35 Avocado Recipes Plus Tips for Cooking with Avocados

This post is all about one of my favorite ingredients – avocados! I’m sharing my best tips for prepping and storing avocados plus 35 avocado recipes, including my favorite avocado desserts, main dishes, and appetizers.

It’s no secret I love avocados and I’ve lost count of how many avocado recipes I’ve shared over the years! I love the color, the flavor, and the creamy rich texture and even after countless recipes, I’m always surprised how versatile avocados are for cooking and baking.

I’ve done so many avocado recipes over the years so I thought I’d do a big post celebrating all things avocado! If you think avocados are only for guacamole and avocado toast, you’ll want to keep scrolling. I’m sharing everything I love about avocados plus 35 creative avocado recipes that go way beyond toast (although I share my favorite avocado toast in this list, too!).

Avocado Benefits

But, first, let’s talk about why avocados are so great. Beyond their mild flavor and creamy texture, avocados are full of good-for-you nutrients and vitamins. They have a high-fat content, but it’s a fat that’s good for you called omega 3 fatty acids which have been linked to many health benefits.

Because of their creamy texture and high (good-for-you!) fat content, you can use avocado as a substitute for oil, butter, eggs, and dairy in many recipes, including dessert recipes. In fact, one of my favorite ways to use avocados is in baked goods, ice cream, and other sweet desserts because you get the same rich and creamy texture without using traditional ingredients. This is especially helpful if you are cooking for someone with dietary restrictions or allergies.

Storing Avocados

There are several types of avocados, but I think Hass avocados are the best. They have a rich and creamy texture and a wonderful flavor that is almost buttery. Hass avocados have a dark green skin that darkens as the avocado ripens.

Most often, when you shop for avocados, you will find ones at the store that aren’t ripe. Because of this, it’s a good idea to plan ahead when you want to cook or bake with avocados so they have enough time to ripen before you use them.

I like to keep avocados at room temperature until they’re ripened. You can tell when an avocado is ripe when you can lightly press on it and it gives a bit but doesn’t feel mushy. If your avocado is firm and doesn’t give at all when you press on it, it’s not ready. If you press on it and it feels mushy it’s too ripe.

Once an avocado ripens it can quickly turn too ripe, so I like to store them in the refrigerator once they’ve ripened. Storing them at a colder temperature will slow the ripening process and they will keep for three to five days longer.

How to Eat Avocados

To prep an avocado for eating or to use in recipes, you will want to use a sharp knife to cut it in half first. Avocados have a large pit so you will insert the knife through the skin into the flesh until you make contact with the pit. Then just pull your knife around the avocado until you have sliced the avocado into two halves. Twist the two halves to pull them apart.

You can use a spoon to remove the pit or use your knife to pull the pit out. Carefully whack your knife into the pit so it sticks and pull the knife. The pit should pull away from the flesh and you can discard it.

To peel the avocado, you can either run a spoon around the edge of the flesh where it meets the peel and then scoop out the flesh. Or, you can cut the avocado halve into two wedges and peel the skin away from the flesh using your hands.

Like I mentioned, I can eat avocado straight from the peel with maybe some salt sprinkled over the top. But avocados are so versatile and I just had to share some of my favorite avocado recipes! I’m sharing all of my best avocado breakfast and dinner recipes with a lot of avocado desserts and appetizers, too.

Avocado Breakfast Recipes

Whether it’s muffins, smoothies, egg cups or my next-level avocado toast there are many ways to get all the healthy benefits of avocados first thing in the morning.

Avocado Blueberry Muffins | I often use avocado to replace oil in baked goods like these muffins, but for these avocado blueberry muffins, I really wanted the avocado to shine so they have a beautiful green color and a light avocado flavor. It’s a great combination with the fresh blueberries.

Avocado Smoothie Bowls | These bowls are inspired by the avocado smoothie bowls that have become popular at food halls and outdoor markets. My version has just three ingredients!

