81 Delicious Ways to Use Avocado (That Aren't Just On Toast)

Coconut-Avocado Pops Recipe

Who knew that a ripe avocado could add such a rich flavor and silky smooth texture to a batch of homemade popsicles? With a pop of fresh citrus juice and sweetened with a little agave nectar, these fun, kid-approved frozen desserts are the perfect summer treat.

Pomegranate, Avocado, and Citrus Brussels Sprouts Salad Recipe

Be sure to toss the salad gently so the pieces of orange and avocado keep their shape. Pair with a fall chili or tacos.

Herbed Avocado-Tahini Dressing Recipe

This simple dressing is brightly herbaceous, lusciously rich, and almost too easy to whip up. Incredibly versatile, the creamy avocado dressing can be drizzled over anything from a summery tomato salad to grilled steak. And if you leave out the water, creating a thicker mixture, you have a delicious dip for crudité.

El Completo Recipe

A completo is a very popular Chilean signature on the concept of a “loaded” hot dog. Served by street vendors and other casual restaurants, this dish consists of your basic hot dog on a bun topped with sauerkraut, diced tomatoes, mashed avocado, and a generous drizzle of mayonnaise. Use your favorite brand of hot dogs (and hot dog cooking method) and hearty buns to make this easy and festive completo. These loaded dogs make for a hearty entree we’d recommend serving with plenty of napkins. 

Steak and Fried Egg Breakfast Tacos with Chimichurri Recipe

Who says you can't make yourself a fancy, classy brunch all at home in the comfort of your own kitchen? For an ultra-hearty start to your morning, fry up some frizzled, sunnyside up eggs and serve them in a warm corn tortilla with grilled flank steak and the works. We topped ours with fresh avocado, queso fresco, radishes, and a flavor-packed chimichurri sauce that melts right into the runny yolks. 

Summer Garden Chili Bowls Recipe

While the summer heat often makes us go for lighter foods, that doesn’t mean we don’t still want chili—so we made a lighter, brighter version. Equally perfect for a casual summer supper at home as it is for fueling a cookout or tailgate, these chili bowls are loaded up with vibrant veggies. To keep this tasty entree quick and simple, we use canned chili as a base, then dress it up with grilled corn and zucchini, black beans, fresh avocado slices, cilantro, queso fresco, and a handful of corn chips for good measure. Serve with lime wedges and you have a summer hit on your hands. While this recipes is especially convenient for when you want a tasty bowl chili, but don’t necessarily want to eat off of a huge batch of it for days, the recipe is easily multiplied to accommodate larger crowds.  

Edamame-Avocado Hummus Recipe

The combination of avocado and shelled edamame makes a gorgeous green hummus with a twist. It's loaded with savory and bitter sesame flavors from the tahini sauce and sesame oil to the white and black sesame seeds used as a garnish. Serve it with a platter of fresh vegetables to make this dish the perfect show-stopping display at your next gathering.

Chicken-Avocado Soft Tacos Recipe

Amp up your taco Tuesday by adding freshly diced avocado to your gently charred soft tacos. This easy-to-assemble lunch or dinner can be prepared on the grill by cooking a few chicken breasts until they are perfectly juicy and tender. The lime juice and ginger create an aromatic vinaigrette when it's mixed with extra-virgin olive oil for a classic acidic finish.

Grilled Avocado Salad Recipe

When you are stuck with firm, not-so-ripe avocados, the best way to still enjoy them is by tossing the creamy fruit (yes, it's a fruit) on the grill. The avocados soften up quickly under the intense heat leaving you with a wonderfully smooth and smoky dish.

Beef Flautas with Buttermilk-Avocado Crema Recipe

Beef flautas are even more addicting with you have a cooling buttermilk-avocado crema to dip them in. The crema adds a creamy finishing touch that no flautas dish is complete without. Simply blend avocado, sour cream and buttermilk together to get this smooth and tangy condiment.

Avocado-Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Recipe

Serve up indulgent Avocado-Key Lime Pie Ice Cream for rich and creamy flavor.

