These BBQ Sweet Potatoes are made with sweet potato rounds that are grilled with BBQ sauce. An easy healthy vegetarian recipe for grilling!
These BBQ Sweet Potatoes make an awesome side dish or they can become the star of the meal by serving them on buns with a healthy dose of coleslaw.
When I think grilling the last thing that comes to mind are sweet potatoes. The thought of throwing something on the grill usually conjures up images of juicy cheeseburgers, thick steaks, or bratwurst topped with sauerkraut.
I'm here to tell you, though, that these BBQ Sweet Potatoes will give all those tasty meats a run for their money.
Sweet potatoes are great because they're incredibly versatile - You can use them to make anything from soup to tacos.
Their natural sweetness balances so well with savory spices and flavors and their hearty texture holds up perfectly to the smokiness of the grill.
This is a great recipe if you want to grill but keep things on the lighter side or if you've got a vegetarian guest coming to your next BBQ!
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Can Sweet Potatoes Be Grilled?
Sweet Potatoes are a great option when it comes to grilling and there are lots of ways to do it. They can be cut into wedges, tossed into a foil back, or cooked like a baked potato.
This recipe calls for the sweet potatoes to be cut into rounds. The rounds are grilled until tender and then coated in a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce.
I never thought to combine sweet potatoes with BBQ sauce until a few weeks ago when my husband brought home a box of these Good Thins Barbecue Sweet Potato Crackers and I was kind of blown away by them.
It became my new mission to turn those flavors into a meal that could be enjoyed any time we wanted.
Ingredients For BBQ Sweet Potatoes
- 2 medium Sweet Potatoes (equals 1 ½ lbs.)
- 3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- 2 tsp. Smoked Paprika
- 2 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 2 tsp. Onion Powder
- 1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
- ½ tsp. each Kosher Salt and Pepper
- ½ cup BBQ Sauce
You can use any variety of BBQ sauce you like - My favorite is a sweet and smoky blend but it you can go super sweet, tangy, or spicy.
How To Season Sweet Potatoes
This truly is an ingredient that can hold up to so many different types of flavors. I went with my go-to spice blend with this recipe and was super happy with the results.
- To make these BBQ Sweet Potatoes simply wash and scrub 2 medium sweet potatoes. It's important to remove any dirt from the skin but it is not necessary to peel them.
- Once washed, cut the sweet potatoes into rounds. Each round should be roughly ½" thick. (It's important that the rounds are all relatively the same thickness so they cook evenly on the grill).
- Place the sweet potato rounds into a large bowl or casserole dish. Drizzle 3 Tbsp. olive oil over the potatoes and toss until completely coated.
- Add 2 tsp. smoked paprika, 2 tsp. garlic powder, 2 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, and ½ tsp. each kosher salt and pepper to the potatoes. Toss until completely coated in the olive oil and spices.
How To Grill Sweet Potatoes
I was a little intimidated by the thought of grilling these things but once they were seasoned I handed them over to my husband and he worked his magic. (I should add a disclaimer stating that everything I know about grilling comes from him).
- Start by heating a grill to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a charcoal, gas, or any type of grill you've got. We use a charcoal Weber grill but whatever you have is just fine.
- Place the sweet potato rounds right over the direct heat on the grill and cook for 5 minutes on the first side. Flip the sweet potato rounds and cook for another 5 minutes on the second side.
- After 5 minutes on each side, move the sweet potato rounds to the indirect heat. Using a BBQ basting brush or something of the sort, brush a generous amount of BBQ sauce over each sweet potato round. Cover and cook for 1 minute.
- Flip the sweet potato rounds once more and baste the other side generously with the rest of the BBQ sauce. Cover and cook for 1 more minute.
- Remove the sweet potato rounds from the grill.
The sweet potato rounds are done when they are tender, but not mushy. They should be easily pierced with a fork.
It's normal that the sweet potato rounds have grill marks, or some char after they have finished cooking.
You can add as much or as little BBQ sauce to the potatoes as you like. If you like them saucier feel free to lay it on.
Can Sweet Potatoes Be Grilled Without Foil?
The potatoes should be tender but not so soft that they fall apart. The BBQ Sauce should be caramelized but not charred.
It's important that the BBQ sauce is added at the end of the grilling process. The sugars in the sauce may burn if added too soon.
It may seem weird to add the sliced sweet potatoes right on the grill grates - We tested this recipe with the potatoes right on the grill and by adding a layer of tinfoil between them and the grill.
The potatoes cooked right on the grill had better texture and flavor at the end of the cooking process so tinfoil is not necessary to make them.
Just remember to take care flipping the sweet potato rounds as they are small and my fall through the grates.
