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My grilled sweet potatoes are crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle. They cook in under 20 minutes and make the best summer side dish.
As much as grilling season is about the meat, it’s also about the sides to pair with it, and this is where my grilled sweet potatoes enter the picture. It’s quite a unique way to cook them, but trust me- they will be a summertime staple.
I start by slicing the sweet potato into thick coins and seasoning them with salty and smoky flavors before letting the grill work its magic. In under 20 minutes, you are left with crisp, charred sweet potatoes with the most delicious middle. Honestly, these potatoes may steal the grilling show- ask my family!
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Perfect flavor and texture. I cut the potatoes into discs so they cook quickly, getting a gorgeous char on the outside while the center remains soft and tender.
- Versatile. They pair well with almost everything, from grilled chicken drumsticks to healthy burgers.
- Simple ingredients. Just sweet potatoes, oil, and a couple of spices are all you need.
- It’s easy to customize. I’ll share the base recipe (my favorite!) and a few flavor swaps so you can customize it to suit your taste buds.
If you love all things sweet potato, try my air fryer sweet potato fries, air fryer baked sweet potatoes, microwave sweet potato, and stuffed sweet potatoes next.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“I just adore this recipe. I make it year-round, and it’s my family’s favorite side dish. I’ve often made it as a meal in itself.” – Kara
Key Ingredients
- Sweet potatoes. Look for bigger sweet potatoes since they make larger discs and grill up better than smaller potatoes. Don’t bother peeling them unless you prefer to.
- Oil. I like the flavor of coconut oil, but olive oil, avocado oil, or any neutral oil with a high smoke point will do.
- Salt and black pepper. To taste.
- Smoked paprika. Adds a lovely smoky flavor that pairs well with the sweetness of the potatoes.
- Brown sugar. Optional, but a pinch takes the sweetness to another level and caramelizes the edges.
How to grill sweet potatoes
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Step 1- Prep work. Slice the potatoes into 1-2-inch discs.
Step 2– Season. Combine the sweet potato slices and coconut oil in a large bowl. Add the spices and rub all over the potatoes.
Step 3- Assemble. Layer your sweet potato discs on the grill or grill pan.
Step 4- Grill for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Cover the grill. Midway through, I like putting the lid on so the potatoes cook evenly and get a subtle smoky flavor.
- Slice them evenly so they cook at the same time.
- Don’t have an outdoor grill? Don’t worry! I’ve tested this recipe on a grill pan on the stovetop, and it turned out perfect (see my pictures).
- If you only have small sweet potatoes, place them on a grill pan so they don’t fall through the grates.
- Don’t forget the dipping sauce! I’m a sucker for my sweet potato dipping sauce, but you can serve them with spicy mayo, chimichurri, or sundried tomato pesto.
Storage instructions
To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to five days.
To freeze: Place the grilled and cooled potatoes in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to six months.
Reheating: Either reheat on the grill or in a non-stick pan. Avoid microwaving them as they will become soggy.
Frequently asked questions
You can, however, it’s a little more time-consuming. You’ll need to regularly turn the potatoes and increase the cooking time by another 20 minutes. You’ll also need to keep the grill covered to trap in the heat to cook the insides evenly.
I wouldn’t recommend it. Peeling the sweet potatoes before grilling will reduce the cooking time, but also make them prone to burning easily. Remember, you can always remove the skins before eating them.
More grilled veggie sides
If you tried this Grilled Sweet Potatoes recipe or any other recipe on The Big Man’s World, please rate the recipe and let me know how it went in the comments below. It really helps others thinking of making the recipe.
Grilled Sweet Potatoes
Video
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil * See notes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium heat. Generously coat with cooking spray or brush with coconut oil.
- Slice the sweet potatoes into 1 or 2-inch discs.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the sweet potato discs and coconut oil and mix well. Add the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and sugar, and rub all over the potatoes.
- Layer your sweet potato discs and cook for approximately 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cover the sweet potatoes as they grill.
Notes
- Cinnamon sugar. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and double the brown sugar. This is great if you’d like this as part of a dessert, too.
- Hot and spicy. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
- Mexican. Rub taco seasoning over the potatoes.
- Cajun. Toss through Cajun seasoning.
- Kettle corn. Omit the smoked paprika and pepper, and swap the brown sugar for white sugar.
Nutrition
Originally published May 2019, updated and republished in May 2025.
Sweet potato is so tasty I cannot live without it. I need to grill it.
Sweet potato is my favourite side dish. I want to find purple one also but in my city there is no.
I love sweet potatoes as I don’t like any other potatoes, your recipes are perfect and I’d like to see more sweet potato recipes in salads, my mash potato is califlower and sweet potato with choped parsley, I also use sweet potato in potato salads and smoothies
My best side dish is sweet potato, will try!
Amazing.
Need to try whit purple sweet potato.
Wondering if you could achieve the same result by air frying them. Would they differ greatly, Arman?
These were so quick and easy! I love them!
😀 cheers, Kara!
Can you use regular sugar or brown sugar if you do not have coconut sugar?
Love the sweet salty combination! Laughing way too hard at your Mum & pinterest. Mine doesn’t get it either!
My mum can be such a moose sometimes 😉
Seriously obsessed with this recipe! I LOVE sweet potatoes and these sound perfect! Love that you used coconut oil and coconut sugar – delicious!
Thanks so much, Chelsea! It really helped the flavours come out!
I just adore this recipe. Also for the record, I’m a big white potato lover too. In fact, I got a thing for all the spuds, regardless of color. Bring them on!
