Beyond Basic Guacamole: 11 Loaded Recipes Perfect for the Super Bowl

Guacamole is one of my favorite foods ever. Heck, if I had to make a list of my most beloved things in this world, period, it would still be high up there, right behind sunsets and puppies. I love making it, and have avocados and limes at the ready pretty much all the time, just in case a craving strikes.

Being an avid guacamole fan, I can’t help but cry a bit on the inside any time I head to a get-together and see a plastic tub of store-bought stuff set out. I appreciate the thought, but c’mon, you can do so much better. Real-deal guacamole is so easy to make and way fresher and tastier than that sad, browning sludge from the supermarket.

There’s one other thing that makes the homemade version far superior: Although the classic kind will always be a hit, guacamole can also be a vehicle for showing off your finesse and creativity. Add-ins and extras can take it from basic to brilliant in a flash.

If you’ve got guests coming over this game day, you’re probably going to want to put guacamole at the center of the spread. This is just the time to load it up and make it every bit as action-packed as the plays on the screen. For some out-of-the-box guac inspiration, here are 11 inventive recipes that will keep everyone dipping through halftime and beyond. Looking for more Super Bowl recipes? Check out our Super Bowl headquarters. Happy snacking!
Header image and recipe for Pineapple and Cucumber Guacamole from CHOW

1. Bacon and Tomato Guacamole

This one’s a no-brainer. Avocado, bacon, and tomatoes are a tried and true sandwich pairing, so it’s only natural that they would be best friends when mashed together in a bowl. This recipe also introduces chipotles, which bring just enough extra smokiness for taste buds to take note.
Photo and recipe from CHOW

2. Guacamole Taquero (Tomatillo Guacamole)

For a more subtle guacamole twist, try adding tomatillos, which release their juices for a looser condiment that’s as easy to use as a dip as it is to drizzle on nachos, tacos, and more.
Photo and recipe from CHOW

3. Spring Pea Guacamole

Peas don’t just help maximize the greenage in guacamole. They also add a welcome sweetness that pairs perfectly with charred jalapeño and crunchy, nutty sunflower seeds.
Photo and recipe from Tasting Table

4. Grapefruit Guacamole

You may be used to lime in your guacamole, but its main reason for being there is to offer acidity, which is something that any citrus can provide. By swapping in juicy grapefruit, you get all the lush, floral notes that are unique to that fruit, which are heightened even further through the addition of cumin.
Photo and recipe from The Kitchn

5. Pomegranate Guacamole

This recipe could get by on looks alone, with its stunning contrast of pomegranate's ruby red against avocado's opaque green. Luckily, it tastes good, too, bringing all the fruity spunk you never knew you wanted in your dip.
Photo and recipe from Cookie + Kate

6. Guacamummus

In this world of all manner of unholy food mash-ups, guacamummus (or hummamole, if you must) seems like less of a trend-riding novelty than a commentary on modern-day society. It’s an allegorical representation of two tribes—one of the avocado, and one of the chickpea—that are often at odds with each other, yet united in a common goal of dip democracy. Their only solution is to unite and stand as one kickass spread.
Photo and recipe from Gimme Some Oven

7. Guacamole with Jicama and Mango

To any naysayers who dare think guacamole is boring, this recipe's for you. Jicama brings the heft and snappy crunch, while mango—well, mango always knows how to be the life of the party.
Photo and recipe from Serious Eats

8. White Bean Guacamole

If your favorite part of guacamole is the creamy factor, you can take it one notch further by adding white beans to the mix.
Photo and recipe from Creme de la Crumb

9. Celery-Spiked Guacamole with Chiles

While you could break out the crudités for dunking, things get much more exciting when you chop up those veggies and literally put them inside your dip. Studs of celery will keep your guests crunching, while spicy serranos liven things up, just in case the third quarter of the game starts to drag.
Photo and recipe from Bon Appétit

10. Basil and Blue Cheese Guacamole

Is it just me, or is the whole point of blue cheese dressing fishing out the cheese crumbles? I'd rather see those nubbins set adrift in a mash of avocado, riding a cresting wave of pale green.
Photo and recipe from Ciao Veggie

11. Fully Loaded Guacamole

This is it. This is the recipe for when you've gone off the rails and have nothing to lose. Or at the very least, you're looking at a pantry full of scattershot ingredients that would go great together in a dip.
Photo and recipe from Blogging Over Thyme

Miki Kawasaki is a New York City–based food writer and graduate of Boston University's program in Gastronomy. Few things excite her more than a well-crafted sandwich or expertly spiced curry. If you ever run into her at a dinner party, make sure to hit her up for a few pieces of oddball culinary trivia.