Name: How to Roast Garlic with an Oil Drizzle
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 2 garlic bulbs; oil (whichever kind you prefer)

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Once you learn how to roast garlic cloves, you’ll be including this healthy side dish more often with your meals. Learn how to easily roast whole heads of garlic!

Roasted Garlic in a Saucepan and on tin foil. — If you’re searching for tips on how to roast garlic in the oven, be sure to read this post for all the information you could need!

Why You’ll Love This Roasted Garlic Recipe

Roasted garlic tastes sweet and nutty and sends wonderful aromas throughout the kitchen. Garlic, as a cooking spice, is quite versatile and there are lots of delicious garlic recipes.

There are not many dishes or cuisines for which garlic is not a good complement either as a side dish, as an infusion or mixed into the meal.

Learning how to roast garlic cloves or bulbs with fresh garlic cloves. — Wondering how to roast garlic? Here are several ways to enjoy roasted garlic with your meals.

For the best flavored garlic, learning how to roast fresh garlic cloves can give a subtle difference to the taste of a dish. Compared to dried powdered, salted garlic or minced garlic that is pre-prepared and purchased in a store?

Well, there really is no comparison – fresh roasted garlic cloves win! Hands down!

It might come as a surprise how sweet and nutty freshly roasted garlic can taste compared to the mass-manufactured and pre-prepared garlic seasonings.

Roasted garlic complements most recipes or can be sautéed with onions, butter and a little brown sugar for a succulent side dish. Grate or chop into pasta, mix it in to your mashed potatoes for a super flavorful side dish, make a flavorful salad dressing, add to sauces or your favorite hummus, or use it to make homemade garlic bread!

Instructions

Heads of garlic can be roasted using a toaster oven, convection oven or conventional oven or on the grill, but garlic can also be roasted in a pan on a stovetop.

Roasting garlic is the best way to bring out the nutty sweetness and caramelized flavor that garlic is known for, instead of the pungent aroma often found with processed garlic.

In fact, garlic that is roasted doesn’t leave the bad breath scent for which garlic sometimes gets a bad rap, and there are many researched health benefits to consuming raw garlic or roasted fresh garlic.

How to Roast Garlic in the Oven

A bulb of freshly roasted garlic, still on the tinfoil it was cooked in after having the top chopped off and oil poured on.

Peel the desired amount of garlic cloves or just cut off the pointed tops of a whole garlic bulb with a sharp knife to release the aroma and interior oils (just like that picture above). These pieces can be roasted whole or cut or chopped, and then placed inside foil. Leave the foil unsealed at the top.
Drizzle the garlic with a couple of teaspoons of olive oil (or any favorite flavored oil) and add any complementary spices you like.
Place the foil on a baking sheet in the center of the hot oven and bake at 350-375 degrees for 40 minutes, until the tops of the garlic are lightly browned but not burnt.

Roasting Garlic Cloves on the Stove

Roasting garlic cloves in a pan on the stove. — Slow roasting garlic cloves in a pan on the stove is another great way to prepare this treat!

Roasting garlic in a pan uses the same oil drizzle technique, except the garlic cloves cannot be unattended while roasting. Simply place the cloves in the pan, (we love Lodge cast iron – highly recommend) add a little butter, flavors and spices, and then drizzle the oil over the cloves.

Turn the flame onto a low/medium-low heat, and use a metal spatula to constantly move the garlic.
Once the garlic has softened, and this might take as much as 15-20 minutes of constantly stirring, the flame can be turned up higher and the cloves allowed to sizzle until lightly browned and slightly firm on the outside.

How to Roast Garlic in the Air Fryer

This method is similar to the oven method, but typically doesn’t take as long!

Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees F.
Gather individual cloves or chop the top off a whole bulb of garlic.
Drizzle with olive oil and season as desired.
Wrap well in a piece of aluminum foil and place in the air fryer.
Air fry until soft and fragrant, about 16-20 minutes.

Which Spices Go Good with Garlic?

Any savory spice will work well, including:

rosemary
thyme
basil
sage
paprika
sea salt
pepper

Garlic Bulbs with tops cut off ready for roasting — A variety of spices go great with garlic!

More Garlic FAQ

How to store roasted garlic?

Roasted garlic can be stored for up to a month in the refrigerator before it begins to lose its flavor. Just be sure to store in an air-tight container, plastic bag or jar.

A garlic bulb can also be infused into an oil and kept for longer.

How do I store garlic bulbs?

If bought fresh from grocers or farmers’ markets, garlic can be stored for several months in a cool and dry place in a pantry. We store our garlic in an open weave basket in the kitchen.

There is no reason to refrigerate garlic prior to roasting.

Can I grow garlic in containers?

Yes you sure can grow garlic in pots or containers! Here’s everything you need to know about how to grow garlic in the backyard!

Can I freeze roasted garlic for eating later?

Yup you can – here are several ways to preserve garlic by freezing.

How long to roast garlic?

Roasting time can depend on the size of your garlic cloves. It’s better to start out with a lower time, around 30 minutes, and add more time if needed.

Freshly peeled garlic on a brown cloth with wood spoon. — Freshly peeled garlic ready for roasting on the stove.

How to roast garlic without foil?

If you prefer, you can use parchment paper instead of foil for your roasted garlic cloves. Just be sure it isn’t wax paper, as that can melt in the oven and ruin your garlic!

How to remove garlic from skin?

Once roasted, it’s actually quite easy to remove each clove from the garlic skin. Give them some time to cool, then simply squeeze from one end and the individual cloves of garlic should should slide right out!

More Garlic Appetizer Recipes

Our entire Country Living in a Cariboo Valley Recipe Collection can be found here, and here are some more delicious garlic recipes hand-picked for you!

These Garlic and Bacon Wraps are the perfect appy side dish!
Feta and Garlic? Yes please! Try this Feta Cheese and Garlic Dip appetizer recipe.
Garlic Side Dishes for your family to enjoy.

Now that you know how to roast garlic, add this roasted garlic recipe to more of your dinner recipes!