Here’s how to make the best grilled sweet potatoes! Throw wedges on the grill and you’ve got a tasty summer side dish that goes with just about anything.
Are you a sweet potato fan? Then you absolutely must try these grilled sweet potatoes! Crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, they’ve got a little smoky char to the flavor and are absolutely delicious! Roasted sweet potatoes are tender and moist, but these grilled potatoes are something altogether different. Cut into wedges, they’re the perfect side dish for a grilled dinner on the patio. They have just a few tricks to get them perfect: here’s what to do!
Top trick to grilled sweet potatoes: parboil them!
Yes, it’s one extra step. But for perfectly grilled sweet potatoes, you’ve got to boil them before throwing them on the grill. What is parboiling? Parboiling is the partial boiling of food as the first step in cooking. You don’t want to boil the potatoes fully, just enough so they’re just starting to become tender. (So don’t go all the way to boiled sweet potatoes!)
Why do you have to parboil sweet potatoes? Well, take it from us. If you don’t parboil hard veggies like potatoes or cauliflower before grilling, they get charred on the outside and are hard on the inside. That’s absolutely not what you want from grilled veggies! Parboil those sweet potatoes, and they grill to perfection.
Ingredients for grilled sweet potatoes
Because sweet potatoes are so flavorful in themselves, you can get away with few ingredients in this recipe. Here’s all you need for grilled sweet potatoes:
- Sweet potatoes
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Old Bay (more on that below!)
How to grill sweet potatoes
The trick to grilled sweet potatoes is parboiling! Make sure to boil those potatoes before you pop them on the grill. Here’s the basic grill temperature and steps you’ll follow (or jump to the recipe below):
- Preheat a grill to medium high heat. That’s 375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature for most grilled vegetables.
- Cut the potatoes into wedges and parboil until just tender, about 5 minutes. You’ll want the sweet potatoes to be just able to be poked with a knife but still hold their shape. Do not boil until they’re tender: they’ll fall apart on the grill!
- Grill on the grates for about 5 minutes per side. A trick for flipping: keep the straight edge on the grill and flip them right over!
What’s Old Bay?
Old Bay pairs perfectly with potatoes, so we think it’s essential on these grilled sweet potatoes. Never cooked with it? Old Bay is an American seasoning blend that’s often used to season seafood, most notably in shrimp boils or chowders. The main ingredients in Old Bay are paprika, celery salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. It’s some kind of magic, because it makes anything you sprinkle it on taste irresistible.
You can find Old Bay in your grocery store in the spices aisle, or buy Old Bay online. Or, you can make your own! Here’s our homemade Old Bay seasoning.
Grilled sweet potato seasoning variations
There are lots more seasoning options for grilled sweet potatoes if you’d rather not use Old Bay! Here are some optional ideas:
- Fajita or taco seasoning. Sweet potatoes pair well with Mexican-style flavors like taco seasoning or fajita seasoning.
- Cajun or blackened seasoning: Add big flavor with Cajun seasoning (spicy) or Blackened Seasoning (not spicy).
- Ranch seasoning. Try this Homemade Ranch Seasoning.
- All purpose seasoning. This All Purpose Seasoning was originally made for fish, but now we use it on everything because it’s that good!
This recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
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Perfect Grilled Sweet Potatoes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Here’s how to make the best grilled sweet potatoes! Throw wedges on the grill and you’ve got a tasty summer side dish that goes with just about anything.
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet potatoes (2 medium)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay (purchased or homemade)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Chopped cilantro, optional
Instructions
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Heat a pot of boiling water. Cut the potatoes into wedges about 3/4” thick. Boil until they can just be pierced with a paring knife but still feel firm and hold their shape, about 5 minutes. Place them in a strainer and wait until the steam stops.
- In a bowl, gently toss the potatoes with the olive oil, salt and Old Bay.
- Place the sweet potato wedges directly on the grates and cook for 3 to 5 minutes per side (or 6 to 10 minutes) until char marks form, turning once. Note that when you turn the potatoes, the easiest way is to keep the straight edge on the grill and flip them to the other side. Remove from the grill and garnish with chopped cilantro if desired.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Keywords: Grilled sweet potatoes, How to grill sweet potatoes
More grilled vegetables
There are so many grilled vegetables to try! Outside of these potatoes, we recommend these vegetarian grill recipes:
- Onions, Peppers, Tomatoes, Peppers & Onion, Eggplant, Zucchini and Squash Perfect for summer.
- Perfect Corn, Corn in Foil, or Elote The best ways to cook this seasonal treat. Or make it into grilled corn salad.
- Potato Wedges, Potatoes in Foil or Carrots Classic!
- Portobellos or Mushroom Skewers Full of meaty, smoky flavor.
- Cauliflower or Broccoli Charred florets of goodness.
- Asparagus, Green Beans, Avocado, Bok Choy, Okra, Beets, or Brussels Sprouts Unique, tasty and easy.
- Romaine, Cabbage, or Kale These leafy greens are fantastic grilled.
- Pineapple, Apples, or Bananas a La Mode The perfect sweet ending from a grilled dessert!
