when the bowl’s disappeared.
Love the jicama idea and years ago I would eat jicama with hummus rather than using crackers. I need to use it with guac!
This is such a creative idea and so delicious!
STOP – tired of drooling – best to you. neighbor.
And best to you, Liz! I hope you’re having a great summer and having lots of guac :)