Roasted Garlic is incredibly easy to make and adds so much flavor to your favorite recipes. Here are my easy cooking tips on how to roast garlic.
Forget the old method of roasting whole heads of garlic. My method is so incredibly easy and the results are perfect every time!
Why this recipe works:
Unlike raw garlic which is extremely strong and potent, roasted garlic has a much more mild flavor.
In it's raw form, garlic is hard and crunchy. Once roasted properly, the golden brown outside is chewy and the inside is soft and creamy.
You can substitute roasted garlic for any recipe that calls for garlic. Since the flavor is more mild, you can double, triple, or quadruple the amount!
- Rather than making whole roasted garlic, I buy peeled garlic cloves in bulk at Costco and make roasted peeled garlic instead!
- Using pre-peeled garlic cloves saves time and enables you to make a large batch.
- This method is much easier than roasting a garlic bulb where you simply cut off the end, drizzle it in olive oil, and bake it in the oven.
- When you roast garlic in olive oil, it keeps much longer than fresh garlic. Also, by making a large batch, you will always have it available to use in recipes.
How to roast garlic:
- First step is to line a baking dish with parchment paper. This step isn't necessary, but it makes for easy clean up.
- I roast about 4 cups of peeled garlic cloves at a time. This may seem like a lot, but it keeps a lot longer in the refrigerator once it has been roasted versus raw. Plus, I throw my roasted garlic cloves in just about everything I make.
- Not a lot of olive oil is needed. Figure about a half tablespoon for every cup of garlic cloves.
- Then, to roast, simply start off with a 400 degree F oven and roast the garlic for about 20 minutes. This will make the tops nice and brown. At this point, I give it a good stir and reduce the heat to 350 degrees F.
- I like to stir the garlic about every five minutes during the second half of the cooking process to ensure even cooking and browning. Just make sure you're careful not to smash them.
That's it! No squeezing the golden cloves of garlic out of the papery bulb. No mess. Perfect results every time.
Best uses for roasted garlic:
I seriously use roasted garlic almost daily in my cooking. Here are some of my favorite methods for incorporating roasted garlic into your meals.
- Scrambled eggs - whether you like to mix in a ton of sauteed veggies or just eat plain scrambled eggs in the morning, some smashed roasted garlic adds amazing flavor.
- Garlic bread - I have found that roasted garlic makes the absolute best garlic bread! I cook an entire loaf until heated through. While it's cooking, I mix together some high quality butter, a ton of roasted garlic, and some garlic herb blend to make a spread. Then, when the bread comes out of the oven, just lather each piece up with the spread.
- Garlic roasted potatoes - Stir in a handful and watch the flavor change from good to oh-my-god-what's-in-these?
- Roasted Brussels sprouts with garlic - Since I keep my roasted garlic in the fridge, I just toss some in with the sprouts for the last few minutes of cooking.
- Homemade pizza - technically we buy frozen pizzas all the time and add a bunch of veggies at home before we cook them. You better believe I add a ton of garlic.
- Roasted garlic aioli - aka the best spread or dip ever
- Make a vibrant pink Beet Hummus!
And the list goes on and on!
Full Recipe Instructions
Roasted Garlic
Ingredients
- 4 cups garlic cloves (peeled)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Line baking dish with parchment paper. Add garlic cloves and olive oil; toss to combine.
- Roast garlic in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Stir the garlic for even browning, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees, and continue cooking for another 20 minutes - this time carefully stirring every five minutes. Take care not to smash the garlic cloves while stirring.
- Enjoy warm, otherwise allow to fully cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Marie
I peeled 4 heads garlic I had on hand. The garlic was fresh. Followed your recipe but mine came out crunchy. Tasted good but had a crunch to it. I don't know what I did wrong.
Krissy
Probably because I use so much garlic when I make it, the cloves partially shield each other.
Kathryn Gossman
I buy garlic in bulk and chop it up in a food processor and store it in olive oil. Would I be able to do the same with the roasted garlic? I make minced garlic and a garlic paste.
Krissy
If you mean roast it and then chop it up with a food processor to store it? Yes - that is what I do. I don't add extra olive oil, but you can.
Heather
Thank you for this, YUM !!!
Linda
Do you store in oil in the fridge or just in a bag or container? Everything I've read about storing roasted garlic says to cover it in oil and put in fridge and use within a week.
Krissy
I store the roasted garlic in the fridge and have used it for months. Whether I should or not is another question, but it always tastes great and has never gone bad on me. Fresh garlic, however, does.
Joe
Be careful of using already peeled garlic. though it is cheaper if its from china it is full of pesticides that are not legal to use in the US anymore. Use California garlic as its pesticide free though probably more expensive but healthier. Check out the origin of the garlic whole too. Chinese garlic will not have the roots attached and if packaged it will be marked where its from.
Krissy
I totally agree! I buy a big bag of California grown organic garlic cloves at Costco.
Gena
Hello, my garlic turned out a little too crisp, making it hard to mash up. Do you think it was because I didn't use the parchment paper?
Krissy
Very possible. I also tend to cook mine in a stone casserole dish which is more gentle. You can always try a lower heat and/or stir them more often next time.
Karen
Thank you for the post. I am still dealing with last years crop so it did half in jars and half roasted.
Pj
I recently ate roasted garlic at a crawfish boil. It was so good and had a buttery taste. Is that natural or is there a trick for that?
Krissy
That's what happens when you roast it. Super creamy and chewy and the flavor is divine.
Cheryl
The best way of roasting garlic! So easy!°
Thank You !
Kathy
Can you freeze the garlic
Krissy
Yes! I'm about to make another big batch and I think I will, but I'll also say that my last batch has lasted a REALLY long time in the fridge. I think I made it a couple months ago!
Marlo
I haven’t roasted garlic this way before but I’m having a macaroni and cheese bar on Saturday. I think this would be the perfect solution for having roasted garlic that actually looks nice…and as a side note the house will smell AMAZING!
Cheryl
Fantastic! You made this so simple. Thank you
Billy
Perfect fool proof way to make roasted garlic, comes out every time! Thank you.
Jen
This is one of my favorite ways to add flavor to any dish! I even make it smear all over fresh bread. It's dangerously delicious!
Deena
Ooooooh, I love garlic! How long does this last in the refrigerator?
Krissy
I've actually kept mine in the refrigerator for much longer than a month and it was fine. I've never had it go bad. Now, my process is to roast the entire back and then I divide it between three small containers. One goes in the fridge and the other two go in the freezer. When I'm half way through the last container, I buy another bag and start all over again!
Aimee Shugarman
Roasted garlic is amazing. And I love the way my house smells, is that weird? LOL
Krissy
Not weird at all!
Tina
I love doing this- roasted garlic is so awesome!
Melissa
Ours turned out perfect! Thanks so much!
Alfred Gorlick
I also use the jars of peeled garlic. I place them in a ramekin, cover with olive oil and roast at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. I get great garlic and great oil.
Krissy
Great recommendation!