Grilling sweet potatoes is one of my favorite ways to make them! Crisp on the outside; pillowy on the inside; grilled sweet potatoes are easy and delicious. and squeezed a little lime over the top with a few sprinkles of cilantro.
Table of Contents
- The Story Behind the Recipe
- Recipe Development Notes
- Grilled Sweet Potato Ingredients
- How to Grill Sweet Potatoes
- More Sweet Potato Recipes
The Story Behind the Recipe
Last summer, I was determined to find an easy way to make sweet potatoes on the grill. Sweet potatoes are just so hearty, and it just seems like they belong on the grill.
So I sliced sweet potatoes, dredged them in a smoky spice rub, grilled them, then squeezed some lime juice over the top. Summer. MADE.
Recipe Development Notes
After poking around various sites and being turned off by many recipes that required pre-cooking your sweet potatoes before plopping them on the grill (me: lazy), I found this method on Simply Recipes. You cut the sweet potatoes vertically, and slice them thin enough so that they cook through nicely on the grill, no pre-cooking needed. Done!
I opted to add this sweet and smoky spice rub to the sweet potatoes before grilling them. This gives these grilled sweet potatoes loads of flavor and, as far as I’m concerned, makes them extra special.
Grilled Sweet Potato Ingredients
- Spice rub – brown sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, and kosher salt
- Sweet potatoes – Your favorite kind is fine. Yams work too.
- Olive oil – for helping the spice mix to adhere to the sweet potatoes and for keeping the sweet potato slabs from sticking to the grill.
- Lime juice – from two fresh limes. They add so much brightness and flavor!
- Cilantro – optional, but nice added flavor + color.
How to Grill Sweet Potatoes
You’ll want to cut your sweet potatoes into thin slices, about 1/4-inch thick. This allows them to cook through completely without burning on the outside, but they’re still thick enough to hold up on the grill.
Brush the potatoes with olive oil and rub both sides with the brown sugar spice rub mix.
Next, preheat your grill to medium high and, when hot, add the sweet potatoes.
Place your sweet potatoes on the grill and cook until grill lines form, about 5-6 minutes. Flip and cook until tender, about 5-6 more minutes.
Remove your grilled sweet potatoes and lay them on a platter. Squeeze lime juice over the top, sprinkle with cilantro, and serve!
More Sweet Potato Recipes
I love sweet potatoes! Here are some more of my sweet potato recipes.
- Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Chili
- Whipped Sweet Potatoes
- Vegetarian Sweet Potato Peanut Stew
- Moroccan Sweet Potato & Chickpea Stew
- Three Bean Sweet Potato Salad
- Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Creamy Sweet Potato Soup
We made these all the time last summer, and this year, it’s shaping up to be more of the same.
I like to finish off my grilled sweet potato deliciousness off with a good squeeze of lime and a few flecks of cilantro.
Summer life is good.
Grilled Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes (scrubbed well and sliced lengthwise 1/4-inch thick)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 limes (juiced)
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium-high (direct heat).
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, and kosher salt.
- Brush the sliced sweet potatoes with olive oil and rub both sides with the brown sugar spice mix.
- Lay potatoes on the grill and cook until grill lines form, 5-6 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side until cooked through and tender, about 5-6 more minutes. Remove from the grill and lay on a platter. Squeeze lime juice over the top and sprinkle with cilantro. Serve immediately.
I’m so glad you’re here! I’m a vegetarian home cook, certified plant-based pro, and mom. I’m married to an enthusiastic carnivore, and my mission is to achieve peace in the kitchen – one tasty recipe at a time. These days, with a name like mine, I also try not to ask to speak to the manager.
I have all these ingredients and burgers are on the menu later this week–this is going to be the side dish for them for sure!
I love sweet potatoes! Adding these to my summer BBQ list.
I bet the grill makes those sweet potatoes super sweet.They look delicious!
Love sweet potatoes! I have to try them grilled, and with lime, they are winners. Pinned!
These potatoes are sooooooo good. That rub is EVERYTHING!
THANK YOU so much for this recipe.
This recipe is perfect as is, but I didn’t have a grill, so I had to make the following changes:
I parboiled the yams for 3 mins (brought to boil and simmered for 3 mins), drained the pot really well, added the spice blend, put the lid on and shook it for 10 seconds)
I then baked them on baking trays lined with non-stick foil (you could also use parchment). I drizzled with a tiny bit of oil and baked them at 425 for 25 minutes (turning over halfway through). I served them with Pinch of Yum’s “5 MINUTE MAGIC GREEN SAUCE”. Incredible. I can’t wait to make this on the grill.
I’m so glad you like them! Love the adaptations. I’ll have to try it with the sauce!
I always do my cooking inside, but will prepare these and have my husband throw them all the grill with his other veggies. They turn out so delicious! Your BBQ spice rub is excellent!!!