Grilled Figs

Grilled figs are sweet, smoky, and caramelized, making them the perfect summer bites. They're amazing on their own and even better with cheese, wrapped in bacon, in salads, turned into fig jam, and more!

One of the simplest joys in the summer is enjoying all the fresh fruits in season. Lately, however, I have been obsessed with cooking everything on the outdoor grill! It's just a really quick and tasty way to add more depth of flavor to almost anything.

Of course, that includes grilled fruits. The next time you grill, you should definitely make some space for Grilled Bananas, Pineapple, and Peaches. You'll never look at fruit the same way again!

Making figs on the grill is slightly different from other fruits because they are soft and delicate. But I promise, it's worth the effort! Grilling brings out a whole new side of figs. The high heat caramelizes their natural sugars, giving you figs that are way more intense in flavor. You get this incredible mix of smoky and sweet that just doesn't happen when you eat them raw.

The hot grill also adds something special to the texture of fresh figs. The outside gets a bit crispy, while the inside turns into warm, jammy goodness. It's like the best parts of a fresh fig and a baked dessert rolled into one. Trust me, you must try these ASAP, especially when it's fig season!

Why You’ll Love Grilled Figs

Here are some reasons grilled figs will become your new favorite dish:

• Healthy treat: Grilled figs taste like the most indulgent dessert but without the extra fats and calories of traditional sweets. It's such a win-win!
• Versatile: Serve grilled figs as a fancy appetizer with some blue cheese and prosciutto, or turn them into a quick dessert with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of honey. Sweet or savory, they're always a hit!
• Quick and easy: This is a crazy-easy recipe for grilled figs! Just cut, grill, and serve. It takes minutes, requires minimal prep, and is restaurant-quality. It's definitely my go-to recipe!

If you're looking for the easiest way to enjoy your favorite fruits, try Grilled Apples, Grilled Pears, and Grilled Watermelon next!

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

Here is everything you need to make this grilled figs recipe:

• Figs: Pick ripe, slightly firm figs - they should give a little when a gentle squeeze. My favorites are Black Mission figs because of their deep sweetness. Their dark purple skin also looks gorgeous when grilled! Use a Brown Turkey, Kadota, or Adriatic fig if you can't find Black Mission at your farmer's market.
• Balsamic vinegar: This cuts through the sweetness of grilled figs while giving them a complex, tangy, caramelized crust. For a twist, try using aged balsamic or fruit-infused balsamic vinegar. You can even make some balsamic reduction for a deeper flavor.
• Olive oil: A drizzle of oil helps the figs caramelize on the grill. Any neutral cooking oil like avocado oil will do, but olive oil adds a really nice flavor.

How to Make Grilled Figs

This sweet fruit really does shine on the grill, and it's incredibly easy to make too. You absolutely need to make this recipe at least once this summer! Here's a step-by-step guide on how you can cook them on the grill:

1. Prep the figs: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Cut the figs in half. Toss with olive oil and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl. Feel free to skip the balsamic vinegar if you prefer a cleaner taste. Season with a touch of salt and/or pepper if you like.
2. Grill: Place the figs, cut side down, on the grill. You can also use a grill pan for this recipe. Grill for 2-3 minutes until grill marks form and the figs soften. Flip over and cook on the other side for 2-3 minutes.
3. Serve: There are so many ways to serve these figs. If making dessert, serve them as is or add ice cream, whipped cream, and nuts. For savory, drizzle with balsamic glaze and fresh basil or mint. Consider adding some goat cheese, ricotta, blue cheese, or feta cheese to the top of each fig.

