Roasted Garlic

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If you want to infuse your favorite recipes with savory, nutty flavor, roasted garlic is the way to go! You can easily make some at home in a muffin tin with a drizzle of olive oil on top to enhance the overall flavor! The end result is caramelized, garlic heaven.

Roasted garlic is the best way to add depth of flavor to your favorite dishes. Try it mashed and spread over your favorite crackers, added to hummus or guacamole, in soups, or stirred into your favorite pasta sauce!

4 heads of roasted garlic in a gray dish.

Roasted Garlic Recipe

Not only is roasted garlic easy to make, but it’s also a game-changer in the kitchen. Seriously, if you haven’t tried roasting garlic yet, you’re missing out! It’s so simple, even a beginner cook can do it. All you need is a head of garlic, some olive oil, and an oven. Simply slice off the top of the garlic head, drizzle with olive oil, wrap it in foil, and pop it in the oven. In about 45 minutes, you’ll have beautifully caramelized garlic cloves that are tender, sweet, and oh-so-delicious.

Don’t let its simplicity fool you! Roasted garlic is a versatile ingredient that can elevate any dish and give it the perfect savory flavor. Spread it on bread, mix it into dips, toss it with roasted veggies, or stir it into pasta dishes. It adds a rich, savory flavor to everything it touches, and once you start using it, you’ll be as obsessed as I am.

Ingredients Needed for Roasted Garlic

Besides a few heads of garlic, you’ll only need a couple extra ingredients to whip this up. It’s so simple to make some caramelized, delicious roasted garlic. You’ll want to use it in all of your cooking!

  • Garlic: I used about 4 heads worth of fresh garlic. To prepare them, slice the tops off so the cloves are exposed.
  • Olive Oil: Olive oil is used to coat the garlic heads before roasting. It helps to keep the garlic moist and adds a subtle, earthy flavor to the dish. If you don’t have olive oil on hand, you can also substitute it with any neutral oil like vegetable or canola oil.
  • Salt and Pepper: I used kosher salt and pepper to season the garlic before roasting. They help to enhance the natural flavors of the garlic and add a little bit of seasoning to the dish.

How to Roast Garlic

Once it’s out of the oven, you can use roasted garlic for so many different things! Try it on roasted vegetables, garlic bread, in salad dressing, or mashed potatoes! Roasting garlic gives it the best flavor. It’s subtly sweet while also being savory and delicious!

  1. Preheat Oven: Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Prepare Garlic: Peel away the extra layers of garlic paper. Leave one thin layer to hold the garlic together. Use a sharp knife to cut off 1/4-inch from the top of the cloves.
  3. Add Olive Oil and Seasonings: Place individual raw garlic cloves, cut side up, in a muffin pan. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Season the garlic with salt and fresh ground black pepper.
  4. Cover With Aluminum Foil: Top each garlic head with a small piece of foil to prevent the garlic from getting too dark while roasting. The foil also helps create steam to slowly roast the garlic.
  5. Bake: Bake until the cloves inside the packet are light brown and soft. About 40 minutes to 1 hour. Test for doneness by pricking an individual clove with a fork. The garlic should be soft and tender.
  6. Use: Enjoy roasted garlic whole, spread on bread, or use it in your favorite recipes. It adds so much flavor to sauces, spreads, pasta, or any dish!
4-photo collage of garlic being prepared with olive oil and seasonings, then covered with aluminum foil.

Tips for Roasting Garlic

Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind so that you end up with restaurant-quality roasted garlic! With it on hand, you’ll never have to worry about bland food again – just a few roasted garlic cloves can add a burst of flavor to any recipe!

  • Use a Generous Amount of Olive Oil: Use a good quality olive oil to drizzle over the whole heads of garlic. The oil helps to keep the garlic moist and adds extra flavor.
  • Cover With Aluminum Foil: Cover each garlic head in foil before roasting to trap in the heat and moisture. You could also make little foil packets filled with each head of garlic. This will help to cook the garlic evenly and prevent it from drying out.
  • Add Other Seasonings: I like to keep things simple and just add salt and pepper, but you could also add a pinch of cumin or smoked paprika if you’d like! Another great option is fresh herbs. Rosemary, basil, sage, or parsley are all great options for adding an extra layer of flavor.

Ways to Use Roasted Garlic

You can use roasted garlic in any recipe that calls for regular garlic. You’ll be amazed at the subtle but delicious flavor it adds! Here are a few of my favorite recipes that I’ve tried it in recently. Other ways to use it are in soups, spreads, dips, or to boost the flavor of other roasted veggies!

Closeup of roasted garlic.

Storing Leftovers

Roasted garlic is a tasty and versatile ingredient that can elevate any savory dish! But what should you do with any leftovers? Luckily, storing it is simple, so you can use it when you need it!

  • In the Refrigerator: Roasted garlic will stay good for one week. Just be sure to keep it in an airtight container so your fridge doesn’t smell like garlic all the time!

A garlic head being torn open to reveal the cloves inside.


  • Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Peel away the extra layers of garlic paper. Leave one thin layer to hold the garlic together. Cut a 1/4-inch from the top of the cloves.

  • Place each individual head of garlic, cut side up, in a muffin pan. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Season the garlic with salt and fresh ground black pepper.

  • Top each garlic head with a small piece of foil to prevent the garlic from getting too dark while roasting. The foil also helps create steam to slowly roast the garlic.

  • Bake until the cloves inside the packet are light brown and soft. About 40 minutes to 1 hour. Test for doneness by pricking an individual clove with a fork. The garlic should be soft and tender.

  • Enjoy roasted garlic whole, spread on bread, or use it in your favorite recipes. It adds so much flavor to sauces, spreads, pasta, or any dish!



Serves: 4

Calories73kcal (4%)Carbohydrates9g (3%)Protein2g (4%)Fat4g (6%)Saturated Fat1g (5%)Polyunsaturated Fat0.4gMonounsaturated Fat3gSodium5mgPotassium112mg (3%)Fiber1g (4%)Sugar0.3gVitamin A3IUVitamin C9mg (11%)Calcium51mg (5%)Iron0.5mg (3%)

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword how to roast garlic, roasted garlic