20 Recipes to Celebrate the Almighty Avocado

20 Recipes to Celebrate the Almighty Avocado

Avocado is extra — and that’s exactly why we love these recipes.

Never underestimate the power of a little avocado. It can take a fairly generic piece of toast and turn it into a $13 brunch entrée (with some healthy fat as a bonus). It can turn white rice and seaweed into sushi. It can even make your chocolate mousse healthy (and vegan)!

Is there anything the well-rounded avo can’t do?

I always aim to have at least two or three avocados ripening at once so I can whip up something quick and delicious — half an avocado drizzled with hot sauce and lime as a zesty snack, crispy avocado nachos, an avocado tortilla wrap, avocado toast, avocado quesadillas. Avocados can take simple rice and beans, or grains and veggies, and make them a full-fledged meal. The more experienced among us might fry them, bake them, or blend them into a decadent cream sauce for Mexican and even Italian dishes.

For the tastiest results, pick the perfect avocados when they’re at their best. While you wait for them to ripen, check out these 20 avocado recipes that show off everything avocados can do. 

Easy Homemade Guacamole

Yummly Original

We have to start with guacamole because it’s arguably the most popular avocado dish. There are guac purists (guilty!), who like it with little more than lime juice, salt, and maybe a little cilantro. There are also guac maximalists, who add sour cream, pepitas, tomatoes, jalapeños, white and red onions, cumin, salt, lime, cotija cheese, and more. Just one rule (you’ll know it if you’re a fan of Diana Kennedy’s Mexican cookbooks): no garlic.

This recipe from Yummly falls somewhere in-between minimal and maximal, which will please just about anyone with chip in hand.

Healthy 5 Minute Avocado Toast

No, you don’t really need an avocado toast recipe, but it’s nice to have a baseline to work from. Gimmedelicious keeps it straightforward with cilantro, lime, and red pepper flakes. You can also top it with a poached egg if you like.

Eggs Baked in Avocado

Yummly Original

One sometimes-overlooked aspect of an avocado? It’s its own serving dish. In this Yummly original recipe by Sara Mellas, you bake eggs right where the avocado pit used to be. For the basic recipe, you just need a bit of salt and pepper, but you’re always welcome to improvise. For example...

Smoked Salmon Egg Stuffed Avocados

Just add smoked salmon, some dill, and red pepper flakes, and your baked weeknight avocado dish is already next-level. 

Grapefruit Avocado Salad

There’s not much more to this grapefruit and avocado salad other than what you see, but don’t let that fool you. Straightforward doesn’t mean simple — this avocado dish from Simply Recipes is bright, healthy, and delicious, and pairs well with shrimp, crab, or lobster. 

Corn, Avocado, and Tomato Salad

Corn, avocado, and tomato come together in this pitch-perfect summer salad by The Girl Who Ate Everything. She writes, “This salad can be summed up in one word. FRESH.”

Quinoa Avocado Salad

Another easy (and healthy) summer salad featuring avocados, this Quinoa Avocado Salad is perfect for a BBQ or potluck.

Avocado Egg Rolls

As copycat recipes go, this avocado egg roll recipe by Chef in Training is a standout. Designed to mimic the popular Cheesecake Factory appetizer, the egg rolls themselves are pretty simple — just seasoned avocado and sun-dried tomatoes fried up in egg roll skins. The real genius lies in the cashew dipping sauce.

Sushi Rolls

DIY sushi is hands-on, fun, and delicious — and if your pantry staples include sushi rice and nori seaweed sheets, it’s also easy enough to throw together on a whim. In this vegetarian recipe from The Buddhist Chef, the avocado takes center stage and is complemented by sweet-spicy vegan Sriracha mayo.  

Healthy Avocado Hummus

Two great side dishes together at last — and you can eat the tasty chickpea blend with tortilla chips.

Avocado Poppers with Coriander-Lime Mayonnaise

Ever-so-slightly underripe avocados work best in this appetizer from Easy Cheesy Vegetarian. The avocados are cut into large chunks, breaded, baked, and served with a rich cilantro-lime-mayo dipping sauce.

Easy Avocado Fries

These avocado wedges are deep-fried, not baked, for extra deliciousness. Skip the ketchup.

Avocado Pesto

Don't underestimate the creaminess of avocados. In this recipe from Eating Well, the avocados stand in for parmesan, making this unconventional pesto dairy-free.

Avocado Cream Pasta with Chicken and Bacon

Yummly Original

Looking for a change of pace? This non-traditional pasta dish from Yummly blends lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, avocados, and parsley for a surprisingly delicious and creamy sauce.

Find more avocado cream inspiration right here.

Chicken and Avocado Tacos with Creamy Cilantro Sauce

Chicken and avocados go together beautifully, and the combo — plus the creamy cilantro sauce — takes this Gimmedelicious chicken taco recipe to the next level. 

BLT Stuffed Avocados

To be honest, you can stuff whatever you like into a halved avocado. But some combos, like this inverted BLAT from The Pioneer Woman, are just genius.

Baked Seafood Stuffed Avocados

Seafood — in particular, shellfish, like shrimp and crab — is a natural pairing for avocados. This stuffed baked avocado recipe from Rants from My Crazy Kitchen doesn’t hold back.

Healthy Dark Chocolate Avocado Mousse

Avocado is the secret ingredient in this incredibly healthy dessert made with cocoa powder, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and almond milk.

Avocado Ice Cream

You can whip up this smooth avocado ice cream from La Cocina de Babel with or without an ice cream maker.

Avocado Kale Smoothie

Creamy avocados are the trick to making healthy morning smoothies. This kale and avocado smoothie recipe from The Little Epicurean ranks among the most wholesome.

Want to read more about avocados? Check out these articles:

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What to Eat Now: June

In June, farmers' markets are overflowing with stone fruits, avocados, new potatoes, garlic scapes, and berries.

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Avocado Cream Pasta with Chicken and Bacon

A no-cook avocado cream sauce is basically your excuse to put guac on everything you eat.

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How to Pick the Perfect Avocado

Here's the lowdown on how to select, ripen, store, and EAT your avocados like a boss.