After last night’s snapchat….I love it. I think I saw two colours! 😉
Just read your newsletter! Are you making baklava oatmeal?? I’ve never had baklava since it’s only sugar and nuts, basically, but an oatmeal version? I’d give it a go! And the cookie… oatmeal raisin? I’m not that familiar with subways but I think that’s a popular one.
I think you’ll be best friends with those people no matter WHICH of your recipes you’ll bring to memorial day!
We’re having a long weekend too, Monday’s off because it’s Whitmonday. YAY!
YES!!!! Friday! 😀
I could eat these all day every day. They look terrific!
Thanks so much, Miryam! Appreciate it!
Love the use of sugar with these lil tasty bites!! If you don’t make friends on Mem Day by grilling these…
I know, right? I better make friends!
I wouldn’t let you sit with me if you brought these to the table… buuuut that’s mostly because I heart white potatoes and sweet potatoes have been causing my stomach to go all sorts of wonk. Bring me fries and all is forgiven, though <3
That made me so happy…..That serves you right for blaming white potatoes for headaches!
So in the realm of potatoes, sweet potatoes definitely have my heart. I have nothing against white potatoes…I just prefer them in fried form. As evidenced by my Five Guys dinner last night when the fries didn’t even survive the drive home.
Not going to lie, I hate you a little bit for it….
Excellent. I have a giant bag of sweet potatoes from Costco bc I can’t get enough. I usually just roast them w olive oil and salt but I love any new variations too. Thanks!
Very welcome, Erin! Hope you try it out!
Yes, yes and more yes to this one, Arman! First, it’s grilled. That makes it awesome. But second, it’s grilled sweet potatoes! I have a grilled sweet potato recipe that I absolutely love, but I’ve never tried using coconut oil. Clever little trick you’ve got going on there! I’m going to need you to deliver these to my Memorial Day BBQ. Also, this recipe is now destined to be the most popular one on here…because it’s sweet potatoes. 🙂
OH you bet I will deliver them- These will now go viral too purely because they are of the sweet variety!
I just professed in one of my latest posts that I’m scared of grilling lol. But these look good! I would just probably stick to baking them in the oven. 😉
Hahaha, that works!
Sweet taters AND popcorn?! OH NO YOU DIDN’T. But you did, and dat’s why I lurve you.
hummsapiencrack. This is what it is.
Sounds scrumptious!
Thanks so much 🙂
Aside from the amazing concept, Arman you did an amazing job of charring and grilling those sweet potatoes! They look amazing!
Cheers, mate! Appreciate it!
This looks fantastic – I adore sweet potato, and I have coconut sugar so I have to give this a go! I love to grill literally any vegetable – asparagus or green beans are good!
Thanks so much, Aimee! Hope your well!
Oh my friend, the sweet potato welcomes you to its fan club! I am a huge fan and these look downright amazing.
Thanks Michelle! 🙂 They used to spite me but not anymore! 😉
These potatoes look beyond delicious – good work! But are you sure any gluten dust covered the potatoes?! :))
Thanks Ben! they are delicious which is rare for a sweet potato! I hope not!
first, THANK YOU for celebrating the glory that is a potato. they get such a bad rap, and I’d totally take on your 7 day challenge. um, wait… I probably did that last week after my FACE SURGERY. I made mashed potatoes, and Jason even went to the store in the middle of the day to buy me a BOX OF INSTANT potatoes. I had a craving. they were so good.
anyway, I am still on soft foods, but these definitely count! I cannot wait to trryyyyyy.
Right? I had this idea for a WHITE potato dip and I got slaughtered at that suggestion!
You are my new idol!
white potato dip??! DO IT. wait, did you already? DOOOO IIIIIIIT.
Alright, I will! 🙂
Yes Arman try the Japanese sweet potatoes! Soooooooo much better!
Thanks Heather! Okay, I’ll get Rebecca to show me! 🙂
Yum! These sound fabulous – love that sweet/spicy combo. As luck would have it, I have all the necessities on hand. Perhaps once I peel myself off the couch…
Stay on the damn couch…as I am now 😉
Just when our feud over “Love Actually” was becoming a faded memory along comes your love for white spuds. Sweeties are hands down the superior potato and there will be no convincing me otherwise! With that said, I’m loving the TLC you gave them in this recipe, they look so yummy!
Hahahaha Sonali! Don’t say that! I purposely came to NYC to hold a silly sign on XMas day saying white potatoes > sweet potatoes.
Great flavor combo! Love sweet potatoes 🙂
You like sweet potatoes? You don’t say 😉
I usually alternate between sweet and white potatoes each week. I don’t discriminate!
Nice! great way to balance both!
I love kettle corn AND sweet potatoes! These sound perfect!
Thanks Cassie! Hope you try it out!
Wow, these sound so amazing! I am definitely going to try these the next time we are grilling!
Please do, Jenn! 🙂
Oh my goodness! I LOVE sweet potatoes and making them this way is gonna be my new favorite way! You are a genius 😉
Thank you! hope you try it out!
Good choice dear. But I must say, the orange sweet really is not king (nor my favorite). Have you ever been graced by the taste of the Japanese Sweet Potato? Their denser “drier” texture and less “wet/sweet” taste then the typical orange…..you would be a fan. 😉 We’ll just have to go potato shopping too now!
Oh God. Can you imagine?
“What did you do in Manhattan?”
FIND POTATOES.
Fabulous idea! Thanks for sharing your creativity! LOVE this.
Thanks so much Marsha!
Love the sweet/salty sweet potato combo and always try to do it when I roast them, haven’t tried grilling yet.
Michele! If you do not grill these next time…..