Pickled Garlic

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Pickled garlic is a tangy, flavorful addition to a relish tray, potato salad, and more! Make this quick and easy recipe to keep on hand for all your favorite dishes.

We always have multiple kinds of pickles in the fridge, from pickled carrots to pickled jalapeños.

When I was growing up I wasn’t a pickle fan, but at that time I didn’t know you could pickle other things besides cucumbers!

Exploring other kinds of pickles has been so fun and added so much flavor to my meals.

Pickled garlic is one of my favorites now, because it’s crazy versatile. You can pop the cloves right into your mouth, or add to tonight’s dinner recipe.

Plus, they are incredibly easy to make. All you need is a few ingredients and the patience to peel garlic cloves!

Ingredients for pickled garlic

You probably have all the ingredients for pickled garlic already, but you might need to grab some extra garlic!

Garlic – To make 1 pint of pickled garlic, you’ll need 10 ounces of garlic. 

Garlic cloves and bulbs vary a lot in size, so you’ll need to use weight measurements rather than cups. 

Look for garlic bulbs that are not soft or excessively dry. The bulbs should be firm and not have any sprouts coming out of the cloves.

Vinegar – I use distilled white vinegar for this recipe. If you like, you can swap in rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar, either in whole or in part combined with the white vinegar.

Sugar – Just a small amount of granulated sugar is needed when making pickles.

Pickling salt – Pickling salt is a finer grain than table salt, so it dissolves easily in the pickle brine. If you don’t have it or don’t want to buy it (it comes in a large box), you can swap in fine sea salt.

Pickling spices – Pickling spice is a blend of common spices used for making basic pickles like these. 

Pickling spice contains spices like mustard seeds, black peppercorns, red pepper flakes, allspice, cloves, coriander, and bay leaves.

You can make your own pickling spice, or buy a premade blend from the store. 

How to pickle garlic

Gather your ingredients together and set aside 2 8-ounce jars or 1 16-ounce jar. (If doubling or tripling this recipe, grab the appropriate number of jars.)

If you will be processing jars in a water bath canner, you will also need a water bath canner, jar lifter, jar bands, and new lids.

For pantry storage, I like these handy reusable mason jar lids.

To pickle the garlic, you’ll first need to separate and peel the cloves. 

Unfortunately, this step takes the longest, but you can blanch the cloves to make it easier.

Bring a pot of water to a boil, then add the separated garlic cloves. 

Boil for 1 minute, then strain the garlic cloves into an ice bath. (An ice bath is a bowl filled with ice cubes and a small amount of water.)

Once the garlic cloves are cool enough to handle, peel off the papery skins. 

I recommend wearing kitchen gloves while peeling, unless you don’t mind garlic fingers!

You can also skip this step by purchasing pre-peeled garlic cloves. A big container of Costco peeled garlic will do the trick and give you plenty of garlic for a big batch of pickles.

Divide your pickling spices between the jars you are using, and add the peeled garlic cloves. 

In a saucepan, bring the vinegar, salt, and sugar to a boil, whisking to dissolve.

Once boiling, pour the pickling brine over the cloves, filling the jar. Leave about ¼ inch of space at the top of the jar.

Use a chopstick to press against the side and remove any air bubbles and add more brine if needed.

All of the cloves should be covered with brine, but you might not use all of it.

Place on the reusable lid or canning lid and band. Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to the refrigerator.

If canning, process in a boiling water bath canner for 10 minutes. Remove and let rest on the counter for 24 hours, then check for seal and transfer to the pantry.

Serving suggestions

Now that you’ve got a jar or two of pickled garlic, what should you do with it?

You can add it to a relish tray of course, but pickled garlic is also great as an ingredient.

Use it in place of fresh garlic in creamy garlic dressing or when making garlic aioli.

Chop and add to stir frys, sauteed vegetables, or with cucumber pickles to make a zesty hot dog relish.

Add to pizza or pasta dishes.

Use as a garnish for cocktails, like a spicy bloody mary.

Pickled garlic makes a great gift for the holidays, too! Process it in smaller jars and gift with your favorite cheeses, cranberry mustard, and crackers for a DIY cheese board.

Storage tips

If you are not canning this recipe, pickled garlic will keep in the refrigerator for about 2 months. 

Storing the jar in a colder part of the refrigerator will help it last longer.

If you process the jars in a water bath canner, sealed jars will keep for about 18 months. Make sure to store them in a cool, dry place such as a pantry or cabinet.

FAQ

Why did my pickled garlic turn blue?

Don’t worry, it’s safe to eat!

Garlic cloves sometimes turn blue when pickled due to the chemical reaction between the garlic and vinegar.

To help prevent this, use a stainless steel pot rather than copper or aluminum, blanch the garlic in boiling water before pickling, and remember to keep both your fresh and pickled garlic stored in a dark place.

Of course, sometimes the blue color will happen anyway, so don’t fret if your garlic takes on a hue. 

As long as it is simply colored and not moldy, it’s safe to eat and won’t taste any differently than the other garlic.

Can I make this pickled garlic spicier?

For hot pickled garlic, add a whole dried chile to each jar of garlic.

Good dried chiles to use for pickles are chiles de arbol or guajillo chiles. 

You could also use a fresh hot pepper. I make a small cut up the side of the fresh pepper to help the flavor infuse.

Is this recipe suitable for canning?

If you want to preserve pickled garlic for long-term storage, this recipe can be safely canned. 

Make sure to use clean, sterilized jars with new bands and lids. 

Process your jars in a water bath canner for 10 minutes, then let rest on the counter for 24 hours undisturbed. Check to make sure the lid has sealed, label, and store in the pantry for 18 months.

Any jars that have not been sealed should be stored in the refrigerator.

More pickles to enjoy

Craving more tangy pickles? Try these recipes!

• Pickled Green Beans
• How to Make Pickled Red Onions
• Pickled Jalapeños
• How to Pickle Carrots

 You’ll love this tangy pickled garlic recipe!