Ever tried Roasted Garlic in an Air Fryer? It's super easy and adds big flavor! You only need garlic, salt, and oil. Follow five easy steps, and it's done in 40 minutes or less. Perfect for mashed potatoes, pizza, and more!

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Roasted Garlic Air Fryer Recipe
If you haven't tried roasting garlic, you're missing out on a world of flavor. Roasted garlic has a mellow and sweet garlic flavor compared to raw garlic. When roasted, garlic develops a rich, caramelized taste with hints of sweetness and nuttiness. It's less intense and pungent than raw garlic, with a smoother and more savory profile.
Roasted garlic fits into almost any dish. Stir it into creamy mashed potatoes, spice up your salsa, or add it to olive oil dressings, pizza sauce, and pasta. It even makes a great topping for burgers and sandwiches!
There are countless ways to use roasted garlic, but here's the gist: if you love garlic, you can add this to any dish for an extra flavor boost.
Oven roasting garlic can take an hour or more, which is often too long. But air fryer roasted garlic calls for just 40 minutes! Ready to start air frying?
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Ingredients

- Whole Bulb of Garlic: Garlic is often sold as a whole bulb covered in papery white skin, and is also known as a head of garlic. When selecting a garlic bulb, choose one that is firm and unblemished without any soft spots or mold. The cloves, which are the individual segments within the bulb, should be plump and tightly packed.
- Olive Oil: It's important to opt for a high-quality oil with a neutral flavor to ensure it doesn't overpower the natural taste of the garlic. Both light olive oil and avocado oil are excellent choices for their quality and taste. However, extra virgin olive oil has a lower smoke point than other types, so you may want to use another kind. See our comprehensive guide on Our Favorite Oils to use for Air Frying.
- Kosher Salt: This type of salt is recommended due to its coarse texture and pure taste. When choosing kosher salt, ensure that it is free from any additives and anti-caking agents to maintain the purity of flavor in your dish. We don't recommend using regular table salt, but you can also use sea salt flakes if you prefer!
How to Roast Garlic in the Air Fryer
Step 1 - Preheating: Heat your air fryer to 400°F. Preheating is essential for roasting garlic in the air fryer properly.

Step 2 - Preparing the Garlic: Peel most of the outer skin off the whole head of garlic, keeping the bulb whole.

Step 3 - Set the garlic bulb on a hard surface with the root end down. Trim about ¼ inch off the top of the garlic bulb to expose the cloves. This allows heat and seasonings to penetrate.

Step 4 - Seasoning and Wrapping: Place the garlic bulb on a piece of aluminum foil cut side up. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and add a pinch of salt. Then, wrap the garlic in the foil to form a pouch. Do this for each head of garlic you're roasting.

Step 5 - Air Frying: Put the foil-wrapped garlic inside the air fryer basket. Cook for 35-40 minutes at 400°F. The garlic should be soft and caramelized when done. Remove from the air fryer using oven mitts or tongs and set aside to cool.

Step 6 - Cool: Let the roasted garlic cool before using. This step ensures it's easy to handle and enhances its flavor.
Instructions for Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Oven
The following instructions are for countertop air fryer ovens, such as the Breville Smart Oven Air, which use a tray. The instructions for this style of air fryer are different from those that use a basket.
- Preheating:
- Preheat your countertop air fryer oven to 400°F to ensure even roasting.
- Preparing the Garlic:
- Peel off most of the garlic's outer skin, keeping the whole bulb intact.
- Trim about ¼ inch from the top of the garlic to expose the cloves.
- Seasoning and Wrapping:
- Place the garlic bulb onto aluminum foil.
- Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil and sprinkle a pinch of salt. Wrap the garlic in the foil to create a pouch.
- Cooking:
- Place each of the foil packets on the oven tray.
- Air fry at 400°F for 40-45 minutes. The garlic is ready when it's soft and can be easily pierced with a knife. Remove from the air fryer using oven mitts or tongs and set aside to cool.
- Cooling:
- Allow the garlic to cool after cooking. Cooling is important for the best texture and flavor.
Recipe Tips
- Larger bulbs of garlic, such as elephant garlic, may need more time.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust the cook time based to suit your air fryer model.
- Recipe time and temperature is based on a preheated air fryer. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat function, set it 400°F for 5 minutes before roasting the garlic.

