Beyond Smashing: Our Absolute Favorite Avocado Recipes for Every Meal

sliced avocados on cutting board
Chris Simpson

Botanically, avocados are a fruit, but in the kitchen, they're smooth like buttah. Full of fiber and heart-friendly fats—plus respectable amounts of vitamin C and potassium—they swing easily from salads to sweets, thanks to their creamy texture and neutral taste. One important note: Be sure to eat the flesh closest to the skin, as it it has the most phytonutrients.

One of the many reasons why we love avocados is the fact that they're available all year round in grocery stores. When you're choosing an avocado, give it a gentle (yes, gentle!) squeeze: If it yields slightly, it's ripe and ready to eat; if mushy, it's overripe, but as long as the flesh is still green, you can use it in baked goods or a smoothie. If you buy firm ones, remember that they'll take several days to ripen. It's best to store your avocado at room temperature, but if you need to slow down ripening for a few days, pop them in the fridge. Want to enjoy them sooner? To speed up the ripening process, stash them in a paper bag with a banana. To keep cut avocados from oxidizing and turning brown, sprinkle a little lemon juice over the flesh, cover, and refrigerate for up to a day.

How to enjoy your avocados at home is never a problem—from breakfast toast or smoothies to sandwiches, guac, salads, bowls, and even desserts, the options truly are endless. But if you could use a little inspiration, let this collection of avocado recipes inspire you. We're big fans of the fruit, which is why you can trust that each and every one of these recipe ideas is so delicious. When you're in the mood for a quick, satisfying snack, drizzle a halved, pitted avocado with lime juice and olive oil and top with furikake seasoning or sesame seeds.

Ahead, get the full scoop on this clever chameleon—whether you have a common Hass or a jumbo Choquette, enjoy your fruit in any one of these stellar avocado recipes.

01 of 15

Avocado-and-Beet Poke Bowl

Avocado-and-Beet "Poke" Bowl
Chris Simpson

This nourishing vegan bowl, which features steamed beets, cucumber, and avocado tossed with a ginger-garlic-lime-soy sauce, is best served over soba noodles or rice.

02 of 15

Double-Chocolate Muffins

Double-Chocolate Muffins
Chris Simpson

Not all avocado recipes are green! This favorite fruit is a secret ingredient in desserts where its healthy fats work wonders. These decadent yet healthy-ish muffins feature avocado and whole wheat flour.

03 of 15

Martha's Classic Gucamole

marthas classic guacamole
Chelsea Cavanaugh

We love guacamole: We love it without tomatoes, with nori, and we especially adore this over the top version from our founder, who adds hard-boiled eggs and plantain chips.

04 of 15

Almond-Avocado Smoothie

banana avocado smoothie
Jonathan Gregson

The creamy texture of avocado makes it a stellar player in smoothies, such as the avocado-orange-banana-yogurt smoothie, pictured here, and our newest favorite, a vegan smoothie made with almond milk, bananas, and spinach.

05 of 15

Avocado and Coconut Oil Toast

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Romulo Yanes

There's good reason avocado toast has been such a trend; rich, creamy avocado is a perfect foil for crunchy toast. It's a healthy, delicious snack that comes together fast. Adding coconut oil gives a rich, tropical taste that really elevates this heart-healthy bite.

06 of 15

Avocado Sushi

vegetable sushi
Joanna Garcia

Creamy avocado is paired with crunchy vegetables in these DIY sushi rolls.

07 of 15

Corn and Avocado Salad with Goddess Dressing

Corn-and-Avocado Salad With Goddess Dressing
Petrina Tinslay

Whether for a potluck or a party or a family dinner, this salad shines. It can be made up to eight hours ahead—that's because the finely diced avocado is stirred into the dressing for creaminess without browning.

08 of 15

Vegan Avocado Ice Cream

avocado ice cream
Martyna Szczesna

There's no hiding the green in this refreshing and unusual dairy- free dessert. It's creamy thanks to the avocado and coconut milk.

09 of 15

Avocado-and Boursin Sandwiches

avocado and boursin sandwiches
Lennart Weibull

Colorful and delicious, this vegetarian sandwich is piled high with vegetables, including creamy avocado, shredded carrots, red cabbage, cucumber slices, and pea shoots, as well as our favorite creamy, garlicky cheese.

10 of 15

Grapefruit, Salmon, and Avocado Salad

grapefruitsalmonsalad-014-mld110677.jpg
Romulo Yanes

Bright-pink salmon matches perfectly with slices of fresh grapefruit, both in terms of flavor and color! Slices of creamy avocado soften this lively, flavorful salad.

11 of 15

Avocado-Chocolate Pudding

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You can probably guess the base of this updated childhood favorite. Trust us, the taste is all cocoa—the avocado is there for creaminess.

12 of 15

Peekaboo Avocado Toast

peekaboo avocado toast
Ryan Liebe

The classic egg-in-a-hole meets avocado toast in this not-to-be-missed mash up.

13 of 15

West Coast Grilled Vegetable Pizza

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Even pizza gets the avocado treatment, and this grilled iteration is a great option to enjoy when you want something a little lighter but still indulgent. Another fast-food-turned-health-food we adore? Portobello Mushroom Burgers with Spicy Avocado Sauce.

14 of 15

Kale and Lentil Bowl with Avocado Dressing

kale-lentil-avocado-161-d112025.jpg
Bryan Gardner

We're rather partial to avocado dressing. This dairy-free version is the creamy finish this hearty bowl needs.

15 of 15

Avocado, Salsa, and Cilantro Omelet

omelet with salsa and avocado
Chris Simpson

There's no cheese here! Instead, this omelet is stuffed with creamy avocado, a spoonful of salsa, and plenty of cilantro.

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