The Question We Get All the Time
"Is Garlic Dust just garlic powder?" If we had a dollar for every time someone asked us this, we'd have... well, a lot of dollars. 💰
The short answer? No, Garlic Dust is not garlic powder. But let's break down exactly what makes them different—and why it matters for your cooking.
What Is Garlic Powder?
Garlic powder is exactly what it sounds like: dehydrated garlic that's been ground into a fine powder. It's a single ingredient—just garlic—and it brings that familiar garlic flavor to your dishes.
Best for: When you want pure garlic flavor without any texture or additional seasoning.
What Is Garlic Dust?
Garlic Dust is a seasoning blend that features granulated garlic as the star, but it's supported by a carefully balanced mix of salt, pepper, paprika, celery salt, and aromatic spices—with just a hint of cayenne for warmth.
Think of it this way: garlic powder is a solo act. Garlic Dust is the whole band. 🎸
Best for: When you want bold, layered flavor in one shake. It's your shortcut to perfectly seasoned food without measuring multiple spices.
The Key Differences
| Garlic Powder | Garlic Dust | |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | 100% dehydrated garlic | Garlic + salt, pepper, paprika, celery salt, spices, cayenne |
| Flavor Profile | Pure garlic | Savory, garlicky, slightly spicy, well-rounded |
| Texture | Fine powder | Granulated blend |
| Use Case | When you need just garlic | When you want complete seasoning in one step |
When to Use Each
Use Garlic Powder When:
- You're building a spice blend from scratch and want control over every ingredient
- You need pure garlic flavor without any salt or heat
- You're following a recipe that specifically calls for it
Use Garlic Dust When:
- You want to season chicken, seafood, veggies, or beef quickly and confidently
- You're cooking on a weeknight and don't want to measure five different spices
- You want that "restaurant-quality" flavor without the fuss
- You're grilling, roasting, or sautéing and need bold, balanced seasoning
Can You Substitute One for the Other?
Technically, yes—but you'll get very different results.
If a recipe calls for garlic powder and you use Garlic Dust, you'll add salt, pepper, and spice to the dish. That might be exactly what you want! But if you're making something delicate (like a white sauce), stick with garlic powder.
If a recipe calls for Garlic Dust and you only have garlic powder, you'll need to add salt, pepper, and other seasonings separately to get that full, layered flavor.
Why We Created Garlic Dust
We love garlic powder—it has its place. But we wanted something more. Something that could transform a plain piece of chicken or a sheet pan of veggies into something crave-worthy, without needing to pull out six different jars.
Garlic Dust was born from that idea: bold flavor, made simple.
It's the blend we reach for when we're tired, uninspired, or just want dinner to taste amazing without overthinking it. And based on how many of you keep coming back for refills, we think you feel the same way. 💚
Want to know the full origin story? Read about how Garlic Dust came to be.
Ready to Try It?
If you've been using garlic powder and wondering what all the Garlic Dust hype is about, now you know. It's not a replacement—it's an upgrade.
👉 Shop Garlic Dust Shaker
👉 Shop Garlic Dust 1lb Refill
👉 Read: 10 Delicious Ways to Use Garlic Dust
Have more questions? Drop them in the comments or reach out—we love talking seasoning. 🧄✨