For several reasons, this smoked garlic recipe is a total game changer. Through the smoking process, we get soft and tender garlic cloves with a subtle smoky flavor. It transforms regular garlic into something really special.
Another reason I love to smoke garlic on my pellet smoker is that its a great way to take the garlic smell out of my house. Although I absolutely love the savory flavor of roast garlic, the scent can linger for quite some time.
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Simple Ingredients for Smoking Garlic
- fresh garlic bulbs
- olive oil
- salt
It can't get any simpler than that. Whether you are making smoked or roasted garlic, a nice big bulb of garlic works the best. We are cutting off the top to expose the individual cloves, so bigger bulbs yield more smoked garlic in the end.
Supplies You Will Need
First, lets look at the basic supplies just to cook the garlic.
- sharp knife
- cutting board
- aluminum foil
- Traeger Pellet Grills or any type of smoker you have
βWhatever kind of pellets you like to use will work just fine for this recipe.
These next few supplies are totally optional, but I find them helpful.
- cupcake tin - for smoking a big batch all at once
- freezer-safe bag such as Food Saver or an ice cube tray to save roasted garlic after the cooking process
- some sort of masher like a fork, potato masher or mini food processor
How to Smoke Garlic Bulbs
This is so easy to prepare. By the time your smoker has preheated, you will be ready to go.
- Start by preheating your pellet grill to 375Β°F. Let it heat for 15 minutes with the lid closed while you prepare the heads of garlic.
- Take a whole bulb of garlic and turn it on its side. Cut off the top so that each clove is exposed.
- If your garlic has lots of paper peal on the outside, pull away a few layers so it isn't quite so thick. Make sure to just leave a little though.
- Place the cut bulb of garlic in the center of a foil square. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with salt. Fold the sides of the foil up and pinch it together so you have a little closed bundle. If you are making a big batch, drop each bulb of garlic in a spot of a cupcake tin. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt. Cover the whole pan with foil.
- Place the wrapped garlic directly on the grill grates and close the lid. Cook the garlic like this for 45-60 minutes.
- Remove the garlic from the smoker when the cloves are tender and golden brown.
- Let the garlic cool off just a bit before handling. Once you can safely handle the garlic, squeeze the soft cloves out and use as desired.
Let's Make Garlic Butter
Once the smoked garlic has slightly cooled and you can handle the heads of garlic, squeeze the individual cloves into a large bowl. I like to combine one head of garlic with one stick of room temperature butter. Smash the garlic cloves first so you have an almost smooth paste to fold together with the butter. Don't stress on making it completely smooth though, a little texture is totally fine.
To make the garlic butter, you can choose your mixing device. Tools that work well at combining the two ingredients are a potato masher, mini food processor, or fork. Pick your poison. It's up to you.
Great Ways to Use Smoked Garlic Cloves
There are so many ways to use this garlic, once you get started, the options are endless.
First and foremost, smoked or roasted garlic takes garlic bread to the next level. However, one of my favorite ways to use this smoked garlic is in mashed potatoes. It also adds a rich flavor that compliments a delicious steak.
Here are several more ways to use smoked garlic and garlic butter:
- Garlic bread
- mashed potatoes
- compound butter
- salad dressing
- sauces
- pasta dishes
- with steamed or roasted vegetables
Saving Leftover Garlic for Easy Recipes
Since I always make a really big batch of smoked garlic, I save portions of it in different ways. First, I save a small portion in an airtight container in the refrigerator to use within 3-4 days. Next, I take the garlic butter and fill an ice cube tray. This is a great way to have yummy smoked garlic butter in the perfect portion to use any given time.
Lastly, I save some mashed garlic cloves in a Food Saver bag. This is
More Traeger Recipes
Traeger Smoked Garlic Printable Recipe Card
Easy Traeger Smoked Garlic
Equipment
- sharp knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 1-12 heads of garlic
- olive oil
- salt
Instructions
- Start by preheating your pellet grill to 375Β°F. Let it heat for 15 minutes with the lid closed while you prepare the heads of garlic.
- Take a whole bulb of garlic and turn it on its side. Cut off the top so that each clove is exposed.
- Place the cut bulb of garlic in the center of a foil square. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with salt. Fold the sides of the foil up and pinch it together so you have a little closed bundle.
- If you are making a big batch, drop each bulb of garlic in a spot of a cupcake tin. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt. Cover the whole pan with foil.
- Place the wrapped garlic directly on the grill grates and close the lid. Cook the garlic like this for 45-60 minutes.
- Remove the garlic from the smoker when the cloves are tender and golden brown.
- Let the garlic cool off just a bit before handling. Once you can safely handle the garlic, squeeze the soft cloves out and use as desired.
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