Fried Egg and Avocado Toasts Recipe

Sunny-side-up eggs, fresh sprouts, and salsa amp up avocado toast for a fast, no-fuss meal. It's a sure winner at breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Open-Faced Shrimp-and-Avocado Sandwiches Recipe

These open-faced sandwiches are topped with tons of tasty ingredients: shrimp, avocado, bacon, and mayonnaise. For a sturdy sandwich base, use a thicker cut of bread.

Avocado, Sprout, and Cashew Spread Sandwich Recipe

Top bread with a cashew spread, sprouts, radishes, avocado, arugula, and more to make this fresh and flavorful sandwich.

Avocado Gazpacho with Sourdough Croutons Recipe

For a cool summer soup, try this avocado-flavored gazpacho made with cucumbers, sweet onion, Greek yogurt, and more. 

Crostini with Avocado, Crab, and Flake Salt Recipe

Top baked bread slices with mashed avocado and crab to make this tasty appetizer.  

Spaghetti with Spinach-Avocado Sauce Recipe

Move over, pesto: You're not the only sauce worth going green for. Pureed avocado makes this dish positively irresistible. Garnish with extra basil leaves, if desired.

Grilled Scallop Tacos with Smashed Avocado and Charred Corn Pico Recipe

This quick taco filling is perfect for weeknight dinners. Smashed avocado and charred Corn pico brings a rich, earthy flavor to these seafood scallop tacos.

Pan-Seared Tuna Tacos with Avocado and Mango Salsa Recipe

These simple, vibrant tacos rely largely on superfresh ingredients for the fullest flavor potential. Opt for just-ripe avocados and tuna from a source you trust.

Skillet Chicken with Seared Avocados Recipe

The tiniest bit of sugar helps the avocado halves char in the pan, adding robust toasty flavor.

Tuna Poke with Mango and Avocado Recipe

Find fresh or frozen wakame seaweed at Asian markets. You can also use fresh or frozen premixed seaweed salad. The tuna and avocado make this dish a potassium powerhouse. Serve atop brown rice, if you like.

Dark Chocolate Avocado Cake with Chocolate Avocado Frosting Recipe

This vegan cake (no eggs or butter!) is so delicious that our kids begged for more. The frosting is silky smooth, and the cake is light and loaded with chocolate flavor, and healthy fats.

Crab-Stuffed Avocados Recipe

We couldn't resist stuffing cup-shaped avocado halves, here gently seared until lightly caramelized. Sweet crabmeat dressed with zingy lemon and tarragon is a nice complement to the buttery avocado; chopped cooked shrimp or shredded chicken breast would also work. You could also fill the halves with a fresh summer squash salad or black bean salsa.

Mexican Hot Dog Recipe

This isn’t your average hot dog. Adding avocado, red cabbage, and green onion slices adds the crunchiness, creaminess, and zing you didn’t know your frank was missing. Best of all, these Mexican hot dogs feel special, but only take 20 minutes to come together, making them perfect for a hectic weeknight dinner.

Avocado-Sprout Toast Recipe

Avocado toast is the perfect breakfast or snack to assemble within a few minutes tops. This version includes the addition of alfalfa sprouts and sunflower seeds that will give you a bit of crunch and added texture to your finished toast.

Chilled Shrimp with Avocado-Lime Cream Recipe

Simple and satisfying, cooked and chilled fresh shrimp need little more than a vibrant, flavorful dipping sauce to make for a wow-worthy appetizer. And in terms of flavorful vibrancy, this creamy avocado lime dip is grade-A. Rich avocado is processed with tangy sour cream and fresh lime for a luscious, and almost too-easy, dip that would be equally well-suited for tortilla chips or even for dolloping on top of a bowl of white chili. Be sure to pick a just-ripe avocado for this recipe. 

Avocado and Almond Salad Recipe

Adding fresh avocado slices to a salad is a no-brainer. This beautiful salad proves that to be true as it features the superfood paring of avocados and almonds together.

Black Bean Soup with Avocado, Orange, and Cucumber Recipe

We left the soup chunky with a clear broth, but you could easily purée it to create a smooth soup. Just don't skip the avocado mixture, as it makes a refreshing contrast to the beans and spice.

Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Avocado Salad Recipe

All the fresh flavors of summer come together in Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Avocado Salad. The homemade buttermilk dressing balances the heat of the chicken and completes the meal.

Avocado-Egg Salad Sandwiches with Pickled Celery Recipe

To prevent avocado from browning in leftover egg salad, place any remaining salad in a bowl and cover surface with plastic wrap. Then cover the entire bowl tightly with plastic wrap.

Avocado-Cilantro Sauce Recipe

Be sure to include the cilantro stems when blending the sauce; they have even more flavor than the leaves. Spoon this cool, creamy sauce over pan-grilled chicken or tacos. You can also thin with a little water and use as a salad dressing, or thicken it with a little more yogurt or avocado for a vegetable dip.

Avocado Matcha Banana Bread Recipe

The power of avocado and matcha powder bring their green forces together to create an ultra-moist and decadent banana bread. It's safe to say that this isn't your average run-of-the-mill banana bread.

Tuna, Egg, and Avocado Toast Recipe

Don’t toss all that excess oil—it contains a lot of the vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids from the fish. We use this nutrient-dense oil rather than mayo to dress the salad, then pile it on a smear of avocados, which are packed with monounsaturated fats that encourage blood flow and boost brain activity. We love this combination on whole-grain toast but you can also toss it over pasta, greens, or grains.

Avocado-and-Pea Salmon Tartines Recipe

This recipe delivers a double dose of heart-healthy unsaturated fats from both salmon and avocado, plus 35% of your daily fiber goal. Be sure to look for salmon that's labeled "wild Alaskan." That way you can be sure you're getting sustainable seafood.

Quinoa Bowls with Avocado and Egg Recipe

This quick, satisfying breakfast is loaded with anti-inflammatory foods: extra-virgin olive oil, avocado, tomatoes, quinoa, and omega-3 eggs. For even more anti-inflammatory benefit, serve with an orange or grapefruit.

The Ultimate Summer Tomato Salad Recipe

Everything about this stunner of a salad screams summer. Visit your local farmers’ market, favorite roadside produce stand, or get your hands on a CSA to bring this seasonal salad to life with the freshest flavors possible. With a variety of vibrant flavors and textures—all tied together with an addictive Herbed Avocado-Tahini Dressing—this dish puts a standard salad to shame. You’ll be sure to turn heads with this beauty at your next family cook out or weekend block party; of course, it’s totally worth making all for yourself, too… because it’s just that good, and you deserve it. 

Winter Squash Stew with Cilantro-Avocado Salsa Recipe

Winter greens would also make a lovely addition to this hearty stew; simply toss a few handfuls in when the squash is almost tender, and stir until greens begin to wilt.

Flank Steak Tacos with Avocado and Red Onion Salad Recipe

This combination is also delicious layered in bolillos (crusty Mexican rolls) or soft French rolls.

Grilled Corn and Fish Tacos Recipe

This crowd-pleaser has everything you want in a fish taco, including a spicy mayo and fresh add-ins like avocado and lightly charred corn.

Shredded Chicken and Avocado Nacho Salad Recipe

Dinner doesn't get any easier than this five-ingredient salad. And it's bursting with Super Bowl Sunday potential.

Farro Burrito Bowls Recipe

Enjoy these make-ahead grain bowls for lunch or as a no-cook dinner on hot days.

Chicken and Corn Summer Chowder Recipe

Both rich and light, this one-pot meal has a fresh, bright topping of avocado, tomato, cilantro, and lime. Prep and Cook Time: 50 minutes.

Shredded Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Use Chicken and Mushroom Stroganoff ingredients to prepare this tortilla soup topped with homemade tortilla strips, avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges. 

Salmon with Walnut-Avocado Guacamole Recipe

Put this power-packed plate into the weeknight rotation. It's ready in less than 20 minutes.

Black and Blue Steak Salad Recipe

This gastropub favorite usually features a heaping portion of steak, butter-yellow croutons, and a blanket of creamy dressing. Our more balanced version includes avocado and a vinaigrette that complements the vegetables instead of disguising them.

