Oven Roasted Garlic

Oven Roasted Garlic is an easy way to add a ton of flavor to your favorite dish, made with whole garlic bulbs and olive oil, with minimal prep time and ready in less than an hour!

This garlic recipe goes perfectly spread on gluten free french bread, and serve with dishes like Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Classic Potato Leek Soup, and Cheesy Cauliflower Soup!

Oven Roasted Garlic is one of my all-time favorite garlic recipes, made with whole garlic heads and olive oil, baked in the oven until they’re soft and caramelized. You can mix this with butter and fresh herbs for a spread that adds an extra layer of flavor to almost anything!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Garlic. For roasted garlic, you want to use whole fresh garlic bulbs. We’re going to cut the top off, and once it’s completely roasted the cloves will be soft enough to squeeze out and make a garlic paste out of. 

Olive oil. I use extra virgin olive oil but you can also use vegetable or canola oil for this recipe. 

Salt and Pepper. You can add a pinch of salt and black pepper to the cloves for extra flavor, but you can also skip any spices altogether. 

Roasted garlic is a great opportunity to use different spices and add another layer of flavor to many dishes!

How to Roast Garlic in the Oven

1. Drizzle olive oil on the bottom of a baking dish and set aside. 
2. Remove the outer skins from the garlic bulbs (just whatever is loose, but we’re leaving the bulbs intact). Cut the top off of the entire garlic bulb. Place the bulbs open-side up in the baking dish. 
3. Drizzle 1/2 tablespoon of oil over each bulb, trying to get a little bit on each of the cloves of garlic. Bake for 40-50 minutes in a preheated oven at 350°F, or until cloves are soft and a fork goes through easily, and they’re golden brown on top. 
4. Pull the baking dish out of the oven and immediately flip each of the garlic heads over (using tongs because they’re hot!), giving them extra caramelized flavor.  
5. Leave the garlic until it’s completely cooled. Then you can squeeze the softened cloves out and make a garlic paste. 

How to Roast Garlic Using Tinfoil in the Oven

If you want to speed up the process, you can wrap the garlic in aluminum foil before roasting. This allows you to use a higher heat without burning the garlic cloves.

I like to use a baking dish with lower heat because it gives a nice caramelized flavor when you flip them over. But if you’re short on time, here’s how to do the foil method.

You can also do this with individual garlic cloves, just wrap them in foil and drizzle with olive oil. Check the cloves at around the 20 minute mark.

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Remove the outer skins from the garlic bulbs (just whatever is loose, but we’re leaving the bulbs intact). Cut the top off of the entire garlic bulb. Place the bulbs open-side up on a piece of aluminum foil.
2. Drizzle 1/2 tablespoon of oil over each bulb, trying to get a little bit on each of the cloves of garlic. Wrap the foil around the cloves, closing it on top. Bake for 30 minutes, or until cloves are soft and a fork goes through easily.

How to Roast Garlic in the Air Fryer

1. Cut the top off of the garlic bulb. Place it on a piece of tinfoil and drizzle with olive oil. 
2. Wrap the tinfoil around the garlic. Air fry at 390°F for 20 minutes, or until garlic is soft and starting to turn golden brown. 
3. Allow to cool completely before squeezing the garlic out. 

How to Use Oven Roasted Garlic

You can use oven roasted garlic in a wide variety of dishes, because it’s really versatile!

• Spread it on slices of crusty bread with some butter and red pepper flakes for the perfect garlic bread!
• Mix it with softened butter, along with some fresh herbs. You can re-shape it using some parchment paper and keep it refrigerated for the week. 
• Serve with roasted potatoes or vegetables. 
• Make a roasted garlic marinara, roasted garlic Alfredo, or a garlic pizza sauce. 
• Add it to pasta dishes, like gluten free penne and roasted cherry tomatoes with garlic. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to roast garlic cloves?

It takes 40-50 minutes to roast garlic in the oven. I like to roast the whole head of garlic, then flip them over to help caramelize the tops of the garlic cloves at the very end.

If you’re roasting smaller garlic bulbs, or individual cloves of garlic, the cooking time is reduced. Check around 20 minutes, then add time as needed.

What is the difference between garlic and roasted garlic?

Regular garlic and garlic powder has a savory note with a bit of a bite to it, while roasted garlic has a nutty flavor and a sweet-savory profile that is perfect for garlic bread or mashed potatoes. Roasted garlic is also the perfect ingredient to make garlic butter. 

Storage

Refrigerate roasted garlic in an airtight container for 3-4 days. 

Freeze roasted garlic in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Remove them from the bulb before freezing. 

What Goes With Roasted Garlic

• Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
• Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
• Oven Baked Garlic Parmesan Wings
• Crispy Air Fryer Potato Wedges

Cooking Tips

• You can use as many heads of garlic as you can fit into the baking dish for this recipe, as long as there’s a little bit of room between each bulb.
• If you don’t have a baking dish, you can wrap the raw garlic in a piece of foil with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet. 
• You can also place the bulbs of garlic in a muffin tin instead of the baking dish. Cover the tops with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
• The size of your cloves may change the cooking time. Check them at 20 minutes, then add time as needed.

If you loved this recipe, be sure to leave a 5 Star review below, and tag me with a photo of your finished recipe on Instagram @Jacqui_DishingDelish!

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