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Learn how to make Roasted Garlic with just three simple ingredients. This easy method turns a whole bulb of garlic into soft, mellow, caramelized cloves, with instructions for making it on the grill, in the oven, in an air fryer, or in a slow cooker.
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Roasted Garlic is one of those simple ingredients that can completely transform a recipe. Cooking a whole bulb of garlic turns the cloves soft, mellow, slightly sweet, and nutty, with none of the sharp bite you get from raw garlic.
This easy roasted garlic recipe starts with just three ingredients: garlic, olive oil, and salt. You can make roasted garlic on the grill, in the oven, in the air fryer, or even in the slow cooker. That means there is an easy method no matter what else you’re cooking.
Once you know how to roast garlic, you’ll find all kinds of ways to use it. Add the soft cloves to pasta sauces, mashed potatoes, dips, pizza, and homemade bread. You can also spread them onto toasted bread, add them to a charcuterie board, or mash them with olive oil for an easy bread dip.
Table of Contents
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Only three ingredients. All you need is a bulb of garlic, olive oil, and salt.
- Four cooking methods. Make it on the grill, in the oven, in the air fryer, or in the slow cooker.
- Mild garlic flavor. Cooking mellows the sharp flavor of raw garlic and gives the cloves a slightly sweet, nutty taste.
- Make one bulb or several. This roasted garlic recipe is easy to multiply when you want extras.
- So many uses. Add it to pasta, sauces, breads, dips, potatoes, vegetables, pizza, and more.
- Easy to make ahead. Make several bulbs and keep the extras on hand for future recipes.
What is roasted garlic?
Roasted garlic is traditionally made by cooking a whole bulb of garlic until the individual cloves become very soft and caramelized.
The cooking process dramatically changes both the flavor and texture of garlic. Instead of being firm, pungent, and sharp, the cloves become soft enough to mash or spread. The flavor becomes much milder, slightly sweet, and nutty.
While the grill and oven give you the most traditional roasted results, an air fryer works beautifully, too. A slow cooker can also be used when you want a hands-off method, although the cloves may not develop quite as much browning.
Key Ingredients
NOTE: This section highlights ingredients used in the recipe. Find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.
Garlic: The star of the recipe. Cooking the whole bulb mellows its sharp flavor while making the individual cloves wonderfully soft.
Olive oil: A small amount coats the exposed garlic cloves, helping them cook and caramelize.
Salt: Just ¼ teaspoon seasons the entire bulb and enhances the garlic’s naturally rich flavor.
Ingredients & Substitutions
NOTE: This section suggests substitutions. Find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.
- Garlic: Use a fresh whole bulb with firm cloves. Since garlic is the basis of the recipe, there isn’t a meaningful substitution.
- Olive oil: Olive oil is the preferred choice because it handles the cooking time well and complements the flavor of the garlic. Avocado oil is a good alternative because it also handles higher temperatures and has a mild flavor. Do not substitute butter because it is more likely to burn.
- Salt: Regular table salt, kosher salt, or fine sea salt will work. You can reduce or omit the salt if needed and season the finished garlic to taste.
Variations
- Roast several bulbs: Prepare several bulbs at once so you have extra roasted garlic for future recipes. If you’re grilling them, wrap each bulb individually so they cook evenly.
- Extra caramelized: Cooking time can vary based on the size of your garlic bulb. Let it cook a little longer if needed for deeply browned, caramelized cloves.
- Oven roasted garlic: Skip the grill and bake the foil-wrapped bulb at 400°F for 35-40 minutes.
- Air fryer roasted garlic: Air-fry the prepared, foil-wrapped bulb at 380°F for about 25-30 minutes for a quicker method.
- Slow cooker garlic: Cook the prepared, foil-wrapped bulb on LOW for about 4-5 hours or on HIGH for about 2-3 hours. The cloves become soft, mellow, and slightly sweet, although they may not brown as deeply as they do with higher-heat methods.
Tips for Best Results
- Cut enough from the pointed end of the garlic bulb to expose the tops of all the cloves. About ¼-½ inch should be enough.
- When making roasted garlic on the grill, always cook it over indirect heat. Direct high heat can cook the outside too aggressively before the cloves have enough time to soften.
- Start checking grilled garlic around the 35-minute mark. Garlic bulbs vary in size and grill temperatures can fluctuate, so yours may need a little more time.
- Look at the garlic rather than relying solely on the clock. The cloves should be very soft and browned. With the grill, oven, and air fryer methods, you should also see some caramelization.
- Do not substitute butter for the olive oil. Butter is more likely to burn during the longer cooking time.
