20 Droolworthy Avocado Recipes

If I had to name just one type of produce that I’ve become obsessed with in adulthood, it’s probably avocado.

When I moved to California, I quickly found out that avocado is readily available year-round here. We have a steady supply of avocados coming in from Mexico all the time, and then in spring and summer, local California growers offer an abundance of avocados everywhere from regular food stores to local farmers markets and little stands at the most random places on the side of the road.

Growing up, I don’t remember there being avocado around in my kitchen really at all, and my mom told me a couple of years ago that she had always shied away from them because she heard they were fattening. So, I convinced her that avocados are awesome, delicious, and not all that caloric if you have one or two servings at a time. Nowadays, she loves avocado and eats them all the time (yes!).

My rule of thumb when I’m chopping up avocado in my salads, throwing them on top of my Mexican-themed dinner, or whipping up guacamole for just myself, is about 1/4 of a medium avocado = 1 ounce, which is 50 calories.

What I love about avocado is that it’s so versatile. It’s a fruit (yes, oddly enough it’s considered a fruit) that I find myself throwing into meals almost on a daily basis. Avocado is really nutritious and is high in Vitamin K, folate, potassium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, among lots of other goodness.

Recently I was roaming a local farmers’ market, and took note of the copious amounts of avocado for sale. It made me want to celebrate one of my favorite types of produce in a recipe round-up, so here we are!

Today I’m sharing 20 mouth-watering avocado recipes created by some of my food blogger buddies and myself. Let’s get to it!

Note: I’ve indicated which recipes are vegan, and every recipe that includes gluten can easily be adjusted to be gluten free.

avocado pistachio pesto & tomato crostini {vegan} – Avocado makes for a great star ingredient in pesto. This pesto also features baby spinach, nutritional yeast, pistachios and fresh lemon juice. Spread it on some thick fresh bread, add tomato slices, drizzle on balsamic glaze… and devour!

avocado oat pancakes with a strawberry lemon sauce {vegan} – Have you ever made pancake batter with avocado? I just created this unusual pancake combo for Shape, and the batter also includes healthy oats, banana and almond milk.

Top the pancakes with a fresh strawberry lemon syrup for a fancy brunch idea!

sweet potato nachos with avocado lime cream – A fun twist on nachos, this recipe uses baked sweet potato slices as the base instead of tortilla chips, and is topped with an avocado + salsa + sour cream sauce.

30-minute Thai green curry with avocado via The Roasted Root {vegan} – You can count me in for any avo recipe that features brown rice and roasted chickpeas!

Mexican avocado cups with arugula pesto {vegan} – Pack in the produce with these avo cups, which combine black beans, cherry tomato, and bell pepper with an arugula walnut pesto. This is one of my favorite recipe creations that I came up with for Shape earlier this year!

loaded Mediterranean avocado toast {vegan} – Spice up your normal avocado toast with this recipe, which piles on roasted chickpeas, pine nuts, artichoke hearts and tomato.

avocado brownies via Making Thyme for Health {vegan} – Gooey, chocolatey brownies that are actually healthy. Need I say anything more?

tropical avocado fruit salsa {vegan} – Tis the season for grilling! Top your (veggie) burger with this tropical fruit salsa, which uses mango, kiwi, apricots, strawberries, fresh mint and lemon juice.

black bean taquitos with avocado lime cashew cheese sauce {vegan} – Healthier than your average taquitos, the star of these mini rolled up tacos are black beans.

crispy chickpea, avocado & tomato lettuce wraps with nacho cashew cheese {vegan} – Roasted chickpeas are combined with avocado chunks and nacho cashew “cheese” in this lettuce wrap recipe.

citrus, fennel & avocado salad {vegan} – How bright and beautiful is this refreshing salad via Flavor the Moments?

avocado, spinach, & walnut pesto pasta {vegan} – Whip up this pesto pasta recipe in 15 minutes flat!

easy three bean veggie chili {vegan} – This 30-minute meal combines black, kidney and pinto beans with chipotle salsa, diced green chiles, baby spinach, and of course, avocado, for a nutritious chili.

grilled guacamole via Spiced blog {vegan} – Take your guacamole up a notch by grilling the avocado and red onion first!

Mediterranean flatbread pizzas with white bean spinach pesto – A healthier take on pizza, these flatbreads use naan bread as the crust, pack on the produce, and use crumbled feta as a lighter cheese option.

peanut chickpea sweet potato bowls via Cook Nourish Bliss {vegan} – Bowls like this are a healthy foodie’s heaven. Sweet potato, broccoli, avocado, chickpeas, and peanut sauce all combined together in one bowl? YES PLEASE!

avocado smashed corn on the cob {vegan} – A fun way to spice up regular ole corn on the cob!

avocado pesto quesadillas via She Likes Food – I’m all about easy Mexican recipes, which often means veggie quesadillas in my house. This recipe features a pesto made with avocado, basil, cashews, and fresh lime juice. Yum!

easy black bean burger & cheddar salad – This ridiculously easy salad is one that I shared to show you guys the type of meal that I eat during the week when I don’t have much time. Cook a pre-made black bean burger, throw together lettuce mix with avocado, shredded carrots, and cheddar cheese, and voila, dinner in 10 minutes flat!

easy heirloom & avocado bruschetta on focaccia {vegan} – This recipe may be an oldie from the blog (forgive my horrendous photos), but it’s a goodie. I often throw diced avocado into my homemade bruschetta, and it’s a great idea for a fun summertime appetizer!

Tell me… What’s one food you didn’t eat as a kid that you love now? Which of these recipes are you drooling over the most?