Substitutes for garlic
Garlic substitutes
Dried garlic is milder than fresh and works best in cooked dishes. Clove sizes vary, so start small and taste.
What garlic does
Adds pungent, savoury aroma and flavour. Fresh garlic is sharp when raw and mellow when cooked; dried forms are weaker and work best in cooked dishes.
Quick reference
| Substitute | Amount |
|---|---|
| Garlic powder Sources vary | ⅛ tsp garlic powderper 1 clove garlic |
| Granulated garlic Sources vary | ¼ tsp granulated garlicper 1 clove garlic |
| Instant (dried) minced garlic Sources vary | ⅛ tsp instant minced garlicper 1 clove garlic |
When the substitute matters
- Sauces, soups and rubs: garlic powder, 1/8 tsp per small clove.
- Rubs and roasts: granulated garlic, 1/4 tsp per clove.
- Raw dressings: dried garlic lacks fresh garlic's bite.
The substitutes, in detail
Garlic powder
Amount: ⅛ tsp garlic powder per 1 clove garlic
Sources vary
1/8 tsp per small clove: the NDSU extension chart, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Clean Green Simple and Home-Ec 101. McCormick gives 1/4 tsp for a medium clove, and Tasting Table 1/4 tsp. Purdue lists 1 tsp garlic salt or garlic powder per clove, far more than every other source; that amount is not used here.
Best for
- cooked dishes
- rubs
- soups and sauces
Not for
- raw dishes such as dressings, where fresh garlic's bite matters
What changes
Milder and less sharp, and it disperses evenly; no texture.
- vegan
- dairy-free
- egg-free
- gluten-free
Granulated garlic
Amount: ¼ tsp granulated garlic per 1 clove garlic
Sources vary
America's Test Kitchen and Alphafoodie use 1/4 tsp per clove. Insanely Good Recipes and Tasting Table use 1/2 tsp. Start with 1/4 tsp and add to taste.
Best for
- rubs
- roasts
- sauces
Not for
- raw dishes
What changes
Coarser than powder, so slower to dissolve in thin liquids.
- vegan
- dairy-free
- egg-free
- gluten-free
Instant (dried) minced garlic
Amount: ⅛ tsp instant minced garlic per 1 clove garlic
Sources vary
Per small clove. Colorado State Extension and the UC Cooperative Extension list give 1/8 tsp; the NDSU chart gives 1/4 tsp. Start with 1/8 tsp and add to taste.
Best for
- soups
- stews
- sauces
Not for
- raw dishes
What changes
Dried pieces soften in liquid; milder than fresh garlic.
- vegan
- dairy-free
- egg-free
- gluten-free
How we source this
Each swap is backed by at least two independent sources, including a test kitchen, university extension service or product maker. The amounts replace one unit of the original ingredient and do not work in reverse. See the full source list.
Sources
- North Dakota State University Extension — Ingredient Substitutions (FN198, reviewed Jan. 2023)
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension (Lancaster County) — Ingredient Substitutions (Alice Henneman, 9/2010; PDF hosted by Virginia Tech Extension)
- Saskatchewan Health Authority (provincial government health agency, Canada) — Ingredient Substitutions (Food Mentoring Toolkit)
- McCormick — FAQ Information
- Clean Green Simple — How Much Garlic Powder Equals One Clove
- Home-Ec 101 — Help! Can I Use Powdered Garlic Instead of Fresh
- Tasting Table — How Much Garlic Powder Do You Need For One Clove Of Garlic?
- America's Test Kitchen — Smart Everyday Substitutions
- Alphafoodie — How Much Minced Garlic Equals a Clove
- Insanely Good Recipes — 10 Best Substitutes for Garlic
- Tasting Table — 10 Garlic Substitutes That Taste Like The Real Thing
- Colorado State University Extension — Ingredient Substitutions (Fact Sheet 9.329)
- University of California Cooperative Extension (San Joaquin County) — Ingredient Substitution (Nancy Feldman, April 2001)