These homemade garlic knots are soft, garlicky, and easy to make in the air fryer or oven. They are perfect as a side dish for pizza night, pasta, soup, or a simple snack with dipping sauce. This recipe uses a yeast dough, shaped into small knots, brushed with oil or melted butter, and cooked until golden.
You can serve these warm garlic knots with mushroom barley soup, vegan broccoli soup, veggie supreme pizza, or air fryer naan pizza. I have also included a short section lower in the post for cooking frozen garlic knots in the air fryer.
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Ingredients
These are the ingredients you need to make soft homemade garlic knots. For exact quantities, refer to the recipe card below.
- All-purpose flour or unbleached plain flour
- Yeast
- Warm water
- Sugar or maple syrup
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Olive oil
- Fresh garlic chives or dried herbs
- Melted butter, optional for non-vegan version
air fryer garlic knots recipe | How to make air fryer frozen garlic knots?
Equipment
- Air fryer or oven
- knife
- chopping board
- stand mixer for kneading (optional)
- tray
Ingredients
For the dough
- 3 cups plain flour or a mix of plain flour and wholemeal flour
- 3 teaspoons active dry yeast
- ½ cup warm water for activating yeast
- ½ teaspoon sugar or maple syrup
- ¾ cup water for kneading, add gradually
- ¼ cup oil
- 1½ teaspoons salt or to taste
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder or 5-6 cloves roasted garlic
- ½ tablespoon dried oregano flakes
- 2 tablespoons fresh garlic chives or any fresh herbs
For brushing
- 1 tablespoon oil or melted butter for a non-vegan version
Instructions
Make the dough
- Add sugar or maple syrup to ½ cup lukewarm water and mix until dissolved. Add the yeast and let it sit for 10-15 minutes, or until the mixture becomes frothy.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, garlic powder, and dried oregano.
- Add the activated yeast mixture and oil to the flour. Start mixing the dough.
- Add the remaining water gradually and knead until the dough becomes smooth, soft, and slightly tacky. It should not feel dry.
- Cover the dough and let it rise for about 30 minutes, or until it looks puffy.
- Gently punch down the dough. Add fresh garlic chives, fresh herbs, Italian seasoning, or red pepper flakes at this stage if using.
Shape the garlic knots
- Place the dough on a lightly oiled work surface. Divide it into equal portions.
- Roll each portion into a thick rope.
- Tie each rope into a loose knot. Tuck or pinch the ends underneath so the knot holds its shape.
- Place the shaped garlic knots on a tray lined with parchment paper.
- Cover and let them rise again for 15-20 minutes.
- Brush the garlic knots lightly with oil or melted butter before cooking.
Air fryer method
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes.
- Place the garlic knots in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray.
- Air fry at 170°C / 340°F for 12-13 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
- Optionally brush with a little more oil or melted butter after cooking.
- Serve warm.
Oven method
- Preheat the oven to 190°C / 375°F.
- Place the garlic knots on a lined baking tray.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
- Brush with oil or melted butter after baking if desired.
- Serve warm.
How to make frozen garlic knots in air fryer
- Take the frozen garlic knots out of the freezer.
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes.
- Place the frozen garlic knots in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 180°C / 355°F for 8-9 minutes, or until hot and lightly golden.
- Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- For soft garlic knots, keep the dough slightly sticky and soft. Do not add too much extra flour while kneading or shaping.
- If using wholemeal flour, you may need a little more water because it absorbs more liquid than plain flour. Add water gradually.
- If the yeast does not become frothy after 10-15 minutes, it may be old or the water may be too hot or too cold. Start again with fresh yeast, otherwise the dough may not rise properly.
- Air fryer timings can vary slightly by model, so check the garlic knots around the 10-minute mark.
- For a richer flavor, brush the cooked garlic knots with melted butter, garlic, and herbs. Use oil for a vegan version.
