How to Make Avocado Toast—From the Right Bread to the Best Toppings

Is it breakfast, lunch, a snack, or something in between—and how do you make avocado toast, anyway? What once seemed like a social media moment has become a global movement that's here to stay. You’ll find it on so many restaurant menus, but avocado toast is easy to make at home—and then you can add whatever toppings you like. It’s nutritious, satisfying, and consistently delicious. Ahead, learn from an expert how to make avocado toast, from choosing the right bread to prepping a ripe avocado and adding delicious toppings.

Choose the Bread

It's the base of your avocado toast and the first thing to consider. Look for something rather hearty, not the soft sandwich bread that you’d normally use for a standard piece of toast. In fact, the softest option you should go for when making avocado toast is something like an English muffin. What it lacks in firmness, it makes up for in cragginess. 

Generally, look for bread that’s sturdy and won’t become too limp under the weight of the avocado, but avoid anything too hard such as a baguette or bagel. Our go-to bread pick for avocado toast is sourdough, but something like miche or a seedy whole-grain loaf is great, too.

Toast the Bread

This might seem obvious, but always toast your bread! The last thing you want is a soggy mess, and toasting the bread will help prevent that. You can toast the bread one of three ways:

In the toaster: Chances are you have your settings locked down, so this is an easy way to toast your bread. 

In the oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lay the slice of bread on a baking sheet, and bake at until golden and crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. 

On the stovetop: Heat a thin slick of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat, add the slce of bread, and cook, flipping once, until golden brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

Prep the Avocado

Once your toast is ready, it’s time to get the avocado ready. 

1. Slice in half: Using a sharp knife, place the avocado on a secured cutting board (place a non-slip mat or a few layers of damp paper towels underneath the board to keep it from slipping around). Cut the avocado lengthwise, cutting around the pit. Twist the two halves to separate them. 
2. Remove the pit: One half of the avocado will have the pit still attached. Securely grip that half by the skin, keeping your fingers curled under. Using one swift motion, carefully launch the blade of the knife into the pit. Try to strike the pit with the bottom inch of the blade (the part nearest to the handle). From there, give the knife a twist and the pit should pop right out. 
3. Peel off the outer skin: How you peel the avocado will depend on how ripe it is. 

• For a firm or perfectly ripe avocado, hold the avocado half in your hand and run a spoon between the flesh and skin to remove the flesh. 
• Over-ripe avocados are still perfectly fine for avocado toast. In this case, you can simply peel back the skin with your fingers to separate the peel from the flesh. 

Slice or Mash?

Whether you slice the avocado or mash it is a matter of personal preference. If you don't have strong feelings about which way to go, there is a third approach—a little of both. Leslie Garetto, a recipe developer, food stylist, and culinary producer, says she makes avocado toast using sliced and mashed fruit. The slices give a beautiful, even coverage, but without a bit of mashing, they can slip off the toast too easily. “No one wants to end up with a deconstructed avocado salad when they’re aiming for a perfect avocado toast," says Garetto. Here's how to get this best of both worlds approach:

Slice the avocado into approximately ¼-inch thick slices, spread them out onto the toast, then use a fork to gently mash the slices just enough that they adhere to the bread.

Season the Avocado

Seasoning avocado toast means more than just salt and pepper. Fatty avocado almost always needs a hint of something bright and acidic to bring out its flavor. Fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice is what we reach for. Another option is just about any type of vinegar—we like sherry vinegar or a balsamic vinegar glaze.

Choose Toppings

You can go as simple or as fancy as you like here. Avocado toast can be a quick breakfast that you eat every day, but it can also be a party-ready affair for all kinds of gatherings.

• Spicy: Crushed red pepper flakes, hot honey, chili crisp or chili oil
• Herby: herbs, such as dill, chives, basil, and parsley or microgreens
• Tangy: Pickled red onions, shallots, or pepperoncini
• Seedy: Everything bagel seasoning, za’atar, toasted sesame seeds
• Smoky and fishy: smoked salmon, smoked trout, tinned fish, such as sardines, anchovies, or mackerel
• Rich and creamy: Spreads, such as hummus or tzatziki

4 Ways to Make Avocado Toast a Meal

Garetto is all about turning avocado toast into more than a snack—it already has most of the building blocks for a well-balanced meal, with the heart-healthy fats from avocado and (ideally) a bread rich in complex carbohydrates. She recommends experimenting with flavors that you’re already familiar with when building your avocado toast. 

Mediterranean-Inspired Avocado Toast

This is one of Garetto's regulars. She spreads a layer of hummus or tzatziki over the toast, then layers the avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced cucumber, crushed kalamata olives, and some crumbled feta cheese. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and a splash of lemon juice. 

Taco-Style Avocado Toast

Canned beans are an easy way to add more protein to avocado toast. Mash some black or pinto beans with a sprinkle of ground cumin, chili powder, lime juice, and salt, then warm them up in the microwave before spreading them under the avocado. Add toppings you might pair with tacos, like sliced chiles, cilantro leaves, and a drizzle of hot sauce (this adds a note of acidity).

Protein-Rich Avocado Toast

Have some leftover grilled chicken or tofu from the night before? Don’t let it go to waste. For a protein-packed option, add slices of grilled or rotisserie chicken or tofu on top of the avocado. “A sprinkle of cumin or paprika gives it a nice smoky flavor, and I add a handful of microgreens for a fresh, crunchy touch," says Garetto.

Avocado-Vegetable Toast

Avocado toast is a great way to use up leftover roasted, grilled, or sautéed vegetables. Or if you have some produce you need to use up simply saute or grill it to go on your toast. Pretty much anything is welcome on avocado toast. Try:

• Roasted sweet potato wedges
• Grilled portobello mushrooms
• Sautéed bell peppers and onions
• A sprinkling of baby arugula, spinach, or kale adds a pop of color, and you can add some acid by drizzling with balsamic glaze.