How to Roast Garlic In The Oven

Every home cook should know how to roast garlic in the oven. Roasted garlic adds delicious flavor to recipes, it can be spread on bread or mixed into softened butter.  I've been roasting my own for years and it's very easy to do!

Roasted garlic is sweet and mild and adds incredible flavor to so many recipes. The magical transformation that occurs when you roast garlic in the oven is going to yield soft and caramel-colored cloves of garlic that can be added to sauces, dressings, bread and even pizza. The smell that will permeate your house will make you swoon with delight and will have your family waiting with mouths watering at the table for dinner to be served!

Roasting garlic in the oven mellows out the flavor so you do not get that strong and pungent garlic taste.  The garlic will be fragrant and golden with a nice creamy texture that is perfect for spreading on homemade bread and it is undeniably delicious when added to this Cheesy Beer Bread recipe. I love adding this garlic to whipped butter or salad dressings or replacing raw garlic with roasted garlic in recipes like my 25 Minute Marinara Sauce.  

What equipment do you need to roast garlic?

You really only need some aluminum foil and an oven. No fancy clay oven baker required. I think you should be able to roast a few bulbs of garlic even in the smallest of kitchens without using any fancy equipment.  It should be fragrant, golden, and creamy enough to spread on bread or use in your favorite recipe. You will need a few bulbs of fresh garlic and some good olive oil. If you'd like you can also use a few fresh herbs. I prefer rosemary as it makes it so fragrant.

Steps to Roasting Garlic in Your Oven

Get the full ingredients list and instructions in the recipe card below. 

1. Peel the outer, loose skins from the garlic and use a sharp knife to chop off the top of the bulb.
2. Place the bulb on a piece of foil and drizzle with olive oil. If adding herbs, add them now.
3. Seal the garlic in the foil and place it in a 350F oven for 45-50 minutes.

Tips for Roasting Garlic

• Don't forget to cut the tops off of the garlic bulbs. If you skip this part the garlic will likely burn. 
• If you plan to roast multiple bulbs of garlic, wrap each one separately.
• Place the wrapped garlic on to a pan to catch any oil that escapes from the foil packs. 
• Allow the cooked garlic to cool slightly, squeeze out the cloves and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Use within 24 hours or store it in the freezer for longer storage. 
• No foil? Wrap the garlic in parchment paper and tie it with a piece of twine.
• Rosemary is our favorite herb but you can try other herbs as well. Thyme, dill and oregano are great choices. 

What Are the Health Benefits of Garlic

The flavor of roasted garlic is matched only by the health benefits of garlic. It's so yummy and can also protect you against heart disease, cancer and infection. There are a lot of claims about the benefits of garlic but over and over again data has shown that regular consumption of garlic can lead to a 10% drop in cholesterol and up to a 5 to 8-point drop in blood pressure.  

Your kitchen will smell heavenly and your heart and body will thank you. Your breath might not, but it's okay. Just chew some gum or have breath mints, and you will be fine. Serve it to your whole family or date and no one will notice!

More Recipes that Include Garlic

• Homemade Marinated Olives Recipe
• Easy Chicken Cacciatore
• Marinated Mushroom Salad
• Cheese Tortellini with Sausage and Mushrooms

Have you tried roasting garlic before? As you can see, it is so easy to roast garlic in the oven. Give it a try today and add roasted garlic to your favorite recipes!

If you like this recipe for Roasted Garlic, please give it 5- stars below.

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Oven Roasted Garlic

Roasting garlic is easy enough for any home cook to do! No special equipment needed as all you need is aluminum foil.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time50 mins

Total Time55 mins

Course: Basic, condiment

Cuisine: How to Roast Garlic

Keyword: How to roast garlic, how to roast garlic in the oven, roasted garlic, roasting garlic

Servings: 3 bulbs

Calories: 46kcal

Author: Lisa Grant

Cost: $3

Ingredients

• 3 bulbs of garlic
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• fresh herbs, if desired

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Peel the outer skins off the garlic bulbs and cut the tops off the heads while keeping cloves intact. Drizzle with olive oil and wrap loosely in aluminum foil with fresh herbs. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until garlic is soft and golden. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 46kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 12mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg

First Published January 2018; Updated January 2021

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