Roasted Garlic in The Air Fryer

by: Air Fryer Eats Team
Updated: August 12, 2024

This roasted Garlic takes less than 30 minutes in the air fryer. You only need three ingredients to get delicious caramelized garlic cloves that are ready to spread on toast or add to your favorite recipes.

air fryer roasted garlic heads on a plate.

Why this is better than the oven

The air fryer lets you roast whole heads of garlic in half the time that it would take in the oven, and the results are just as amazing.

Here’s all that you’ll Need

large garlic heads, olive oil, and kosher salt, on a marble countertop.
  • Garlic – This method works best with whole heads of garlic. I’ll tell you how to make large heads, smaller heads, and even individual garlic cloves in the air fryer too though.
  • Olive Oil – Olive oil is a must for any roasted veggies, but is especially perfect for roasting garlic in the air fryer. Without any oil, the garlic can dry out, so don’t skip it!
  • Salt – A sprinkle of kosher salt adds seasoning, but also helps the garlic to release moisture and caramelize as it cooks.
  • If you have any questions about air frying roasted garlic, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you ASAP!

Done in 6 easy steps!

a collage of six numbered images showing how to make roasted garlic in air fryer
  1. Trim the garlic heads. Remove about a 1/4 inch from the top to expose the garlic cloves inside, and be sure to leave the root end intact. You can leave the papery wrapper on, this keeps everything held together nicely.
  2. Drizzle olive oil over each garlic head, and sprinkle with kosher salt.
  3. Individually wrap each bulb with foil. If you’d rather not use foil, I have some solutions listed later in this post.
  4. Add the wrapped garlic to the air fryer. Make sure that you keep the heads upright so that the exposed side of the garlic is facing up.
  5. Roast! Air fry as directed in the recipe card below. Your garlic will be ready when it’s soft and golden brown.
  6. Let the garlic cool, then gently squeeze the cloves out of their skin to use in recipes.

Tips and tricks

  • Be sure to check on the garlic halfway through the cooking time. If it’s already browning at that point, keep checking it every 5 minutes or so, and remove it when it’s perfectly roasted.
  • Carefully open the foil! The steam will be hot, and you don’t want to burn yourself.
  • If you’re cooking with a Ninja Foodi, an air fryer toaster oven, or another multi-function cooker, choose the “air fry” setting on the machine.
  • Make as many bulbs as you want! Just be sure that they fit in your air fryer in a single layer. Leftover roasted garlic can be wrapped and frozen to use later.
browned roasted whole garlic heads wrapped in foil, in an air fryer basket.

No foil. no problem.

No foil? Wrap each garlic head with parchment paper, and tie it with kitchen twine. In the air fryer, you should put the tied end at the bottom of the bundle, so that the paper doesn’t burn from the top heating element.

Another option for roasting garlic in the air fryer without foil is to pop a ceramic or metal ramekin over each bulb. This creates a mini oven inside the air fryer oven that serves a similar purpose as foil!

how to use roasted garlic?

roasted garlic cloves, removed from their skin, on a plate next to whole roasted garlic heads.

FAQs

How do I roast peeled garlic in the air fryer?

I find the best way to roast garlic is to leave the heads whole, but you can also roast peeled garlic cloves in the air fryer.
Add a handful of garlic cloves to a piece of foil, add olive oil and salt, and roast as instructed here. Check on the garlic after 15 minutes, as it will cook more quickly this way.

a beautifully browned roasted garlic clove from the air fryer.
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5 from 3 votes

Air Fryer Roasted Garlic

Roasted Garlic in the Air fryer takes less than half an hour, uses just three ingredients, and creates the most delicious caramelized garlic cloves.
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 22kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 heads of garlic
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/8 tsp kosher salt

Instructions

  • Trim the top of the garlic heads about 1/4 inch, to expose the garlic cloves. Leave the root ends intact.
  • Drizzle the garlic heads with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
  • Wrap the garlic heads individually in aluminum foil.
  • Place the wrapped garlic heads in the air fryer basket, ensuring that the cut side of the garlic is facing up.
  • Air fry at 360ยฐF/180ยฐC for about 25 minutes, or until the garlic is soft and golden.
  • Let cool and then squeeze the cloves out of their skin to use.

Video

Notes

  • You may need more or less time to roast garlic in the air fryer, depending on how large your garlic heads are. Large heads will take about 25 minutes, but smaller ones should be checked after 15 minutes.ย 
  • If you like, add additional spices like black pepper, Italian seasoning, or your favorite dried herbs.ย 
  • Be sure to check on the garlic halfway through the cooking time. If it’s already browning at that point, keep checking it every 5 minutes or so, and remove it when it’s perfectly roasted.
  • Carefully open the foil! The steam will be hot, and you don’t want to burn yourself.
  • If you’re cooking with a Ninja Foodi, an air fryer toaster oven, or another multi-function cooker, choose the “air fry” setting on the machine.
  • Make as many bulbs as you want! Just be sure that they fit in your air fryer in a single layer. Leftover roasted garlic can be wrapped and frozen to use later.
  • Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the “Air Fry” function.
  • Pro Tip: Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Sometimes air frying is a trial and error process. Check your food as it cooks to learn your air fryer better! When cooking a new recipe or food items be sure to check your food often to help avoid over/under cooking.
ย 
Have oven recipes that youโ€™d like to convert to an air fryer recipe? Use our Air Fryer Calculator to help you estimate cooking times and temps! Calculator here:ย https://airfryereats.com/air-fryer-conversion-air-fryer-calculator/

Nutrition

Calories: 22kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.3g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 4mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 0.1IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.03mg
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images of garlic roasting in an air fryer. Text circle overlay says "easy air fryer roasted garlic"

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4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    What a fantastic idea! Thank you so much for this – I made some tonight and I was not disappointed.
    I’m also happy to find out I’m not the only one who loves garlic on toast. “Texas Toast” isn’t really a thing here in the UK, so I’ve always just said garlic toast or garlic on toast…much to the disapproval of others! LOL

    1. Hi Diane! Itโ€™s best to keep roasted garlic in a sealed container in the fridge, where it will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks. Alternatively, you can freeze it for up to 1 month.

5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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