Storage Instructions
- Peel and Cool:
- After cooling to room temperature, gently squeeze the cloves from their skins.
- Storage Container:
- Place the roasted garlic cloves in an airtight container or a small glass jar.
- Cover with Oil:
- Pour a thin layer of olive oil over the cloves to keep them moist and prevent oxidation. Ensure all cloves are fully submerged.
- Refrigerate:
- Seal the container or jar and store in the refrigerator. Roasted garlic stays fresh for up to two weeks.
- Freezing Option:
- Freeze roasted garlic by placing cloves on a baking sheet, freezing until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. This method preserves the garlic for 2-3 months. You can also add the cloves to an ice cube tray with oil, freeze until solid, and then transfer to a freezer-safe bag to freeze them in oil.
FAQ
Yes, you can roast multiple bulbs of garlic simultaneously in the air fryer as long as they fit comfortably without overcrowding the basket. Each bulb should be individually wrapped in foil for even cooking.
Certainly! While olive oil and avocado oil are both excellent choices for this air fryer roasted garlic recipe, you can also use other high smoke point vegetable oils, such as canola oil, according to your preference.
Using aluminum foil helps retain moisture and prevents the garlic from drying out during roasting. If you prefer not to use foil, consider using a small oven-safe dish with a lid to achieve similar results. Simply roasting on parchment paper will not give you the same effect as a foil packet or dish would.
Uses for Roasted Garlic
- Spread: Mash roasted garlic with olive oil. Spread it on crusty bread or crackers for a quick appetizer. You can even use it to make your own garlic toast. Roasted garlic bread is amazing!
- Garlic Butter: Mix a whole bulb of roasted garlic with butter. Use it as a spread on bread or as a steak topper. Serve with our Air Fryer Steak Tips.
- Mashed Potatoes: Stir roasted garlic into mashed potatoes for a creamy, flavorful side.
- Pasta Sauces: Add roasted garlic to pasta sauces for extra depth and complexity.
- Salad Dressings: Make a unique vinaigrette by mixing roasted garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and herbs.
- Grilled Meats: Rub roasted garlic on steaks, chicken, or seafood for added flavor.
- Soup and Stews: Put roasted garlic cloves in soups and stews for an aromatic and hearty boost.
Air Fryer Side Dishes
- Air Fryer Peppers and Onions
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- See all of our air fryer side dish recipes!
Try adding our air fryer roasted garlic recipe to any of the above air fryer side dishes for an extra boost of flavor!
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!

Roasted Garlic in the Air Fryer
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1-4 bulbs Garlic
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
- 1 pinch Kosher Salt
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400℉.
- Peel off most of the garlic's outermost skin, but leave the whole bulbs intact.1-4 bulbs Garlic
- Trim about ¼ inch off the top of each of the garlic bulbs to expose the cloves.
- Place the garlic on a large piece of aluminum foil, then drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil and a pinch of salt over the exposed cloves and close the foil into a pouch. Do this for each garlic bulb.1 teaspoon Olive Oil, 1 pinch Kosher Salt
- Place foil wrapped garlic in the preheated air fryer basket and air fry for 35-40 minutes, until you can pierce the center of the bulb with a knife. Allow to cool before using, and enjoy!
Notes
- Larger bulbs of garlic, such as elephant garlic, may need more time.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer. Remember, air fryer brands vary, so you may have to adjust the cook time to your specific air fryer.
- Recipe time and temperature is based on a preheated air fryer. If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat function, set it 400℉ for 5 minutes before adding food.
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