If you’re like me, you probably light up whenever you see an avocado. I mean really, what’s not to like, right? It’s healthy for you, it’s creamy, and it goes well with almost everything.

Despite some people’s claims that millennials would rather spend money on avocado toast than a house or a car payment, avocados aren’t as expensive as we may think. Newsweek showed that as of September, the average price of a Hass avocado at a grocery store was only $1.58. That’s about the price of a bottle of soda from the vending machine or maybe a bag of chips (and to let you in on a secret -- avocados are much healthier too). By this logic, homemade avocado meals are much cheaper to make than to buy at a nearby cafe and will help you save money while also maintaining your avocado craze.

1. Avocado Grilled Cheese

Even looking at this picture is making me drool.

All you need for this recipe is bread, butter, cheese, and mashed avocado (with lime + salt and pepper to taste). Just make these ingredients into a sandwich then butter both sides of the bread and cook on a skillet until golden brown.

Now, how easy is that?

2. Avocado Black-Bean Quesadillas

For this one you’ll need:

• 1 large avocado, roughly chopped
• 7oz tinned black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1.5 oz sundried tomatoes, chopped
• Approx 1 cup of mozzarella cheese
• 3.5 oz cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander
• 1 lime, zested and juiced
• Olive oil
• 8 flour tortillas
• 3.5 oz Cheddar, grated

Mix the avocado, beans, tomatoes, lime, and spices in a bowl. Pour some oil on a hot pan and place the tortilla inside. Fill with the mixture and top with cheese. Sandwich another tortilla on top and cook until it’s golden brown on both sides.

Delish!

Full Recipe

3. Baked Egg in an Avocado

This one’s really really simple.

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Slice an avocado in half and remove the pit. With a spoon scoop out a small portion of the avocado on the inside so the egg will fit without running out. (If you’re worried about the egg running out, place the avocado halves in a muffin tin)

Add salt and pepper to taste and bake for around 15-20 minutes or until the egg is cooked the way you want it.

If you want to mix it up, feel free to add some cheese or bacon crumbles on the top!

Full Recipe

4. Avocado Banana Smoothie

Wanna find a quick way to get the nutrients of an avocado into your daily meal -- why not add it to your morning smoothie?

This recipe calls for one diced avocado, one banana, one cup of sweet yogurt, and two tablespoons of honey.

Full Recipe

5. Chicken Avocado Spring Roll

(A note to all my vegan/vegetarian friends: just opt out on the chicken and this recipe still makes a stellar spring roll)

You’ll need:

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast (poached, grilled, baked, rotisserie or leftover chicken works great)
• 1 ripe avocado, peeled and sliced thin
• 1 carrot, peeled and cut into thin strips
• ¼ head red cabbage, chopped (optional, but nice for color)
• Fresh cilantro, chopped, to taste
• 1 cup romaine lettuce, torn into pieces
• Rice paper spring rolls wrappers

** For dipping sauce you can either make your own or buy soy sauce or peanut sauce **

1. Soak the rice paper in a warm bowl of water and set on a dry surface.
2. Place lettuce in the center of the wrap and add the rest of the ingredients over the top. Roll the paper tightly over the filling and carefully roll from bottom to top, being careful not to rip the paper as it tears easily.

Helpful tip: wetting your fingers helps prevent them from sticking to the damp rice paper

Full Recipe

6. Avocado Pesto Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 large bunch fresh basil
• 2 ripe avocados
• ½ cup walnuts or hemp seeds
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 cloves garlic
• Dash of sea salt
• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Ground pepper to taste

Use a food processor to grind the basil leaves, avocados, walnuts/hemp seeds, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Once it’s blended add olive oil and pepper to taste. Top on pasta and add sliced tomatoes for the full effect.

Full Recipe

7. Avocado Toast

Last but certainly not least is the avocado toast. A simple breakfast or snack dish, this one is really up to your creativity. If you’re cooking-challenged never fear—there’s literally no way you can go wrong.

I’ve seen this one done many ways, but the basic component of the recipe is mashing an avocado on toast and adding toppings to the mix. These can include salt+pepper, olive oil, radishes, cheese, sliced apples, nuts, smoked salmon/ham, pico de gallo, or even mint. Feel free to google what other avocado-lovers have tried and find the right combo for you.

Get experimenting friends! I wish you the best in all your future avocado-based endeavors.