The best seasonings for avocado toast include salt, black pepper, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, everything bagel seasoning and smoked paprika. Keep it classic with salt and pepper, add heat with red pepper flakes or completely change the flavor with one of the easy seasoning combinations below.
I’m a massive avocado fan and love treating its creamy, buttery flavor as a delicious blank canvas. Avocado toast gives me an excuse to experiment with different herbs, spices and toppings.. and the right combination can make this simple breakfast taste completely different every time.
Below, you’ll find easy avocado toast seasoning ideas ranging from classic and savory to spicy and smoky, along with plenty of toppings for creating your perfect slice.
Why You’ll Love These Seasoning Ideas
The right seasoning can take avocado toast from basic to ridiculously delicious.. and you probably already have several great options in your pantry.
- Quick and easy: Avocado toast takes just a few minutes to make, even on busy mornings.
- Easy to customize: Keep it simple with salt and pepper or experiment with spicy, smoky, savory and fresh flavors.
- Made with everyday ingredients: Many of the best seasonings for avocado toast are common pantry staples.
- Perfect for any time of day: Enjoy it for breakfast, lunch or a quick snack.
- Endlessly versatile: Use the same basic avocado toast recipe while changing the seasonings and toppings every time.
Ingredients for Avocado Toast
You need only bread, ripe avocado and a few seasonings to make delicious avocado toast. From there, add lemon juice and your favorite toppings to make it your own.
Bread – Sourdough is my favorite because its tangy flavor and sturdy texture hold up well beneath the mashed avocado. Any sturdy bread will work, including whole-grain, multigrain or gluten-free bread.
Fresh avocado – One medium ripe avocado is enough for approximately two slices of toast. Choose an avocado that yields slightly when gently pressed but does not feel mushy. Scoop the flesh into a bowl and mash it with the back of a fork. Learn how to select the perfect avocados!
Lemon or lime juice – A fresh squeeze brightens the rich, creamy avocado. Lemon works well with classic and herb seasonings, while lime is especially good with Tajín, chili powder and cilantro.
Seasonings – Salt and black pepper are the classic starting point. Garlic powder, crushed red pepper, smoked paprika and everything bagel seasoning are a few of the best seasonings for avocado toast. See the combinations below for more ideas.
Toppings – Toppings are optional but can add flavor, texture or make your toast more filling. Try an egg, crumbled bacon, smoked salmon, tomatoes, feta cheese, fresh herbs or hot sauce.
How to Make Avocado Toast
- Toast the bread. Toast the bread until golden brown and crisp enough to support the mashed avocado.
- Mash the avocado. Scoop the avocado into a small bowl and mash it with the back of a fork, leaving it as smooth or chunky as you prefer.
- Add citrus. Stir in fresh lemon or lime juice until combined.
- Assemble the toast. Divide the mashed avocado evenly between the slices of toast and spread it to the edges.
- Season and serve. Add your chosen seasonings and toppings. Serve immediately while the toast is still crisp.
What Herbs and Seasonings to Put on Avocado Toast (8 Easy Ideas)
Salt and black pepper are the classic starting point, but avocado’s mild, creamy flavor pairs well with everything from fresh herbs to smoky spices. The amounts below are starting points for one medium avocado, or approximately two slices of avocado toast. Taste and adjust as desired.
- Classic: ⅛ teaspoon flaky sea salt, a pinch of freshly ground black pepper and 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice.
- Savory garlic: ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon onion powder and a pinch each of salt and black pepper.
- Spicy: ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder and a pinch of flaky salt. Add a pinch of cayenne or a drizzle of hot sauce for more heat.
- Everything bagel: ½ teaspoon everything bagel seasoning and 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice. Taste before adding extra salt because the seasoning blend may already contain it.
- Smoky: ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder and a pinch each of salt and black pepper.
- Chile-lime: ¼ teaspoon Tajín and 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice. Add more Tajín to taste for extra chile-lime flavor.
- Mediterranean-inspired: ¼ teaspoon sumac, ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano and a pinch of flaky sea salt.
- Fresh herb: 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives, cilantro, dill, parsley or basil; 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice; and a pinch each of salt and black pepper.
Add 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil to any combination as a finishing drizzle.
How To Make Avocado Toast Spicy
For spicy avocado toast, start with crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper or a drizzle of hot sauce. Add a little at first, then taste and increase the heat as desired.
- Crushed red pepper flakes – Add a mild to moderate kick with a little texture.
- Cayenne pepper – A small pinch adds plenty of heat without changing the overall flavor.
- Hot sauce – Tabasco, Cholula or your favorite hot sauce adds both heat and tanginess.
- Sriracha – Adds garlicky heat with a touch of sweetness.
- Fresh or sautéed jalapeños – Use fresh slices for a crisp bite or sauté them for a softer, milder flavor.
- Chipotle seasoning – Adds smoky heat that pairs especially well with garlic powder and lime juice.
- Tajín – This chile-lime seasoning adds mild heat, saltiness and tangy citrus flavor. Add fresh lime juice for even more brightness.
