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Learn how to grill sweet potatoes and get the perfect side dish in under 20 minutes. Made with simple ingredients, it’s my favorite sweet potato recipe!
Looking for more hearty vegetable side dishes? Try my bacon wrapped asparagus, roasted root veggies, and cabbage steaks next.
I love oven baked or microwave sweet potatoes as much as the next guy, but when it’s grill season, I try to cook outside as much as possible.
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!
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, you name it.
- Simple ingredients. Just sweet potatoes, oil, and a couple of spices are all you need.
- Easy to customize. I’ll share the base recipe (my favorite!) along with a few flavor swaps so you can customize them to suit your taste buds.
- They’re healthy! Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of complex carbs, fiber, and antioxidants. And since we’re grilling them, the added oil is kept to a minimum.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“These were so quick and easy! I love them!” – Kara
Ingredients needed
- 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.
How to grill sweet potatoes
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Prep work. Preheat a grill to medium heat and generously grease the grill grates with cooking spray.
Step 2- Season the potatoes. In a large bowl, combine the sweet potato slices and coconut oil. Add the spices, salt, and sugar and rub all over the potatoes.
Step 3- Grill. Layer your sweet potato discs and cook for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Grill until fork-tender, then serve warm.
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 about it! I’ve tested this recipe on a grill pan on the stovetop, and it turned out perfect.
- 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.
- Garnish the potatoes with cilantro or parsley for a pop of color and fresh flavor.
Variations
While delicious as they are, here are some fun flavors to try for some variety!
- 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 out the brown sugar for white sugar.
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
Unlike fries or wedges, there is no need to soak the potatoes before grilling them.
Either white potatoes or sweet potatoes will work for this recipe.
Sweet potatoes should be wrapped in foil if the exterior cooks more quickly than the center. Since we’re cutting the potatoes into discs, that shouldn’t be a problem.
More ways to cook sweet potatoes
Grilled Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes cut into discs
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil * See notes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat a grill or bbq to medium heat. Generously coat with cooking spray or brush with coconut oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the sweet potato discs and coconut oil and mix well. Add the spices, salt, and sugar and rub all over the potatoes.
- Layer your sweet potato discs and cook for approximately 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published May 2019, updated in May 2022, and republished in May 2024.
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.
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…..