Roasted Garlic on the Grill

If you've never roasted garlic on the grill before, you won't believe how easy it is. With just three essential ingredients — garlic, olive oil, and sea salt — you have a creamy, sweet garlic spread.

In the heat of summer, I often roast garlic on the grill. It's just as easy as roasting it in the oven, especially when you have the grill going for dinner. All it takes is a lid for your grill and a little indirect heat. You're basically using the grill as an oven.

Here's what you'll need

The ingredients for roasted garlic are incredibly simple. Here's what you'll need to make it.

• Whole head of garlic (also called a bulb of garlic) - as many as you want to bake
• Olive oil - to brush the cut side of the individual cloves
• Sea salt

You'll also need heavy-duty aluminum foil to wrap the garlic bulbs.

How to roast garlic on the grill

This method of cooking grilled garlic could not be easier. And the best part is you can grill the garlic right next to your steak or burgers. As long as you've got a little space on the grill that's not right over the flame, you're good to go.

With a gas grill, light one side of the grill and put the garlic on the other side. If you have a thermometer on your grill, you want it to be between 350 and 400 degrees. If you don't have a thermometer, just go for medium-high heat. It's pretty forgiving. On a charcoal grill, set up your grill for indirect heat by placing the coals on the outside edges or on one side of the grill.

There's no need to peel the garlic. Leave the skin on and just slice the top off of the garlic head with a sharp knife. Be sure to cut the tip off of each individual clove of garlic so it's easier to squeeze them out once the garlic is roasted.

Then drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt, and wrap in a foil packet. Roast the garlic until it feels soft when squeezed (using gloves or tongs).

Of course, you can roast the garlic in the oven or air fryer as well. The method of preparation is the same. Just set the foil packet on a baking sheet to roast, or set it in the air fryer basket.

Serving suggestions

However you do it, roasting caramelizes and softens the garlic, making it a wonderful ingredient in any dish you would use raw garlic.

Once it's done, squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out. They will be soft and spreadable — perfect for mixing a few cloves with butter to top your steak, whisking into salad dressings, soups and sauces, or using in another recipe to add a mild garlic flavor.

So make some roasted garlic on the grill the next time you fire it up. And while you're at it, throw on some eggplant on the grill for this roasted garlic baba ganoush or this grilled eggplant and roasted red pepper dip — it's an easy summer appetizer.

Try these easy recipes using roasted garlic

Zucchini Pasta Pesto

Roasted Garlic Walnut Pesto {Dairy-Free}

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Celeriac Mash