How To Roast Garlic | Elizabeth Rider

How to Roast Garlic the easy way! Roasted garlic is a game-changer for your everyday recipes. It transforms from sharp and pungent to sweet, buttery, and incredibly flavorful.

Whether you spread it on toast, mix it into sauces, or blend into soups, roasted garlic adds an irresistible depth of flavor to your favorite dishes. Plus, it’s packed with health benefits!

What You’ll Need To Make Roasted Garlic

• Garlic: You will want to look for 2 medium-large whole garlic heads.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: You will need about 2 teaspoons. You can also swap out for butter for a slightly different flavor.
• Baking Foil: A large piece of foil or parchment paper to bake the garlic heads in.

(Full details in the printable recipe card below)

How To Roast Garlic

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Slice the garlic: Peel off the outward papery layer of the garlic. Keeping the whole head intact, cut off the top 1/4 of the garlic head to expose the cloves.
3. Prepare for roasting: Place the trimmed garlic head onto a large piece of foil. Drizzle with olive oil, ensuring the cloves are well coated.
4. Wrap in foil: Fold up the foil to create a loose packet around the garlic, making sure not to press the sides against the cloves.
5. Roast: Place the foil packet in the preheated oven and roast for 40-50 minutes, or until the cloves are soft and golden brown. Oven times may vary, so start checking at 40 minutes.
6. Cool & use: Let the roasted garlic cool slightly before squeezing out the soft cloves. Use immediately or cool to store for later.

Ways To Use Roasted Garlic

Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy Roasted Garlic:

• Spread on Bread: Mix with butter or olive oil and spread on warm toast.
• Stir Into Mashed Potatoes: Adds a deep, mellow garlic flavor.
• Blend into Soups: A great way to naturally thicken and enhance flavor. I love it in my creamy Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup.
• Mix Into Salad Dressings: Mash it into a vinaigrette for a subtle garlic kick.
• Toss with Pasta: Stir into warm pasta with olive oil, Parmesan, and herbs. If you have not tried this Quick Roasted Garlic Pasta, you are missing out.
• Use as a Pizza Topping: Smash the cloves and spread them onto pizza dough before baking.
• Make Garlic Butter: Mash with butter, salt, and herbs for an easy compound butter.

Tips & Variations

• Storage: Remove the cloves from the head and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freeze: Freeze leftover roasted garlic in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container for up to 3 months.
• Make Ahead: If you love garlic, roast in bulk and freeze for easy use later.
• Swap the Oil: Try using butter instead of olive oil for a richer taste.
• Enhance the Flavor: Add fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or a pinch of red pepper flakes to the foil for extra depth.

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