Air Fryer Roasted Garlic: Quick, Easy, and Flavorful

This air fryer roasted garlic recipe is incredibly quick, surprisingly easy, and destined to become a staple in your kitchen. It’s the perfect aromatic complement, ready to elevate almost any savory dish you can imagine!

For those who frequently visit this space, you’ll know my deep appreciation for roasted garlic. It’s an ingredient I enthusiastically incorporate into countless recipes, from a rich Homemade Roasted Garlic Tomato Sauce to unique Jalapeño Cornbread Waffles. It truly possesses the power to transform a good meal into an extraordinary one.

Historically, my method for preparing this beloved ingredient always involved the oven. After all, it’s called “roasted garlic,” which naturally implies oven cooking, doesn’t it? You wouldn’t grill it, and certainly not boil it…

…but you absolutely can air fry it. And let me tell you, my friends, air fryer roasted garlic is an absolute game-changer that will revolutionize your cooking.

While traditional oven-roasted garlic is undeniably simple to make and yields delicious results, it often demands a significant time commitment and a fair bit of patience. The beauty of air fryer roasted garlic lies in its speed and efficiency. It’s a quick and effortless process that consistently produces perfectly caramelized, tender, and buttery cloves every single time, in a fraction of the time.

Does Roasting Garlic Make It Less Strong?

One of the most remarkable qualities of roasted garlic, and a key reason for its widespread appeal, is its significantly milder flavor profile compared to its raw counterpart. The roasting process caramelizes the natural sugars within the garlic cloves and mellows its pungent, sharp notes. This transformation makes it ideal for recipes where you want to infuse a rich, deep garlic flavor without it overpowering other delicate ingredients.

Even if you typically find raw garlic too intense or challenging to digest, you might discover a newfound love for it once it’s beautifully roasted. The mellow, sweet, and nutty nuances of roasted garlic are a culinary delight, making it approachable and enjoyable for almost everyone.

Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Roasted Garlic

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity, requiring only two core ingredients. However, a few important considerations will ensure perfect results.

• Garlic: Select two heads of garlic that are roughly similar in size. This ensures they cook evenly and finish at the same time, preventing some cloves from being undercooked or over-roasted. Using fresh, firm heads will always yield the best flavor and texture.
• Olive Oil: A good quality olive oil is essential for helping the garlic cloves caramelize beautifully and develop that irresistible buttery texture. It also helps prevent them from drying out during the air frying process.

What Should I Look for When Buying Garlic?

Choosing the right garlic is the first step to delicious roasted garlic. Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Firmness: Gently squeeze the garlic head. It should feel firm and solid. Avoid any heads that feel soft, squishy, or hollow, as these are signs of spoilage or dehydration.
• Size: While not critical, larger heads generally contain larger cloves, which are easier to work with once roasted. As mentioned, for this recipe, aim for two heads of comparable size.
• Appearance: Look for garlic with tight, papery skins that are intact and free from blemishes, mold, or green sprouts. Green sprouts indicate that the garlic is older and starting to grow, which can give it a slightly bitter taste.
• Weight: A fresh head of garlic should feel relatively heavy for its size. This usually indicates good moisture content within the cloves.

How to Make Air Fryer Roasted Garlic: A Simple Guide

You’ll be amazed at how straightforward it is to achieve perfectly roasted garlic using your air fryer. Follow these easy steps:

1. Prepare the Garlic Heads: Begin by carefully slicing about a quarter to a half-inch off the top of each garlic head. This crucial step exposes the tips of all the individual cloves. Ensure that every clove is at least slightly visible so they can absorb the oil and roast evenly. Place each prepared garlic head onto its own piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle approximately one teaspoon of olive oil over the exposed cloves, ensuring they are well coated. Then, snugly wrap the foil around each garlic head, creating a small packet.

2. Air Fry to Perfection: Place the foil-wrapped garlic heads into your air fryer basket. Air fry them at 380°F (193°C) for a precise 25 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, turn off the air fryer but leave the garlic inside with the door or drawer closed for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. This resting period allows for carryover cooking, further tenderizing the cloves and making them easier to handle.

