How to Roast Garlic in an Oven or on a Grill for Bold Flavor
Learn how to roast garlic in the oven (and on the grill) so it turns into a nutty, sweet, almost-buttery spread that's delicious on crusty bread.
If you've never tried roasting garlic before, you're missing out on a deeply flavorful—and supremely easy—treat. And once you find out how easy it is to roast garlic, you'll be stocking up on bulbs of garlic to make it all the time. Roasted garlic has a milder flavor than its raw counterpart, making it great for spreads, compound butters, and sauces.
To start, you'll learn how to roast garlic in the oven. Plus, there are tips on how long to roast garlic (so it always turns out soft and not dry). We also provide instructions on how to "roast" garlic on the grill for an impressive addition to your next cookout menu. From there, put your roasted garlic to good use with our delicious recipe ideas.
Step 1: Prep the Garlic Bulb
Look for a medium to large bulb (also called a head) of garlic for roasting. Larger cloves are easier to separate and provide more garlic paste per clove. Using a sharp knife, cut off the top ½ inch of the garlic bulb to expose the ends of the individual cloves. Leaving the bulb whole, remove any loose, papery outer layers.
Test Kitchen Tip
One medium garlic bulb yields about 15 cloves or about 1 tablespoon of garlic paste. You can roast multiple bulbs at once.
Step 2: Prepare Garlic for Roasting
Place the bulb, cut side up, on a double thickness of aluminum foil on a baking sheet. Drizzle bulb with 1 tablespoon olive oil; sprinkle with salt. Bring foil up and around bulb, folding edges together to enclose loosely.
Test Kitchen Tip
Our favorite roasted garlic hack is making a big batch using a muffin tin ($9, Amazon). Just place one bulb, cut end up, in each cup, then drizzle with oil and season as desired. Cover the muffin tin with foil before baking.
Step 3: Roast Garlic Until Soft
Roast the garlic in a 400°F oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until garlic feels soft when squeezed. Cool slightly before handling.
Roasting Garlic in a Garlic Baker
If you're a big fan of making roasted garlic, consider using a clay or terra cotta garlic baker ($13, Amazon). The porous texture and steamed vent allow even cooking and maintains enough moisture to prevent the garlic from drying out.
How to Serve the Roasted Garlic
You can serve the roasted garlic warm or cooled to room temperature. For an appetizer, serve the whole bulb warm. Using the tip of a small knife, remove the roasted garlic from each clove. Serve with slices of baguette or crackers for spreading; if desired, add a wedge of cheese. To use roasted garlic in cooking, squeeze the cooled bulb from the bottom of the papery husk, and the garlic paste will pop out.
How to Roast Garlic on the Grill
Prep the garlic bulb as directed for roasting, except fold a 20x12-inch piece of heavy foil in half crosswise. Place the garlic bulb, cut end up, in the center of the foil square, and drizzle with the oil. Bring up opposite edges of the foil and seal with a double fold. Fold the remaining edges together to completely enclose the garlic, leaving space for steam to build.
For a charcoal grill ($219, Amazon), arrange preheated coals around the edge of the grill. Test for medium heat. Place garlic on the grill rack in the center of grill. Grill, covered, about 30 minutes or until garlic feels soft when packet is squeezed.
For a gas grill ($199, Amazon): Preheat grill. Adjust heat for indirect grilling. Reduce heat to medium. Place garlic on the grill rack over the unlit side. Cover and grill as above.
More Ways to Use Roasted Garlic
Few savory dishes wouldn't benefit from that buttery tang of roasted garlic. Here are some of the best ways to use roasted garlic:
Mix roasted garlic paste with a bit of olive oil and toss with hot cooked pasta and grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese.
Stir it into plain soft cream cheese, add a little softened butter, and season with a sprinkle of snipped fresh thyme and rosemary or Italian seasoning. Spread onto crackers, toast, or grilled baguette slices.
Add it to a vinaigrette made with one part red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar to two parts olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Combine it with softened butter and rub over a roasting chicken.
Toss it into tomato sauce or basil pesto and use as a pizza sauce.
Stir it into olive oil or butter, add a squeeze of lemon, and toss with roasted vegetables for an easy side.
Mix with softened butter, shredded Parmesan cheese, and salt and slather over a baguette make the best garlic bread ever.
Combine with sweet onions, tangy vinegar, and sugar for a quick, sweet-meets-savory jam.
Still can't get enough? We've got a slew of recipes featuring roasted garlic. Serve it over baked brie for a roasted garlic appetizer. Give your homemade burger a punch. No matter how you use roasted garlic, it's buttery texture, and sophisticated layers of flavor are sure to take your dishes to the next level.
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