Quick Roasted Garlic Butter

Name: Homemade Roasted Garlic Butter
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 garlic bulb; 2 teaspoons olive oil; ½ cup butter (1 stick); ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning; pinch of salt

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Roasted Garlic Butter is smooth, savory, and packed with rich, mellow garlic flavor that makes everything taste better. Whether you're spreading it on warm bread or melting it over roasted veggies, this simple recipe adds deep, roasted sweetness with almost no effort.

A bowl of creamy roasted garlic butter with herbs rests on a wooden surface with a wooden spoon in the butter.

Roasting garlic softens its bite, bringing out a rich, buttery sweetness that blends seamlessly into this creamy, flavorful butter. A touch of Italian seasoning adds warmth, creating a perfectly balanced spread that enhances bread, vegetables, and grilled meats without overpowering.

I've made a lot of compound butter flavors, and this one stands out for its versatility and ease—it's an effortless way to add depth to everyday meals or something special.

If you've never roasted garlic, you're in for a treat! It's the same technique I use for Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup, and it transforms garlic into something completely different—smooth, caramelized, and packed with rich, savory depth.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Top view of ingredients on a marble surface: butter in a bowl, whole garlic, Italian seasoning on a wooden spoon, olive oil in a dish, and salt on a wooden spoon.

Looking for the full recipe? The recipe card at the bottom of this post includes the complete list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions.

Salted Butter – Use high-quality butter for the richest flavor. If you use unsalted butter, add an extra pinch of salt to enhance the seasoning.
Garlic – Roasting brings out its natural sweetness, creating a mellow, rich flavor without the harsh bite of raw garlic.
Olive Oil – Helps the garlic roast evenly, developing that soft, golden texture.
Italian Seasoning – If you want to use fresh herbs instead of Italian seasoning, finely chop about 1 tablespoon of your favorite herbs. Good options include parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary, or oregano.

Make it Special✨

For an extra homemade touch, try making your butter. It's easy to do with heavy cream and has a fresher, richer flavor, making this garlic butter even better.

Expert Tips for Every Step

Two images side by side on a wooden cutting board; the left shows garlic with loose skin, while the right reveals the top cut off of a garlic bulb.

Prepare the Garlic

Keep the garlic bulb whole so it roasts evenly and doesn't dry out.
Slice about ¼ inch off the top to expose the cloves. This helps them caramelize and makes squeezing them out easier later.
Wrap the prepared head of garlic in foil, but don't seal it too tightly. A little airflow helps it roast instead of steam.

Comparison of raw garlic bulbs wrapped in foil on the left and roasted garlic on the right, both resting on wooden cutting boards.

Roast the Garlic

Check for doneness around 30 minutes. The cloves should be golden and soft enough to mash easily. If they look pale, give them a few more minutes.
Let the garlic cool before handling. It holds heat longer than you'd expect, and squeezing out hot cloves isn't fun.

Two glass bowls rest on a marble surface: the left with butter, herbs and roasted garlic, while the right showcases the blend of ingredients.

Blend the Butter

Make sure your butter is softened, not melted. It won't mix well if it's too firm, and if it's too soft, it can turn greasy.
Mash the roasted garlic cloves before adding it to the butter. This keeps the texture smooth and ensures it blends evenly.
Start with two cloves and taste before adding more. Roasted garlic is mild, but the flavor deepens as it sits.

Getting the Perfect Texture

A hand mixer makes the butter extra light and fluffy, but a fork works fine if you like a more rustic texture.
If you want firmer butter, chill it for about an hour before using it. This helps it hold its shape while still spreading easily.
Roll it into a log using parchment paper if you want neat slices.

Keep It Simple 🍃

Roll into a log and slice into ½-inch slices, then freeze. You'll have little disks ready to use any time you want to add a quick flavor boost to a dish.

You'll find so many different ways you can use this butter!

Spread it on warm bread or dinner rolls for a rich, garlicky bite, or melt it over grilled steak and roasted vegetables for effortless flavor.

Stir it into mashed potatoes or swap it for plain butter on a baked potato to take it up a notch. You can even mix it into pasta for an easy garlic butter sauce!

A sliced garlic butter log rests on parchment paper, with plump garlic bulbs nearby.

Troubleshooting FAQs

Why is my garlic bitter?

Over-roasting garlic can make it bitter. Check it at the 30-minute mark, and if the cloves aren't soft and golden yet, add time in small increments until they reach the right texture.

Why can't I squeeze the garlic out of the bulb?

The cloves need more cooking time if they aren't soft enough to squeeze. Pop them back in the oven, checking every few minutes until they're tender.

Why won't my butter blend smoothly?

Make sure the butter is adequately softened, and mash the roasted garlic into a smooth paste before mixing. Use a hand mixer to blend if you want smooth butter.

How do I make my garlic butter spreadable?

If it's hard to spread straight from the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes. For an ultra-spreadable version, whip a little olive oil before chilling.

More Butter Recipes

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Recipe

A wooden spoon scoops creamy, herb-infused garlic butter from a bowl, with the aroma of roasted garlic wafting through the air. A bread roll tempts in the background.

Homemade Roasted Garlic Butter

Recipe by: Erin Gierhart

This homemade roasted garlic butter is rich, creamy, and infused with mellow, caramelized garlic flavor. Roasting the garlic brings out its natural sweetness, making it the perfect addition to warm bread, roasted vegetables, grilled meats, or mashed potatoes.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 35

Total Time 40

Course Condiments

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 111 kcal

Ingredients

▢ 1 (1) garlic bulb
▢ 2 teaspoons (10 ml) olive oil
▢ ½ cup (113 grams) butter 1 stick
▢ ½ teaspoon (1 gram) Italian seasoning
▢ pinch (Pinch) of salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Peel the outer layers off a whole garlic bulb, then slice about ¼ inch off the top to expose the cloves.
1 garlic bulb
Drizzle the cut side of the garlic bulb with olive oil and loosely wrap it in aluminum foil. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes or until the cloves are golden and soft enough to be easily pierced with a fork.
2 teaspoons olive oil
Let the garlic cool until it’s safe to handle, then squeeze out the cloves. Mash two of the roasted cloves until smooth, reserving the rest for another recipe.
Mix the softened butter, mashed roasted garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt in a small bowl until smooth and creamy. A spoon works well for small batches, but a hand mixer makes blending even easier, especially if you’re making a larger amount.
½ cup butter, pinch of salt, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
Let the butter sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes so the flavors can meld. Enjoy it immediately while soft and spreadable, or transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to firm up. If you prefer a sliceable butter, roll it into a log using plastic wrap and chill until set.

Notes

Roasted garlic butter should be stored properly to maintain its flavor and texture. It can sit at room temperature for up to 2 hours, but any longer than that, and it should be refrigerated. Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week to preserve freshness. If you want to keep it longer, freeze it for up to 3 months.

For easy use, roll the butter into a log, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and freeze. When you need it, slice off as much as you’d like and let it soften at room temperature for a few minutes before spreading.

The garlic flavor will deepen as the butter sits, so if you prefer a milder taste, start with two cloves and adjust as needed. If the butter is too firm straight from the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for about 10–15 minutes to soften. For an ultra-smooth texture, whip in a teaspoon or two of olive oil before chilling.

Nutrition

The nutritional facts provided are only estimates. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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