Creamy, vibrant, and secretly wholesome, my recipe for The Best Veggie-Packed Game Day Guac will score a big win at your next event, whether it's a tailgate, poker night, or casual get-together. It’s loaded with flavor and includes a few sneaky veggies for a bonus boost of goodness!

The Best Veggie-Packed Game Day Guac

I have a crazy story to share. Please don’t laugh too hard at me, but before I turned 24, I’d never tried an avocado. I wasn’t a picky eater at all, but they were green, they looked mushy, and that was a hard pass from me. And yeah, I loved a lot of Latin and Mexican foods that basically beg for avocado or guacamole as a side or dip. But again: green AND mushy! So I never added it to anything and stuck with the salsa and sour cream.

Then I moved to Los Angeles for several years, and that all changed. I can’t remember the exact day or meal that made me fall in love with this magical green fruit, but every day since then, I’ve found a way to sneak an avocado into at least one meal!

Naturally, I had to master my own guacamole recipe because store-bought just doesn’t compare. And that's how The Best Veggie-Packed Game Day Guac was created! It’s fresh, bright, and citrusy, with a little something extra that makes it stand out (keep reading to find out what that is!) Plus, it’s quick to whip up and perfect for anyone who loves simple, tasty dips. This guacamole isn’t just for sports and tailgates. It’s also perfect for watch parties or laid-back game nights with cards, snacks, and good company.

You can change it up in tons of ways, like adding fruit such as chunks of pineapple or mango. But for now, we’re gonna start with a savory guacamole. It’s craveable, zesty, and guaranteed to disappear fast!

HOW I MADE-OVER THIS GUAC:

I don’t add any oils or sugar to this recipe. You’ll see why I bring up sugar in just a bit. I include a few veggies like tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers. They blend beautifully with the creamy avocado, and I feel pretty great knowing I’m basically eating a salad when I dive into this dip!

Tomatoes help reduce the risk of heart disease, are packed with vitamins and nutrients, and support balanced blood sugar levels. Onions offer tons of benefits as well. They may fight cancer, protect against allergies, and help stimulate hair growth. Bell peppers support metabolism, promote eye health, and help lower cholesterol.

Cilantro is another powerhouse. It’s full of minerals, supports detoxification of heavy metals, helps manage diabetes, and acts as a natural pain reliever. I know some folks say cilantro tastes soapy if there’s too much, but I say the more, the better.

And finally, the star of the show: the avocado. They’re packed with fiber, support gut and heart health, and deliver 20 essential vitamins and minerals. No wonder they’re called a superfood!

This recipe is nut-free, gluten-free, refined-sugar-free, egg-free, soy-free, paleo, grain-free, vegetarian, and vegan.

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

(Use organic ingredients when possible)

Avocados
Limes
Pickled onions
Cherry or grape tomatoes
Yellow bell peppers
Fresh garlic
Granulated garlic
Salt
Fresh cilantro

THIS IS HOW YOU’LL MAKE IT:

Prep your veggies. Cut the tomatoes in half and dice the bell pepper into small pieces. I like chopping the pepper finely so picky eaters can’t detect or pick it out. Mince the garlic. Chop the cilantro.

Cut open three avocados, toss the pits, scoop out the flesh, and mash it in a bowl. Quickly mix in the fresh lime juice, chopped pickled onions, and salt to keep the avocado from browning. Bottled lime juice works in a pinch, but fresh makes all the difference!

Pickled onions, you ask? Yes! I’ve been adding pickled onions to my guacamole for over twenty years, and the bowl always empties within minutes. That extra pop of flavor instantly brightens up the guac. Check out my recipe for pickled onions here: Onions 3 Ways: 3 Kinds of Prepared Onions to Keep in Your Fridge. I don’t use any sugar, and I love using red onions for a fun splash of color. Another benefit is that pickling takes away the strong, pungent bite, so you can breathe easily around your guests! If you're short on time, store-bought pickled onions work, but making your own is so easy, I really hope you try it!

Next, add the chopped grape or cherry tomatoes and yellow bell pepper. I like using these sweeter veggies because they complement the tart lime juice and velvety avocado perfectly. Add the fresh garlic and the granulated garlic. If you’re out of fresh garlic, just use a little extra granulated garlic. Give everything a good stir.

The dip is almost ready, but there’s one final step. Cut open your last avocado and chop it into chunks. You can do this by slicing it in half, removing the seed, cutting into the flesh horizontally and vertically, then scooping it out with a spoon. Stir the chopped avocado and a bit of cilantro into the dip and give it a taste test. Adjust the salt, garlic, and lime to your liking.

Top with as much chopped cilantro as you like and watch this one disappear before the activities even begin!

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

Serve with your favorite tortilla chips. I like the Siete brand because they’re the cleanest chips I’ve found on the market. I also love pairing this guac with a colorful tray of veggies like carrots, celery, cauliflower, mini bell peppers, and radishes. Or just use whatever vegetables you enjoy!

SUBSTITUTIONS, TIPS, AND NOTES:

Leave out any veggies you don’t like and add in the ones you do. Cucumber is also a great option because of its mild flavor.

I prefer granulated garlic over garlic powder since it has a stronger taste, in my opinion. But if powder is all you’ve got, that works, too!

If you don’t have fresh limes, bottled lime juice is fine. Just make sure it’s high-quality and not the kind that comes in the green plastic lime-shaped bottle.

STORAGE AND LEFTOVERS:

Since avocados turn brown quickly, I recommend making and serving this dip right away. Besides, guacamole rarely makes it to the leftover stage anyway!

NUTRITIONAL VALUES:

I don’t include nutritional values in my recipes because I believe in intuitive eating and balanced nutrition. Since ingredient brands can vary, the numbers aren’t always consistent. If you’d like a more accurate breakdown, I recommend entering this recipe into MyFitnessPal or a similar tracker.

For more delicious Apps & Snax & Dips, Dressings & Sauce ideas, check these out!

4 Sneaky Roasted Veggie & Garlic Ranch Yogurt Dip
Onions 3 Ways: 3 Kinds of Prepared Onions to Keep in Your Fridge
5 Minute Healthy’ish Bourbon Sauce

If you make this recipe, I’d love it if you left a comment and star rating below! And don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creation. Feel free to reach out with any questions, and I’ll do my best to help!

Print

Guac Guac Guac Guac