Game Day Spicy Guacamole with Tortilla Chips (Printable)
Fresh, spicy guacamole with homemade tortilla chips—a crowd-pleasing appetizer bursting with flavor and perfect for game day entertaining.
# What goes in:
→ Guacamole
01 - 3 ripe avocados
02 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
03 - 1 medium jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
04 - 1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
05 - 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - Juice of 1 large lime
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Tortilla Chips
11 - 12 corn tortillas
12 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
13 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
02 - Brush both sides of each tortilla with olive oil. Stack and cut into 6 wedges each. Arrange wedges in a single layer on baking sheets. Sprinkle with sea salt. Bake for 8–10 minutes or until golden and crisp, rotating pans halfway through. Let cool completely.
03 - Halve and pit the avocados. Scoop flesh into a large bowl and mash to your desired texture, whether chunky or smooth.
04 - Add red onion, jalapeño, tomato, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper. Gently fold to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
05 - Transfer guacamole to a serving bowl. Serve immediately with the tortilla chips.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The homemade tortilla chips stay impossibly crisp even after sitting out during a four-hour game, something I discovered after countless soggy chip disappointments.
- The perfect balance of creamy avocado with zingy lime and spicy jalapeño creates that addictive cant-stop-eating quality that keeps conversation flowing as naturally as the snacking.
02 -
- Pressing plastic wrap directly against the surface of your guacamole truly prevents browning, something I stubbornly refused to believe until witnessing the dramatic difference side-by-side.
- Reserving a few avocado pits and nestling them into your finished guacamole helps maintain freshness during longer parties, a trick my Mexican neighbor taught me that actually works.
03 -
- For the absolute freshest flavor, add half your lime juice while mixing, then drizzle the remaining half over the top just before serving – this two-stage approach creates brightness that cuts through the richness.
- The temperature of your ingredients matters tremendously – letting the diced vegetables come to room temperature before folding them in allows their flavors to bloom instead of remaining tight and muted from the cold.