Air Fryer Roasted Garlic is the quickest, simplest way to enjoy tender, mellow, buttery roasted garlic cloves. This air fryer method produces a generous amount of golden-brown, sweet garlic in far less time than the traditional oven roast.
How to Roast Garlic in the Air Fryer
This recipe uses whole heads of garlic rather than individual cloves. When buying garlic, choose heads that are firm, without blemishes, evenly colored, and feel heavy for their size. Avoid sealed multipacks unless you can inspect the bulbs through the packaging.
For even roasting, select bulbs that are similar in size. Remove the loose papery outer skin but keep each bulb intact. Working one head at a time, lay it on its side and slice off about the top quarter to expose the cloves.
Make a foil packet by placing the cut-side-up garlic heads in the center of a square of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bring the foil sides up to form a shallow bowl, drizzle with oil (extra-virgin olive oil, avocado oil, or a neutral oil), and season with salt and black pepper. If you like, tuck a sprig of thyme on each head. Fold the foil over and crimp the edges to seal the packet.
Before turning on the air fryer, check that the foil packet will not touch the heating elements. Place the packet in the air fryer basket and roast at 380ºF for about 30 to 45 minutes, or until the cloves are deeply golden and very soft. Times vary with bulb size and freshness; roast until the garlic is very tender and easy to squeeze out.
After roasting, let the packet cool until it’s comfortable to handle. Open the foil, invert each head over a bowl or jar, and gently squeeze to release the soft, buttery cloves. Drizzle any cooking oil from the packet over the garlic and use immediately, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to a week, or freeze for longer storage.
Quick and Easy Uses for Roasted Garlic
Roasted garlic adds depth and sweetness to many dishes. Here are a few favorite ideas:
- Smash the cloves from one head into 8 ounces of softened cream cheese for a flavorful bagel spread.
- Swap roasted garlic for raw in salad dressings, pasta sauces, and other pasta dishes.
- Mix 3–6 smashed roasted cloves into 1 cup of mayonnaise for a quick garlic aioli.
- Spread warm roasted garlic and a little oil on crusty bread and broil for garlic toast or garlic bread.
- Stir smashed roasted garlic into mashed potatoes for an extra layer of flavor.
- Add smashed roasted garlic to potato salad or macaroni salad dressings to boost flavor.
Roasted garlic also works wonderfully in breads, whipped cheeses, fondues, and baked casseroles—anywhere you want mellow, caramelized garlic flavor.
Air Fryer Roasted Garlic
Preheat your air fryer to 380ºF.
Trim the top quarter of each garlic head to expose the cloves. Place the bulbs cut-side-up on a square of aluminum foil (dull side up). Gather the foil edges to form a shallow bowl around the heads.
Drizzle about 1/4 cup of oil over three garlic heads (adjust quantity as needed), sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon cracked or ground black pepper. Add a thyme sprig to each head if using. Seal the foil by rolling and crimping the edges.
Carefully place the foil packet in the air fryer basket and cook for 30 to 45 minutes, until the cloves are deep golden and very soft. Remove the packet and let it cool until safe to handle. Squeeze the roasted cloves into a bowl or jar, pour any remaining oil over them, and either use right away or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
To freeze, place whole roasted cloves on a parchment-lined tray to freeze individually, or mash and portion into ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer to labeled freezer bags. Use frozen roasted garlic within six months for best quality.
Notes: If your air fryer uses racks instead of a basket, set the foil packet on a small sheet pan or baking dish and slide it onto the rack, ensuring the foil does not touch heating elements. The cooking time should be similar.
Air Fryer Roasted Garlic
Rebecca Lindamood
Equipment
- 1 square (about 12″ by 12″) heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 3 heads of garlic
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (or other neutral oil)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cracked or ground black pepper
- Optional: 3 sprigs thyme
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380ºF.
- Trim the top quarter of each garlic head to expose the cloves.
- Place the garlic heads cut-side-up on a square of foil. Gather the edges to form a shallow bowl.
- Drizzle oil over the exposed cloves, season with salt and pepper, and add thyme if using. Seal the foil packet by rolling and crimping the edges.
- Place the packet in the air fryer basket and cook 30–45 minutes, until cloves are deep golden and very soft.
- Cool until safe to handle, then squeeze the roasted cloves into a bowl or jar. Drizzle any cooking oil from the packet over the garlic. Store in the refrigerator up to one week.
- To freeze, freeze whole cloves on a tray or portion mashed garlic into ice cube trays, then transfer to labeled freezer bags. Use within six months.
Notes
Extra-virgin olive oil lends great flavor, but light olive oil, vegetable, canola, sunflower, safflower, or avocado oil all work well.
If your air fryer is rack style, place the foil packet on a small sheet pan or baking dish before sliding it onto the rack. Ensure the foil does not touch heating elements. Cooking time should be similar.
Roasting time depends on bulb size and freshness. Use color and texture—deep golden color and very soft, squishy cloves—to judge doneness.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. Calculate using your actual ingredients if needed.
