Roasting garlic is a simple process that adds MEGA flavor to your favorite savory dishes! Use these simple steps to learn how to roast garlic at home. You'll fill your kitchen with the most delicious, welcoming scent and have flavorful garlic to add to your favorite home-cooked meals.
A lot of my recipes lately have used roasted garlic, so I thought it was time to dedicate a post to this delicious addition! No matter how you prep it, garlic adds incredible flavor to some of my favorite dishes. If you ask me, though, roasting your garlic, similar to garlic confit, takes it up a couple notches!
Raw garlic has a pungent, sharp flavor, but roasted garlic is much milder, almost sweet, and so comforting. This is a really easy way to take your at-home cooking to a new level!
If you are seeking a faster method, try roasting garlic in an air fryer. Both methods create the same delicious result, but the air fryer takes half the time!
How to Roast Garlic
Let's get to roasting! All you need for this super-simple process is a head of garlic, some extra-virgin olive oil, and a pinch of salt. You'll also use some foil and a ramekin (a small oven-safe dish).
- Slice the top off of the head of garlic. Go about ½" down and make a clean cut with a sharp knife. This will expose the tops of all those little cloves inside. My kids think this is fascinating!
- Wrap the exposed garlic bulb up in foil. Leave the top (the part you cut) open. Place it open side up in a ramekin. This will catch any oil that leaks out.
- Drizzle the olive oil right onto the head of garlic. Another reason you want the foil to hold the garlic close upright is so this oil can soak into every single clove, which is perfect for roasting! Generously sprinkle salt in there, too.
- Cover the top of the garlic with foil. You can pinch the top closed or add another piece, just make sure the garlic is covered so it doesn't burn in the oven.
- Bake the garlic for one hour at 350F. You'll know it's done when it's golden brown, fork-tender, and fragrant. Let's make your house smell amazing!
- Let the garlic cool completely at room temperature. My favorite part is squeezing the bottom of the garlic and seeing all the perfectly-roasted cloves come tumbling out. So satisfying!
If you are a visual learner like me, here is a 30-second video (Instagram reel) of how to roast garlic.
How to Use Roasted Garlic
Once you have a head of fragrant roasted garlic...now what? What can you put it on? Basically, any recipe that uses garlic will be delicious with this as an addition. I also think it works more like a garnish when it's roasted, though. You can put roasted garlic cloves on top of pizza, salads, or in hummus. It's SO GOOD!
Since I drizzle quite a bit of oil over the garlic before baking, there's a lot of leftover oil that spills out into the ramekins. I like to save that garlic-infused olive oil and use it in whatever dish I'm making! It's filled with incredible roast garlic flavor and enhances any recipe you use it in.
Health Benefits of Garlic
Garlic is part of the onion family, also related to shallots and leeks. It's 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 2014 study, "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).
While there are still studies being done on the health benefits of garlic, it's a tasty and easy addition to your diet.
More Garlicky Recipes (all vegan and gluten-free)
- Creamy Roasted Garlic Dip
- Vegan Mashed Cauliflower with Roast Garlic
- Creamy Vegan Garlic Cilantro Lime Sauce
- Mini Hasselback Potatoes with Garlic & Herb Aioli
- Creamy Vegan Garlic Mushroom Fettuccini
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Garlic
- Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Garlic Pasta
- Garlic Cilantro Lime Coleslaw (no mayo!)
- Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (pasta with roasted garlic, olive oil, chile and parsley)
- Roasted Veggie Tomato Sauce
@eatingbyelaine Roasted Garlic 🧄 #roastedgarlic #garlic #garlictrend #holidayrecipes #thanksgiving #cookingtips #cookingtiktok #cookingtime #howtocook ♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) - 山口夕依
How to Roast Garlic
- Total Time: 52 minutes
- Yield: 8 cloves
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Roasting garlic is a simple process that adds MEGA flavor to your favorite savory dishes! Here is how to roast garlic in a few easy steps!
Ingredients
- 1 large whole garlic bulb
- 1.5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Slice the top off an entire head of garlic (about ½-inch so the garlic cloves are all exposed). Discard the top part of the bulb that you trimmed (or save for my No-Waste Veggie Broth!).
- Wrap the exposed garlic bulb so just the top of the garlic is exposed. Place the foil-covered garlic in a small ramekin (cut side up) that is oven safe. The ramekin will help to catch any oil. It also keeps the garlic upright so the oil can soak in from the top down.
- Drizzle the exposed portion of the garlic bulb directly with extra virgin olive oil. You want all cloves to be fully covered in the oil. Extra oil is okay here because you can save the oil for cooking after roasting (it gets infused with incredible roasted garlic flavor!).
- Sprinkle the garlic bulb top generously with fine salt.
- Cover in foil completely so the garlic is not exposed (to prevent it from burning).
- Place the ramekin in the oven for 50 minutes. You know it is done when it is golden brown and fork tender.
- Remove and once cooled carefully unwrap the foil to allow the roasted garlic to cool to room temperature.
- Squeeze the garlic head to release the roasted garlic cloves. Discard the garlic skin. I like to save the oil that spills out into the ramekin to use in whatever dish I'm making. It is incredibly flavorful and infused with nutty, rich, sweet roasted garlic flavor.
- Store in a small airtight container in your refrigerator for up to five days. Store in your freezer for up to two months.
Notes
You can roast multiple garlic bulbs at once if desired.
AIR FRYER: You can also make roasted garlic in your air fryer. Follow the same instructions but do 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 2
- Cook Time: 50
- Method: Oven
Jennifer says
Thank you for this simple reminder. Love it. The link to your video on how to peel did not work, would love to see that.
Elaine Gordon says
Aw thank you so much! I agree - so simple and yet it transforms certain dishes! Sorry about the video link not working. Here it is: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CHbALuDHkP_/ - please let me know if you can't view it.
Julia says
Just did the air fryer method yesterday and it was perfect! So simple. Love that I can make roasted garlic in the summer without turning on the oven!
Elaine Gordon says
Thanks, Julia! So happy to hear the air fryer method worked well for you too. I agree it is the best summertime hack and so much faster too 🙂 Thank you again, Elaine
Candy says
I just used the reel to make this and added it to my soup. It made such a huge difference and it’s so simple to do! Never eating raw garlic in soups and sauces again 😂
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much for letting me know, Candy! SO happy to her it was easy and made a difference in your recipe. I agree, it is hard to go back to anything else! Best, Elaine
Naila F says
I use this recipe on the regular now. I never knew I could roast garlic like this and I absolutely LOVE it. Plus I have a recipe for Olive Oil and Garlic Pasta that uses roasted garlic and I can re-use the olive oil from your recipe in the dish after the garlic is done roasting :). Thanks for posting this!!! Super easy for new cooks like me!
Elaine Gordon says
Hi Naila: Yay! So happy to hear you enjoy this method. And welcome to the world of cooking - you already sound like you know your stuff! 🙂 Have you tried my Pasta Aglio e Olio recipe? It sounds like your speed - easy and lots of olive oil and garlic. You can use fresh or roasted garlic in the recipe. It sounds gourmet but probably the easiest recipe on my blog: https://www.eatingbyelaine.com/spaghetti-aglio-e-olio-pasta-with-roasted-garlic-olive-oil-chile-and-parsley-vegan-gluten-free-nut-free/ - LMK if you give it a try! Best, Elaine
Amy says
Hi! What can I use in place of aluminum foil? Will parchment paper work?
Elaine Gordon says
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.