These creamy, buttery oven roasted garlic heads add a sophisticated flavor twist to any savory dish without the fuss! With just two ingredients and three simple steps, you can spread roasted garlic on toast, add roasted garlic cloves to grain and pasta dishes or mashed potatoes, and more!
This ultimate guide includes how to make roasted garlic in foil with plenty of ideas for how to use it to elevate your favorite dishes.
Because roasted garlic heads require a long oven roasting time at high temperature, I usually make this recipe in the winter and transition seasons. The heavier, buttery flavor is also so cozy on cool crisp evenings around the fire.
This recipe was pulled from my salmon quinoa bowl because roasted garlic is an important ingredient for this unbeatable roasted veggie and fish grain bowl. Roasted garlic also goes well with pastas, toast, garlic bread, pizzas, curries, and more! I'll share tons of ideas in the "how to use it" section below.
For more flavor boosters, check out my homemade sauces and seasonings: Vegan Parmesan Cheese, DIY Italian Seasoning Substitute, Homemade Ranch Seasoning, and Tahini Dressing with Garlic.
How to make it (with photos)
Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
This recipe needs only two simple ingredients.
Garlic
You need whole garlic heads (bulbs) to make this easy recipe. Choose garlic heads with large uniform cloves if possible.
I find that organic garlic has a smoother and more buttery flavor than non-organic garlic. I also find that organic cloves are more uniform in size. However, any head of garlic will work well in this recipe.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is best when using roasted garlic for Italian recipes like pasta and pizza. If using them in a curry or Mexican recipe that uses a different oil, you can use avocado oil, vegetable oil, or another neutral oil that won't clash with the flavors of the dish.
Overall, the oil flavor is subtle enough that it shouldn't make much of a difference either way.
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients with quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Learn how to make roasted garlic in foil with these 3 steps.
- Prep the garlic: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Peel the outer papery layers of the bulb so each clove is visible (you do not need to peel each clove). Use a sharp knife to slice the very top off of the cloves (the pointy end, not the root end).
- Wrap in foil: Place the clove in a roughly 8x8 inch square of aluminum foil lined with parchment paper. Drizzle the cloves with olive oil so each cut surface is coated, then wrap gently in parchment paper and then foil so it is completely enclosed.
- Bake: Bake the foil wrapped garlic on a metal pan in the oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F and roast for another 30-40 minutes, or until the cloves are golden brown and tender. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before opening the foil packets.
Minimizing garlic waste
What about those garlic tips? When roasting whole garlic cloves in this way, it can feel wasteful to simply throw the tips away. So instead, do what I do in my kitchen:
- Save for meal prep: Pop the garlic tips out of the papery skin and mince or store as-is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They are perfectly prepared for Sautéed Garlic Spinach, Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Pasta, and Vegan Pea Pesto Pasta. They also make an excellent addition to any soup recipe.
- Roast both halves: Chop the garlic cloves in half, rather than just slicing off the tips. Then roast both sides the same way. This can decrease the roasting time by 5-10 minutes because the pieces are smaller.
- Make veggie broth: Add them to vegetable scrap broth. Using vegetable scraps to make vegetable broth is a great way to reduce waste. Adding bits of garlic makes the broth so much more flavorful!
How to use it
Roasted garlic tastes milder than fresh garlic, and compliments many dishes! Here are ways I like to use roasted garlic:
- Mix it into pasta mains or pasta sauces
- Make it a pizza topping or mix into pizza sauce
- Spread it on toast or sandwiches
- Use it for roasted garlic bread
- Mix it into curries or soups
- Add it to loaded french fries or a baked potato
- Mix it into mashed potatoes, hummus, dips, or salad dressing
- Add it to salads or grain dishes
Expert Tips
Make amazing roasted garlic heads on the first try with these expert tips.
Use two roasting temperatures.
The higher temperature at the start helps to caramelize the garlic for a deeper, richer flavor. The lower temperature for a longer time softens the garlic for a creamier, buttery texture.
Season with salt.
Roasted garlic is amazing all on its own, even better when roasted with olive oil, and best with sprinkled with a little sea salt at the end. Salt enhances flavor by bringing out the buttery notes and suppressing bitterness. Add a little black pepper too if you like!
Recipe FAQs
Here I answered some frequently asked questions about this roasted garlic recipe. Don't see your question? Leave it in the comments at the end of this post and I'll answer within two business days.
Store roasted garlic heads or cloves in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Roasted garlic can sometimes stick to the aluminum foil, and lining the foil with parchment paper will prevent this since parchment paper is nonstick. Additionally, there is a small risk of aluminum leaching into food when foil is used, and this is also eliminated by lining the foil with parchment paper.
While safe to eat, green garlic sprouts can make the garlic flavor more bitter. I recommend removing them before roasting with the tine of a fork or the point of a paring knife.
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📖 Recipe
Easy Roasted Garlic Head
Ingredients
- 2 heads garlic
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Instructions
- Prep the garlic: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Peel the outer papery layers of the bulb so each clove is visible (you do not need to peel each clove). Use a sharp knife to slice the very top off of the cloves (the pointy end, not the root end).
- Wrap in foil: Place the clove in a roughly 8x8 inch square of aluminum foil lined with parchment paper. Drizzle the cloves with olive oil so each cut surface is coated, then wrap gently in parchment paper and then foil so it is completely enclosed.
- Bake: Bake the foil wrapped garlic on a metal pan in the oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F and roast for another 30-40 minutes, or until the cloves are golden brown and tender. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before opening the foil packets.
Ana C says
Easy and quick roasted garlic recipe. It was exactly what I was looking for!
Jamie says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!