Garlic Substitutes

Out of garlic? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert garlic between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the garlic converter.

What to use instead of garlic

  • Garlic Powder

    Ingredient swap

    1 medium garlic clove = 1/8 tsp garlic powder (about 3 g fresh)

    Garlic powder is far more concentrated than fresh and lacks the pungent edge that raw garlic brings. Use powder in dry rubs and long-cooked sauces where even distribution matters; reach for fresh in dressings, pasta, and garlic bread.

    See garlic powder substitutes →

  • Shallot

    Produce swap

    1 medium garlic clove = 1/2 small shallot (about 3 g vs 10 g)

    Shallot brings a milder, sweeter allium note where garlic carries pungent bite. Use in pan sauces and dressings; expect a softer flavour and slightly more body from the extra weight.

    See shallot substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for garlic?
There are 2 workable substitutes for garlic, depending on what you have on hand and which property of garlic matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 medium garlic clove = 1/8 tsp garlic powder (about 3 g fresh). Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting garlic change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the garlic converter
How do I measure garlic accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The garlic converter on this site converts between whole items, cups, US cups, grams, ounces, and pounds, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the garlic converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

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