Bacon Guacamole With Cotija Cheese (Printer-friendly)

Smoky guacamole with crispy bacon, Cotija cheese, lime, and jalapeño—a bold twist on the classic dip.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fresh Produce

01 - 3 ripe avocados
02 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
03 - 1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
04 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
05 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

→ Meats

07 - 6 slices bacon

→ Dairy

08 - 1/2 cup Cotija cheese, crumbled

→ Pantry

09 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Cook bacon slices in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain and cool, then crumble into bite-sized pieces.
02 - Cut avocados in half lengthwise, remove pits, and scoop flesh into a large mixing bowl. Mash with a fork to achieve your preferred consistency.
03 - Add diced red onion, diced tomato, minced jalapeño, chopped cilantro, lime juice, salt, and black pepper to the mashed avocados. Gently fold together until evenly incorporated.
04 - Fold majority of crumbled bacon and Cotija cheese into the guacamole, reserving small portions of each for finishing garnish.
05 - Transfer guacamole to a serving bowl and top with reserved bacon pieces and Cotija cheese crumbles.
06 - Present immediately alongside tortilla chips or fresh vegetable slices.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The smoky bacon and tangy Cotija transform ordinary guacamole into something that tastes restaurant-quality with minimal effort.
  • It comes together in 25 minutes from start to serve, making it perfect for last-minute entertaining without the stress.
  • Once you taste how the crispy-salty elements balance the creamy avocado, you'll never go back to plain guac.
02 -
  • Cut your avocados as close to serving time as possible—avocado oxidizes within minutes, turning that beautiful green slightly gray and dull.
  • If you absolutely must make this ahead, place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole to minimize air exposure, and do it no more than an hour before guests arrive.
03 -
  • Save your avocado pit and nestle it into the finished guac in the bowl—it slows oxidation and looks intentional, like you know what you're doing.
  • If you want to make this even more special, add a tiny pinch of smoked paprika or a dash of hot sauce at the end for layers that didn't exist before.
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