This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through those links (at no extra cost to you).
This Chipotle Guacamole recipe is the real deal. With just seven ingredients and a few minutes, you can enjoy as much Chipotle Guacamole at home as you can mash!
Guacamole is luscious, creamy, satisfying, filling, and gloriously โa healthy fat.โ And when it comes to restaurant guacamole, Chipotleโs version is my numero uno choice.
Luckily, nothing could be easier to make. And when you do it at home, there isnโt an upcharge in sight.
If youโve got some ripe avocados sitting around, it doesnโt matter what time of day it isโ itโs time for guacamole.
What does Chipotle put in their guacamole?
Besides magic? Itโs really quite simple.
- Hass avocados. 95% of the avocados grown in California are Hass. How great is that?
- Citrus juice.ย Chipotle uses a combination of lemon and lime juices.
- Salt. Notice how I donโt say โfreshly ground pepper?โ Yep, thereโs no pepper in guac
- Red onion.
- Jalapeรฑo peppers.ย If you want to make spicy guacamole, look for Serrano peppers. Generally, they are similar in size/shape/color as jalapeรฑo peppers, but thinner and maybe a tiny bit smaller.
- Cilantro.
Selecting and storing avocados:
There are two schools of thought:
- Pick avocados that are firm but donโt feel like granite. They should give, ever so slightly, when you gently squeeze them in the palm of your hand. Be gentle! You can also flick off the stem and see if itโs bright green underneath. But, stay away from any avocado that feels too soft or has soft dark spots on the skin.
- Buy avocados when they are rock-hard and ripen them yourself. It takes patience, but then you wonโt risk buying an overripe avocado.
How to ripen avocados:
Avocados ripen up if left out at room temperature. If youโd like to speed up the ripening process, store them in a paper bag with an apple, banana, or kiwi fruit.ย Those fruits give off high levels of a plant hormone, ethylene, helps things along.
Once the avocados are ripe enough for you, simply store them whole in the refrigerator until youโre ready to get your guac on.
How does Chipotle make their guacamole?
Thanks to several friends and former Chipotle associates, this is exactly how they do it:
- Halve a couple of avocados, remove the pit, and scoop out the flesh.
- Toss the avocado with lemon and lime juice and add salt. Mash.
- Then, add finely chopped cilantro, red onion, and jalapeรฑo peppers. Add more salt if you want and mix it up.
- And of course, devour it with tortilla chips!
How to cut an avocado:
Please donโt cut an avocado in half by holding it in your hand. Thereโs a lot of caution to take when cutting avocados. They can be slippery, and the knife blade could slip out of the fruit and into your hand, if youโre not careful and deliberate.
- Choose your avocado and place it on a cutting board.
- To cut it lengthwise around the pit, slice into the avocado with a chefโs knife until the blade hits the hard seed, then carefully rotate the avocado with one hand while keeping the knife steady in the other.
- Rotate the avocado halves in your hands, twisting gently if necessary, and separate the two halves and reveal the pit.
Help! Why does cilantro taste like soap?
Itโs not cilantroโฆitโs you. Sort of!
Cilantro contains a natural chemical compound that some people (estimated 4-14% of the population) have the ability to taste better than others. The ones who can detect the compound describe cilantro as soapy, metallic, or just plain horrible. Thereโs nothing you can do about it, except avoid it in recipes. Parsley is a good substitute for cilantro, if that 4-14% happens to be you.
How long is guacamole good for in the fridge?
Guacamole can last 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator provided you are willing to battle the effects of discoloration via oxidation.
The best ways to ward off the browning of guacamole is:
- Squeeze extra citrus juice over the top of the guacamole.
- Cover with plastic wrap and press the plastic directly on the surface of the guacamole in the bowl.
If all else fails, you can scoop off the brown layer of guacamole and enjoy the bright green happiness beneath!
What do you eat with Guacamole?
Enjoy guacamole on burritos, Carne Asada tacos, sandwiches, toast, veggie wraps, scrambled eggs, crackers, salads, burgers, chipsโฆ the sky is the limit! It makes a fantastic snack any hour of the day, because like I said: itโs always guacamole time.ย
Join Us
Chipotle Guacamole (Copycat)
Equipment
- Molcajete (I use this mortar and pestle to make my guac!)
Ingredientsย
- 2 large avocados halved and pitted
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1/4 cup red onion finely chopped
- 1/2 jalapeรฑo pepper stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped (see notes)
- 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves finely chopped
- salt
- tortilla chips for serving
Instructionsย
- In a medium bowl, combine avocados, lemon juice, and lime juice. Mash until smooth.ย Stir in onion, cilantro, and jalapeรฑos. Season to taste with salt (I like ยฝ teaspoon).ย Serve with chips.
- To refrigerate, place in a bowl and press plastic wrap directly on top of the entire surface of the guacamole so no part is exposed to air.ย
Mistake in your article, it mentions Cilantro, pictures it, but doesnโt list it in the list of ingredients.
Hi Steven, thank you so much for writing! I checked and see it listed in the recipe. It calls for 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves finely chopped and they are stirred into the guacamole in step 2 along with the onion. I appreciate you writing, though, and I hope you love this guacamole! โ Meggan
Just perfect! Exactly like Chipotle! Delicious and quick and easy. I love adding guacamole to a bean/corn/bell pepper salad. I used to be lazy and buy the guacamole. So glad I now know how easy it is to make. Thank you!
Youโre welcome, Janet! Iโm so happy you loved it! โ Meggan
Great recipe! The taste is so fresh. Love the addition of lemon juice and seeds from jalapeรฑo. Thank you!
Youโre so welcome, Deb! Take care! โ Meggan