Grilled Sweet Potatoes

These grilled sweet potatoes are cut into wedges then cooked on the grill until smoky and tender. The finishing touch is a drizzle of homemade cilantro lime dressing that adds tons of flavor and turns this simple side dish into an elegant offering.

When I’m grilling during the warmer months, I always like to add some veggies to the mix such as grilled eggplant, grilled corn on the cob and these zesty grilled sweet potatoes.

You can’t go wrong with grilled vegetables – they’re easy to make and packed full of flavor. One of my favorite summer side dishes is grilled sweet potatoes. This dish is quick and easy to make, and always gets rave reviews from family and friends.

How do you make grilled sweet potatoes?

This recipe starts with sweet potatoes, which are peeled and cut into wedges. Boil or steam the sweet potatoes until they’re just softened, then coat the potatoes in olive oil, salt and pepper. Place the potato wedges on a grill and cook for a few minutes per side or until golden brown. While the sweet potatoes are on the grill, prepare a simple dressing with olive oil, lime juice, spices and fresh cilantro. Drizzle the dressing over the cooked potatoes, then serve and enjoy.

Should you boil sweet potatoes before grilling?

I recommend that you boil your sweet potatoes before you put them on the grill. Sweet potatoes are very dense and can take a long time to cook through on a grill. A raw sweet potato may dry out on the grill before it cooks all the way through on the inside, or worse yet, could burn. If you boil the potatoes first, you eliminate those potential complications and will end up with great results every time.

Tips for the perfect grilled sweet potatoes

• Look for sweet potatoes that are similar in shape and size so that the wedges will cook evenly. I typically use smaller potatoes that aren’t overly thick.
• This recipe stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you’re making this dish in advance, I recommend storing the dressing separate from the potatoes, then tossing them together at the last minute.
• I like the look of sweet potato wedges and find that they’re less likely to fall through the grill grates. That being said, this recipe also works with sweet potato slices.
• No outdoor grill? Try using an indoor grill pan on the stove top. You can also broil the boiled potatoes for about 3-4 minutes per side instead of using a grill.

Flavor Variations

These grilled sweet potatoes are delicious as-is, but you can add other ingredients to customize this recipe to your tastes.

• Vegetables: Feel free to combine your potatoes with other veggies such as mushrooms, asparagus, green beans, zucchini or red onions.
• Flavorings: I often add other flavors to the mix, some great options include finishing the dish with cooked crumbled bacon, toasted sliced almonds or other herbs such as basil, green onions or parsley.
• Cheese: You can add a sprinkle of cheese to the finished dish, some of my favorite options include parmesan and feta cheese.

Once you try these grilled sweet potatoes, you’ll find yourself making them all summer long. They’re just that good!

More grilling recipes to try

• Grilled Chicken Wings
• Marinated Grilled Salmon
• Grilled Zucchini
• Mixed Grilled Vegetables
• Grilled Mushrooms

Grilled Sweet Potatoes Video