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Don’t have garlic powder, or realize you’re all out while you’re making a recipe? Here are the best garlic powder substitutes to use in a pinch.
Garlic powder is the dehydrated and ground form of garlic. It takes this popular member of the onion family and distills it down into its essence, capturing some of the pungent, savory flavor of garlic in shelf-stable form.
You’ll find it in seasoning blends, in particular seasoning salt and taco seasoning, but you can also substitute it with other ingredients if you need a quick fix in the middle of a recipe. What to use depends on the specific recipe, and I’ll share all of that with you!
Best garlic powder substitutes
1. Garlic flakes
Garlic flakes are the best substitute for garlic powder. These dehydrated pieces of minced garlic are best known for their use in Everything Bagel seasoning. If you happen to have them on hand, they’re perfect for using here as a match for garlic powder’s unique savory effects. Here are the replacement ratios to follow:
- Substitute 1 teaspoon garlic flakes for ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Grind up the garlic flakes and use them as a 1:1 substitute!
2. Fresh garlic
Another great garlic powder replacement is fresh garlic. Now, if you don’t have garlic powder, you might not have fresh garlic either, but in case you do, it’s a natural substitute. In fact, your meal may taste even better! Here’s the replacement ratio to follow:
- Use 1 medium garlic clove to substitute for ¼ teaspoon garlic powder.
3. Chives
Chives have a light onion-y garlic flavor that evokes the savory scent of garlic. They’re part of the same plant family as garlic! This substitution isn’t perfect, but it’s close. Keep in mind, this would not work in places where you need a dry powder, like in seasoning blends or as a dry rub for fish. Here’s the ratio to follow:
- Substitute 1 tablespoon minced chives for ¼ teaspoon garlic powder.
4. Shallots
Shallots are another substitution with an onion-y garlic flavor that can evoke the scent of garlic. It’s not perfect, but again, it’s close. Like chives, don’t use this in recipes where you need a dry powder. Here’s the ratio to follow:
- Substitute 1 tablespoon minced shallot for ¼ teaspoon garlic powder.
5. Cumin (in a pinch).
Cumin can be a last-ditch replacement for garlic powder. This is not a flavor replacement, but the complexity can mimic the intrigue of garlic. Use this only in a pinch. Here’s the ratio to follow:
- Substitute ⅛ teaspoon cumin for ¼ teaspoon garlic powder.
Related recipes
Here are some of our favorite recipes with garlic powder:
