Make aromatic, whole roasted garlic in air fryer with olive oil, salt and black pepper. It adds so much flavor to veggies, meat, dips and salad dressings.

Use it make roasted garlic butter for an amazing garlic bread or to put on a nice juicy steak!

Whole roasted garlic in air fryer

The first time I made roasted garlic, I was amazed at the amount of flavor it renders and the simplicity of making it. It can take a dish from good to great.

When I have an extra bulb of garlic to roast, I’ll use it my mashed potatoes to make them over-the-top delicious! Being Italian, I usually have extra garlic in my refrigerator because God forbid, I’d run out and have to use my garlic powder if I am out of fresh garlic!

What’s great about eating cooked garlic is that it doesn’t give you nearly the bad breath as raw garlic.

It adds so much flavor to to vegetables, meat, dips, salad dressings, etc. See my suggestions below. Plus, it’s so easy-to-make. It’s one of my favorite ways to add garlic flavor to a dish.

This recipe should not be confused with garlic confit, which is a French cooking method of slow cooking garlic cloves in oil typically at low temperatures. I just thought I’d bring that up in case you find it in your online search and are wondering what that is.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links which means if you make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission but, the price you pay is the same.

Whole Roasted Garlic in Air Fryer

This recipe is so easy! I like using my air fryer to roast garlic because why turn on a big conventional oven to roast one bulb of garlic? It seems like a waste of energy.

You will simply make a foil packet with the entire bulb of garlic, olive oil, salt and black pepper. However, you don’t need to include the salt and pepper if you don’t want to. You can always season it afterward when you can add fresh herbs too.

You can use a gas grill, air fryer, traditional oven or toaster oven to make roasted garlic. Each will have a different cooking time

Ingredients

*The full recipe instructions are below in the printable recipe card where you can adjust the servings.

bulb of garlic
extra virgin olive oil
salt
black pepper

NOTE: If you only have individual garlic cloves, you can still make this recipe in the same way. Just cut the tips of the garlic cloves to allow the oil to penetrate more easily.

How to Roast a Garlic Bulb in Air Fryer

First, using a sharp knife, cut the top of the garlic bulb. If you forget to cut it, the oil will still penetrate the paper-like outer layers.
Then, place the unpeeled bulb of garlic onto a 6×6 inch or larger piece of aluminum foil.
Then, pour 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (or another cooking oil or butter on top.)
Next, add a pinch of salt and black pepper or red pepper flakes if you’d like.
Close the foil tightly and place in air fryer basket or tray at 400Ffor 20-25 minutes. Use oven mitts and check the foil packet at 15-20 minutes if you preheat the air fryer first. Don’t let the top of the tin foil touch the heating element.
Allow the cooked garlic bulb to come to near room temperature before squeezing out the roasted garlic.

The roasted garlic will be golden brown and the papery skin will be saturated with oil. Here’s what the roasted garlic looks like after you squeeze it out.

What to make with Roasted Garlic

Add it to mashed potatoes.
Make garlic butter with it for garlic bread or to put on steak.
Mix it with mayo and make a tasty sandwich spread.
Make garlic aioli.
Make a creamy roasted garlic salad dressing.
Spread on crusty bread.
Add it to roasted peppers for an antipasto platter. Here’s my homemade roasted peppers recipe.

Storage

Store any unused roasted garlic for later use in an airtight container or plastic baggie in the refrigerator for a few days. Put in a freezer bag if you want to freeze it for up to three months for maximum quality.

Make whole roasted garlic in air fryer is a wonderful addition of garlic flavor to your veggies, meats, dips, pasta sauces and salad dressings. It’s so yummy.