How to Roast Garlic Without Oil + 10 Ways to Use It

Roasted garlic is one of life’s simple pleasures. It’s versatile, budget-friendly, and adds layers of flavor to everything from simple bread to soup, pizza, and pasta. But if you’ve recently begun eating whole-food plant-based, you may be wondering if you can still roast garlic without oil. Guess what? You can! It’s simple and easy, and we’re here to walk you through it. Plus, we’re showing you 10 ways to put your delicious oil-free roasted garlic to work in the most mouthwatering ways.

Why skip the oil?

There’s a lot of messaging out there that oil is harmless, or even healthy, but it’s mostly fat with very little nutrition. Whole-food plant-based eating focuses on real, unprocessed foods to give your body vitamins, minerals, and fiber without the empty calories that oils add. All of our 5,000+ recipes are oil-free, and here’s why!

By skipping oil, you:

• Cut unnecessary calories without losing flavor.
• Support heart health by lowering saturated fat intake.
• Keep meals whole foods focused and nutrient-dense, letting the natural flavors shine.

Roasting garlic without oil is easy, mess-free, and still gives you all that rich, caramelized flavor you love, so let’s get roasting!

What you’ll need 

The list is pretty simple:

• Whole heads of garlic (as many as your heart desires)
• A baking sheet and parchment paper or silicone baking mat
• A cutting board and sharp knife
• An oven (seems obvious, but you never know)

Let’s roast garlic without oil

First, get your oven preheating to 375°F (190°C) and line your baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Set it aside for later.

Next, prep the garlic by peeling off any loose outer layers of paper from the bulb—don’t dismantle or peel the whole thing, just tidy it up. With a sharp knife, slice about ¼ inch off the top of the bulb (the pointy part) to expose the tops of the cloves. It should look like a little honeycomb of garlicky goodness.

Place the bulbs cut-side down on the prepared baking sheet and pop those babies into the oven.

Roast for about 20 minutes, then flip the bulbs so the cut side faces up and bake for another 15 minutes, or until they’re beautifully browned and your kitchen smells like a cozy trattoria.

Remove the pan from the oven, and set aside to let the bulbs cool until they’re comfortable to handle. Once the bulbs are ready, gently pop each clove out of its skin (it’s weirdly satisfying) and transfer to a small jar or air-tight container. Store in the fridge until it’s time to make something magical.

Tips 

Size matters: Smaller bulbs may brown faster; keep an eye on them in the last few minutes.

Batch it: Roast several heads at once. Future you will be thrilled.

Storage: Keep in the fridge for up to a week. For storing longer, mash the cloves and freeze in teaspoon portions. Having roasted garlic ready to grab and go for meals is a huge game-changer.

10 ways to use roasted garlic without oil

We have lots of recipes using roasted garlic to choose from.

1. Roasted Garlic Lemony Quinoa

Turn a side dish into the star of the meal by adding roasted garlic, lemon, and herbs. 

2. Cold-Blasting Plant-Based Garlic Soup

Garlic has great antibacterial properties, and there’s nothing more soothing and calming than hot soup when you’re feeling under the weather.

3. Roasted Garlic Aioli

Elevate any sandwich, burger, or roasted veggie with this heavenly spread.

4. Roasted Garlic Tahini Dressing

When we say you’re going to want this dressing on everything, we mean it. It’s seriously craveable.

5. Buttery Herb Roasted Garlic Spread

This creamy, buttery spread is perfect on toast, baked potatoes, pasts, rice, corn, and anything else that’ll stay still long enough to be slathered. 

6. Roasted Garlic & Lemon Arugula Fettuccine

Making a dinner that feels like fine dining but is simple enough to throw together on a weeknight? We call that a win-win.

7. Roasted Garlic Alfredo & Artichoke Pizza

Roasted garlic is just one of the amazing flavors that comes together to make this pizza incredible.

8. Roasted Garlic Jalapeno Hummus

Up your hummus game with this creamy, garlicky, smoky, and spicy version.

9. Italian Stuffed Zucchini

Perfect for those zucchini you’ve been meaning to use, this meal is delicious and guest-worthy.

10. Roasted Garlic Cheesy Sauce

We don’t think any list of recipes is complete without a cheesy sauce, and this one does not disappoint. 

More plant-based and oil-free recipes to use your roasted garlic

Want more where that came from? We got you. It’s easy to find ways to use staple recipes with Meal Plan Club and Recipe Club. Just scroll down to the bottom of the recipe, and we show you all the other meals and dishes it’s been used in. 

Health benefits of roasted garlic

Garlic isn’t just delicious, it’s a nutritional superhero.

🧄 Immune support: Garlic contains allicin, a natural compound with antibacterial and antiviral properties. It’s like your immune system’s hype person, helping your body fight off colds and infections.

❤️ Heart health: Garlic can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, keeping your ticker happy and your arteries clear.

🩸 Anti-inflammatory: Regular garlic intake may help reduce inflammation, which is key for overall health and feeling your best.

🌿 Antioxidant boost: Those tiny cloves pack a punch of antioxidants that help combat oxidative stress and support healthy aging.

😋 Gut love: Garlic supports a healthy gut microbiome, which helps keep your digestive track humming and your immune system strong.

Roasted garlic will be your new obsession

Once you see how easy and simple it is to roast garlic without oil, we know you’ll find excuses to add it to everything. And honestly, we think that’s the best choice you could make. Tell us how you use your roasted garlic in the comments below.

Here’s to simple and delicious staple recipes. 

Xo 
Team Dirty