Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Grilled sweet potatoes are the most delicious side dish! They are easy to make and have all the caramelized edges of traditional roasted sweet potatoes. Plus cooking them on the grill means minimal cleanup.

Season with all different spices to create the most delicious sweet and smoky grilled side dish. Try it with other grilled vegetables like grilled peppers, grilled carrots, and grilled brussels sprouts!

Sweet potatoes used to be a food you would only see on the table on Thanksgiving and during cold winter months. However, with many health benefits, they are now everywhere. One place we don't often see them is on the grill. Today, I hope to change that.

Grilling sweet potatoes brings out all the natural sugars and creates the most delicious sweet and smoky flavor. They are so good!

Why You’ll Love Grilling Sweet Potatoes

Here are some reasons why you should make this grilled sweet potatoes recipe:

• Quick and easy: Grilled sweet potatoes only take 15 minutes to prep and cook—perfect for last-minute dishes!
• Versatile: You can pair this with almost anything: pork chops, steaks, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and dips. It’s even good just on its own!
• Amazing flavor: Cooking sweet potatoes on the grill enhances their natural sweetness and adds smokiness, with a nice char on the outside.

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

Here is everything you need to make the perfect side dish:

• Sweet potatoes: Wash these properly before slicing. You may peel the skin if you want, but I'm keeping it on for this recipe. Slice them to your desired shape and make grilled sweet potato wedges, halves, planks, or rounds. You can also try these easy grilled red potatoes!
• Olive oil: Coat the sweet potato slices with olive oil to prevent them from sticking to the grates. You can use any type of oil like avocado oil or vegetable oil.
• Seasonings: They can be seasoned with just salt and pepper (or just plain), but I like a combination of paprika, cumin, kosher salt, garlic powder, chili powder, and black pepper to match the smoky flavor. Finish them with fresh herbs, crumbled cheese, drizzled honey, balsamic vinegar, green onions, crunchy nuts or seeds, or some homemade pesto.

Want to try my favorite sweet potato recipes? Have a try at these Sweet Potato Bowls, Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili, and Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes!

How to Grill a Sweet Potato

Grilling sweet potatoes isn’t hard by any means, but there is a little bit of an art to getting them really good. Here's how you can make this easy side dish at home:

1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
2. Cut your sweet potatoes into planks or rounds about ¼ inch thick. This helps them cook a little bit faster and gives more surface area for the perfect grill marks. In a large bowl, toss them with olive oil and the seasoning of your choice. See more options below!
3. Place on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, or until grill marks form and the potatoes are tender on the inside. Flip the planks over carefully, as you don’t want to lose any between the grill grates.
4. Pro tip: Gently poke the center to check that it is tender. If it is, it is ready to serve. If it isn’t, leave it to sit for a few more minutes before trying again.

Should I Wrap the Sweet Potatoes in Foil?

Chances are if you’re asking this question, you’ve likely had a baked potato cooked in a fire while you were camping or have had a barbeque. It is a delicious way to cook them, after all, and you'll be happy to know that yes, you can do that with sweet potatoes too!

Mind you, when you cook them wrapped in foil, you won’t be able to get that gorgeous criss-cross char that makes grilled sweet potatoes so delicious; you’ll just have a baked sweet potato.

So, if it’s a grilled sweet potato you’re after? Leave the foil on the roll!

Grilled Sweet Potato Seasoning Ideas

Grilled sweet potatoes taste pretty good on their own, but a little seasoning makes them perfect with almost any main dish! Here are some of my favorite ways to make them more flavorful:

• Sweet and spicy: Brown sugar, paprika, poultry seasoning, chili powder, and cayenne pepper combine to make a delicious mix that is sweet and spicy at the same time. Squeeze some lemon juice on top and serve with your favorite side dishes!
• Moroccan: Mix ground cumin, cinnamon, cayenne powder, paprika, and salt for a delicious Moroccan twist. This is perfect for dipping in cilantro lime dressing, chipotle sauce, or yogurt blue cheese dip.
• Garlic and herb: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a small pan then add four cloves of finely chopped garlic, two teaspoons of fresh thyme, and a quarter of a teaspoon of red chili flakes. Cook them together until the garlic is soft, usually about a minute. Drizzle the whole thing over your sweet potatoes after you’ve grilled them, and enjoy.
• Honey grilled: Combine honey and softened butter, then gently brush it on your sweet potatoes while they grill. Be sure to flip the sweet potatoes a third time to cook the honey and butter on both sides. Feel free to use maple syrup instead, but it will be much sweeter.

Tips for Grilling Sweet Potatoes

Make the best grilled sweet potatoes by following these tips:

• Slice evenly: Whichever shape you choose to slice your sweet potatoes, it has to be the same thickness to ensure they cook evenly and at the same time.
• Season generously: Go crazy with your seasoning, as it will bring out the best flavors of your sweet potato.
• Use a nonstick grill pan: Make this dish indoors using your stovetop! The grill lines will add char marks, color, and texture to the sweet potatoes.
• Make a dip: Add a little extra to your grilled sweet potatoes by pairing it with your favorite dip or sauces like chimichurri sauce and homemade pesto.

Serving and Meal Prep Ideas

Grilled sweet potatoes make a great side dish for so many different meals. They can also be cooked in advance, making them perfect for meal prep. Here are a few ways you can incorporate them into your meal plan:

• Side dish: Sweet potatoes are an excellent side dish with grilled proteins like Grilled Hoisin Pork Tenderloin, Grilled Chicken Souvlaki, and Grilled Swordfish.
• Stuffed sweet potatoes: Half a sweet potato with black beans, cheese, and other toppings for a spin on a loaded baked potato. A quick and easy dinner idea!
• Breakfast hash: Cut up into cubes as part of a breakfast hash with onion and peppers.
• Sweet potato fries: Slice into grilled sweet potato fries and top with lettuce, cheese, and corn for loaded fries.
• Tacos: Make these delicious Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos on the grill.
• Burgers: Sub this with your favorite fries and pair with Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches, Crispy Shrimp Burgers, and Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps.

Storage and Reheating

Leftovers are sometimes the best part of any recipe! If you’ve made more than enough grilled sweet potatoes, here's how you can enjoy them later:

• To store: Place leftover sweet potatoes in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days. You can also freeze these for up to 3 months.
• To reheat: Pop in the oven at 350°F for 6 to 8 minutes. This helps retain the texture of the cooked sweet potatoes.