- When grilling multiple bulbs, wrap each one individually rather than wrapping several bulbs together. They will take longer to cook if they’re bundled into one foil packet.
FAQs
The cloves should be very soft and easily mash when pressed. With the grill, oven, or air fryer methods, look for golden brown to deeply caramelized cloves. Carefully check the garlic near the end of the suggested cooking time and continue cooking if the cloves are still firm.
For this recipe, the grill and oven methods use about 400°F. The air fryer method uses 380°F.
Set up your grill for indirect heat at about 400°F. Prepare the garlic with olive oil and salt, wrap it tightly in foil, and place it on the side of the grill without direct heat. Grill for about 35-45 minutes or until the cloves are soft and caramelized.
Yes. Prepare the garlic exactly as directed, wrap it tightly in foil, and bake in a preheated 400°F oven for 35-40 minutes or until the cloves are soft and caramelized.
Yes! Prepare and season the garlic as directed and wrap it tightly in foil. Air fry at 380°F for about 25-30 minutes. Start checking it around 25 minutes and continue cooking until the cloves are very soft and caramelized.
Yes. Prepare the garlic with olive oil and salt and wrap the bulb tightly in foil. Cook it on LOW for about 4-5 hours or HIGH for about 2-3 hours, until the cloves are very soft. Slow-cooked garlic may not develop quite as much browning and caramelization as garlic cooked on the grill, in the oven, or in an air fryer.
Absolutely. This recipe is easy to multiply. When grilling multiple bulbs, wrap each bulb separately. Wrapping several bulbs together can increase the cooking time.
I don’t recommend it. Butter is more likely to burn during the longer cooking time. Olive oil is the better choice for this recipe.
Add roasted garlic to pasta sauces, mashed potatoes, pizza, garlic bread, and dips. You can also serve it on a charcuterie board, combine it with olive oil for dipping bread, spread it onto toast, or rub it onto corn on the cob.
Storage
Allow the garlic to cool before storing it. Remove the cloves from the bulb and place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Because garlic stored in oil can create a food safety risk when kept improperly, do not store roasted garlic in oil at room temperature.
For longer storage, roasted garlic can also be frozen.
Quick Steps
NOTE: This section includes a step-by-step guide. Find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.
- Preheat the grill. Set up the grill for indirect cooking, with one side on high heat and the other side off. Aim for a grill temperature of about 400°F.
- Prepare the garlic. Slice about ¼-½ inch from the pointed end of the garlic bulb so that the tops of all the cloves are exposed.
- Season it. Drizzle olive oil over the exposed cloves and sprinkle with salt.
- Wrap it. Wrap the entire garlic bulb tightly in foil.
- Grill. Place the garlic on the unheated side of the grill and cook for 35-45 minutes.
- Check for doneness. Carefully open the foil around 35 minutes. The cloves should be deep brown, caramelized, and very soft.
- Cool. Remove the garlic from the grill and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
- Remove the cloves. Gently squeeze the root end of the bulb, and the soft roasted cloves should pop right out.
Make Ahead
Roasted garlic is a great make-ahead ingredient. If you’re already heating the grill or oven, consider preparing several bulbs at once.
You can also make several bulbs using the air fryer or slow cooker. Store the extras in the refrigerator or freezer so you’ll have roasted garlic ready when a recipe needs it.
What to serve with roasted garlic
One of the best things about roasted garlic is that you can use it more like an ingredient or condiment than a traditional side dish.
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Spread the soft cloves onto toasted bread or serve the entire bulb on a charcuterie board. You can also mash roasted garlic with olive oil for an easy bread dip.
Try mixing the cloves into mashed potatoes or pasta sauces. Roasted garlic is also delicious added to homemade garlic bread, pizza, or dips.
For an easy vegetable upgrade, mash the roasted cloves and rub them onto corn on the cob.
If You Enjoyed Roasted Garlic
If you love the mellow flavor of roasted garlic, you’ll definitely want to try my BEST Garlic Bread. It’s an obvious next stop for garlic lovers, and those soft roasted cloves would be right at home with warm, toasted bread.
Another recipe worth trying is my Garlic Butter Dipping Sauce. It’s rich, savory, and great for dipping everything from bread to pizza, making it another easy recipe to keep in your garlic-loving arsenal.
For an easy side dish, check out these Crispy Herb Roasted Potatoes. Crispy potatoes and garlic are always a great match, and this recipe works with so many different dinners.
You might also enjoy my Grilled Garlic Bread, especially if you’re already firing up the grill to make roasted garlic. It’s an easy way to keep the whole meal outdoors and add even more garlicky goodness to the table.
