How To Make The Best Garlic Aioli (2024)

Making garlic aioli in your own kitchen has never been so quick and easy! In less than 10 minutes, this creamy condiment combines basic pantry ingredients and is made without eggs. And it tastes better than any store-bought version!

In today's world when you hear "garlic aioli", it's typically referring to a recipe made with mayonnaise, garlic, and a little bit of added lemon juice. Those are the typical aioli ingredients used to make a "quick version" of this sauce.

Traditional homemade aioli requires a lot more time and effort to make. Over time, aioli has evolved into a simplified easy-to-make condiment with a lot of different flavor elements. And it has become super popular all over the world. And making this at home tastes so much better than any store-bought version!

Garlic aioli pairs amazingly well with just about any type of food you can think of and adds a lot of delicious zesty flavor. I love using it in this easy potato salad recipe and it's so good when added to this Mexican corn on the cob. And, it's also good when added to this smoked Juicy Lucy burger and to these easy to make French Dip sandwiches.

The method used to make this garlic aioli recipe is not only quick and easy, but it's incredibly flavorful. It doesn't require a food processor or blender and can be made in minutes! Substitute this aioli with anything you would typically use mayo for. You'll be amazed at the flavor difference!

Making traditional garlic aioli from scratch can be a complex process. It involves crushing and grinding fresh garlic cloves until they turn into a paste-like texture. From there, olive oil is slowly added to the garlic paste while ensuring you are constantly stirring and whipping the two ingredients together. This process is called emulsification and it happens when two ingredients don't mix well together. When making it from scratch, the oil breaks down the garlic resulting in a creamy texture. Egg yolks, lemon juice, and salt are then added to enhance the flavor and help make the texture velvety smooth.

The traditional method for making garlic aioli results in an authentic tasting Mediterranean-based sauce that is divine. But this quick version garlic aioli recipe is super simple and results in a ton of flavor. You'll be amazed!

🛒 Ingredients You'll Need

The best sauces are made with simple ingredients. This garlic aioli is made with 5 ingredients most everyone has in their kitchen. Use real mayo instead of Miracle Whip or other mayo based sauces. Since mayonnaise contains eggs, there's no need to add it as an ingredient. Both olive oil and extra-virgin olive oil work great when making this aioli recipe. If you have a flavor infused olive oil, such as garlic or herb, use it. It will enhance the flavor even more.

When it comes to making homemade sauces, fresh is best so skip the store-bought jarred chopped garlic and use fresh garlic cloves. The same holds true for lemon juice. Freshly squeezed juice from a lemon tastes the best. While ground black pepper tastes great, add some extra zest and texture by adding coarse ground black pepper. Sometimes the slightest change will make all the difference flavor wise.

🔪 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Learning how to make garlic aioli is super easy! And it only takes just a few minutes to prepare. Start by adding mayonnaise to a small mixing bowl.

From there, add in the minced garlic. The easiest way to mince fresh garlic cloves is to use a garlic press. However, you can also use a large and heavy knife, such as a chef's knife. To mince fresh garlic, remove the cloves from the bulb. Remove the outer skin from each clove. Then, lay the flat side of the knife over a garlic clove and crush it by putting pressure on the flat part of the knife with the palm of your hand. Using the blade of the knife, finely chop the cloves of garlic until finely minced.

From there, add the olive oil to the bowl.

Squeeze in fresh lemon juice. Garlic aioli should have a slight hint of lemon flavor so a quick squeeze from a lemon wedge works best. Or, use a teaspoon to measure the exact amount.

Then, add in a liberal amount of coarse ground pepper.

Using a whisk, combine all the ingredients until mixed well. The texture should be velvety and creamy. Cover and store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Look how easy it is to make homemade garlic aioli sauce! It's a super tasty sauce that goes with everything!

👩‍🍳 Variations

A lot of aioli sauce recipes include added spice, such as cayenne pepper or chipotle seasoning. Finely chopped jalapeno or serrano peppers also taste great in this sauce. Flavor-infused oils will also bring out an abundance of flavor and there are many varieties to choose from. Lemon, garlic, herb, and chili based olive oils work best in this recipe.

Roasting a head of garlic in the oven with olive oil and then using it here instead of raw garlic adds a nice roasted savory flavor, as well as makes the texture more smooth and creamy. Lime can also be substituted for lemon to make a chipotle-lime garlic mayo. Easily turn this into a vegan garlic aioli sauce by substituting vegan mayo. And then try adding it to this kale veggie burger!

🥪 What To Serve With Aioli

Burgers, wraps, and sandwiches taste amazing with garlic aioli mayo. But it has a lot more uses than being just a spread. When added to this savory chicken salad, it completely takes the flavor to a whole new level! Skip the regular mayo and use this instead when making tuna salad. Also, try it when making this potato salad recipe.

Here's some other ways to serve this aioli sauce:

• Use it as a dip for your french fries, tater tots, and even edamame!
• Add a dollop on top of a big bowl of chili.
• A dipping sauce for crab cakes or fried shrimp.
• Baste it on top of this salmon recipe before grilling or pan-searing.
• Try using it as a dipping sauce for these zucchini bites.
• I use this garlic aioli as my secret sauce for these chicken baguettes.
• Garlic mayo is fantastic on grilled corn!
• Skip the butter and use it as a spread on toasted bread.

🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

💭 Expert Tips

• Use an emulsion blender to change the texture into more of a whipped consistency.
• Substitute olive oil for avocado oil.
• Don't freeze this sauce. Mayo-based foods do not freeze well.
• Before serving, store this in the refrigerator for at least half an hour. This allows just enough time for the flavors to combine.

🍳 More Dips And Sauces

There are a plethora of dips and sauce recipes out there, but these are the ones my readers rave about! The sauce I make in this lemon butter chicken recipe tastes amazing served with pasta. And this homemade pesto sauce is another great choice for both a sauce and a dip. Another great dipping recipe is this sweet and smoky BBQ sauce! Try it as a marinade, too! This cranberry orange relish is also fantastic served alongside many different dishes!

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