How to Roast Garlic

This is the best and easiest method to master the technique of Roasting Garlic in the Oven! Heads of garlic are wrapped in foil and baked in the oven to tender, sweet perfection. Get the straightforward steps for achieving amazing nutty flavor with these caramelized cloves, whether you’re using them in recipes or simply spreading them on baguettes. 

Simple Roasted Garlic Recipe

Roasting garlic in the oven is one of those simple cooking techniques that can initially seem intimidating.

After all, how can something SO decadent also be quick and easy to do?

And yet, roasting a head of garlic in the oven is super straightforward. Leave it to the magic of this amazing aromatic to work such wonders!

You can think of roasting garlic in the oven as more of a process than a recipe.

There are only THREE ingredients required (yup, that’s it!) and your hands-on time is less than 5 minutes.

And in those 5 minutes you not only get ONE roasted garlic clove, but you can crank out a whole HEAD of garlic. (Wondering What is a Clove of Garlic? This post has you covered.) This is a secret weapon you can keep on hand when you want to add a little pizzazz to any dish. (Like this Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower!)

Garlic lovers rejoice! Roasted garlic cloves are here and they couldn’t be simpler.

Ingredients

For this roasted garlic recipe, you will only need a few simple ingredients:

• Fresh garlic. You’ll want a whole head of garlic (not just a clove!). When selecting make sure you find whole garlic bulbs that are firm and free of mold (Here’s more info on How to Store Garlic). Also, if you are roasting more than just one at a time make sure they are a similar size.
• Oil. Avocado oil is preferred since you’ll be roasting the garlic at a high heat. Choose a good quality oil for the best taste. You can also use olive oil if you would prefer.
• Salt. Either a coarser sea salt or a finer salt will both work.

How to Roast Garlic in the Oven

Below are the steps to follow to make roasted garlic in the oven:

Peel the Skin

Before you do anything, preheat the oven to 400°F.

Peel and remove almost all of the papery skin from the head(s) of the raw garlic cloves you will be roasting. Stop just before you get to the last layer. You want to keep the skin that is tightly adhered to the garlic cloves intact.

Expose the Cloves

Cut off ½-inch from the tip of the head of garlic with a sharp knife. If you do not see all of the garlic cloves simply trim around the other cloves so they are all exposed.

Add Some Oil

Rub in a little bit of olive oil and sprinkle the top of the cloves with a pinch of salt. The salt is optional, but it helps to bring out the natural flavor of the roasted garlic.

Option 1: Cover in a Pan

Set each of the prepared heads of garlic in a pan. You can use a loaf pan, muffin, pan, or cake pan. Be sure the cut side is up. Cover the entire pan with parchment paper first, then aluminum foil. Tighten the edges.

Option 2: Wrap It Up

Wrap up the prepared heads of garlic in foil. A piece of parchment paper can be added between the foil and the garlic if you’re concerned about the foil contacting your food.

Roast in Oven

Bake in a preheated 400°F oven for 40-50 minutes. The high oven temperature is important to get the caramelization effect.

The amount of time in the oven will largely depend on how large or small the heads of garlic are. Check on them at about 40-45 minutes to ensure they do not burn. They should be golden brown.

Remove the Cloves

Wait until the garlic has cooled and it is safe to the touch to remove the cloves.

The easiest way to do this is to place a small spoon around the rim of each garlic clove, twist it around to loosen up the skin, and then push down to pop out the garlic clove.

After you roast garlic cloves, serve them up in different ways, like on crusty bread, in pasta sauce, or even in salad dressings!

Expert Tip: If you do not want to heat up your oven, you can also roast garlic in a skillet by following these instructions. Fair warning: they will not get nearly as soft and tender as they would if roasting them in the oven!

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: You can easily roast up garlic to have on hand for recipes for the week. 
• To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, or up to a week if stored in olive oil.
• To Freeze: Place the roasted cloves in a single layer on a baking sheet in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. 
• To Reheat: Warm in the microwave, or simply add to your recipes as you are cooking.

Does garlic lose its benefits once roasted?

No, roasting garlic does not remove any of its health benefits. Garlic is a low-calorie food that is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and manganese.

Does roasted garlic taste different?

Yes, roasted garlic has quite a different taste than the uncooked version. Once garlic is roasted, it is much sweeter, nuttier, and less pungent than raw garlic. 

How do you roast garlic without burning it?

To reduce the chances of burning garlic while roasting, roast whole heads (not cloves) at 400°F and check them after 40 minutes. Depending on the size, whole heads could take up to 60 minutes. Garlic broken up into cloves should bake for 20-30 minutes. 

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Similar in size and shape. You want them to cook up evenly if you are roasting multiple heads at a time.
• Don’t overdo it. Just a drizzle of oil and a sprinkle of salt is all you need.
• Protect with parchment. If you don’t want the foil touching the garlic, place parchment paper in between.
• Take a peek. Garlic will burn, so be sure to check on them after 40 minutes.
• Scoop with a spoon. This is the easiest technique to get the clove of garlic to pop right out.

Ways to Use Roasted Garlic

You have all of this oven-roasted garlic, now what should you do with it? Here are a few of my favorite recipes:

Use it in this Mashed Cauliflower recipe or add it to Roasted Broccoli.

It’s delicious in an Instant Pot Chicken Vegetable Soup.

(Or one of these other Healthy Soup Recipes.) 

Serve it up on a toasted baguette with some Roasted Cherry Tomatoes.