3. Remove and Enjoy the Cloves: After the garlic has cooled slightly, carefully unwrap the foil. To extract the softened cloves, you have a couple of options. If you desire whole or roughly sliced cloves for a recipe, gently peel off the skin from each individual clove using your fingers or a small knife. If you plan to use the roasted garlic as a spread or mashed into a purée, simply squeeze the entire head from the bottom, and the buttery, soft cloves will effortlessly slide out into a bowl. Be mindful that the cloves inside can still be quite hot, so handle with care!

Essential Tips for Air Fryer Roasted Garlic Success

While this recipe is remarkably simple, a few expert tips can ensure your air fryer roasted garlic turns out perfectly golden, tender, and incredibly flavorful every single time.

• Ensure All Cloves Are Exposed: This is a critical step for even cooking. Sometimes, smaller cloves nestled along the side of the garlic head might be missed when you initially lop off the top. Take a moment to inspect the head and make sure all cloves have their tips slightly exposed to the olive oil and heat. This prevents raw spots and ensures uniform caramelization.
• Optimizing for More Garlic: If you’re looking to make a larger batch, you can absolutely double or triple this recipe. The key is to avoid overcrowding your air fryer basket. Ensure there’s still adequate airflow around each garlic packet. If your air fryer is too full, the garlic may steam rather than roast, leading to a less desirable texture. You might need to cook in batches depending on your air fryer’s capacity.
• Allow for Proper Cooling: The roasted garlic cloves retain a lot of heat internally, even if the exterior feels cool. Attempting to squeeze them out immediately after cooking can lead to burnt fingers. Always let the garlic heads rest in the closed air fryer for 5-10 minutes, then handle with caution. This brief cooling period also allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
• Experiment with Oils: While olive oil is my go-to for its flavor, you can also experiment with other high-smoke-point oils like avocado oil or grape seed oil if preferred. Avoid oils with strong flavors that might compete with the garlic.
• Add Herbs for Infusion: For an extra layer of flavor, consider placing a small sprig of fresh rosemary or thyme on top of the exposed garlic cloves before drizzling with oil and wrapping in foil. The herbs will gently infuse their aroma into the garlic as it roasts.
• Check for Doneness: The garlic is perfectly roasted when the cloves are soft and squishy to the touch and have a lovely golden-brown hue. If after 25 minutes and resting they still feel a bit firm, you can air fry them for an additional 3-5 minutes, checking frequently.

How to Store Air Fryer Roasted Garlic

Once your air fryer roasted garlic has cooled completely, it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. While some methods suggest storing in olive oil, it’s generally recommended for home cooks to consume oil-preserved garlic within a short timeframe due to the risk of botulism if not prepared and stored under specific, controlled conditions. For convenience and safety, an airtight container in the fridge is best for short-term storage.

Can This Recipe Be Frozen?

Absolutely! Roasted garlic freezes beautifully, making it an excellent candidate for meal prepping and always having this flavorful ingredient on hand. To freeze:

• Individual Cloves: Once cooled, gently squeeze out the roasted cloves. You can then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag, freezer-safe container, or even freeze them individually on a parchment-lined baking sheet before transferring to a bag for easy portioning.
• Mashed or Puréed: For even greater convenience, you can mash the roasted garlic into a paste and freeze it in ice cube trays. Once frozen, pop out the cubes and store them in a freezer-safe bag.

Roasted garlic can be stored in the freezer for up to six months without losing its quality or flavor. When you’re ready to use it, you have several options:

• Quick Thaw: Immerse the freezer bag in hot water for a few minutes to quickly soften the cloves.
• Refrigerator Thaw: Transfer the frozen garlic to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight.
• Directly into Cooking: For most cooked dishes, you can simply toss the frozen roasted garlic cloves or cubes directly into the pot, pan, or soup. The heat from your cooking will quickly thaw and incorporate them.

