When I think about all the guacamole I let go to waste in my early 20s when I’d order fajitas at fast casual restaurants, it sort of breaks my heart. I simply didn’t know what that green stuff was and I wasn’t yet an adventurous eater. The fajitas would come out with an ice cream scoop-shaped serving of guacamole and the server would remove the plate with that scoop still there.
Now I know just how delicious guacamole is, and I’ve come to love its main ingredient, the versatile and nutritious avocado.
One of my favorite no-need-for-a-recipe ways to use a ripe avocado is to mash up half to put on top of baked slices of sweet potato and top that with sliced grape tomatoes, an over-easy egg, and a sprinkling of sea salt. But sometimes, you need inspiration for what to do with those ripe avocados on your counter. These 25 recipes for salads, quesadillas, sandwiches, and more will come in handy when you do.
Skirt Steak with Avocado Chimichurri
Inspired by Argentinean flavors, top this pan-seared skirt steak with a simple avocado chimichurri sauce. The steak cooks quickly, and if you make the chimichurri sauce ahead of time (up to 1 day before), you’ll have dinner on the table in no time.
Avocado Lime Dressing
Zest up your summer salads with this vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, tangy avocado-lime dressing. It takes under 5 minutes to make and is a great way to boost the flavor and nutrition of anything you drizzle it on.
Jicama, Avocado, and Orange Salad
Jicama, avocado chunks, and orange slices top green leafy lettuce, onions, and tomato in this unexpected salad that has a combination of flavors and textures you’ll love. Top it with a citrus vinaigrette and serve.
Avocado Deviled Eggs
Spice up your deviled eggs by adding sour cream, avocado, and chile pepper to the egg yolk filling. Then watch the deviled eggs disappear from the table even faster than usual.
Avocado Heirloom Tomato Salad
This is a simple and fresh salad that’s on the table in 10 minutes. Drizzle fresh avocado slices and fresh heirloom tomato slices with lime juice, then sprinkle with chives and salt.
Tomatillo Avocado Salsa
It may look like guac, but this salsa has a zesty touch of roasted tomatillos, serrano peppers, and jalapeños added in. It’s vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free, and it makes a delicious dip for raw veggies and tortilla chips.
Avocado Toasts With Fried Egg, Olives, and Smoked Paprika
Switch up your normal avocado toast toppings with olives, a fried egg, peppers, and a sprinkle of smoked paprika! Use hearty whole grain bread for a filling breakfast that will keep you satisfied until lunch.
Air Fryer Avocado Fries
Crispy on the outside. Creamy on the inside. This is the snack you’ve been looking for. Dredge slightly underripe avocado slices in a panko mixture and air fry. While they’re frying, mix together a quick spicy ranch sauce for dipping.
Avocado Chicken Salad
Do something unexpected to your usual chicken salad, add avocado along with apple, celery, and red onion. Add this upgraded chicken salad to a sandwich or on top of salad greens.
Baked Eggs in Avocado With Salmon
You’ve heard of avocado toast, but have you heard of avocado as the toast? This recipe uses avocado instead of toast or a bagel as the base for smoked salmon and egg. It’s all topped with feta, capers, and everything bagel seasoning. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or lunch, it’s ready in 30 minutes.
Crispy Baked Fish Sandwiches with Avocado Mayo and Pickled Onion
Avocado + mayo + lime juice make for a tangy sandwich spread. Smear this spread on warm sandwich buns and fill them with crispy breaded baked fish and pickled onion. Your taste buds will sing!
Mango Avocado Salsa
The sweet-tart firm fruit of a mango contrasts well with the creamy, softer fruit of an avocado, combining to create a quick salsa that will impress. Red onion, lime juice, cilantro, and salt complete the short list of ingredients needed to create this dip that will disappear quickly.
Easy Avocado and Black Bean Quesadillas
This tasty way to use up an avocado before it’s past its prime adds the smashed avocado to sautéed canned black beans, onions, and bell pepper to create a quesadilla filling. And there are two types of melted cheese that hold everything together inside the tortilla.
Edamame Avocado Dip
It looks like regular guac, but the addition of edamame and yogurt adds some protein to the mix. Tabasco and dark sesame oil add some extra flavor to this spread that you can use as a dip for pita chips and fresh veggies or as a sandwich spread.
Vegetarian Eggs Benedict With Spinach and Avocado
This spin on the classic egg dish replaces the ham with both spinach and avocado slices making it both vegetarian and upping the nutrition. A quick blender hollandaise sauce lets you know this may not be the classic version, but it’s still eggs benny.
Bacon and Blue Cheese Guacamole
Bacon and blue cheese in guacamole? Yes, please. The addition of the two ingredients takes the dip over the top, and it will disappear at a party even faster than classic guac.
Gazpacho with Avocado and Corn
This make-ahead summer soup gets a hearty addition of avocado chunks and corn. It’s basically a vegetable garden in a bowl with seasoned blended tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and scallions. You determine how much hot sauce you add.
Chicken and Avocado Salad with Buttermilk Dressing
Romaine, shredded chicken, avocado, and shaved Parm create a simple salad. Buttermilk dressing and chunks of garlic toast take the salad from yummy to WOW! It’s a great way to use up leftover chicken.
Salmon Avocado Poke Bowl
Hawaiian poke bowls are fun to make because you can customize them to your liking. This bowl combines rice, sushi-grade salmon, avocado, scallions, and radish with soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and rice vinegar to create a super simple, light meal.
Enfrijoladas with Black Beans, Avocado and Cotija
These vegetarian and gluten-free enfrijoladas are simple to make. Dip corn tortillas in a blender-made black bean sauce. Dip corn tortillas in the sauce then fry them. Top with avocado cotija cheese, sour cream, and more.
Grapefruit Avocado Salad
Simple but flavorful, slices of grapefruit and avocado are a perfect pairing. Drizzle them with a homemade citrus vinaigrette and you’re ready to grab a fork and enjoy.
Avocado Beet Salad With Citrus Vinaigrette
Is there any salad avocado can’t make better? In this version, fresh beets, avocado, and pistachios top salad greens before you drizzle it all with a lemon and orange juice vinaigrette.
Seared Tuna With Avocado
Lightly searing sushi-grade raw tuna on each side then top with slices of avocado and a ginger, soy, cilantro, lime, and garlic sauce. It may be the tastiest way you’ve ever prepared tuna.
Ceviche With Avocado and Grilled Corn
“Cook” firm white fish in lime juice. Serve it mixed with grilled corn, red onions, avocado, and cilantro. It’s a fresh, simple, and fast meal. Don’t forget the tortilla chips to scoop it all up.
Shrimp, Bacon, Avocado, Pasta Salad
Summer means plenty of cold pasta salads and this version is so tasty you’ll want to make it all year round. Filled with chipotle marinated shrimp, bacon, and avocado, the flavors are tied together with a lime juice vinaigrette.