Grilled Sweet Potatoes

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If you aren't grilling sweet potatoes, it's time to start! With caramelized grill marks, the perfect spice blend, and minimal prep work - these grilled sweet potatoes will be one of the best summer side dishes you've ever tried.

169 CAL 19g CARBS 10g FAT 2g PROTEIN 4
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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 for grilled sweet potatoes including fresh potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cumin.

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.

Tongs picking up caramelized grill sweet potatoes.

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.

Platter of grilled sweet potatoes with a homemade spice blend.

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:

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most common questions about cooking sweet potatoes on the grill.

It really depends on your preference. Keeping the skin on, however, saves you more prep time and can even add additional crispy texture to the potatoes.

There is no need to boil sweet potatoes before grilling. Cut them into thick slices or planks to make sure they easily cook on the grill.

Sweet potatoes that were cooked on the grill served on a white platter.
The Recipe
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Grilled Sweet Potatoes

169 CAL 19g CARBS 10g FAT 2g PROTEIN 4
PREP TIME: 5 Min
COOK TIME: 10 Min
TOTAL TIME: 15 Min
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 2 large sweet potatoes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

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1

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Cut the sweet potatoes into planks and circles, about ¼ inch thick.

2

Toss with the olive oil and seasonings.

3

Place on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes per side or until grill marks form and potatoes are tender on the inside.

Equipment

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Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 1/2 sweet potato
Amount Per Serving
Calories 169
Calories from Fat 89
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 10g
15%
Saturated Fat 2g
8%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
0%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 354mg
15%
Total Carbohydrate 19g
6%
Dietary Fiber 3g
13%
Sugars 8g
Protein 2g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

Notes

Seasoning: Switch up the seasoning on these potatoes to match any meal. They are delicious with taco seasoning, Cajun seasoning, salt and pepper, herbs, and more.

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
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