Nutty and buttery, Roasted Garlic is one of the most magical things you’ll ever make. I show you how to roast garlic in the oven with just a couple ingredients so you can use it to amplify almost anything you make. It’s fabulous spread on a slice of baguette, too.

Roast Garlic Bulbs in foil packet


I tend to take on waaaay too much in everything I do. I’m a people pleaser….I just want to make people happy. So, sometimes I go a bit overboard and try to Martha Stewart my way through life knowing full well I’m going to end up burning out and leaving a ton of loose ends that need to be tied up.

Parties are my nemesis because I tend to create a to-do list with super extravagant recipes that take me tons of time. I’ve gotten better in my old age by always having something in my back pocket I know will be a cinch to pull off. Something that everyone will love.

Something I know will be devoured in minutes is always this oven roasted garlic recipe. I set it on the table with a pile of crackers or freshly baked bread and people  spread it on like butter. It’s always the most popular thing on the table. And it vanishes right before my eyes.

Garlic bulbs and thyme on a whitewashed cutting board.

How To Roast Garlic

Simple as it seams….this roasted garlic recipe is kind of a staple in our house. And if you don’t know how to roast garlic yet, you’re in for a real surprise.

It’s so easy to make and it makes your standard recipes go from good to “OMG AMAZING!” I like to stir in into mashed potatoes and use it to whip up super easy aioli to spread on sandwiches. It’s the key to this insanely tasty dip and is a must in this easy braised chicken recipe.

Whole garlic bulbs, or garlic cloves, when roasted turn into a buttery, nutty smooth spread with a mild garlic flavor that’s just savory and mouthwateringly delicious.

Olive oil being drizzled over garlic bulbs for roasting garlic in the oven.

How To Roast Garlic in the Oven

If you ever wondered how to roast garlic, it couldn’t be simpler to do. And it’s so magical how something with such a powerful bite, like raw garlic, can mellow out into a buttery, nutty, smooth spread that adds wonderful depth of flavor to so many things.

  1. To roast garlic, simply cut off the tops of the garlic bulbs and arrange in a foil packet.
  2. Drizzle a bit of olive oil over the cloves and top with a few sprigs of thyme, if you’d like. You can totally leave off the herbs, they’re not necessary but I love how thyme infuses a bit of earthy flavor to the garlic.
  3. Wrap up your packet and roast in the oven at 400˚F for 45 minutes.
  4. Then, you’re rewarded with the most beautiful golden brown garlic that’s ready for anything. Squeeze the bulb gently to remove the garlic cloves and spread on bread, add to dressings, stir into hummus (YES to this….so much love there!) THIS Roasted Garlic recipe will be your new favorite thing ever.

You can totally roast garlic in a pan without foil but I think the garlic cloves tend to get a little more buttery when they’re wrapped up in the foil. They won’t dry out as much since the foil keeps moisture inside the packet.

How Long Does Roasted Garlic Last

You can store roasted garlic in an airtight container for up to 4 days. 

If you want to freeze your roasted garlic for later, remove the cloves from the bulb and freeze on a baking sheet in a single layer. Once firm, transfer the garlic to an freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

How to Use Roasted Garlic

As I mentioned before, you can use Roasted Garlic for salad dressing or as a flavor boost to hummus but we also love it stirred into mashed potatoes or in an easy Garlic Aioli.

Roasted garlic in foil with thyme sprigs.

More Easy Garlic Recipes

DON’T MISS A RECIPE! Be sure to follow us over on Instagram and Facebook for more super simple recipes.

Roasted garlic in foil with thyme sprigs.

Get the Recipe: How to Roast Garlic (Roasted Garlic Recipe)

Roasted garlic is so easy to make and adds a mellow nutty, buttery flavor to so many recipes.
5 from 2 votes

Ingredients

  • 4 whole garlic bulbs
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4-5 sprigs of fresh thyme, if desired

Equipment

  • aluminum foil

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Cut off 1/4 inch off the top of the bulbs and arrange in a foil packet root side down.
  • Drizzle the olive oil over the garlic bulbs and top with the thyme.
  • Seal up the foil packet and transfer to the oven.
  • Roast the garlic for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and the cloves are tender. 
  • Use immediately by squeezing the bulb to remove the cloves. Or store the garlic in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Video

Notes

Garlic cloves can be used to flavor olive oil, mashed potatoes, salad dressings and more!
Calories: 16kcal, Carbohydrates: 0g, Protein: 0g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 0mg, Potassium: 3mg, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 0g, Vitamin A: 10IU, Vitamin C: 0.7mg, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0.1mg