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 made the loaded avocado toast but added Trader Joe’s corn and chili for a little kick. It was excellent, great way to add a little spice and some heat.
This is great. I was just looking for a recipe for avocado toast, which I had for the first time the other day, and I found your site, or blog, or whatever it is. I subscribed at once and plan to share it with deserving friends.
The dog is very fine. I have a rescue Bichon-poodle mix named Brandon. He has gotten bored with his dog food, so I plan to share some of your recipes with him. He is 12 years old but looks younger in the proper light. He is an excellent friend.
Please don’t share avocado toast with your pet. Avocado is really bad for dogs and makes them really sick. My friends dog died after eating avocado. The vet said avocado, onion, apple seeds, grapes/raisins and some nuts are all poisonous for dogs.
I make avocado toast with hummus. My first layer on the toast is hummus flavored and plain then spread the avocado on that. If I have ripe avocado I will slice that and put it in the hummus. I love it!
I drizzle the toast with smoked olive oil, spread the avocado, squeeze lime on the avocado & shake on Tajin. Sometimes I sprinkle roasted pepitas on top. Then I top it all with a sliced hard-boiled egg. YUM!
Best toast ever is skillet grilled sliced whole wheat w/or w/o butters or veggie spreads (like avocado oil spread). I don’t own a silly toaster, waste of counter space. To remove avocado pulp quickly slash diagonal cuts across the pulp, invert and push the small cubes out to mash. LOVE all your toppings and seasonings ideas!
Some Philistines on my block. use miso or soy, shaved red onions, lime… and a sprinkle of grated nuts.
Don’t know why I never thought of balsamic glaze on avocado toast. That was great!
I was looking for a new addition, and thin sliced cherry tomatoes is a great idea. It worked really well. A sliced regular tomato was thicker than I wanted. However, instead of balsamic glaze, I used a blood orange glaze (there’s a good one by Roland) and it was delicious.
Great tips. Mine turned out well
I have a slice of avocado toast most every morning for breakfast. I usually mash some chick peas or a hard boiled egg into my avocado, then add a squirt of citrus, leftover seasonings from my Green Chef meals, some finely chopped scallions and a little Texas Pete. Delish!
I actually like my avocado toast without the toast…fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, lemon juice and sea salt…all poured into that hole left by the pit. My dad ate them with his fave italian dressing…40 years ago!
I also sprinkled Tajin for a hint of lime
nice recipe get the recipe at bhatoora.com
Thank you for this post! Avocado toast seems like such an easy thing to make, yet I’ve never enjoyed it until I added some of the ideas you mentioned here. I made mine with a little lemon juice, salt, pinch of onion powder, & pinch of garlic powder. Then toasted sesame seeds on top with another pinch of sea salt and red pepper flakes. Yum! Thank you!
I had my first encounter with Avocado Toast in St. Michael’s, MD and have been wanting to try to make it for some time. I finally did since I bought some yummy multigrain bread that I felt would enhance the avocado. I used a pinch of salt for each half as suggested and a little garlic powder. It was delicious. i also cooked one egg over easy and put it on one slice of the toast…can we say amazing!! Sooo, filling and yummy-thanks for the other recipe ideas- i will surely be trying them. i will be sure to post a pic next time i make it, which should be soon.
Lots of great ideas. I need to expand my avocado toast horizon. I normally add salt, garlic powder, a pinch of cayenne and then after spreading on the toast, put a layer of lentil sprouts for a nice crunch and more flavor.
Avocado, garlic, chili flakes, salt, pepper, olive oil… topped with hemp seeds.
Sounds delicious!
I put garlic, powder, salt, pepper, cumin, A little sour cream (supposedly keeps it from going brown, sometimes I’m the only one having the avocado toast. so I have it for breakfast and save a little bit for lunch) and now I just like it lol ! A sprinkle of red pepper flakes and a drizzle of honey !!!
Thank you for sharing, Colleen!
I have non alcoholic fatty liver do you have some ideas for what I can eat that is healthy for me.
Hi Charlotte, sorry to disappoint. I’m not registered nutritionist so I can’t speak to dietary needs.
I love your recipe I am always trying to find new ways to re-create the avocado toast. Here are some of the things that I have added to my avocado toast:
I put the egg on the avocado like you and then
I put arugula on top of the egg and then
I drizzle truffle oil on it finishing with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. Yum Yum Yum
That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing, Gina.
If you aren’t drizzling just a bit of extra virgin olive oil on top, you are missing out.
I just made some on an everything bagel, with some garlic, a little lemon juice, a little bit of olive oil with scallions a slice of tomato with Hickory smoked salt on top. Amazing taste!
Love these recipes. Avocado toast Is delicious
This recipe is a great foundation for avocado toast, especially when different people want to do different things with theirs. I mashed two avocados, added a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and four grinds of pink Himalayan salt. For my serving, I toasted a couple of slices of multigrain bread and slathered it with the avocado mash, slices of heirloom cherry tomato, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. My husband is on a gluten-free diet, so he toasted GF bread, added the avocado mash, a drizzle of olive oil, and a generous sprinkle of Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel seasoning. We thought it was the perfect breakfast for Christmas morning!