Equipment
- Stand mixer or large mixing bowl
- Air fryer or oven
- Baking tray or air fryer tray
- Parchment paper
- Small bowl for garlic oil or butter
How to make garlic knots?
Start by activating the yeast in warm water with sugar or maple syrup. Let it sit until it turns foamy. If the yeast does not foam, make a fresh batch before adding it to the flour.
In a large bowl, mix the flour with salt and garlic powder.
Add the activated yeast mixture, olive oil, and remaining water as needed. Mix until the dough starts to come together.
Knead until the dough is smooth, soft, and slightly tacky. It should not feel dry. If using some whole wheat flour, add a little extra water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough feels soft and elastic.
Cover the dough and let it rise until it becomes puffy. Punch it down gently. Add herbs or garlic chives at this stage if you want extra flavor in the dough.
Place the dough on a lightly oiled surface and divide it into equal portions.
Roll each portion into a rope. Tie the rope into a loose knot, then tuck or pinch the ends underneath so the knot holds its shape.
You can also make a braided loop shape if you prefer. Braid the dough, then close it into a round loop as shown below.
Place the shaped knots on a parchment-lined tray or air fryer liner. Cover and let them rise again for 15-20 minutes. Brush lightly with olive oil or melted butter before cooking.
Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes. Place the garlic knots in a single layer and air fry at 170°C / 340°F for 12-13 minutes, or until golden on top. Check at 10 minutes, as air fryer models can vary.
Variations
- Add roasted garlic or air fryer onions to the dough after the first rise for extra flavor.
- Use melted butter instead of olive oil for a richer garlic bread flavor. Use olive oil to keep the recipe vegan.
- You may replace part of the plain flour with whole wheat flour. Add a little more water because whole wheat flour absorbs more liquid.
- For a higher-fiber version, add flax seed meal only if you have tested it with your dough. Start with a small quantity and increase water slightly if the dough feels dry.
Storage and reheating
- Store leftover garlic knots in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 160°C / 320°F for 3-4 minutes, or until warm.
- If freezing homemade shaped knots before cooking, freeze them on a tray first. Once firm, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag.
How to make frozen garlic knots in air fryer?
If you are using store-bought or homemade frozen garlic knots, the air fryer is a quick way to heat them without turning on the oven.
Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes. Place frozen garlic knots in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 180°C / 355°F for 8-9 minutes, or until hot and lightly golden.
Serve the garlic knots hot with your favorite dipping sauce, soup, pasta, or pizza.
Top tips
- Always preheat the air fryer or oven before cooking garlic knots.
- Keep the dough soft and slightly tacky. A dry dough can make dense garlic knots.
- Do not add too much flour while shaping. Lightly oil your hands or the surface instead.
- If the yeast does not foam after resting in warm water, do not use it. Start again with fresh yeast.
- Cook garlic knots in a single layer so they brown evenly.
Related recipes
If you enjoy easy bread-style snacks and air fryer sides, you may also like these recipes:
FAQ
Garlic knots can turn dense if the dough is too dry, not kneaded enough, or not given enough time to rise. Keep the dough soft and slightly tacky, and let the shaped knots rest before cooking.
Yes, you can shape the knots, place them on a tray, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours. Bring them closer to room temperature before air frying or baking.
Yes, shape the knots and freeze them on a tray first. Once firm, move them to a freezer-safe bag. Air fry from frozen, adding a few extra minutes if needed.
Reheat garlic knots at 160°C / 320°F for 3-4 minutes, or until warm. Brush with a little garlic butter or olive oil before serving if they look dry.
Yes, melted butter gives garlic knots a richer flavor. Use olive oil if you want to keep the recipe vegan.
Yes, you can use homemade or store-bought pizza dough to make garlic knots. Add garlic powder, herbs, and a little salt if the dough is plain.
Conclusion: Homemade garlic knots are a simple bread side for pizza night, pasta, soup, or snacks. Make them fresh in the air fryer or oven, or use the frozen garlic knots method when you need a quick shortcut.
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