Avocado Toast (Plus Tips & Variations)
Avocado toast is a delicious and simple breakfast, snack or light meal! Learn how to make the BEST avocado toast with this recipe, plus fun variations.
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 29, 2024
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We’re going back to basics this summer, so let’s talk about avocado toast! Creamy avocado spread onto well-toasted bread is one of my favorite quick meals. Actually, it’s one of my favorite meals in general. It’s so delicious, I’d call it one of life’s simplest pleasures.
As usual, I have some strong opinions on what makes the best avocado toast. So today, I thought I’d share my basic recipe, with my best tips and favorite variations.
If you are a stranger to avocado toast, you’ve been missing out and we must remedy this situation immediately.
If you’re well-familiar with the joy of avocado toast, I hope you find some helpful tips and some fun new ways to change up your toast. Onward!
How to Make the Best Avocado Toast
1) Pick great avocados
You want ripe but not over-ripe Hass avocados. Look for avocados that yield a bit to a gentle squeeze, but avoid using avocados that are mushy or stringy on the inside. If you run into any bruised or brown bits when you cut them open, scoop those out and discard before mashing the rest.
2) Buy good bread and toast it well
I think sturdy, thick-sliced, whole grain bread make the best avocado toast. Golden, well-toasted bread offers a sturdy base and a crisp, shattering contrast against the creamy avocado.
3) Mash your avocado separately
Mashed avocado is more creamy and luxurious than sliced avocado (think guacamole vs. plain avocado). But don’t mash it on the toast! You risk poking holes in your toast or smashing it. Cut your avocados in half, remove the pit, scoop the flesh into a bowl or onto the side of your plate, and mash it up with a fork.
Mashing a lot of avocados at once? Use a potato masher or pastry cutter instead of a measly little fork.
4) Don’t forget the salt
You’ll want to mix in at least a pinch of salt per avocado half. Bonus points? Finish your avocado toast with a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
Avocado Toast Bonus Tips
Here are a few easy ways to take your avocado toast up a notch. Pick one or a few!
- Add garlic: Lightly rub a peeled raw garlic clove over the top of your toast before adding the avocado, or mix a tiny pinch of garlic powder into the avocado.
- Add fresh leafy herbs or your favorite herbed sauce: Chopped fresh basil, cilantro, dill or parsley are all good with avocado. So is a drizzle of pesto, zhoug sauce (spicy cilantro sauce), or chimichurri.
- Put an egg on it: I love to top my avocado toast with a fried egg for extra protein (example here). You can do a poached egg or scrambled egg if you prefer.
- More extras: Quick-pickled onions or radishes or jalapeños, your favorite hot sauce, or a sprinkle of sliced cherry tomatoes.
Avocado Toast Variations
Here are my official favorite avocado toast variations, shown from top to bottom.
Everything Bagel Avocado Toast
Add a generous sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning on top of your avocado toast. Make your own with my everything bagel blend recipe, or buy it at Trader Joe’s or Williams-Sonoma (affiliate link). These seasonings tend to be salty, so be careful not to over-salt your avocado.
Loaded Avocado Toast
Mix chopped fresh radish, green onion, jalapeño (seeds and ribs removed) and toasted sunflower seeds. Sprinkle generously on your toast.
Tomato-Basil Avocado Toast with Balsamic Drizzle
If you have great tomatoes on hand, this is delicious. Top your avocado toast with sliced tomato, add a light drizzle of high-quality thick balsamic vinegar or designated balsamic glaze, and some torn fresh basil leaves.
Cafe Gitane-Style Avocado Toast
This NYC café supposedly started the avocado toast trend. Spread a thick layer of mashed avocado over your toast, spread it so it’s smooth and mounded, then drizzle with 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and a generous sprinkle of red pepper flakes and flaky salt.
How do you like your avocado toast? Let me know in the comments, please! I really want to know. ♥
If you find yourself with extra avocados (lucky you), try my guacamole, avocado dip or any of these recipes.
Watch How to Make Avocado Toast
Avocado Toast
Avocado toast is creamy, crisp and so satisfying. It’s a delicious and simple breakfast, snack or light meal! It’s best consumed immediately, since the avocado browns over time. Recipe as written yields 1 slice of basic avocado toast; multiply as necessary.
Ingredients
- 1 slice of bread (I like thick-sliced whole-grain bread best)
- ½ ripe avocado
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: Any of the extra toppings suggested in this post
Instructions
- Toast your slice of bread until golden and firm.
- Remove the pit from your avocado. Use a big spoon to scoop out the flesh. Put it in a bowl and mash it up with a fork until it’s as smooth as you like it. Mix in a pinch of salt (about ⅛ teaspoon) and add more to taste, if desired.
- Spread avocado on top of your toast. Enjoy as-is or top with any extras offered in this post (I highly recommend a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt, if you have it).
Notes
Make it gluten free: Use gluten-free bread. My assistant Megan recommends Canyon Bakehouse 7-Grain Bread, which she buys at Natural Grocers.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
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Q & A
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OMG!!! This is an awesome base recipe. I added lemon juice to the mix, an over-medium egg and tomato slices with Vegeta sprinkled on top, with black-peppered bacon on the side. Absolutely scrumptious!
