Air Fryer Roasted Garlic is quick & easy to make! Perfect for mashed potatoes, spreading on bread, making aioli, or anything else that calls for garlic! The strong flavor mellows out leaving a mild, sweet flavor that’s just right.
Roasted garlic is one of those simple things that instantly makes any dish feel gourmet, and thanks to the air fryer, it’s quick and easy to make! No heating up the oven or waiting around forever. Just soft, buttery, golden cloves of garlic in about 25 minutes.
There’s so many ways to use this roasted garlic too! You can spread it on bread, mash it into potatoes, stir it into pasta sauces, blend it into hummus… honestly, there’s not much it doesn’t make better.
Pretty obsessed with stirring the mashed roasted garlic into mayo to make a quick and simple garlic aioli. Elevates any sandwich!
If you love garlic flavor be sure to check out our air fryer garlic bread and our garlic fries!
Ingredient Notes:
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Garlic – We’re roasting a whole head of garlic. You’ll simply leave the bulb whole and slice off the top to expose the cloves.
Olive Oil – A drizzle of good quality olive oil will add flavor and help the garlic roast properly.
Sea Salt – This is optional but it definitely adds a little extra flavor! We sprinkle it right over the top.
How to Make Air Fryer Roasted Garlic:
Slice the top ¼ inch of the garlic bulb off, exposing the inner cloves but leaving the garlic intact.
Place the head of garlic in the center of the aluminum foil. Drizzle the oil over the garlic, letting it drip down into the cloves. Sprinkle lightly with salt, if desired.
Wrap the foil tightly around the garlic to seal it in. Air fry at 380 degrees for 25 minutes. Carefully remove the foil wrapped garlic from the air fryer and let cool a bit before carefully unwrapping the bulb. Let cool enough to handle and then squeeze the garlic from the skins.
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How To Use Roasted Garlic:
Roasted garlic has a sweet, mellow flavor that adds depth to just about anything. Roasting takes most of the bite out of it so you can eat whole cloves without it being overly strong. Here are a few of our favorite ways to use it:
- Spread on warm bread or crackers
- Stirred into mashed potatoes
- Blended into hummus
- Mixed with mayo for a quick roasted garlic aioli
- Added to pasta sauces, soups, or salad dressings
- Mix into butter and serve a pat over our air fryer ribeye for extra flavor
FAQ:
It helps keep the garlic from drying out. The garlic will steam a bit in the foil which also helps soften it up. I wouldn’t recommend trying it without the foil.
The cloves should be golden brown, soft, and very tender when squeezed. If they’re still firm or pale, give them a few more minutes in the air fryer. They should squeeze easily from the skins.
We’re able to fit 5 heads of garlic in our air fryer at one time. No need to adjust cook time or temp.
Recipe Tips!
Be sure to wrap the garlic tightly in foil so that they will be tender and not dried out. This will help create steam inside the foil.
Make extra! It stores well so you can prepare it ahead of time for other recipes.
Use a good quality olive oil for the best flavor.
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Comments & Reviews
Sandy V says
Sounds great but I would appreciate clarification before making. The instructions say cut off the TOP of the head of garlic, but the photo shows cutting off the ROOT end, which to me is the BOTTOM. It seems that cutting off the ROOT end will expose more of each clove, and maybe that’s what’s necessary for success. Please let me know. Many thanks! Love your site.
Karly Campbell says
Hi Sandy! We usually cut off the top of the head, but you’re right – the photos do show the root being cut. Either one works just fine – whatever you cut will work. 🙂
Sandy V says
Thank you!
Marilyn says
I haven’t made it yet but it sounds incredible. I use garlic a lot in my cooking so this will make my dish even more delicious. Does it all have to be used in one recipe or can it be refrigerated and used again?
Karly Campbell says
Hi Marilyn! You can refrigerate it for later! I make extra to keep in the fridge. 🙂