Garlic herb aioli is the perfect easy dipping sauce that only takes minutes to mix up! Made with avocado oil mayonnaise, tons of fresh herbs, garlic, and lemon juice. It’s dairy free, super creamy, and the perfect sauce to serve with chicken, roasted potatoes or vegetables, artichokes, or as a dipping sauce for french fries. Whole30, Paleo, low carb, keto friendly, and vegan option.

A small shallow ceramic bowl of herb flecked garlic aioli, topped with extra fresh herbs with a spoon dipping into the aioli.

The best garlic herb aioli

Nothing takes a meal to the next level quite like a great sauce!

One that is easy to make, full of character, and adds some serious flavor to your home cooked meals is a sauce that’s worth keeping around.

Which is why we love this garlic herb aioli so much!

All you need to make it is a few simple ingredients, and it’s ready in less than five minutes. It pairs perfectly with a multitude of dishes, and keeps well in the refrigerator if you want to make a batch at the beginning of the week and enjoy for a few days.

What is aioli? Traditionally, aioli is a thick, creamy sauce that is made by emulsifying olive oil with lots of garlic. This method can be a little tricky as the emulsification can “break” quite easily, so many home cooks (and even restaurants), rely on mayonnaise as the base and add garlic, spices, and other ingredients to flavor it.

Why you’ll love this easy aioli recipe

It is:

Super creamy
Bursting with garlicky flavor
Layered with plenty of fresh herbs
Versatile and customizable
Made with simple, pantry friendly ingredients
Dairy free, gluten free, Whole30 compatible, and paleo (plus easily modified to be made vegan!)
Low carb / keto friendly
Incredibly flavorful and delicious!

Close up image of garlic herb aioli to show the creamy texture.

Ingredients for garlic herb aioli in a variety of ceramic dishes on a cream colored background.

Ingredients and substitutions

So what is homemade aioli made of? Here’s a list of exactly what you need.

Avocado oil mayonnaise – Avocado oil mayonnaise provides the creamy base for this simple aioli. Any type of mayonnaise can be used, but avocado oil mayo is our go-to. Feel free to use a store bought version or try making your own with this recipe for homemade avocado oil mayo!
Garlic – No aioli recipe is complete without a generous dose of garlic. Grating your garlic using a microplane is the best way to infuse the most flavor!
Lemon juice – Just a bit brightens and elevates all the other flavors.
Fresh herbs – You can use any combination of fresh, tender herbs that you like. My favorite combo is parsley, chives, and dill, but chervil, tarragon, cilantro, and basil would also be delicious!
Salt and pepper – To taste.

Ingredients for a vegan version

To make a vegan version of this aioli all you have to do is swap out the avocado oil mayonnaise for a vegan mayo. Keep in mind that most vegan mayonnaise is not Whole30 compatible.

How to make garlic herb aioli

One of the best parts about this aioli (besides how tasty it is!), is how easy it is to throw together at home.

Here’s the step-by-step

Prep all ingredients. Measure mayonnaise, chop or grate the garlic, juice the lemon, and chop the fresh herbs.
Mix together aioli. Add all ingredients to a small bowl and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately or transfer to the refrigerator to chill until ready to serve.

How to use aioli

Now that you know HOW to make a super simple homemade aioli, you might be wondering what you should serve it with.

And truly, there are literally endless options! Which makes it a great staple “fridge sauce” to keep on hand when you want to add a little pizzaz to a simple home cooked meal.

Some of our favorite ways to use it are:

As a spread for burgers or sandwiches.
With chicken, seafood (salmon, cod, halibut, shrimp, scallops), or with a cast iron steak. It would also be a delicious sauce to serve with these cajun shrimp!
As a dip for french fries, roasted potatoes, or another roasted veggie like brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, or asparagus. It’s even delicious with a variety of raw cut veggies!
With grilled artichokes.
In place of tartar sauce for your favorite salmon patties.
Instead of mayo for chicken salad or tuna salad.

Storage

Aioli should keep in the refrigerator in a sealed container for 5-6 days. Which makes it an ideal sauce to keep on hand for a whole weeks worth of meals!

Can you freeze aioli?

Because this aioli is made with mayonnaise (an emulsification), it will not hold up well in the freezer. It will separate and lose its creamy texture, so freezing is not recommended.

A small salmon cake cut in half showing the flaky interior, topped with a dollop of creamy garlic herb aioli and fresh herbs.

A small shallow ceramic bowl of herb flecked garlic aioli, topped with extra fresh herbs..

Want some more delicious sauces for your meal prep? Try these recipes!

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Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK! We’re so grateful you’re here.