Thank you for sharing, Britt!
I like to use Lawry’s Seasoned Salt sprinkled in and a little on the finished toast. +=
Thank you for sharing, Jessi!
Fabulous instructions and variations. Making it today. Must go to store to get a good bread and radishes.
I made my avocado toast with a fried egg and it was so yummy. I might make it again for lunch. Thank you for some more tips, it was really helpful and I will certainly try your recipe today. Have a wonderful day.
You’re welcome, Rachel! I appreciate your review.
I’m actually making this for breakfast in a little while.
I’ll be using rye bread, a slice or two of bacon & an over medium egg.
Little tangent…..I like mayo on my sandwiches, but the first time I went to Jimmy John’s, the sandwich I got had an avocado spread (#12) which totally turned it up a notch. They still use mayo though, so I’d say it’s more like guacamole. Ever since then, I make all my sandwiches that way. What I do though, is mash the avocado with a little mayo & of course salt. It makes it deliciously creamy.
It even turned my anti avocado family; they request it all the time now.
First time I heard about frying avocado, I thought, yuck. If you have never had it, you must try it. My favorite way is to cut the avocado into chunks, fry it in a little butter, then top with a couple over easy eggs. Yum! This is also another variation for avocado toast. Mash it up, spread it on, then top with an over medium egg, so you still get some of the running yolk. I personally like an over easy egg. I don’t mind the mess it makes of my hands because the extra oozing yolk makes it that much tastier & richer. If you have access to them, use duck or goose eggs. Incredibly richer with so much more flavor.
Today I used the first of my crop. I pan toasted one side only of a wheat bread slice,piled on the mix and added Majot Greys chutney. Usually use freshly crumbled bacon generously spread on top. Might try sun tried chopped tomatoes later. Second slice had a thick chunky salsa accent
mix in a couple of pinches of chia seeds and fresh lemon juice, spread then drizzle with good olive oil
I like to take it real easy on the mashing – just kind of chunk it up so there is still some texture. It just turns into green goo when it’s aggressively mushed.
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I very new to avocados and need all the help I can get. Try to stay heart healthy! :)
So just tried it…had some lo cal whole grain toast…cut a wedge of avocado, mashed with lemon squeeze, grated garlic, chopped jalapeños
Delicious! I understand better now!!
Being born and raised in California, I have been eating this for years. We always make it on SOUR DOUGH FRENCH BREAD. It is the best. We ate it before going to school. Put a little lemon juice in the mixture before putting it on the bread.
All of your suggestions sounds delish. I just smash the avocado, add salt, lemon juice and red pepper flakes. I do vary my bread. Rye, rustic country, baguette and sometimes a 1/2 of a scooped out bagel & sometimes challah.
I should get out of my rut and try some of your toppings. But, is it really a rut when you’re eating avocado toast???
Kisses to Cookie, er, belly rubs.
Today I made the version with tomatoes and balsamic glaze. It was delicious and so filling! I didn’t have fresh basil on hand. Next time I’ll try it with fresh basil. I wonder how it would be as a mashup of avocado toast with Caprese salad…? Maybe less bread, add lettuce and fresh mozzarella.
Your idea of tomato and basil with balsamic is fantastic!
Recently I tried sunflower sprouts and tomato with a sprinkle of sea salt flakes on top of my avocado toast. Devine!
Thank you, Kari!
Trader Joe’s GF everything bagel, light cream cheese, mashed avacado, everything but the bagel seasoning, red pepper flakes and honey. I want to cry it’s sooooo good!
Thank you for sharing, Sara!
I made your tomato basil balsamic for my teenage son who is very serious about his food and it was a total success. Thanx a lot
Thanks For The Tips!
I added a small squeeze of lemon juice, sprinkle of black pepper, dried garlic and parsley spice. My daughter likes it topped with sliced cherry tomatoes and bacon. We serve it on toasty five grain bread. Wonderful recipe.
Top with roasted spicy garbanzo beans or walnuts.
I finish my avocado toast with a sprinkle of truffle salt.
Sounds delicious, Michael! Thank you for sharing.
It’s also really good with some crushed red pepper!!!
Hi! I tried your recipe and it turned out great! I shared this to my family and my friends, hoping they would also try your recipe. This is now one of my officially new breakfast favorites. Thanks a lot!
You’re welcome, Garcia!
I’m trying different foods that are healthier thank you! The Avocado toast looks amazing I’m in.
Made with sourdough and as you suggested made quite toaster. Added salt and so very yummy. Thanks for all the additional ideas.
A lady I work for orders this from a cafe. I’m going to try to make it and see how she likes it!!
Great recipes! I made all 3 variations and family each had their own preference…I couldn’t have planned it any better?
I love it! Thank you for your review, JoJo.
I mix in chopped macadamia nuts to the mashed avocado and place it on a layer of spinach on top of the toast. I will be trying your variations also!