Name: Air Fryer Roasted Garlic (Easy 2-minute prep)
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 22 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 garlic bulb; 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; pinch of salt

Roasting garlic transforms raw, pungent garlic into a sweet, caramelized spreadable delicacy that can be used in almost any dish. The air fryer roasts the garlic in a third of the time as the traditional oven while achieving the exact same result!

I absolutely love roasted garlic. It adds so much flavor to some of my favorite dishes and yet it is so simple to make. The buttery, nutty taste and golden brown presentation simply does not exist in its raw form. Plus I am obsessed with its creamy texture!

If I'm already using the oven for something else I'll typically just roast garlic in the oven too, but otherwise my go-to choice is definitely the air fryer! Air-fried garlic is quick and easy to make, uses just 3 ingredients (garlic, extra virgin olive oil and salt) and pairs beautifully with pasta sauces, soups, salads, hummus, pizzas and vegetables the same way the oven method does.

I especially love using this method for my creamy roasted garlic dip or when throwing into a stir fry because it takes so much less time!

Ingredients

Olive oil, salt and 4 garlic bulbs with a white background.

Garlic
Extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of salt

Pretty simple, right? See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities.

How to Select the Best Garlic

When buying at the grocery store, look for firm, slightly heavy bulbs where the papery skin is tightly bound around the tip. Avoid bulbs where there is any shriveling around the sides.

How to Roast Garlic in the Air Fryer

This air fryer roasted garlic recipe is incredibly simple:

1. Cut off the top of a head of garlic. Aim to cut from about a half-inch down from the top and make a clean cut with a sharp knife. This will expose the tops of all the individual cloves inside. The idea is to keep all the cloves intact with the bulb.

Garlic bulbs on a wooden cutting board with the tops cut off next to a knife.

2. Place the garlic bulb in aluminum foil. Wrap the foil up the sides of the bulb leaving the top fully open. The foil will catch the olive oil to make this mess-free.

Garlic bulb wrapped in aluminum foil with top exposed.

3. Add the olive oil and a pinch of salt. Drizzle a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over the whole head of garlic, making sure to cover all of the cloves.

4. Wrap the aluminum foil tightly around the entire bulb. Pinch the top of the foil closed and twist it gently. A tight seal from the foil prevents the garlic from burning and also allows for the olive oil to soak into each and every clove.

Four garlic bulbs wrapped in aluminum foil in an air fryer tray.

5. Air fry! Place the garlic in the air fryer basket and let it cook for 20 minutes at 400 degrees F.

6. Allow to cool completely at room temperature. It typically takes about 10 minutes for the bulb of garlic to cool with the air fryer open. Make sure to use an oven mitt and/or tongs when removing so you don't burn yourself!

Roasted garlic bulb after being roasted in an air fryer.

7. Gently squeeze the bottom of the bulb to remove the cloves. This is my favorite part. The individual garlic cloves will slide out easily and be roasted to perfection!

Using hands to remove roasted garlic cloves from a roasted garlic bulb.

Roasted garlic cloves on a light gray plate.

Useful Tips

Save the leftover olive oil. I like to save the garlic-infused olive oil for later use in different recipes! It's filled with incredible roast garlic flavor and enhances any dish you use it in.
Roast more than one bulb at at time. Keep some space between each one and roast two or three garlic heads to store for future use!
Use oven mitts and tongs. Just like when using a regular oven, the garlic and foil will be hot!
Be creative! Feel free to experiment with fresh herbs and spices such as thyme, sage, rosemary or red pepper flakes when roasting.

Air-fried roasted garlic bulbs next to olive oil with a light gray background.

Can you use Parchment Paper Instead of Aluminum Foil?

You can use parchment paper, but it requires both a little more work and time because you won't be able to fully wrap and seal the bulb with the parchment paper like you can with foil.

If using parchment paper, peel each individual clove and spread them across the sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Set the air fryer to 400˚F and cook for 20 minutes, flipping the cloves halfway through. Cooking times can vary a little with this method, so be sure to check on the garlic frequently to avoid burning.

Can Garlic Burn in the Air Fryer?

Yes, garlic can burn in the air fryer just like it can in the oven. When air frying garlic for the first time, feel free to check on it after about 15 minutes as not all air fryers are consistent.

What if the Garlic Comes out Green?

I've learned that garlic can sometimes turn green when roasting, although I've never actually seen this happen. If it happens to you, rest assured that the garlic is still safe to eat and that the color change is just a chemical reaction between the naturally present sulphur and enzymes found in garlic.

Roasted garlic spread on a toasted baguette on a rustic light gray plate next to a roasted garlic bulb.

Storage

Fridge: Fully submerge the garlic cloves in olive oil and store for up to two weeks. The cloves will spoil if exposed to air for too long so this is important!

Freezer: You can freeze roasted garlic for up to 6 months. Lay them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to freeze, and then transfer the frozen cloves to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Thaw at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.

Roasted garlic bulbs next to a plate of roasted garlic cloves.

Health Benefits of Garlic

Garlic is part of the onion family, also related to shallots and leeks, and has been used for centuries in health and medicine. Garlic is low in calories and rich in vitamin C, manganese, and antioxidants.

Many people use garlic to boost their immune system, help prevent colds, and even lower blood pressure. Recently, garlic is most commonly promoted as a dietary supplement for conditions related to the heart and blood vessels, including high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure.

According to this study from the National Institutes of Health, "different compounds in garlic are thought to reduce the risk for cardiovascular diseases, have anti-tumor and anti-microbial effects, and show benefit on high blood glucose concentration."

Research is continuing to investigate garlic's protective and curative properties as an alternative therapy for diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and microbial infections. If you are interested in learning more about garlic's potential health benefits, see this more recent review (July 2020).

Roasted garlic cloves on a white plate next to roasted garlic bulbs.

Serving suggestions

Roasted garlic is so versatile and is a wonderful addition to almost any dish. Here are some of my favorite uses:

Pasta dishes: Use it in spaghetti aglio e olio, caramelized onion apple pasta, roasted veggie creamy pasta or this roasted veggie tomato sauce.
Pizza toppings: Roasted garlic is hands-down my favorite pizza topping, especially on this skillet white pizza with caramelized onions.
Garlic bread: Spread the roasted cloves overtop crusty bread with vegan butter to serve as an appetizer or with a main dish.
Side dishes: Add roasted garlic to mashed cauliflower or mashed potatoes.
Soup: Almost any soup would benefit from the added flavor of roasted garlic. I especially love it in butternut squash soup and tomato white bean soup!
Hummus: Use it in any hummus recipe to enhance the flavor. I particularly enjoy it in maple roasted butternut squash hummus and garlic pumpkin hummus.

Roasted garlic bulbs and cloves next to a bulb of raw garlic.

I hope you enjoy this fun and easy recipe! Please leave a review and tag me @eatingbyelaine with pictures of your beautiful roasted garlic so I can see them!

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