Learn how to air fry garlic in half the time that it takes in the oven! Less than 20 minutes is all your need for soft, caramelized, and golden-brown garlic cloves. Add them to your favorite recipes like hummus, salad dressing, soup, and more.
Air fryer garlic
If you’ve never tried roasted garlic before, it’s a serious game changer when it comes to adding flavor to recipes. If I’m being honest, I never used to make it as much since roasting garlic in the oven feels like a bit of a chore.
Well not anymore! Preparing it in the air fryer is virtually effortless and is ready in less than 20 minutes. I don’t even care about the bad breath that follows. It’s completely worth it!
Whether you have whole garlic heads or individual cloves on hand, this recipe will take you through the steps to ensure rich, creamy, and caramelized flavors every time.
Ingredients
You don’t need much in terms of ingredients — just some garlic and seasonings!
- Garlic: Use full bulbs or pre-peeled cloves for this recipe.
- Oil: I prefer olive oil when it comes to drizzling garlic, but any vegetable oil will work like avocado, peanut, or canola.
- Salt: Salt enhances the flavors just a touch more, so don’t skip it! You can also add cracked black pepper for a kick.
How to air fry garlic
Once you find out how to air fry garlic, you’ll never go back to the oven again.
Step 1: Trim
Cut the top portion (stem end) of the garlic bulbs off to reveal the cloves underneath.
Step 2: Drizzle
Add the trimmed garlic cloves to squares of foil large enough to wrap them individually. Drizzle the tops with oil and a pinch of salt, then close them up tightly.
Note: If you have pre-peeled garlic cloves, add them to a piece of foil, season them with oil and salt, and close the foil up.
Step 3: Cook
Air fry the garlic at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, or until the cloves are golden brown and soft.
Recipe tips
Check your garlic: If it’s your first time making garlic in the air fryer, I suggest checking it around the 12-minute mark. Each air fryer cooks a little differently, so it’s always a good idea to check before it burns.
Flavor enhancers: For more flavor, try adding herbs like sage, thyme, or rosemary to the heads of garlic before wrapping them.
High-quality oil: Since there are only 3 ingredients, I suggest using good-quality olive oil.
Wear oven mitts: The garlic comes out quite hot since it’s wrapped in tin foil. Either give it time to cool down or unwrap it wearing oven mitts to protect your hands.
Storing
If you’re a garlic fiend like me, you may end up with leftovers because you’ve cooked up a double or triple batch! Follow these simple storage tips to keep the cloves fresh:
- Fridge: Once cooled, place your roasted garlic cloves in a clean glass jar. Pour olive oil over the cloves until they’re completely covered. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer: Peel the garlic cloves and add them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Roasted garlic will last for up to 3 months in the freezer. To thaw, take out as many cloves as you need and thaw them in the fridge overnight.
Note: Roasted garlic with olive oil should NEVER be stored at room temperature as it can produce botulism toxin.
How to use roasted garlic
Pretty much any excuse to use roasted garlic in a recipe and I’m in! Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
- Make roasted garlic pumpkin hummus.
- Spread the cloves on toasted baguette slices or crackers.
- Use it for vegan garlic bread.
- Spread it on Caprese paninis, pressed eggplant sandwiches, or burgers.
- Whip up a roasted garlic aioli or creamy garlic dressing.
- Dehydrate it to make your own garlic salt.
Air fryer garlic FAQs
Yes, just like the oven, garlic will burn in the air fryer if cooked too long. This is why it’s best to monitor it, especially if it’s your first time cooking it in your specific air fryer.
You don’t have to use aluminum foil to air fry garlic, but it will cause it to steam and soften. It also prevents it from burning before it’s cooked all the way through.
If your garlic is bitter, it is likely because it is burnt or cooked at too high of a temperature. While it may not taste perfect, it is still safe to eat.
Ingredients
- 1 whole head garlic or 12 to 15 pre peeled garlic cloves
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- Sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Trim: Cut the top portion (stem end) of the garlic bulbs off to reveal the cloves underneath.
- Wrap: Add the trimmed garlic cloves to squares of foil large enough to wrap them individually. Drizzle the tops with oil and a pinch of salt, then close them up tightly.If you have pre-peeled garlic cloves, add them to a piece of foil, drizzle them with oil, add a pinch of salt, and close the foil up.
- Roast: Air fry the garlic at 375°F ( 190°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until the cloves are golden brown and soft.
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