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
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 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 to your avocado toast. Make your own with my everything bagel blend recipe, or buy it at Trader Joe’s or Amazon (affiliate link). These seasonings tend to be salty, so be careful not to oversalt 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, avocado salad 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.
I usually make mine with a thin layer of Dijon under the avocado and topped with Malden salt and a little nutritional yeast. Sometimes I add sprouts or a crispy fried egg.
Thanks for sharing, Aimee!
Here in Australia it is known as smashed avocado and is very popular. It even made the news headlines.
That’s great!
Nothing makes me happier than a slice of avocado toast!
Yes, yes!
Great topping ideas! Personally, I almost always add a squirt of lemon juice on top, sometimes crumbled feta, and also love a fried egg on top. It’s just so satisfying!
All sound wonderful, Sarah!
YES, avocado toast! Sourdough, whole grain, and bagels are my favorite types of bread for toast! Roasted tomatoes are the best with it, as well as caramelized onions and mushrooms. I will say, some people go crazy and pair avocado with peanut butter and fruit! I wouldn’t attempt this combination myself anytime soon, but hey, who knows? Don’t knock it till ya try it, right?
I’m a firm believer in trying things for sure! Thank you, Cassie.
I came across this article just after having breakfast which was toasted rye bread, topped with vegemite and sliced avocados, with a coffee.
My favourite way to start a Sunday!
Thank you for sharing!
I did not at this time. But, I bought your cook book. It is fantastic! I have been trying a few of your recipes. They are fantastic. Thank you: Nina
Wonderful! I’m so glad you bought it, Nina. Thanks for your comment.
I love Chili Crunch on my avocado toast. Kind of spendy but you only need a little. Soooo good!
Thanks for sharing, Karen!
Hi Kate
We wouldn’t dream of having Avocado on Toast without first adding a smear of Vegemite on the toast. Delicious. Some great variations here though – I’ll be giving them a try later.
I do hear that is popular in some places! Let me know what you think of my variations.
Slice of toast/multigrain, Vegemite, smashed Avo, slice of bacon, and a poached or scrambled eggs! Topped with pepper delish!!
Thanks for sharing, Stacey!
Love avacado toast. It’s a recent discovery after seeing it on many menus in Australia. I always squeeze a little lime juice on my avacado.
Thanks, Mandy!
Lime juice sounds like a good variation on lemon juice.
Perfect for breakfast! And delicious! I love the toppings you use!
Thank you!
My favorite breakfast…. I use Dave’s bread (loaded with seeds) avocado,salt and pepper topped with thin slices of cucumber and on top of that grated hard boiled egg…Heaven!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing, Diane!
You have described one of my favorite breakfasts! There is a great restaurant in San Antonio, TX where I get avocado toast with fried eggs and (since I’m not completely vegetarian) my husband and I usually share an order of millionaire’s bacon. Unfortunately my husband does not like avocado, so I likely won’t be doing this at home. But I’m saving the recipe anyway, just because. (When I was a child my favorite lunch was a baloney sandwich on egg bread with avocado – just thinking about it makes me nostalgic, even though I would no longer consider eating baloney.)
Thanks, Susan!
I love my avo on toast similar to yours but with lemon juice mashed in beforehand. And I also like a poached egg with it too; spread the avo on the toast, top with rocket leaves and a drizzle of olive oil and top with a poached egg.
Thanks for sharing!
Here are my two favourites!
-Vegemite spread thinly then the avocado.
-top avocado with Trader Joe’s Lemon Pepper.
Thanks, Ruth!
I like avocado toasts with absolutely anything! I recently tried it with ripe peach slices and balsamic. It was delicious!
On busy mornings though I keep it simple with just a splash of lime juice, chile flakes and sesame seeds.
Long before it was a trend around the netI must say that I already had avocados on toasts for breakfast or dinners! and people would call me weird to eat something like that for breakfast as opposed to butter, oats or cereals. too funny!
Much better made on home made bread, of course!
I love your blog!
Oh, that sounds interesting! I might be trying that soon. Thanks for sharing, Susanna.
I like to stir into the mashed avacada about a teaspoon of Grape Jam before spreding on the toast.
Interesting! Thanks, Roddy.
I make avocado toast for my grandkids and me with extra crispy or orowheat English muffins I toast the muffins, schmear a lil philly cream cheese, add sliced avocado, sprinkle with tajarin, a Mexican spice combination. Then, finish it off with just a lil orange marmalade for an added layer of flavor. Yum.
Thanks for sharing, Darlene!
I just made this for lunch. I like to mix a little lime, salt, garlic powder with my avocado. And my favorite toppings are fresh mozzarella, campari tomato slices and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
Nice! Thank you, Jane-Marie for sharing.
I LOVE avocado toast! My favorite two recipes are: 1/2 avocado w/ salt, sliced cucumber, fresh basil, and microgreens (eaten as a sandwich); and strawberries, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar. Both are awesome!
Thanks for sharing, Vanessa!
I love toasted seedsational bread (from Sprouts), a layer of hummus, layer of guacamole madd with added jalapeños, roasted grape tomatoes and a sprinkling of hemp seeds…yummy!
Thanks for sharing, Cindy!
pomegranate seeds make a great topping! the bright color and tart crunch are such a great contrast to the creamy avocado.
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been having a great avocado toast variation lately- thick sliced wheat bread (I like lots of seeds) topped with avocado mashed with a little salt, topped with a layer of cottage cheese and then lots of lemon pepper. It’s pretty tasty thanks for the post- I’ll have to try those!!
Thanks for sharing, Lizz!
LOVE AVOCADO TOAST! I use Earth Balance (soy free) to bigger Dave’s Bread and then sprinkle it with garlic salt before spreading the avocado and a runny egg on top. Soooo good!