Avocado Roses and Toast Nine Ways | You can’t do an avocado round-up without avocado toast, but the avocado toast I share in this post is anything but average. I show you how to make beautiful avocado roses that you can pair with different ingredients to make elegant avocado toasts that are perfect for breakfast or brunch.

Sweet Avocado Smoothie | This creamy avocado smoothie is made with just four simple ingredients and no additional fruit, letting the avocado flavor shine through. It is a healthier version of a popular Vietnamese shake. Or, try my other Avocado Smoothie that tastes like avocado ice cream in smoothie form!

Avocado Egg Cups | Eggs baked in avocado halves is a simple breakfast. I like to cook the eggs just until the whites are set and the yolks are runny. All you need is a spoon to scoop it all out of the avocado shell.

Bacon Avocado Egg Cups | Another egg cup recipe but this time with some crispy bacon to hold it all together.

Avocado Dinner Recipes

If your idea of avocado for dinner is to dice some up for a salad, this list of avocado dinner recipes is for you because avocados aren’t just for salads! Stuffed avocados, soup, and macaroni and cheese are just a few of the ways to make avocados the main dish for dinner.

Caprese Stuffed Avocados | I love light and easy dinners during the summer and these caprese stuffed avocados with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and a drizzle of balsamic are one of our favorites.

Taco Stuffed Avocados | For a twist on taco night, I like to skip the tortillas and stuff avocados with seasoned lean ground turkey and top them with my favorite taco toppings like cheese, tomatoes and fresh cilantro.

Cream of Avocado Soup | Cream of Avocado Soup is the perfect soup for summer. It’s savory, creamy and comes out a beautiful summery green. It can be enjoyed hot or room temperature and is ready in less than 30 minutes.

Avocado Pasta | Use avocados to make a creamy sauce for pasta. All you need is a food processor! I like to top mine with crispy chopped bacon or, for a healthier twist, you could toss the pasta and sauce with fresh tomatoes for an easy summer dinner. I also love my Creamy Avocado Pasta that’s just as easy to make.

Avocado Pesto Pasta | For another pasta dish, add some pesto to the avocado sauce for an Italian twist.

Avocado Macaroni and Cheese in a Mug | This recipe pairs two things I love – avocados and macaroni and cheese! It’s a generous single-serving macaroni and cheese in a mug recipe and a fun way to incorporate avocado into a favorite comfort food dish.

Fish Tacos with Avocado Sauce | These fish tacos are topped with a lightened-up avocado crema sauce made with Greek yogurt.

Baked Shrimp Stuffed Avocados | Another stuffed avocado dish but this time they’re filled with a creamy shrimp filling sprinkled with cheese. Pop them in the oven until the cheese melts and dinner is ready to go in 30 minutes.

Avocado Burger Buns | Avocado halves as burger buns? Why not?! These “buns” are a fun way to serve burgers and really great for people who are trying to eat fewer carbs.

Avocado Dessert Recipes

As much as I love avocado in savory recipes, I think I love baking with it more! It’s a great substitute for eggs, oil, dairy, and butter. Sometimes the avocado is hidden and you can’t taste it, like in my chocolate avocado desserts, but sometimes I like to let it shine in cakes, ice cream, and ice pops. Its flavor works well with sweeteners and I love how it gives desserts a natural green color.

Keto Avocado Brownies | Avocados give these brownies a rich fudgy texture. Plus, they’re low carb and keto-friendly. I love making brownies with avocados so be sure to check out my Gluten-Free Avocado Brownies, 4-Ingredient Eggless Avocado Brownies, and my Avocado Brownies with Avocado Frosting.

Avocado Mug Cake | I tested this easy mug cake many times until I got just the right texture. Even though it’s cooked in the microwave the cake is light and fluffy. Plus, I love the light green color from the avocado.

No Churn Avocado Ice Cream | Creamy, sweet, homemade avocado flavored ice cream that can be made without an ice cream maker. It’s just 3 ingredients and eggless! If you have an ice cream maker be sure to try my other Avocado Ice Cream that’s made the traditional way.

