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–+ servings
smoked garlic on a cutting board
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Smoked Garlic

Learn how to make smoked garlic following our easy step by step instructions.
Smoked Garlic can easily be made on any grill, pellet grill, or smoker.
Whether you've got a Weber kettle, a Traeger or Pit Boss pellet grill, or even a Masterbuilt electric smoker, we've got you covered!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 40kcal
Author Mads Martigan
Cost $5

Equipment

  • Smoker or Pellet grill -OR-
  • Gas or Charcoal Grill setup for indirect heat
  • Hickory, Mesquite, and/or Apple pellets, woodchips, or chunks
  • Slicing Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Basting brush
  • Pairing Knife

Ingredients

  • 1 Whole Head of Garlic
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • Kosher Salt to taste
  • Fresh Cracked Pepper to taste
  • Barbecue Rub Seasoning optional, to taste

Instructions

Prepare and Season the Garlic

  • Slice off just the top (stem part) of the whole head of garlic exposing the cloves inside.
    1 Whole Head of Garlic
    a sliced head of garlic before smoking
  • Brush on the Olive Oil on the top and all sides of the head of garlic
    1 tablespoon Olive Oil
    basting olive oil on a head of garlic to smoke
  • Sprinkle with Kosher Salt and Pepper on top and all sides. Or, substitute your favorite BBQ rub with salt in it if you wish.
    Kosher Salt, Fresh Cracked Pepper, Barbecue Rub Seasoning
    seasoning a sliced head of garlic to smoke

Set Up the Grill or Smoker

  • Preheat the smoker, or grill setup for indirect cooking, to 180°F.
    a pit boss pellet grill set to 180°F
  • If using a pellet grill, load the hopper with your chosen pellets, turn on the grill, and set the temperature for 180°F or the "Smoke" setting.
    pouring pellets in a pit boss hopper

Smoke the Garlic

  • Once the grill or smoker is near its temperature, add your wood chips, wood chunks, or pellets into a pellet tube smoker and place it over the direct heat and close the lid.
  • Once the grill or smoker is up to 180°F and producing smoke, oil the grates with cooking oil well, and place the head of garlic onto the top rack of the smoker, or on the cool side of the grill. Use a grill basket or grill mat if needed.
    smoked garlic on a grill
  • Smoke at 180°F for 2 hours. Rotate the garlic and add more smoking wood as needed.
    smoked garlic in a smoker

Remove the Smoked Garlic Cloves

  • Carefully remove the smoked garlic bulb from the grill or smoker using BBQ tongs and place somewhere to cool for 5-10 minutes..
    smoked garlic on a cutting board
  • Using a sharp paring knife, remove each of the cloves from the head of garlic
    a clove of smoked garlic on a knife
  • Spread the smoked garlic on potatoes or bread with butter or olive oil or incorporate into another recipe.
    smoked garlic near a loaf of bread

Nutrition

Calories: 40kcal