I don’t know about you, but I sure do love picnics and outdoor parties in the summer! If you have an upcoming casual social event, and you’re not sure what to take, look no further than this quick and easy guacamole recipe!

Whether or not you’re following my 4-Week Summer Challenge, this is a healthy dish that you can easily whip up. Unlike creamy or protein heavy dishes that can spoil easily in the warm weather, this guacamole dish is a safe and low maintenance option for outdoor parties. It is as simple as it is delicious, and it’s sure to please everyone, especially if you bring a variety of “dipping” options to choose from!

This recipe is also gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo (depending on what you serve it with), vegan, and full of healthy fats. Anyone with a dietary restriction will be thrilled to have a delicious and healthy party snack!

Simple Guacamole Recipe

Ingredients:

4 avocados, mashed

1/3 cup finely diced cucumber

1/3 cup finely diced red onion

1/3 cup finely diced tomato

3 cloves minced garlic (more if you love garlic, like me!)

3-4 tbsps. fresh lime juice (plenty of lime juice will keep the guacamole green and fresh)

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

Optional Add-Ins:

¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

¼ cup jalapeno pepper, chopped

¼-½ tsp. yellow mustard

1/3 cup diced mango or pineapple

Options for Dipping:

Sliced raw turnips

Raw baby carrots

Sliced bell peppers

Sliced cucumber

Organic corn tortilla chips

Anything you desire!

Instructions:

To make the guacamole, simply mix all of the ingredients together in a serving bowl, then add salt, pepper, and optional add-ins as desired! Chill the prepared guacamole in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Serve with a variety of dipping options like sliced turnips, which are a healthy alternative to chips that still offer a great crunch. Sliced cucumber, baby carrots, and bell peppers are delicious and healthy dipping options as well. Of course, you cannot forget the tortilla chips! Look for an organic version made with minimal ingredients.

Although cucumber isn’t a traditional ingredient in guacamole, I love the fresh and crisp flavor that it adds. Adding mustard to guacamole may also sound extremely unusual to you (and it is!), but I love the layer of flavor and tang it adds, especially if you get a less than perfect batch of avocados. Typical guacamole includes cilantro, but I personally loathe cilantro, so I choose to exclude it! If you like it, add it generously!

Consider These Tips When Making Your Guacamole

I suggest preparing the guacamole the day that you plan to serve it to ensure maximum freshness, as the guacamole may start to brown slightly after a day. However, it is helpful to plan a few days ahead of time to go to the store to pick your avocados.

It can be difficult to find perfectly ripe avocados (at least where I live!), so it’s a safer bet to get them ahead of time and allow a few days for them to ripen. If you need to slow the ripening process, you can place them in the refrigerator. If you need to speed up the ripening process, you can wrap the avocados in aluminum foil and warm them in the oven at about 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes, or until they soften. Let them cool completely before removing the foil.

Enjoy this delicious, easy, healthy, and fresh summer snack at your next party!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What other ingredients do you like to put in your guacamole? What do you like to serve your guacamole with? Do you have a “go-to” summer dish that you like to take to picnics and other outdoor gatherings?