Roasted Garlic Aioli

Rich, creamy, and garlicky, Roasted Garlic Aioli can be used as a dipping sauce for fries, as a spread for burgers and sandwiches, or spooned over steak to add that little something extra.

What Is Aioli? 

Aioli is a popular sauce from the Mediterranean area (primarily along the coasts of France and Spain) that involves emulsifying olive oil with garlic. Traditional aioli is very pungent in flavor and is made with a mortar and pestle. 

That’s traditional aioli. In the US, when someone talks about aioli they’re likely thinking of a creamy, mayonnaise-like spread that’s made with raw egg yolks, oil, and garlic. 

Garlic aioli is an all-purpose sauce that can be used as a spread on burgers or sandwiches, as a dipping sauce for fries, as a flavor enhancer in marinades and dressings, and so much more! 

The Difference Between Aioli vs Mayonnaise 

The line between aioli and mayonnaise has been blurred because most aiolis in the US are made with egg yolks. However, if we’re discussing the traditional aioli vs traditional mayo, the differences are easier to see: 

• Aioli is traditionally only made with oil and raw garlic. It’s very creamy, rich, and tastes powerfully of garlic. 
• Mayonnaise is made by emulsifying egg yolks and oil. There’s typically no garlic in regular mayo. 

The roasted garlic aioli recipe I’m sharing in this post falls somewhere in between traditional aioli and mayo because it uses mayo as the base! 

About This Garlic Aioli Recipe

This is a “quick” roasted garlic aioli that uses store-bought mayo as the base rather than starting with homemade mayo. Many home cooks — including myself! — don’t like working with raw eggs. The last thing I want is to accidentally make myself or one of my kids sick! 

(On that note, if you do ever need to use raw eggs in a recipe, make sure to either purchase pasteurized eggs at the grocery store OR pasteurize the eggs yourself at home.) 

By using mayonnaise as the base for this roasted garlic aioli sauce, I was able to reduce the prep time to about 5 minutes. Just remember to plan accordingly because you’ll need to roast the garlic before making the aioli (roasting garlic takes about an hour but is SO easy).  

Keep reading for my top tips and tricks on making roast garlic aioli, plus the many ways you can eat it! 

Tools Needed to Make Roasted Garlic Aioli

This is a super simple recipe that requires no special kitchen equipment:  

• Fork — For mashing the roast garlic into a paste. 
• Mixing Bowl — For making the aioli. 
• Wire Whisk — To whisk together the ingredients. 
• Citrus Juicer — To get the most juice from your lemon. 
• Measuring Spoons — Needed for almost any recipe! 

What’s in this Roasted Garlic Aioli?

The beauty of this aioli is that the roasted garlic flavor really shines through. Gather the following ingredients:  

• Roasted Garlic
• Mayonnaise 
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• Fresh Lemon Juice
• Coarse Sea Salt
• Black Pepper

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make roasted garlic aioli, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make Roasted Garlic Aioli 

I know “aioli” sounds incredibly fancy, but making the best garlic aioli takes all of 5 minutes! 

1. Mash or chop the roasted garlic cloves into a paste. Set aside. 
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, olive oil, and lemon juice. Add the mashed garlic cloves. Stir until combined.
3. Season with salt and pepper
4. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before using.

The above is simply a quick summary of this homemade garlic aioli. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Roasted Garlic Aioli Recipe Tips

• Roast the garlic up to 4 days in advance — I have a full tutorial on my site that explains how to roast garlic. 
• Plan accordingly — You need to wait for the garlic to cool before squeezing it from the skin
• Use any kind of mayo you like — I use an olive oil mayo, but any kind will work. Just make sure to use real mayonnaise (i.e. not Miracle Whip or another alternative) and choose a full-fat variety. 
• Fresh lemon juice is best — Here’s how to get the most juice from your lemons. 
• Let the aioli chill before serving — Once combined, the roast garlic aioli needs at least an hour in the fridge to allow the flavors to mingle and the full potency to be achieved. 

Roasted Garlic Aioli Recipe FAQs

Got questions about how to make this recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

What’s the best type of mayonnaise for making aioli? 

I don’t recommend reduced fat mayonnaise or Miracle Whip. Other than that, you can use whatever you personally prefer! We typically have full-fat olive oil mayonnaise on hand in our house, so that’s what I used. 

Do I have to roast the garlic when making aioli? 

Without roasting the garlic, you won’t achieve the same mellow, caramelized garlic flavor that makes this aioli so good. 

However, you do not have to roast the garlic before stirring it into the aioli. Just remember that raw garlic is very potent, so you’d only need 2 to 3 cloves for this recipe. 

Mince the raw garlic very finely or mash it into a paste for best results. A garlic press works great for this! 

Can I use more/less garlic?

For a less garlicky aioli, start by adding half a head, then increase the amount one clove at a time until you reach the desired level of garlic flavor.

For a more garlicky aioli, start by adding a full head of roasted garlic, then increase the amount one clove at a time until you reach the desired level of garlic flavor.

What if I don’t like/don’t have garlic?

If you don’t have any garlic on hand, you can make a wonderful onion aioli by using caramelized onions instead. Start with approximately ¼ cup of caramelized onions, then work your way up as needed. (1 head of garlic is about 10 to 12 cloves, which is approximately ¼ cup when chopped).

Can I add herbs? 

Yes! You’re welcome to add up to 1 teaspoon of finely chopped thyme or rosemary, OR you can add up to 2 teaspoons of finely chopped parsley. 

How long does homemade garlic aioli last? 

It will last up to 1 week in an airtight container in the fridge. 

Roasted Garlic Aioli Storage Instructions 

Store the aioli for up to 1 week in an airtight container in the fridge. I do not recommend freezing it. 

Ways to Use Roasted Garlic Aioli 

Roasted garlic aioli is perfect on burgers, sandwiches, steak, potatoes, and other vegetables. Here are some ways to use garlic aioli: 

• Spread on sandwiches or wraps 
• Spread on burgers
• Use as a dipping sauce for:
  • chicken tenders
  • shrimp
  • chicken wings or drumsticks 
  • fries (try sweet potato fries or oven baked fries)
  • veggies (especially great with grilled artichokes!)
  • crudités platter  
  • roasted potatoes 
  • grilled sweet potatoes
  • steaks
• Use in place of mayo when making chicken salad (try tarragon chicken salad or curried chicken salad) 
• Use in place of mayo when making potato salad

Try Making Garlic Aioli at Home! 

If you’re looking for a french fry dipping sauce or want to up your steak game, give this roasted garlic aioli recipe a try!

Did you think the recipe was delicious? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this recipe.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of your garlic aioli! 

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