10 Versatile Ways to Use Roasted Garlic

The culinary possibilities with air fryer roasted garlic are truly endless. Its sweet, mellow flavor makes it a fantastic addition to both savory and even some unexpected dishes. Here are some of my favorite ways to incorporate this delicious ingredient:

• Elevate Salad Dressings: Mash a few cloves into your homemade salad dressings, especially creamy ones like Caesar, ranch, or a simple vinaigrette, for a gourmet depth of flavor.
• Instant Sauce Upgrade: Stir mashed roasted garlic into your favorite marinara sauce, pasta sauces, or gravies for an immediate and significant flavor boost.
• Gourmet Spreads: Use it as a delectable spread on sandwiches, wraps, or veggie burgers. Mix it with a little vegan mayo or cream cheese for an irresistible condiment.
• Flavorful Meatball Centers: Mix finely minced roasted garlic into vegan meatballs, or for an explosion of flavor, press a whole, softened roasted garlic clove into the center of each one before cooking.
• The Best Garlic Bread: Spread mashed roasted garlic liberally onto slices of crusty bread, drizzle with a little more olive oil, and bake until golden for the most aromatic and flavorful garlic bread you’ve ever tasted.
• Enhanced Roasted Vegetables: Toss whole or mashed roasted garlic cloves with your next batch of roasted balsamic vegetables for an extra layer of savory sweetness. It pairs wonderfully with potatoes, carrots, broccoli, and asparagus.
• Next-Level Hummus: Replace raw garlic with an equal amount of mashed roasted garlic in your next batch of homemade hummus for a milder, creamier, and more complex flavor profile.
• Artisan Pizza Topping: Scatter whole roasted garlic cloves onto a pizza before baking. Alternatively, purée the roasted garlic and use it as a unique, savory base instead of traditional tomato sauce.
• Creamy Soup Enhancement: Purée roasted garlic into creamy soups like vegan potato soup, butternut squash soup, or mushroom soup to add a rich, velvety garlic essence without any harshness.
• Dedicated Dips: Create a delectable roasted garlic white bean dip, or mix it into guacamole or a spinach dip for an unexpected twist.

I hope you enjoy this fantastic air fryer roasted garlic recipe as much as I do! If you give it a try, please share your creations and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! I’d also love to hear your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to give the recipe a rating. Happy cooking!

Air Fryer Roasted Garlic

Servings:

2
heads of garlic

Prep Time:
5 mins

Cook Time:
25 mins

Total Time:
30 mins

Here’s how to make roasted garlic in an air fryer. It’s just as delicious as the original recipe, but it takes half the time!

Ingredients

• 2
  heads of garlic
• 1
  teaspoon
  olive oil

Instructions

1. Cut off the top of the head of garlic, with the cloves still connected, but just enough to expose them a bit. You want all the cloves slightly exposed. Place in some foil and drizzle 1 teaspoon of olive oil over the top of each head. Wrap the foil around the garlic and air fry at 380°F/193°C for 25 mins. Let it cool in the air fryer (with the door closed) for about 5-10 minutes before squeezing – else it’ll probably burn your fingers!
2. Remove softened cloves from the skin if using in a recipe with a knife or a tiny spoon or squeeze the cloves out. If not using immediately, refrigerate for up to 4 days (or freeze). Enjoy!

Notes

Roasted garlic will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
To freeze roasted garlic, simply place the cloves in a freezer-safe bag or container and store in the freezer for up to six months.

Calories:
22
kcal
,

Carbohydrates:
1
g
,

Protein:
0.2
g
,

Fat:
2
g
,

Saturated Fat:
0.3
g
,

Polyunsaturated Fat:
0.2
g
,

Monounsaturated Fat:
1
g
,

Sodium:
1
mg
,

Potassium:
12
mg
,

Fiber:
0.1
g
,

Sugar:
0.03
g
,

Vitamin A:
0.3
IU
,

Vitamin C:
1
mg
,

Calcium:
5
mg
,

Iron:
0.1
mg

Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Cuisine:
American

Course:
Condiment

Author:
Jessica Hylton