When it comes to outdoor grilling, most people think of grilled chicken, big juicy burgers and perfectly seared steaks. But vegetables are great on the BBQ too and Grilled Sweet Potatoes are a healthy and delicious addition to your outdoor grilling repertoire. In this recipe, their natural sweetness combines with a hint of smokiness that is topped with a brown sugar and butter glaze and mini marshmallows to create a truly perfect side dish.
I grew up with sweet potatoes out of a can that were covered with orange juice and marshmallows during the holidays. They were always just OK at best. This grilled sweet potato recipe is a grown-up version of that dish and it's now my favorite way to prepare delicious sweet potatoes. Grilled sweet potatoes are not just tasty, they are also a healthy side dish packed with fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Grilling brings out the natural sugars in the sweet potatoes that combine with a hint of smokiness from the charcoal to create an irresistible caramelized flavor.
Don't wait for the holidays to try these. Even Grandma will love them. They are just that good.
Try my recipes for Brined and Smoked Turkey, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Butternut Squash, and Smoked, Stuffed Baked Potatoes with Guanciale.
Ingredients
- Fresh sweet potatoes
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- Kosher salt
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Pecans
- Marshmallows
- Olive oil
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Make sure that the sweet potatoes are all at room temperature before grilling.
Peel off the sweet potato skin and cut into slices of uniform thickness, about ½". Sweet potato cubes are too small to effectively grill and sweet potato wedges will cook unevenly.
Coat the slices of sweet potato with olive oil.
Grill the sweet potato slices on a hot grill over very low heat or indirect heat. Indirect heat is a better choice because they can burn fast over direct heat. They will still get a nice char if the grill grates are hot. Setup your grill for indirect heat at 350°F.
While the sweet potatoes are on the grill, prepare the gooey, buttery sweet glaze that will get drizzled over the sweet potatoes.
Spoon the glaze over the grilled sweet potatoes.
Spread the mini-marshmallows over the grilled sweet potatoes in an even layer and try to keep them from falling off and onto the tray.
Sweet potatoes would just seem naked without mini-marshmallows melted over them. Mini marshmallows are best for this recipe because they melt quickly. They require some quick, high heat to properly char and melt. A broiler is perfect for that task. Of course, we don't want to dry out the sweet potatoes, but they are protected by a layer of heavy glaze.
Set the broiler for medium or even low broil. Marshmallows burn fast. It's just a few seconds from a nice golden-brown to burned beyond recognition. If they catch fire, peel off the burned marshmallows and start all over again.
Variations
Try substituting real maple syrup for the butter and brown sugar glaze. It won't be quite as sweet as the glaze, but the maple flavor pairs well with the sweet potato. Just use real maple syrup, it makes a difference. By the way, if you have never had sweet potato fries, they are definitely worth trying.
Equipment
The sweet potatoes in this recipe were grilled on a charcoal grill over hot coals but no visible flames. They could be done on a gas grill but the charcoal adds a smoky flavor that just isn't there with a gas grill.
Storage
Store leftover sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat in a 275°F oven until warmed through. If the marshmallows look sad, peel them off, add a fresh layer of marshmallows and place them under a broiler for a few seconds. Remember to watch them closely.
Top Tip
It's important to have a hot grill but to also have a low fire. The grill marks will come from contact with the hot grill grates. If the fire is too high, the heat will quickly burn the sweet potato. You could also could cook them on the side of the grill, away from any flames.
With a few simple ingredients and this easy recipe, you can transform plain sweet potatoes into a delicious side dish. Happy grilling!
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this recipe.
📖 Recipe
Grilled Sweet Potatoes With Sweet Glaze Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 sweet potatoes large, skinned
- ¾ cup butter
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 tbs Olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the grill for direct heat. Cut the sweet potatoes into ½" rounds. Brush with oil.
- Grill over direct heat until grill marks appear, about 6 minutes per side.
- Melt the butter and brown sugar in a small sauce pan until sugar dissolves. Stir in the vanilla extract and cinnamon.
- Remove the sweet potatoes from the grill and place them on an oven proof pan. Brush the sweet potatoes with the glaze, top with pecans and then marshmallows.
- Broil for a few minutes until the marshmallows soften and start to brown. Don't walk away because the marshmallows will burn quickly and catch fire. Ask me how I know that. Enjoy
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