• Sweet Potatoes (whole): Opt for medium-sized sweet potatoes, as they cook more evenly and become wonderfully tender. Choosing whole potatoes eliminates the need for slicing and reduces prep time, allowing them to steam gently inside their skins while grilling.
• Oil (avocado or olive oil): A light coating of oil helps the seasoning adhere to the skin, promotes a beautiful crispy exterior, and prevents the potatoes from sticking to the grill grates. Avocado oil is fantastic for its high smoke point and neutral flavor, while olive oil provides a classic taste.
• Sea Salt: Essential for enhancing the sweet potatoes’ natural flavors. Sea salt offers a coarser texture and a clean taste that penetrates the skin and seasons the flesh beautifully.
• Black Pepper: A touch of freshly ground black pepper adds a subtle warmth and aromatic complexity, balancing the sweetness of the potato.
• Butter: A dollop of butter melting into the warm, fluffy interior of a grilled sweet potato is pure bliss. It adds richness and a creamy texture that elevates the dish.
• Parsley (chopped): Fresh chopped parsley provides a vibrant pop of color and a fresh, herbaceous note that brightens the overall flavor profile, offering a nice contrast to the richness of the butter and the sweetness of the potato.

Mastering Grilled Sweet Potatoes: Step-by-Step Instructions

Achieving perfectly tender and flavorful grilled sweet potatoes is easier than you might think. Follow these detailed steps to ensure a delicious outcome every time. We’ll guide you through the preparation, grilling process, and final touches to create a mouth-watering side dish that will impress your family and friends.

1. Step 1: Clean Your Sweet Potatoes. Begin by thoroughly rinsing each sweet potato under cold running water. It’s crucial to remove any lingering dirt or debris from the skin, as we’ll be leaving the skin on for grilling. Once clean, pat them completely dry with paper towels to ensure the oil and seasonings adhere properly.

2. Step 2: Poke Holes for Steam Release. Using a fork, carefully poke holes all over the surface of each sweet potato, aiming for a depth of about ½ inch. This critical step allows steam to escape during the cooking process, preventing the potatoes from “exploding” on the grill and ensuring they cook evenly and safely.

3. Step 3: Oil and Season Generously. Lightly coat each prepared sweet potato with your chosen oil (avocado or olive oil), rubbing it evenly over the entire surface. Then, generously season with sea salt and black pepper. The oil helps distribute the seasonings and creates a delicious crust when the potatoes are later grilled directly.

4. Step 4: Wrap in Aluminum Foil. Carefully wrap each seasoned sweet potato individually in aluminum foil. This step is crucial for the initial cooking phase, as the foil traps moisture, allowing the potatoes to steam and become tender from the inside out before being exposed directly to the flame for charring.

5. Step 5: Preheat and Clean Your Grill. Pre-heat your grill to a consistent temperature of 350°F (175°C). While it’s heating, use a sturdy grill brush to thoroughly clean the grates. This ensures that your sweet potatoes won’t stick and any remnants from previous cooks won’t impart unwanted flavors.

6. Step 6: Initial Grilling (Foil On). Place the foil-wrapped sweet potatoes directly on the preheated grill grates. Close the grill lid and cook for approximately 45 minutes. The foil will help steam the potatoes, making them soft and tender. This duration allows for thorough cooking before the direct charring stage.

7. Step 7: Direct Grilling (Foil Off). After 45 minutes, carefully remove the aluminum foil from each sweet potato. Place the unwrapped potatoes back on the grill grates and continue grilling for another 15 minutes. This direct exposure to the flame will create beautiful grill marks, a slightly crispy skin, and a delicious smoky flavor.

8. Step 8: Check for Doneness. To ensure your sweet potatoes are perfectly cooked, check their internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer; it should be around 200°F (93°C). Alternatively, test for tenderness by gently probing with a fork – it should slide in easily with minimal resistance. If not yet tender, continue grilling for a few more minutes, checking periodically.

9. Step 9: Garnish and Serve. Once cooked to perfection, carefully remove the sweet potatoes from the grill. Place them on a serving platter, cut a slit down the top of each potato, and fluff the interior with a fork. Generously garnish with a pat of butter and a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley. Serve hot and enjoy the incredible flavors!

Hint: Properly pre-heating your grill is paramount for successful grilling. Allow your grill to reach the target temperature and run for at least 5 minutes before adding food. This crucial step not only ensures even cooking but also helps burn off any residual food particles from previous sessions. Always clean your grill grates thoroughly with a sturdy grill brush (affiliate link) before placing your sweet potatoes on them. Clean grates prevent sticking and contribute to those desirable, crisp grill marks.