My Homemade Alfredo Sauce is another great recipe to have on hand. A creamy homemade sauce is the perfect place for adding a few mashed roasted garlic cloves when you want an extra layer of savory flavor.
For another versatile homemade staple, try my Homemade Pizza Sauce. It’s a handy recipe for pizza night, and roasted garlic makes a delicious addition when you want to give your homemade pizza even more flavor.
And if you’re looking for something warm to serve alongside all that garlicky goodness, my Rosemary Focaccia Bread is a great choice. Rosemary, bread, olive oil, and roasted garlic are pretty much made for each other.
Looking for even more ideas? Browse my Recipe Index to find more easy appetizers, side dishes, breads, sauces, main dishes, desserts, and plenty of recipes to help you plan your next meal.
📌 Save This Recipe
Keep this easy Roasted Garlic recipe handy whenever you want to add rich, mellow garlic flavor to a dish. With instructions for grill, oven, air fryer, and slow cooker, you can choose whichever cooking method works best for you.
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Roasted Garlic
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Equipment
- grill (for the alternate methods, you'll need an oven, air fryer, or slow cooker.)
Ingredients
- 1 bulb garlic
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the grill for indirect cooking, with one side on high heat and the other side off. Aim for a grill temperature of about 400°F.
- Slice about ¼-½ inch from the pointed end of the garlic bulb, exposing the tops of all the cloves.1 bulb garlic
- Drizzle the exposed garlic with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt.½ tablespoon olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Wrap the bulb tightly in foil.
- Place the wrapped garlic on the side of the grill without direct heat.
- Grill for 35-45 minutes, depending on the size of the bulb and the temperature of the grill. Carefully check the garlic around 35 minutes. The cloves should be deep brown, caramelized, and very soft.
- Remove the garlic from the grill and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
- Squeeze the root end of the bulb to push the roasted garlic cloves out.
Notes
🥡 Storage
- Allow the roasted garlic to cool, then remove the cloves from the bulb and refrigerate them in an airtight container.
- Do not store roasted garlic in oil at room temperature.
♨️ Reheating
- Roasted garlic does not need to be reheated for most uses. Add it directly to pasta sauces, mashed potatoes, dips, or other recipes that will be heated.
- If you want the garlic warm for spreading or serving, gently warm only the amount you plan to use.
❄️ Freezing
- Roasted garlic freezes well. Remove the individual cloves from the bulb before freezing so you can easily take out only what you need.
- You can also mash the roasted cloves before freezing them in small portions for easy use in future recipes.
💡 Tips for Best Results
- Cut enough from the pointed end of the bulb to expose each garlic clove.
- Keep the garlic over indirect heat when grilling.
- Start checking grilled garlic after about 35 minutes and air fryer garlic around 25 minutes.
- Use the texture and appearance of the garlic to determine when it’s ready rather than relying only on cooking time. The cloves should be extremely soft.
- If you’re grilling several bulbs, wrap each bulb separately.
- Do not replace the olive oil with butter because butter is more likely to burn during the extended cooking time.
🍳 Alternate Cooking Methods
Oven: Prepare the garlic as directed, wrap it tightly in foil, and bake in a preheated 400°F oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the cloves are soft, browned, and caramelized. Air fryer: Prepare and season the garlic as directed, then wrap it tightly in foil. Air fry at 380°F for about 25-30 minutes. Carefully check it around 25 minutes and continue cooking as needed until the cloves are very soft and caramelized. Larger bulbs may need a few extra minutes. Slow cooker: Prepare the garlic as directed and wrap the bulb tightly in foil. Place it in the slow cooker and cook on LOW for about 4-5 hours or HIGH for about 2-3 hours, until the cloves are very soft and easily squeeze from the bulb. Slow cooker garlic may not develop the same deep browning as the grill, oven, or air fryer methods, but it will still become mild, soft, and flavorful.♻️ Leftovers
- Mash leftover roasted garlic into mashed potatoes, pasta sauce, dips, or garlic bread.
- You can also combine it with olive oil for dipping bread, spread it on toast, add it to pizza, serve it on a charcuterie board, or rub it onto corn on the cob.
📝 Notes
- This recipe is easy to multiply if you want to make several bulbs of garlic at once.
- When grilling multiple bulbs, wrap each bulb individually. Wrapping several bulbs together will increase the cooking time.
- Cooking times can vary depending on the size of the garlic bulb and the cooking appliance.
- Do not substitute butter for the olive oil.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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