Skirt Steak Soft Tacos with Avocado-Corn Salsa Recipe

Warm corn tortillas and a colorful, chunky salsa transform simple grilled skirt steak into a fantastic--and surprisingly light--summer meal.

Creamy Avocado Soup Recipe

If your blender doesn’t get the soup silky-smooth, add up to 1/4 cup more water and blend some more. Press a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the soup as it chills to help prevent browning.

Brussels Sprouts Breakfast Tostadas Recipe Recipe

Twenty minutes and a bag of stale corn tortillas are all you need to serve up a Mexican-inspired breakfast when you’re tired of tacos (as if that could ever happen). Crispy, fried corn tortillas form a nest for smashed avocado, radishes, black beans, and Brussels sprouts. Yes, Brussels sprouts. The Love & Lemons Cookbook author Jeanine Donofrio dares you to invite this unexpected vegetable to your breakfast menu. Shredded sprouts are browned and toasted in a screaming-hot skillet until crunchy-tender, then piled onto a messy tostada with radishes, beans, avocados and hot sauce for a wonderfully festive wake-up.

Brussels Sprout Breakfast Tostadas

Reprinted from The Love & Lemons Cookbook by arrangement with Avery Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company.

Who doesn't love a fried egg in the morning especially when you sandwich it between thick-cut bacon, tomato, and avocados on an English muffin? That's the making of the most magical breakfast sandwich.

Black Bean Tostadas with Mango-Avocado Salsa Recipe

You can substitute pinto beans for black beans if you wish. Remember to pick through the bag of dried beans for little pebbles or shriveled beans before dumping them in the slow cooker. The Mango-Avocado Salsa is also a tasty topping for grilled chicken or fish, or serve it with pita or tortilla chips. We love taking a hearty, flavorful protein like these Slow-Cooker Black Beans and giving it an exotic spin! Your family will love these build-your-own tostadas. We make the bacon optional in this recipe, for those looking for a veggie-only dish. Though, the flavor from the salty bacon slices is hard to beat in any recipe.

Southwest Grilled Chicken and Avocado Melts Recipe

Even within the same variety, chiles can vary greatly in heat. If you like yours mild, pull out the inner membrane when seeding them; that's where a lot of the heat-producing capsaicin is concentrated.

Sweet Pea and Avocado Dip with Baked Pita Chips Recipe

Incorporating green peas into this tasty summer snack not only reduces the amount of fat but also adds sweetness and further brightens the green color.

Grapefruit, Avocado, and Prosciutto Breakfast Salad Recipe

Bright, refreshing grapefruit pairs surprisingly well with nutty-earthy toasted sesame oil. This meal is full of satiating heart-healthy fats that will keep you full for a long time.

Breakfast Bowl with Tomato, Avocado, and Egg Recipe

This is the kind of breakfast that's worth waking up for--and enjoying again for lunch or dinner. If you want a starchy component, add precooked farro or quinoa.

Blistered Tomatoes with Kale Recipe

Sautéed kale adds a hearty green element to the bowls while lightly blistered tomatoes add a pop of juiciness and color. A touch of char on the tomatoes contrasts the creamy avocado and yogurt.

Egg-in-a-Nest BLT Sandwiches Recipe

These toasty handfuls may just be the ultimate combo in the world of sandwiches. The recipe combines some of our favorite things: It's a delicious mash-up of egg-in-a-hole, avocado toast, and a classic BLT.

Avocado Toad-in-a-Hole with Ham and Salsa Verde Recipe

The flesh of avocado halves are gently removed to make room for an egg that bakes beautifully in the center of the fruit. Once baked, the eggs remain slightly runny and are topped with diced ham and salsa verde for a spoonful of soft, creamy and spicy flavors.

Supercharged Kale-Avocado Smoothie Recipe

This hydrating smoothie is jam-packed with nutrients, delivering one-third your daily goal of vitamin A and 100% of vitamin K—two important nutrients many of us don't get enough of. Matcha green tea powder delivers a jolt of caffeine without the jittery side effects, helping you power through your holiday to-do list with sustained energy and alertness.

