Planning a Guacamole Picnic

You can’t beat a good picnic — unless you turn it into a guacamole picnic. Besides, guac tastes even better while kicking back in the sunshine with your loved ones. Guacamole is a travel-friendly treat for a trip to the park and tastes great served up as part of a family dinner alfresco in the backyard.

Picnics are simple outings, but to make sure the occasion goes as smoothly as your favorite guacamole, here are some pro tips.

 

How to Store Guacamole for a Picnic

Curious how to keep your guacamole a brilliant green? Store it in an airtight container to limit its exposure to air. Spritz the top of your dip with lemon juice or water, which prevents oxygen from turning guacamole brown on top.

After mashing your guacamole, don’t let unused avocado halves go to waste. Keep the pit inside the unused half and coat the flesh of the avocado with lemon juice or olive oil. Wrap it immediately with plastic wrap and allow it to chill in the fridge.

Guacamole is so good that, sometimes, picnicgoers may (understandably) find it difficult to share. Make it so they don’t have to by prepping single-portion guacamole “boats,” such as savory Southwest Sweet Potato Guacamole or Poblano Stuffed Guac. Bonus: fewer dishes to pack and clean up later!

 

 

What’s Your Guacamole Picnic Vibe?

There are thousands of guacamoles for thousands of ways to picnic. Whether you’re a pit master pro or an outdoor adventurer looking for a treat along your travels, there’s a guacamole recipe for you.

Brunchin’ With Guac

For picnic brunches, Wakey Wakey Eggs & Bakey Guac is a delicious way to salute the rising sun with all the breakfast essentials in one bowl: creamy avocados, crunchy bacon, eggs, and crispy hash browns.

Guac & BBQ

Can’t imagine a picnic without firing up the barbeque? Mash together a basic guacamole recipe to elevate hamburgers, hot dogs, or brisket. Or use some of your rub spices to season a bowl of BBQ Guacamole.

 

Wine & Cheese & Guac

Picnic traditionalists will enjoy pairing wine and cheese with sweeter guacs, such as Strawberry Margarita Guacamole or Crunchy Candied Guacamole, made with melt-in-your-mouth pears, honey, and candied pecans. Any fruit plays well with avocados’ pleasantly subtle flavor and creamy texture. For the freshest taste, use in-season fruits, such as strawberries in spring or squash in late summer. And remember — Hass avocados are always in season, because they grow 365 days a year nourished by the Mexican sun and rain.

Guacos (Guacamole Tacos)

Tacos are another picnic favorite and can be assembled on-site. Make your picnic into a full-on fiesta by serving up Taco Guac made with ground beef and black beans or Elotes Guacamole, which is inspired by traditional Mexican street corn. You can dollop it on top of your tacos or serve it as a side.

Guac on the Trail

Take your guacamole to new heights, literally, by packing Trail Mix Guacamole to fuel your trek up mountains and through the woods. A single serving of avocado (1/3 medium avocado) provides 11% of your daily value of fiber, which will keep you feeling full. The protein from pecans, walnuts, and pepitas will nourish your muscles along the journey.

Keep Pesky Ants Away from Your Guacamole Picnic

Ants (and apparently alligators) know how delicious guacamole is — but don’t let them bug you. Protect your guacamole from these six-legged party crashers by following a few simple preventative measures:

• Choose a picnic spot at least 50 feet away from trash cans.
• Rub vinegar, lemon juice, or garlic along your table, tablecloth, or blanket, as ants are repelled by those scents.
• Stick the legs of your picnic table into shallow containers of water. Or place your plastic food storage containers inside larger containers filled with a shallow pool of water. Ants don’t swim, so they’ll leave your picnic spread in peace. Sorry, ants: No guacamole for you!

Find tons of guacamole recipes made with nutrient-dense avocados in our guacamole recipe archives.