Recipe Variations

Once you've mastered how to grill figs perfectly, experiment with these tasty twists:

• Prosciutto or bacon: Prosciutto wrapped grilled figs are salty, sweet, savory, smoky, and all around delicious! Wrap each fig half in a thin slice of prosciutto, then grill until the prosciutto is crispy and the fig is soft. If you don't have prosciutto, try bacon wrapped figs on the grill for a similar flavor profile.
• Honey rosemary: Infuse your grilled figs with herby sweetness by adding honey and finely chopped rosemary sprigs to the balsamic vinegar. This is such a crazy delicious combo!
• With goat cheese: Make a small cut in each fig before grilling and stuff with creamy goat cheese. These grilled figs with goat cheese taste like a warm, fruity cheesecake bite.
• Spiced figs: For a Middle Eastern topping combination, mix 1/4 teaspoon each of cinnamon and cardamom into the olive oil and balsamic mixture before tossing with the figs. This is perfect to pair with regular hummus and pita bread.
• Maple pecan: Replace the balsamic vinegar with one tablespoon of maple syrup, and after grilling, sprinkle the figs with chopped toasted pecans for added crunch and nuttiness. So good!
• Grilled figs salad: Layer fresh mozzarella, basil, and your grilled figs balsamic glaze for a fruity twist on one of the classic Italian recipes, the Caprese!

Tips for Making Delicious Grilled Figs

Grilling is the ideal way to cook your figs for a perfectly charred exterior and soft, juicy interior. You're using your grill to its maximum potential, too, so who wants to say no to that?

• Choose ripe but firm figs: Use good quality figs to start with. Too soft, and they'll fall apart on the grill. Too firm, and they won't develop that luscious, jammy interior we're after.
• Watch them closely: Grilled figs cook fast! Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning, especially as the second side cooks. They're usually done in 2-3 minutes per side but adjust accordingly for size.
• Grilled fig kebabs: Thread the fig halves onto skewers before grilling. This method makes them easier to flip and adds a fun presentation.
• Save the stems: Leave a bit of stem on the figs for an easy "handle" when eating!
• Par-cook for stuffed figs: If you're stuffing them, grill them for a minute first to soften, then stuff and finish grilling.
• Score the skin: Make shallow crosshatch cuts on the skin side before grilling so you get more of that balsamic vinegar flavor in every bite!

Leftover Ideas

I'm serious when I say there are so many ways to enjoy grilled figs, even the leftovers! The sky's the limit with these healthy recipes:

• Salad: Chop the grilled figs and toss with your favorite greens plus a light vinaigrette for a quick salad. They're also perfect in this Beet Salad with Goat Cheese. Or level up this tasty grilled romaine salad with grilled figs!
• Bruschetta: Mash the leftover figs slightly and spread on toasted baguette slices with dollops of ricotta or goat cheese. This is a perfect pizza topping!
• Compote: Simmer chopped figs with a bit of sugar and lemon juice to make a fruit compote. Use it as topping for pancakes, French toast, and more.
• Ice cream swirl: Chop leftover grilled figs and gently fold them into softened vanilla or caramel ice cream. Top with whipped cream for an elegant dessert!
• Grilled cheese with fig jam: For a gourmet version, add mashed leftover grilled figs to a grilled cheese sandwich with brie. It's a great alternative to a pizza dinner!
• Salsa: Chop the figs and mix with red onion, cilantro, black pepper, and jalapeño for a fruity salsa that tastes great on grilled meat like chicken and pork chops.
• Fig-infused cocktails: Muddle grilled figs in cocktails like an Old Fashioned or Mojito for added flavor. It is also delicious in sangria!
• Oatmeal: For an extra special breakfast, stir chopped grilled figs into your morning oatmeal with a drizzle of honey. Toss in some granola or nuts for crunch.

Storage and Reheating

These figs taste best fresh off the grill, but if you do have leftovers or when you're making an extra big batch, here's what to do with them:

• To store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 2-3 days.
• To reheat: Microwave leftover figs for 20-30 seconds, checking every 10 seconds. You can also bake them in a 300°F oven (medium heat) for about 5 minutes, or air fry at 350°F for 2-3 minutes or until warm.

Note: I don't recommend freezing grilled figs because they become mushy and lose their delightful texture when thawed.