Learn how to make the best Garlic Aioli sauce with just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes. This recipe is so easy and packed with flavor – you’ll want to pair it with everything!
If you’re looking for more sauces, try try our basil pesto, chipotle sauce and tomato sauce.
If you’ve never made Garlic Aioli recipe, then this is your sign to stop what you’re doing and try this recipe. It couldn’t be easier to make and it’s such a versatile dip…spread…condiment. It’s a lot of things.
In this recipe, I use already prepared mayonnaise as the base to make things easy. But, if you have an extra minute (literally a minute) then I highly recommend making my homemade mayonnaise first. It’s incredibly simple and makes this recipe even more delicious.
When I say my family puts this on everything, I mean it. We love it as a dip with fries or veggies, on sandwiches and burgers, chicken salad, salads you name it. It’s an easy way to add more flavor to other dishes and will become a staple in your fridge as soon as you try it.
What is Garlic Aioli?
Garlic aioli (sometimes just called aioli) is a creamy, savory sauce that is very similar to mayonnaise. However, aioli has a stronger flavor because of the fresh garlic and lemon juice.
The term aioli means “garlic and oil” and it originated along the Mediterranean coasts of Spain and France. Today, it’s used all over the world in many types of cuisines.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Mayonnaise — Use your preferred store-bought mayo, or make your homemade mayonnaise recipe.
- Garlic — I’m using 3 garlic cloves, but you can adjust the amount to your taste.
- Lemon juice — Fresh lemon juice or white vinegar helps balance the mayo. You can also use lime juice, if you prefer.
- Kosher salt & pepper — Simple seasonings are best here.
- Toppings — Optional, but I like to top the aioli with fresh chives and extra-virgin olive oil. You can also use avocado oil, if that is what you have on hand.
Flavorful Variations
Spicy: Add a kick with cayenne or a shake of your favorite hot sauce.
Lemon: Include the lemon zest along with the juice for brightness.
Herbs: Customize the flavor with fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, dill, or basil.
Roasted garlic: Roast the garlic beforehand for more depth of flavor.
Savory: Add some pesto, roasted garlic, chopped sundried tomatoes or red peppers!
How to Make the Best Garlic Aioli
- In a small bowl, whisk the mayo, minced garlic, lemon juice, and seasonings until well combined. You don’t need to use a blender or a food processor to blend all the ingredients together.
- Cover it and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.
- Stir it again, taste and adjust the seasonings, if needed.
- Top with chopped chives and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and enjoy your homemade garlic aioli!
Olivia’s Recipe Tips
- It’s important to let it sit for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- If the garlic flavor is too strong, add a pinch of sugar to balance it out.
- The consistency of it is thick and creamy. If your aioli is too thin, add more mayonnaise. If it’s too thick, add more lemon juice.
- A mason jar makes the perfect storage container for this sauce/dip.
How to Use Garlic Aioli
As a dip: It’s my favorite dip for sweet potato fries, but it’s great with raw vegetables, roasted green beans, roasted cauliflower, sweet potato fries, asparagus, french fries, and any kind of crispy potatoes wedges.
On sandwiches: You can also use homemade aioli as a spread on chicken sandwiches, wraps, hamburger recipe and bunless burgers.
In recipes: It’s a great way to add flavor to recipes where you’d usually use mayonnaise, like hamburger recipe, chicken salad, tuna salad, potato salad, deviled eggs, or coleslaw. So, this is great as a salad dressing too.
On top of protein recipes: I love eating baked salmon, baked chicken breast, roasted trout in foil and baked cod with this amazing sauce. So good!
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s creamy and tangy from the mayonnaise with a hint of garlic and a brightness from the lemon juice.
Yes! Just swap the regular mayonnaise for a vegan mayonnaise and follow the recipe as written.
It’s best not to freeze mayo-based dips, as they’ll separate once they thaw.
Aioli can thicken just a bit in the fridge because of the oil in the mayonnaise. If it’s too thick you can thin it out with a splash of lemon juice or water.
If you try this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments! And be sure to check out the full collection of Sauce Recipes here at Primavera Kitchen.
Delicious Dips And Sauces
Garlic Aioli
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Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice or white vinegar
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional – chopped chives and a little bit of olive oil for topping
Instructions
- Combine mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl.
- Whisk until well blended. Then, cover the bowl and refrigerate the garlic aioli for 30 minutes before serving.
- Season it with more black pepper and chopped chives and a little of olive oil, if desired. Enjoy!
Tips
- Crush or grate the garlic to avoid large pieces of raw garlic.
- This recipe is best with fresh garlic and lemon juice.
- Store garlic aioli in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Deborah says
We are garlic lovers and have made this many times. It goes with just about anything you can
think of. We love it and never gets old.
Olivia Ribas says
It’s the best! We love it too!!
Olivia Ribas says