Thank you for sharing, Kerstin!
I like to use pink Himalayan salt, then top with a couple of daches of smoked paprika.
Hello-
I had this at a coffee shop in Santa Barbara & it tasted divine!
Mashed avocado topped with crunchy, thinly-sliced tortilla chips,
fresh mango cubes & red chili flakes- adds a nice hot/cold combo :)
It is sooooo good but maybe much seasonings, because it needs more flavor. But otherwise delicious!
Seriously, don’t forget the olive oil. I put a tablespoon of it on my toast, then add garlic granules, then the scooped out avo, not mashed, then the lemon juice, salt and paprika. In that order for those of us on the spectrum.
I like sliced avocado on my toast, topped with salt and toasted sesame seeds. I’ve tried it mashed but like more texture. Guess I’m a purist. :-)
I mashed a nice Hass avocado & seasoned it with ground cumin, onion flakes, cilantro flakes, celery salt & lemon juice. I placed on well brown crisp toast then topped it with finely chopped Castelvetrano pitted green olives.
It was delicious!
That’s great to hear, Janice!
do ya’ll butter the bread before troasting?
You can add it after if you like!
i added the pinch of garlic powder, a titch of mayo and some basil. Yum!
I made the avocado toast following your recipe and the toppings you had suggested for the first time and it was excellent! Thank you so much.
I followed your recipe, not including my usual lime juice addition. I liked it that way because it tasted different from my guacamole, (which of course has even more ingredients). On my second slice, I fell back on my usual toppings … lots of crumbled feta and red pepper flakes.
Thanks for all the great suggestions!! I love my avocado toast on crunchy toast with super thin red onions, crushed red pepper, salt & a splash of lime juice.
Loved this article
Why would you scoop when they peal so easily?
I find this method works best for me. If you haev another method, that’s great!
The other I blended 2 hard boiled eggs, one avocado, one clove of garlic, salt, pepper, a handful of fresh cilantro, one tbs mayo, a pinch of dijon mustard, a tbs oof olive oil, a squeeze of lime juice .
Yum!
Also topped with a sprinkle of everything but the bagel.
Will add tomatillos to the mix next time :-)
Great recipe post for me to add a dish to my diet.I am an 80 yo man retired and living in rural Western Australia South of Perth. I cook for myself every day. I find food preparation and cooking very therapeutic. Your recipe post is just the ticket for my die
My favorite was at a diner that was toasted multi-grain topped with smashed avocado, fresh spinach, chopped tomato, bacon, feta & balsamic drizzle topped with two fried eggs over medium.
slice of bread toasted cut into 4 ….cream cheese, avacado rolled with salmon,pepper salt, arrange top it with finely cut radish….
This sounds a very boring recipe I add lemon juice and chilli flakes as well as some seasoning its yummy
Love the avocado toast with an egg.
I Mode some avocado toast this morning and tried it with a fried egg on top, but the egg stole the show…
so, I went into my garden and got some sweet cherry tomatoes and some orange mint leaves, chopped them up and added it to my avocado toast—-YUM!!! I’ll be doing this again soon!
This may be good to try some sliced salmon with my next avocado toast adventure.
Great to hear, Kimbelee!
This Avocado Toast recipe from Cookie and Kate is a delicious and nutritious way to start your day. With creamy avocado spread on toasted bread, it’s a simple yet satisfying meal that’s perfect for breakfast or a snack.Tech Info Box
I use mashed avocado on toasted homemade gluten free vegan bread (it’s delicious!). Then I layer on minced jalapeño in adobo sauce, topped with finely chopped spring mix, green onions, and fresh basil. When I want to add.more protein, I smear a layer of homemade hummus before adding the avocado.
As a Millennial, I was called to this recipe. But honestly it is such a filling breakfast, especially when paired with a whole grain bread. I love to top mine with a bit of salt & a poached egg. Yum!
Great to hear, Amanda!
We use the basic recipe but add Smiked Salmon on top-totally delicious!
This is helpful. We have an avocado tree and this year is a huge crop. So I’m down to try this – a lot!! Thanks for the recipes
You’re welcome, Jennifer!
For years, I have been spreading toasted sprouted grain Ezekiel bread with Trader Joe’s crunchy, salted peanut butter and topping it with an avocado. The three textures are wonderful and the bread and peanut butter make a complete protein.
I like to put a very thin amount of almond butter (like a spread), then put the mashed avocado. I put a little sea salt on top and sprinkle flaked red peppers on top (I often have leftover flaked red pepper packets from when I buy pizza). I’ve used sourdough or multi-grain toast.
I chop up.green onions (scallions) and add them to my mashed avocado with Pace Picante.So good slathered on toasted hearty breads.
Tried your avocado toast using Hero bread. Added fresh avocado, then tomatoes & basil from our garden. Added a sprinkle of dry guacamole mix to the avacado and some sea salt. Delicious!
Thank you for sharing, Deb!
Love your recipes! Thank you.
Making Avocado Toast for my granddaughter for lunch – will the toast get soggy after 4 hours in the lunchbox? If so, how can I avoid it?
PS: Do you have any lunchbox favorites?
Thanks again.