Essential Equipment for Grilling Sweet Potatoes

The best part about grilling sweet potatoes is that you don’t need a fancy, high-tech setup. Your trusty grill, whatever type it may be, is the primary tool required for this delicious recipe. Whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster with a state-of-the-art smoker or someone who pulls out a classic charcoal kettle grill once a month, you’re perfectly equipped to make these amazing grilled sweet potatoes.

This recipe will yield fantastic results on a high-end gas grill like a Weber Genesis grill (affiliate link), which offers precise temperature control and even heat distribution. Similarly, a pellet grill (affiliate link), like the one we often use, provides the added benefit of smoky flavor infusion, making these sweet potatoes even more irresistible. Even a simple $50 charcoal grill that has been a backyard staple for years can produce beautifully cooked, charred sweet potatoes. The key is consistent heat and a good quality grill brush to keep your grates clean.

Don’t get bogged down with the idea that you need the latest and greatest gadget to make incredible food. The best grill for you is always the one you already own and are comfortable using. Beyond the grill itself, a good set of tongs for turning, a reliable instant-read thermometer for checking doneness, and durable aluminum foil are the only other pieces of equipment you’ll truly need. Focus on the technique, not just the tools, and you’ll be grilling perfect sweet potatoes in no time!

Watch & Learn: Step-by-Step Video Guide

Sometimes, seeing is believing! To make your grilling experience even smoother, we’ve prepared a comprehensive step-by-step video that walks you through every part of the grilled sweet potato recipe. From washing and poking to seasoning, wrapping, and the final grill-to-plate journey, this video ensures you won’t miss a beat. Watch as we demonstrate the simple techniques that guarantee perfectly tender and flavorful sweet potatoes every time.

Whether you’re a visual learner or just want a quick refresher, this video companion to the written instructions will help build your confidence and ensure your grilled sweet potatoes turn out absolutely perfect. Grab your sweet potatoes and let’s get grilling together!

Pro Tip: Heavy-Duty Aluminum Foil for Grilling

When preparing your sweet potatoes for the grill, consider using heavy-duty or specialized grilling aluminum foil instead of standard household foil. This type of foil is notably thicker and more robust than its regular counterpart. Its superior strength significantly helps prevent tears and punctures during the wrapping process, especially when dealing with the irregular shapes of whole potatoes. More importantly, heavy-duty foil offers better heat retention and protection during the initial grilling phase, ensuring the sweet potatoes steam efficiently inside and are less likely to burn or char too quickly before they become tender. This small upgrade in foil can make a big difference in the overall success and ease of grilling your sweet potatoes.

Poking holes in the sweet potatoes before grilling is a crucial step for both safety and even cooking. These small punctures act as vents, allowing steam to escape from the potato’s interior as it heats up. Without these escape routes, the internal pressure can build, potentially causing the potato to “explode” on the grill. Additionally, it helps the potato cook more uniformly, leading to a consistently tender texture.

No, it is generally recommended to leave the skin on sweet potatoes when grilling them whole. The skin acts as a natural protective barrier, helping the potato retain its shape and moisture throughout the cooking process. It also contributes to a slightly crispy texture and a robust flavor once directly grilled. If you don’t enjoy eating the skin, you can easily scoop out the tender flesh and discard the skin after the potato is cooked.

Absolutely, washing sweet potatoes thoroughly before cooking is essential. Even if you don’t plan to eat the skin, any dirt or impurities on the surface can transfer to the flesh during handling or slicing. Give the potatoes a good scrub under cold running water, using a vegetable brush if you have one, to remove any soil or residues. This ensures a clean and safe eating experience.

No, there’s no need to soak whole sweet potatoes before grilling. Soaking is typically recommended for certain potato preparations, like french fries, to remove excess starch and achieve a crispier texture. However, for grilling whole sweet potatoes, the goal is a tender interior and a slightly charred skin, which doesn’t require pre-soaking. Simply wash, dry, season, and grill!

For grilling whole, look for sweet potatoes that are medium in size and relatively uniform in shape. This promotes even cooking. Choose firm potatoes with smooth, blemish-free skin. Avoid any with soft spots, wrinkles, or sprouts, as these indicate older or less fresh produce.

More Delicious Recipes to Explore

If you loved the simplicity and flavor of these grilled sweet potatoes, you’re in for a treat! We have a collection of other fantastic recipes that celebrate the humble potato and other grilled vegetables, perfect for expanding your culinary repertoire. These dishes are easy to make and guaranteed to be crowd-pleasers.

Perfect Pairings for Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Grilled sweet potatoes are incredibly versatile, making them a fantastic side dish for almost any grilled main course. Their natural sweetness and smoky flavor beautifully complement a wide range of proteins. Here are some of our absolute favorite dishes to serve alongside these delectable spuds, ensuring a perfectly balanced and flavorful meal.