Thanks for sharing and for your review, Erin!
Yum!!! I like avocado toast with pickled red onions and hard-boiled egg. Good stuff!!
Delicious! Thanks, Kathryn.
Love your ideas. I generally have mine with chilli flakes and poached eggs. Now gonna try with tomato and balsamic.
Thank you, Tracy!
My mum loves advacado so I will treat her and see if she likes any of these combos. Ty
Let me know what you both think!
She went for the radish and green onion, minus the chilli and sesame seeds, I will get here to be bold and try another topping :)
How about putting it all on split and toasted ciabatta? Just had some for my breakfast and it was delicious.
Sure! Let me know what you think.
I love my avocado toast simple with a slice of fresh tomato and a poached egg on top with just a dash of pepper. When I can’t get a good, red tomato, I like it sans tomato. I put it on a crispy and healthy toasted bread that I buy from our local farmer’s market.
Thanks for sharing, Jan!
Tried your avocado toast loved it
Wonderful, Val!
Can’t believe I never had avocado toast until today but you inspired me. It was delicious.
I chopped up some fresh tomato and leftover Bacon (I know. Who has leftover bacon!) some garlic salt and a squeeze of lemon and fresh parsley. Thanks Kate!
I can’t believe you haven’t either, but life is better now that you have! :) Ha. Thanks for sharing, Joanne.
My favorite combo is whole wheat sour dough toast, smashed avocado, poached egg and a sprinkling of salt. Perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Thanks for sharing! Sounds delicious.
My favorite combo is whole wheat sour dough toast, smashed avocado, soft boiled egg and a sprinkling of salt. Perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
I am a big fan of avocado toast. Personally I think the simpler-the better , so I appreciate you keep the recipe clean and ready to receive little upgrades. Last time I tried it with french goat cream cheese and a few drops of balsamic. Yummy.
Excellent! I made mine super simple with a fried egg sprinkled with Everything But the Bagel seasoning on top of the avocado spread.
Sounds delicious! Thank you for your review.
I like my avocado toast with a layer of hummus followed by a layer of mashed avocado topped with some feta and a fried egg and plenty of cracked black pepper.
Thanks for sharing, Mary!
This was really great and easy! Got some nice whole grain bread toasted like you suggest, a fresh avocado a few plum tomatoes from the garden a radish and a jalapeño (I like to leave the seeds and ribs in because I like the heat) some extra virgin olive oil and a dash of balsamic vinegar. I like how easy your recipes are. Great reward to effort ratio for the solo cook. Sometimes it is hard to get excited to prepare a nice meal for one, but I look forward to trying out some more of your ideas. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing, Chris! I really appreciate the comment and review.
I use red pepper flakes for a punch!
I like that!
Love all your ideas here! I use a local, super thick and dense vegan and gluten-free sourdough for the bread. After toasting the bread, I melt a piece of vegan provolone cheese and then spread a little hummus. Next, I top with the smashed avocado seasoned with lime juice and trader joe’s “everything bagel” seasoning. On top of the avocado, I put sliced tomato, diced onion and radish and then spicy sprouts. I add a fried egg for my hubby.
Oh, I like that! Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth.
I’m obsessed with my daily avocado toast for breakfast lately: sourdough rye toast, mashed avocado with garlic and pepper, goat’s milk feta cheese, fluffy scrambled eggs, and Frank’s hot sauce. Paired with coffee, it’s a dream!
Love all your topping suggestions! I eat my avocado toast with a good sprinkle of Pop Zest’s Olive Oil & Herb Nutritional Yeast Seasoning! Adds B-vitamins and protein to my breakfast!
am a great lover of avocado.. looking forward to more recipes
Let me know what you think of some of the variations!
I made this Friday and I rubbed the garlic on the toast when it was hot,then I added roasted pepper s on it with some sea salt .This is ok like this but next time I am going to try with poached egg and the rat.pepper.Thanks for sharing
Sounds delightful!
The avocado toast wasn’t bad, I made the recipe with olive oil and red pepper flakes, it tasted pretty good. Although it was a hassle to make because my avacados were hard to mash.
Key is to make sure your avocados are at the right ripeness. Thanks for sharing! I’m sorry you weren’t in love with this one.
My first time to have avocado toast, it may be my next addiction! I used pumpernickel bread, toasted of course, a perfect avocado, mashed with a little garlic salt, topped with sliced and lightly salted Campari tomatoes, an amazing balsamic glaze, and finished with an abundance of torn fresh basil out of my garden. I was in heaven! Thank you for your scrumptious idea!
Hooray! It’s a great one for sure. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thick sliced homemade rye toast, mashed seasoned avacado topped with a scrambled egg and a slice of prosciutto for breakfast. It’s delicious.
Thanks for sharing, Ella!
These look and sound so wonderful. I’ve never tried avocado toast, and really, reallllly want to. I did a search, and ended up here. I’m feeling like I’m in a look-no-further situation! My eight year old foodie will love these as well. Thanks!
I’m glad you landed here! Thanks for your comment and review, Audra.
My favorite is the classic lemon, salt and red pepper flakes on sourdough toast. I like themed toasts. I did an Asian avocado toast with a splash of rice vinegar instead of lemon, sesame seeds and torn up nori seaweed. That was tasty. Cucumber and sumac is also a good topping. A mexican themed one with chili powder, red onion and tomatoes would be yummy although I haven’t tried it. I wish I could add an egg but I eat it while driving to work and that would be too messy!
Thanks for sharing!
Try with sardines on top. Delicious!
I like to add a little bit of organic honey to my mashed avocado…tastes great and healthy…
Sounds great!