5 Ways to Use Avocado with Barbecue Sauce

Summer evokes lazy weekend afternoons by the pool with your favorite people and the mouth-watering smell of barbecue wafting through the air. Kick it up a notch by adding everyone’s favorite green fruit — creamy, buttery avocado. This might seem like an unassuming addition to your barbecue spread, but avocado’s neutral taste and mind-bending versatility make it a perfect addition. You can recreate that sensation in your kitchen any time of the year with a little culinary magic featuring avocado and barbecue sauce.

Know How to Pick ‘Em

When choosing avocados, look for the ones with dark green or even black skins that are a little bumpy to the touch and give just a little when you can squeeze them in the palm of your hand. These will be ready to eat in one or two days.

If you’re buying avocados for later in the week, look for ones with smooth, green skin that stay firm after a little squeeze. You’ll have three or four days until these are ready to eat. To slow down avocado ripening, put it in the fridge for up to five days.

4 Avocado Barbecue Recipes

1. Pineapple, Avocado, & BBQ Chicken Bites

These bites pack a major flavor punch with barbecue sauce, pineapple, and lime doing the heavy lifting. Cubes of cool avocado add a delicious texture to these bites. For an added touch, drizzle Spicy Ranch Avocado Dressing on top.

 
2. BBQ Guacamole

This guac is so good, you’ll swear that it belongs on the menu at your favorite barbecue joint. Assertive red onions, chipotle powder, and a serrano chile bring the heat — a perfect complement to mild, creamy mashed avocado.

 
3. BBQ Chicken Tamale Bites

Diced avocado adds depth and smoothness to this cornbread-based concoction. You’ll appreciate the melding of tastes, as each bite is filled with chicken, avocado, and cornbread with hints of barbecue sauce.

 
4. Avocado Ancho BBQ Sauce

This is the easiest way to make bottled barbecue sauce your own. Pureed avocado thickens the mixture, while ancho paste and smoked paprika kick up the spice a notch — or two! Add hot sauce or extra paprika for a hotter, spicier sauce.

How to Cut, Slice, and Dice Your Avocados

You’ll want to carefully peel and cut your avocados the right way to get the most out of them! Start by washing your cutting board and gently rinsing the avocados in cool or lukewarm water.

• With a sharp knife, slice the avocado in half, slowing cutting from top to bottom. You’ll hit the pit.
• Gently pry apart the two parts or slowly twist them away from one another.
• Remove the pit with a spoon or a knife.
• If the avocado is ripe, the skin will easily peel away.

Grilled Avocado: A New Cookout Favorite

Surprise your guests at your next backyard barbecue by sliding a few avocado halves on the grill. Hey, there’s more than one way to eat avocado!

• Prep your avocados for their big break while your grill reaches 300-350°F.
• After cutting the avocados in half lengthwise, remove the seed with a spoon or knife.
• Brush the green flesh with olive oil and sprinkle on salt and pepper.
• Your avocados will be ready in about three minutes. (Don’t worry; you’ll see those awesome sear marks.)