Chicken Cutlets with Strawberry-Avocado Salsa Recipe

This colorful, flavor-forward dish makes the most of peak-season produce with a sweet and tangy fruit salsa that would be equally delicious served over pork chops or with whole-grain tortilla chips. The heat from the seeded jalapeño is mild, but it can be omitted. To round out your plate, try serving the chicken and salsa over a bed of rice or with a simple side salad.

Mango Guacamole Recipe

Offering sweet and tangy notes, mangos balance perfectly against rich and creamy avocado. Try this guac as a dip with chips or as a topping for fish or chicken tacos. For a step-by-step guide to mango prep, see How to Cube a Mango, below.

Chicken Tortas Recipe

People flock to the Pollo Asado food truck in Santa Fe for its mesquite-grilled chicken. The secret is the citrus and achiote seasoning, which co-owner Olivia Arizmendi learned from her sister in Mexico. They tuck the meat into telera rolls and add pickled onions, hot sauce, and shredded iceberg lettuce. We couldn't resist adding mashed avocado. Achiote paste is available at well-stocked grocery stores and Latino markets.

Fish Tacos with Sweet Pickle Sauce Recipe

The creamy sauce offers a cool counterpoint to the bold blackening spices. Not in the mood for tilapia? The recipe is also great with chicken, sliced flank steak, or shrimp. Toss some avocado, tomato, and cilantro into the mix, and you're ready to knock Taco Tuesday out of the park.

Guacamole Footbowls Recipe

No Super Bowl party is complete without guacamole, and why not serve it in avocado halves to mimic the shape of a football? Accented with sour cream to imitate the lace on a football, these easy gameday appetizers are just as cute as they are tasty. For a hungry crowd, you'll probably want to go ahead and double the batch.

Pork Chops with Orange-Avocado Salsa Recipe

It’s easy to cook healthier meals when recipes are as simple as this one-pan dinner. The pork marinates while the potatoes and veggies roast, then everything takes a quick trip under the broiler to crisp up and concentrate the zesty flavors.

Vegan Buffalo Tofu Tot Skillet Recipe

This fantastic tater tot dish is slathered in some delicious meatless toppings making this one vegan dish that packs a powerful flavor punch. Reminicient of totchos, this skillet dish is a comfort food item to be reckoned with. This is a big skillet with enough to serve a lot of people alongside your favorite tailgating or appetizer dishes. This dish features a layer of homemade buffalo sauce as well as a rich and creamy dairy-free avocado ranch. 

Sheet Pan Beef and Black Bean Nachos Recipe

Load up the nachos on a baking sheet, then bring straight to the table for easy serving and a great presentation. While we love melted shredded cheese, we found that it makes the nachos a bit unwieldy. Instead, a creamy cheese sauce coats each chip and makes it easier to separate from the pack. Topping potential is endless, but we like sliced avocado and jalapeño.

Loaded Totchos Recipe

This sensational spud riff on nachos is an hommage to party food lovers everywhere. Loaded with toppings and drizzled with a hot cheese dip, these totchos are ready to rock and roll right onto your plate.  This dish has all of the goodness of trashy, delicious bar nachos but are made with potato tots for a warm comfort food addition. Fresh jalapeno slices and cool avocado round out this dish, leaving the end impression and flavor as simply drool-inducing. 

Peruvian Totchos with Ají Amarillo Crema Recipe

This fun twist on traditional nachos features potato tots instead of chips for a warm comfort food dish that takes on the role of an out-of-this-world delicious party platter. This dish features flavors reminiscent of Peruvian cuisine, such as cumin, avocado and the essential ají crema sauce, which can be made ahead of time. 

Lemon Chicken Citrus Bowls Recipe

Bowl meals build texture and flavor with layers of nutritious ingredients. Since there’s no center stage in a bowl, a small portion of meat travels far, putting more emphasis on the vegetables and whole grains. The avocado sauce pulls it all together with irresistible creaminess. This nutrient-packed bowl covers 100% your daily goal for immune-boosting vitamin C, and over one-quarter of your daily potassium needs.