- Harissa – This North African chile paste adds complex, earthy heat. A little goes a long way, so begin with a thin drizzle.
Other Toppings for Avocado Toast
Once you’ve chosen your seasonings, add one or two toppings for extra flavor, texture or protein.
- Eggs – Add a fried, poached, scrambled or sliced hard-boiled egg for a more filling avocado egg toast.
- Tomatoes – Try sliced cherry tomatoes, diced fresh tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Roasted red peppers – These add a slightly sweet, smoky flavor that pairs well with feta and fresh herbs.
- Red onion – Thinly sliced or minced red onion adds color, crunch and a sharp bite.
- Bacon – Use freshly cooked, crumbled bacon for salty flavor and crisp texture.
- Pico de gallo – This adds tomatoes, onion, cilantro and bright lime flavor all at once.
- Smoked salmon – Pair it with red onion, capers, dill or everything bagel seasoning.
- Cheese – Crumbled feta, goat cheese or cotija adds a creamy, salty finish.
- Greens – Top with microgreens, arugula or sprouts for freshness and texture.
- Olive oil – Finish with a light drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.
Tips and Tricks
- Dice it in the peel. Score the avocado flesh with a small knife while it is still in the peel, then scoop it into a bowl with a spoon. This makes it quick and easy to mash.
- Choose the right avocado. A ripe avocado should yield slightly when gently pressed without feeling mushy. If it is still firm, leave it at room temperature until it ripens.
- Slow down browning. If preparing the avocado in advance, stir in a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice. Press plastic wrap directly against the surface and refrigerate it in an airtight container.
- Skip the pit trick. Keeping the avocado pit with the mashed avocado will protect only the small area it touches (not the entire mixture) from browning.
- Refrigerate ripe avocados. Store unripe avocados at room temperature. Once ripe, move them to the refrigerator to slow further ripening and use them within a few days.
Can You Eat an Unripe Avocado?
Yes, you can eat an unripe avocado, but its firm texture and bland or slightly bitter flavor won’t make very good avocado toast. For the creamiest result, use a ripe avocado that yields slightly when gently pressed.
How to Ripen an Avocado Faster
Place a firm avocado in a brown paper bag with a ripe banana or apple. Loosely close the bag and leave it at room temperature, checking the avocado daily. The ethylene gas released by the fruit helps speed up ripening.
What to Serve With Avocado Toast
Avocado toast works well on its own for a quick breakfast, lunch or snack. To make it a more complete meal, serve it with:
- Eggs – Fried, scrambled, poached or hard-boiled.
- Fresh fruit – Berries, melon, citrus or whatever is in season.
- Yogurt or oatmeal – An easy way to make breakfast more substantial.
- Salad – Pair it with a green salad, cucumber tomato salad or pasta salad for lunch.
- Soup – Serve it alongside tomato soup or another light soup.
Avocado Toast Seasoning FAQs
Do you season the avocado before or after putting it on toast?
Stir fine seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne into the mashed avocado for even flavor. Add flaky salt, everything bagel seasoning and fresh herbs on top to preserve their texture.
How much seasoning should I use on avocado toast?
Start with approximately ⅛ teaspoon of an individual seasoning per slice, then taste and add more as needed. Use cayenne and strongly flavored blends more sparingly.
What can I put on avocado toast besides everything bagel seasoning?
Try garlic powder and red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, Tajín and lime, sumac and oregano or fresh herbs with lemon.
More Avocado Toast Recipes
- Dunkin Donuts Avocado Toast Copycat
- Avocado Toast with Feta
- Fried Egg on Toast with Avocado
- Avocado Toast with Roasted Tomatoes
- Avocado Toast with Honey and Red Pepper Flakes
Avocado Toast With 8 Seasoning Ideas
Ingredients
- 2 slices sturdy bread such as sourdough, toasted
- 1 medium ripe avocados peeled, pitted and chopped
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/8 tsp flaky sea salt
- pinch freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Toast the bread until golden brown and crisp.
- Scoop the avocado into a small bowl and mash with the back of a fork, leaving it as smooth or chunky as desired.
- Stir in the lemon juice, flaky sea salt and black pepper.
- Divide the avocado mixture evenly between the two slices of toast and spread it to the edges.
- Add any desired toppings and serve immediately.
Notes
- Classic: Use the recipe as written with ⅛ teaspoon flaky sea salt, a pinch of black pepper and 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
- Savory garlic: Replace the classic seasonings with ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon onion powder and a pinch each of salt and black pepper.
- Spicy: Use ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder and a pinch of flaky salt. Add cayenne pepper or hot sauce for more heat.
- Everything bagel: Use ½ teaspoon everything bagel seasoning and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Taste before adding extra salt.
- Smoky: Use ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder and a pinch each of salt and black pepper.
- Chile-lime: Use ¼ teaspoon Tajín and 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice. Add more Tajín to taste.
- Mediterranean-inspired: Use ¼ teaspoon sumac, ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano and a pinch of flaky sea salt.
- Fresh herb: Use 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives, cilantro, dill, parsley or basil; 1 teaspoon lemon juice; and a pinch each of salt and black pepper.
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