Roasted Garlic Recipe
Published 12/5/2023 • Updated 12/12/2023
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Learn how to roast garlic in the oven in 4 simple steps with this recipe. Roasted garlic is easier than you might think to make and instantly elevates any dish!
Once you try roasting garlic at home, you’ll never want to eat garlic any other way. Fresh garlic cloves are of course delicious, but there’s a special place in our hearts for the wonderfully caramelized, savory, and slightly sweet flavors that roasting garlic creates (and how the kitchen smells!).
All you need for roasted garlic are whole garlic bulbs, olive oil, a little salt, and a baking dish. Bake for about 40 minutes, flipping halfway, and enjoy in sauces, dips, soups, and more. We love adding garlic heads to a sheet pan of roasted root vegetables, mixing it into our favorite ricotta pasta, and even sneaking some into our Thanksgiving crockpot mashed potatoes.
What You Need for Roasted Garlic
This is such a simple recipe that only calls for 2 ingredients.
- Raw heads of garlic
- Olive oil
- Salt, to taste
Roasted Garlic Variations
Here are 3 tasty ways to make roasted garlic your own:
Sprinkle the bulbs of garlic with salt, pepper, or any of your favorite homemade spice blends.
Instead of olive oil, use any kind of oil you enjoy. We love how olive oil tastes with garlic, but use any kind of oil you enjoy.
While you’re roasting garlic, feel free to simultaneously roast other root vegetables like onions, sweet potatoes, turnips, and more.
FAQ
There is no need to peel the garlic because after roasting, the cloves will slide right out of the casing.
The great thing about this recipe is that you can make 1 head of roasted garlic or 10 heads of roasted garlic. Feel free to make as much or little as you wish.
Roasted garlic is done when it’s wonderfully fragrant and the cloves are caramelized. This takes about 40 minutes at 375ºF.
Storage
Once the roasted garlic cloves are cool, store them in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Freezing Roasted Garlic
Surprisingly, roasted garlic freezes wonderfully! Spread the roasted garlic cloves on a baking sheet and freeze until fully frozen (about 1 hour) – this prevents the cloves from freezing together. Transfer frozen cloves into an airtight container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Make a Roasted Garlic Crostini!
We loved serving this roasted garlic on a crostini with whipped feta, apple, and honey. Here’s a quick a quick appetizer recipe for you to try. You need:
- 3 heads roasted garlic
- 1 baguette, sliced and toasted
- 1/3 cup whipped feta
- 3 tablespoons honey
- salt, to taste
Serving Suggestions
Roasted garlic instantly elevates any dish. The caramelized, slightly sweet yet savory flavor is totally versatile and goes well in so many recipes. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy roasted garlic:
- Mash roasted garlic cloves, mix with cream cheese, and spread it on a bagel
- Mince roasted garlic cloves and sauté with veggies
- Mince and fold roasted garlic into an omelet
- Mince and add into any dip or hummus
- Add roasted garlic to any of our pasta dishes
- Add to any savory soup
- Mince and add to any salad dressing (like our balsamic vinaigrette)
- Eat it whole! Seriously. It’s delicious 😀
How to Roast Garlic
Ingredients
- 6 bulbs of garlic
- 3 teaspoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Spray a small baking dish or quarter sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Prepare the garlic bulbs: Use a sharp knife to slice off the pointy end. This will expose the garlic cloves.
- Place the bulbs of garlic cut-side up in the baking dish.
- Drizzle each bulb of garlic with olive oil (about 1/2 teaspoon each).
- Bake for 40 minutes, flipping over the bulbs of garlic halfway through baking (flat-side down for last 20 minutes).
- Remove from the oven and let the garlic cool for 10 minutes.
- Once cool enough to handle and working one bulb of garlic at a time, squeeze the bulbs so the cloves pop out of the casing. Use as desired!
Tips & Notes
- Storage: Store roasted garlic cloves in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
- Freezing Instructions: Spread the roasted garlic cloves on a baking sheet and freeze until fully frozen (about 1 hour) – this prevents the cloves from freezing together. Transfer frozen cloves into an airtight container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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used this recipe to make an easy appetizer (like you shared on social) and it was a crowd favorite! Thanks!
Garlic is one of those vegetables that has no limits in my book. I can eat a whole clove of garlic in a recipe–obviously not on its own–especially in vegetable stir-fries! Roasted garlic just takes everything to an entirely new level with the smoky properties!