Looking for more tasty vegetarian recipes? Don't miss these!
- Kohlrabi Schnitzel
- Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake
- Garden Vegetable Lasagna
- Lemon Pea Risotto
- Baked Eggplant Parmesan
- Farmers Market Pizza
What To Serve With BBQ Sweet Potatoes
This is one of those dishes that can be customized any way you like!
These BBQ Sweet Potatoes are awesome enjoyed as a side dish. You can top them with freshly minced chives or any herb of choice.
I love them served on a sandwich topped with this Crunchy Coleslaw and some pickled jalapenos.
Other slaws include this blue cheese coleslaw, Asian cabbage slaw, or kohlrabi slaw.
While this dish is vegetarian these potatoes are great served alongside grilled chicken or burgers.
If you're looking for burger recipes don't miss this Juicy Lucy, grilled Southwest burger, or these grilled blue cheese burgers!
They're perfect for any summer BBQ served with classic side dishes like Mediterranean potato salad, dill pickle pasta salad, roasted vegetable salad, or any tangy vinegar-based salads like this marinated tomato salad or grilled corn avocado salad.
You can also add more BBQ sauce after removing them from the grill if you like!
Love sweet potatoes? Don't miss these recipes!
- Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash
- Kale Sweet Potato Soup
- Sweet Potato Tacos
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Frittata
Admittedly, I'm a sucker for anything BBQ flavored. There's an amazing BBQ restaurant 25 miles down the road from our town. Guess who can put down an entire 3-Meat Platter (with sides)? That's right - This girl.
But for those nights when I want something BBQ flavored WITHOUT getting the meat sweats this is a nice alternative.
Looking for more grilled dishes? Check out these recipes!
- Grilled Eggplant Sandwiches
- Grilled Chuck Steak
- Grilled Ribeye
- Italian Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
- Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Love BBQ? Check out these recipes!
- Tangy BBQ Turkey Meatballs
- Slower Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
- BBQ Sloppy Joes
- Dutch Oven BBQ Chicken
Looking For More Sweet Potato Recipes? Don't Miss These!
Healthy Loaded Sweet Potato Fries
Brown Sugar Sweet Potato Cornbread
Healthy Roasted Sweet Potato Chili
Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
BBQ Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
- Grill Charcoal or Gas
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes equals 1.5 lbs.
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 tsp. smoked paprika
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp. kosher salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 package gluten free buns optional, can use regular buns if not gluten free
- coleslaw optional
- pickled jalapenos optional
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash and scrub 2 medium sweet potatoes. Dry with a towel and cut the sweet potatoes into rounds. The rounds should be roughly ½" thick. Try to make sure the rounds are all relatively the same size so they cook evenly.
- Place the sweet potato rounds into a large bowl or casserole dish. Drizzle 3 Tbsp. olive oil over the top. Toss until completely coated.
- Sprinkle 2 tsp. smoked paprika, 2 tsp. garlic powder, 2 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, and ½ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper over the potatoes. Toss until completely coated in the olive oil and spices.
- Heat a grill to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the sweet potato rounds on the surface of the grill over the direct heat. Cook for 5 minutes on the first side. Flip and cook for another 5 minutes on the second side over direct heat.
- Transfer the sweet potato rounds to the indirect heat. Using a grill basting brush, place a generous amount of BBQ sauce over each potato round. Cover and cook for 1 minute.
- Flip the sweet potato rounds, generously brush the second side with more BBQ sauce. Cover and cook for 1 more minute.Once all of the sweet potato rounds are tender, but not mushy and easily pierced with a fork, remove from the grill and set aside.
- To Serve: These sweet potatoes can be served on their own as a side dish. Feel free to garnish with minced chives or herb of choice.Alternately, they can be served as a sandwich. Place a few grilled sweet potatoes on a gluten free bun (or regular bun if not GF) and top them with coleslaw and pickled jalapenos.
Diane
I don't have a grill. Can I roast these in the oven or cook them in a cast iron skillet and achieve similar results? They look delicious!
Christine
Hi Diane - I've only ever made them on the grill, but I think roasting the sweet potatoes in the oven is the next best option. To roast, simply slice the sweet potatoes and toss them in the olive oil and spices as directed. Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and roast for 18-20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush the sweet potatoes with BBQ sauce 1-2 minutes before the end of the cooking time and place them back in the oven until the BBQ sauce caramelizes a bit.
Just as with on the grill, the potatoes should be soft, but not mushy and can be eaten on their own or served on a sandwich (I love them with coleslaw). Hope that helps! 🙂
Diane
Perfect! Thank you! Can't wait to try them!