What to Do With That Bag of Chopped Garlic

It’s a familiar kitchen situation. A recipe calls for half a teaspoon of chopped garlic, so you buy a bag—and suddenly you’re left with far more garlic than you expected. Before it gets pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten, there are plenty of easy ways to put it to good use.

One of the simplest options is garlic bread. A few spoonfuls of chopped garlic mixed with softened butter and a drizzle of olive oil can turn almost any loaf into a crowd-pleaser. Spread the mixture on sliced bread and bake or broil until golden and fragrant.

Garlic also shines in quick, no-fuss dinners. A classic garlic-and-olive-oil pasta comes together in minutes. Sauté a generous amount of garlic in olive oil until tender, then toss it with cooked spaghetti and finish with red pepper flakes for a little heat. It’s simple, flexible, and a great way to use up extra garlic.

Once you have garlic butter or garlic-infused oil, you can add it to just about anything. Shrimp, scallops, and steak all benefit from a quick hit of garlic. Vegetables like green beans, corn on the cob, or mashed potatoes become more flavorful with just a spoonful mixed in.

Pre-chopped garlic also works well in stir-fries. It pairs naturally with peppers, carrots, cabbage, onions, celery, and cauliflower, and it fits easily into fried rice or noodle dishes. Because it’s already finely cut, it blends quickly into sauces and sautés.

There are a few things to keep in mind. Pre-chopped garlic cooks faster than fresh cloves, which means it can burn more easily. Cooking it over a lower heat and watching closely can help avoid bitterness. In terms of measurement, about 1.5 to 2 teaspoons of pre-chopped garlic equals 1 medium clove. The flavor is often slightly milder than fresh, so using a bit extra is usually fine.

That nearly full bag of garlic doesn’t have to feel like a mistake. With a little creativity, it can become the base for dozens of meals—each one a little more flavorful than the last.