Avocado Ice Pops | Avocado is great to use for popsicles because it makes them super creamy – almost like ice cream. These avocado ice pops are so refreshing and a fun summer treat.

Chocolate Avocado Pudding | I love using avocados to make pudding and mousse because it adds a lot of richness, but you can’t taste it. People won’t guess it’s a healthier chocolate pudding. Only have a few minutes to get a chocolate fix? I have a 5-Minute Avocado Chocolate Pudding that’s quick to make.

Chocolate Avocado Banana Bread | You don’t need oil or butter to make this moist and chocolatey banana bread. Avocado replaces the oil and butter and gives the bread a wonderful texture. Plus, you can make the batter in a food processor or blender.

Chocolate Avocado Truffles | Chocolate truffles are made healthier with avocado instead of using heavy cream. The end result is a rich, silky chocolate treat. With only 3 ingredients, these are really easy to make and are perfect for gifting, parties or just for yourself.

3 Ingredient Avocado Chocolate Cookies | You only need four ingredients to make these rich and fudgy cookies: avocados, water, chocolate chips, and boxed cake mix. You can’t taste the avocados in the cookies, but they give the cookies a really rich texture.

No Bake Avocado Cheesecake | This is one of my favorite no-bake cheesecakes and when I make it, I just want to grab a spoon and eat the filling all on its own. The flavor is great and the texture is so rich and creamy thanks to the avocado. Or try my cool and creamy No-Bake Avocado Pie, which is another cool summer dessert.

Avocado Mousse with Coconut Whipped Cream | Sometimes I like to hide the avocado in chocolate mousse so you don’t taste it and other times I like the avocado to shine like in this avocado mousse. Plus, you only need three ingredients to make it!

Avocado Chocolate Cake | Another cake, but this time a chocolate bundt cake made with avocado instead of butter or eggs.

Flourless Chocolate Avocado Mug Cake | This flourless chocolate avocado mug cake is super fudgy and chocolatey. It’s also paleo, vegan and gluten-free and it cooks in the microwave in about 2 minutes. I also have a super easy Avocado Brownie Mug Cake that’s rich and chocolaty dessert for one.

Avocado Chiffon Cake | I went through a chiffon cake phase in the first few years of blogging and this avocado chiffon cake is one of my favorites. It’s a light and fluffy cake that has a very pretty green color from the avocado.

Avocado Appetizers & Side Dishes

Don’t forget the avocado appetizers and side dishes! There are a few familiar ones here like my restaurant-inspired avocado egg rolls and a few that might be new to you like my baked avocado chips and bacon wrapped avocado fries. I hope you find some new recipes to try!

Avocado Egg Rolls | Avocado egg rolls are a popular restaurant appetizer, especially at places like The Cheesecake Factory, but you don’t need to leave the house if you get a craving. My version is easy to make and only takes 30 minutes.

Bacon Wrapped Avocado Fries | You probably already know that bacon and avocado is a perfect match, so I probably don’t need to tell you how delicious these bacon wrapped avocado fries are! They are always a favorite snack or appetizer for parties and game-day get-togethers.

Baked Avocado Chips | These crispy baked avocado chips are perfect for snacking. They taste like guacamole in chip form plus they are also gluten-free and low carb.

Avocado Bacon Fries | These fried treats were inspired by similar ones I had at the State Fair. They’re a crispy salty snack. I also have a non-bacon version so be sure to check out my Avocado Fries, too!

Avocado Potato Salad | You think it would have been at a neighborhood BBQ, but the first time I had avocado potato salad was when I visited Japan! It wasn’t long before I tried my own version and I love that you can use avocado to replace mayonnaise. The potato salad is still really rich and creamy and a great side dish for summer parties.

BLT Guacamole | Of course, I have to include guacamole! I took the best parts of a BLT and combined it with creamy delicious guacamole to make an addictive snack for parties.

Avocado Ranch Dip | You only need two ingredients for this simple dip. Blend them up and you get a creamy cool dip for chips, pitas, or veggie sticks.