Bulgur Chickpea Burgers Recipe

Green onions, smoked paprika, and cumin infuse these super savory veggie burgers. A creamy, garlicky avocado mash is the perfect complement. Don't worry about mashing the chickpeas completely smooth; a few chunks provide great texture. The raw bulgur-chickpea mixture is delicate but firms up as it cooks; be gentle when turning the burgers in the pan so they don't fall apart. If you have leftover bulgur, these come together in a flash; use 1 1/3 cups cooked grains.

Shredded Pork and Pinto Tacos with Pepita Slaw Recipe

Before: Pork Carnitas Plate. Carnitas are a labor of love, as pork simmers in fat for hours until tender, then gets piled onto a plate with refried beans and rice. Very few veggies find their way into this classic dish.

A half-pound of pork is a gracious plenty for these tacos, which are beefed up with pinto beans, Greek yogurt-amped avocado crema, and a crunchy slaw topped with pumpkinseeds. The plant protein sources make up about half the total amount.

Kale, Jicama, and Orange Salad Recipe

Bland veggie trays tend to lose out over sugary treats; serve this dish instead. This salad pops with color and texture from juicy citrus, creamy avocado, and crisp jicama. Dark, bumpy kale fits the mood, but you can substitute any lettuce you like. We love the pink hue of Cara Cara oranges in the salad, but regular navel or even blood oranges (in keeping with the spooky theme) would also work.

Scrambled Eggs with Goat Cheese and Aleppo Pepper Recipe

"Supermarket chile flakes are raw heat," says John Beaver, co-owner of Oaktown Spice Shop, one of our favorite shopping spots in Oakland. By contrast, sun-dried, coarsely ground Eastern Mediterranean chile peppers--Aleppo, Marash, and Urfa--"have complexity and nuance and are low- to medium-hot. You can roast and cook with them, but they're really good as a table condiment." In the Sunset Test Kitchen, we love to sprinkle them on roasted chicken and potatoes, avocado toast, green salads, pizza, and especially scrambled eggs.

Fall Veggie Bowls with Charred Avocado Recipe

Packed with whole grains, plant-based protein, and a bounty of fall veggies and fruit, this nutritional knockout is a fresh take on Meatless Monday. Pick up precooked beets and preshredded butternut squash to save big on prep time.

Pork Chops with Orange-Avocado Salsa Recipe

It’s easy to cook healthier meals when recipes are as simple as this one-pan dinner. The pork marinates while the potatoes and veggies roast, then everything takes a quick trip under the broiler to crisp up and concentrate the zesty flavors.

Bacon and Avocado Quinoa Bowl with Buttermilk-Chive Drizzle Recipe

Cook the bacon and a batch of our Perfect Quinoa ahead of time, and this bowl comes together in 5 minutes flat. It’s a great option for breakfast or lunch.

Crispy Curry Chicken with Avocado Salad Recipe

Inspired by the Thai dish Massaman chicken, this recipe has half the sat fat of typical restaurant renditions. We traded the heavy cream sauce for a velvety avocado salad; serve with a side of brown rice for a fiber boost.

Chilled Avocado Soup Recipe

This is the perfect dinner for a sweltering summer night. Cold sparkling water is a genius addition to this recipe—its bubbly effervescence provides the perfect lift to buttery ripe avocado. If you’re not into tofu, top each serving with three steamed shrimp.

Tabbouleh with Avocado Recipe

Crunchy, lemony, fresh, and filling—this hearty tabbouleh makes a fine lunch. If you’re packing it up to go, store the chickpeas separately so they’ll keep their crunch. Save the other avocado half; you’ll use it in the next day’s lunch. Keep the pit in the avocado half, and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap.

Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa Recipe

Here we combine two of the our favorite early-summer ingredients—cherry tomatoes and fresh basil—into a fresh take salsa. For the crispiest skin (that doesn’t stick to the grill), be sure your grill grates are very clean and the grill is preheated for at least 15 minutes. Avocado adds creaminess and a punch of gut-healthy prebiotics.

Sautéed Radish Salad with Avocado Dressing Recipe

Lightly cooked radishes develop rounder flavor, with less pungency and a touch of sweetness, while staying crisp at the core. The simple avocado puree adds silky creaminess to the mix. If you can’t find pea greens, arugula or watercress would also work well here.