Bacon Guacamole With Cotija Cheese (Print)

Smoky, creamy avocado dip with crispy bacon, tangy Cotija cheese, and fresh lime in just 25 minutes.

# Components:

→ 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 in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, approximately 8-10 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and crumble after cooling.
02 - Halve avocados, remove pits, and scoop flesh into a large bowl. Mash with a fork to desired consistency.
03 - Add red onion, tomato, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper to mashed avocados. Mix gently until incorporated.
04 - Fold in majority of crumbled bacon and Cotija cheese, reserving small portions for finishing.
05 - Transfer guacamole to serving bowl. Crown with reserved bacon and Cotija cheese.
06 - Serve immediately alongside tortilla chips or fresh vegetable slices.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes fancy but feels effortless: People will assume you spent hours when you actually spent fifteen minutes mashing avocados.
  • The bacon-and-cheese combo is addictive: There's something about that salty, crispy-creamy contrast that keeps people coming back for more.
  • It works for any gathering: Casual weeknight snack, dinner party appetizer, or game day dip—this guac adapts to the moment.
02 -
  • Lime juice is your guacamole's best friend: It prevents browning and keeps everything tasting fresh, so don't skip it even if you think it tastes sharp at first.
  • Bacon texture matters more than you'd think: Undercooked bacon is chewy and sad, overcooked bacon is bitter, so aim for that moment when it's crispy but not yet burned.
  • Cotija isn't optional: It's what makes this different from basic guac—the saltiness and slight tang is the whole point, so don't substitute without realizing you're making something else entirely.
03 -
  • A tiny pinch of smoked paprika adds depth: It echoes the bacon and makes the whole thing taste like it has more going on than it actually does.
  • Dice everything uniformly and finely: It makes the texture pleasant and means flavors distribute evenly instead of clumping in some bites and disappearing in others.
  • If you're making this for a crowd, double the recipe but don't double the lime juice: Acid builds up faster than you'd expect, so taste as you go and add more gradually.
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