10 Garlicky Recipes for Serious Garlic-Lovers Only

Garlic is one of the most beloved things on the planet for good reason: It is, to put it simply, magical. Pasta, scallops, pork, shrimp — each one benefits from the pungent aroma and rich flavor of a few cloves of garlic. Garlic, minced, diced, or whole, takes once bland dishes (chicken, I’m looking at you) and adds a touch of spice and sweetness. In other words, if you love garlic, you can’t go wrong sprinkling it on top your favorite foods, from seafood to pizza.

Most of you reading this already know garlic can be roasted and sautéed but there are lots of other creative ways to use garlic in the kitchen. Here are 10 recipes, from classic to more adventurous, that will help your inner home cook get the most out of garlic. 

Don’t be intimidated by cooking scallops. This delicate, yet richly flavored pasta dish requires simply searing the scallops until they’re lightly browned. Butter, oil, and a heaping helping of garlic top off a dish good enough to eat alone or to serve to friends and family. 

Forget pepperoni! Pizza can be so much more exciting. If the whole slices of eggplant and the roasted tomato sauce that adorn this pizza aren’t enough to tempt you, minced garlic adds a kick. The great thing about this recipe is that you can customize it to suit your tastes, so if you like lots of garlic feel free to add as much as you want. 

How can you turn a potato salad from boring to exciting? With garlic, of course. Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and a red wine vinegar dressing add a vibrant, tangy flavor to this version. Add three cloves of garlic (or more) to amp up all those flavors, and voila! You’ve just made the perfect summer side dish. 

This dish is for true garlic-lovers only. These crispy shrimp are absolutely covered in the stuff (you’ll fry some before adding the shrimp to the pan and finish by tossing the shrimp in more garlic at the end). You might need to brush your teeth right after eating, but it’s probably worth it. 

Is there anything more nourishing and comforting than a bowl of hearty soup? This creamy potato soup is seasoned with roasted garlic — a whole head of garlic in fact — then topped with salty Parmesan cheese. It’s the perfect remedy once cold season rolls around. 

Poor tofu. It has an unfair reputation for being tasteless. All tofu really needs to be the star of your dinner table is a little dressing up: Take this recipe, which douses tofu in a sticky black pepper garlic sauce that uses ten gloves of garlic. It’s a spicy dish (jalapeño peppers garnish it, too) so it’s not for the faint of heart, but it does prove that tofu is anything but boring. 

Mushrooms already have a nutty, rich flavor but it takes just a couple extra ingredients to transform them into a gourmet side dish: Clarified butter, thyme, and yes, a handful of garlic will do the trick. This simple side dish goes great with steak or fish and it only takes 10 minutes to make. 

This lean but juicy pork tenderloin is crusted in salt, herbs, and minced garlic. It’s a healthy dinner dish — perfect for a crowd — but doesn’t skimp on flavor. 

Classic green beans are all grown up thanks to lots and lots of minced garlic. These beans are versatile when it comes to seasoning: Add red pepper flakes, Parmesan, a squeeze of lemon, or even almonds to make them your own. 

You read that right: 40 gloves. Garlic turns this whole chicken, seasoned simply with salt and pepper, into tender, buttery perfection, with just a hint of sweetness, too. It might look like a simple chicken dinner, but trust me, you’ll want to save this one for a special occasion. 

What’s your favorite garlicky recipe? Sound off in the comments!