I've written dozens of recipes that use sweet potatoes. I love them. But I've NEVER grilled them until recently. Turns out they take really well to smoky, charred edges, creamy centers, and a drizzle of something that's sweet & spicy. These grilled sweet potato wedges will be your new burger side kick and a fun alternative to sweet potato fries.
If you're worried about burning the sweet potatoes before they cook through -- that's a legit concern. I made batch after batch and figured out the best way to get these to turn out beautifully every time. I've got your back. It's easier than you think.
Why You'll Love These Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges
- Grilling sweet potatoes is unique and something most people don't do!
- They'll add variety to your grilling sides.
- They can hang out in your grill while you cook other things. Love multitasking.
- They go well with a lot of different toppings. If you don't like hot honey, I'll give you other suggestions.
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes (aka Yams?)
You'll need sweet potatoes that have straight sides for easier and more uniform cutting. Round, bulbous ones may be really thick on the edges and make it harder to cook evenly.
The Hot Honey
Hot honey is having a moment right now, and I'm loving it. If you've never had it, it's honey that has been infused with some sort of spicy element, like chili peppers. I have a similar recipe here on my blog for a Cilantro Hot Honey, if you're wanting to DIY this.
Hot honey is available in most grocery stores these days. I'm particular to Trader Joe's hot honey which has a mild heat level. Hive House Hot Honey a new one that I'm loving! They infuse theirs with Calabrian chilis and it has a slight vinegary taste. It's different from other hot honeys I've tried and REALLY good on these sweet potatoes. Also pizza.
The Oil + Salt
You'll want to use heat-safe oil, like avocado for these, since you'll be putting them on the grill. I use only salt because I want the sweet potato & hot honey to shine here.
How to Make Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges
- Preheat your grill to medium heat (roughly 450F)
- Cut sweet potatoes into wedges (see details below!)
- Toss them in oil and salt.
- Grill on direct heat, covered, for 3 minutes per side to get some good grill marks.
- Move the wedges to indirect heat and cook for another 8-10 minutes, covered, depending on how thick your potatoes are. Check on them after 8 minutes or so and adjust heat as needed. They should be fork tender.
- Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with hot honey.
How to Cut Sweet Potato Wedges
Guess what? No par-boiling or pre-cooking needed! You're very welcome.
I usually prefer to peel my sweet potatoes, but in this case I'd recommend leaving the skin on. It gives them stability when you're flipping them on the grill so they don't squish when you pick them up with a pair of tongs.
Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, then cut them in half lengthwise and keep cutting to form wedges. Try to make them as uniform as possible. It's hard with sweets because their sizes and shapes vary wildly.
Grilling the Wedges
I lay mine right on the grill. You can also use a grill pan if you prefer or if you're worried about losing them between the grates.
I leave them there for a short time to give them grill marks and then move them to indirect heat to make sure they're cooked and soft all the way through. Try not to move them around too much since they'll get really soft.
Adding the Hot Honey
Drizzle on the hot honey right after they come off the grill and serve! If you like, you can sprinkle on some finishing salt (like flaky sea salt), but really... they're super delicious as is.
Tips for Perfect Grilled Sweet Potatoes
- Try to find potatoes with straight sides and aren't too round. This will make them easier to cut into uniform wedges.
- Try to get the wedges roughly the same size for even grilling.
- If your potatoes are getting too dark too fast, turn the heat way down. Grills can get really hot, really fast. Especially if the cover is on.
Serving Ideas
What goes with grilled sweet potatoes? Um... LOTS of things.
- Great alongside BBQ grilled chicken, pork tenderloin, smash burgers, bison burgers
- Serve as part of a summer BBQ spread alongside potato salad, grilled zucchini, marinated cucumbers
- Pairs well with a simple green salad, cucumber coleslaw, or sweet kale salad.
Variations
- Add a spice rub before grilling (like my sweet potato fry seasoning or a basic steak seasoning)
- Air fryer version: If you're more of an air-fryer than a griller, toss them in your air fryer at 375F for 15-18 min.
- Swap out the hot honey for a different drizzle! My burger sauce is REALLLY good on sweet potatoes. Some homemade ranch dressing or my roasted red pepper sauce or green goddess dip would be delicious, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
NO! For sure not. If you cook them gently on indirect heat for most of the grilling time they'll cook all the way through, but keep an eye on them and turn the heat down if they start to get too dark too fast.
Well, the (shocking) truth is... despite the labels in the produce department, they're ALL sweet potatoes. White sweet potatoes and orange sweet potatoes. Due to a mislabeling that happened during a shipment over 100 years ago, sweet potatoes became known as "yams". True yams, however, are very large, very starchy, and very hard to find in the US.
Honey that has been infused with some kind of spicy element -- usually from chilis or chili oil.
Yes! Bake them at 375F in your air fryer for about 15-18 minutes. Or at 425F in your oven for 20-ish minutes.
Keep the skins on. It helps give them structure so they don't turn to much in your tongs. Also don't fiddle with them too much. Flip them once. Then move them to direct heat and then leave them alone.
Yes! They are. Make sure to use an oil with a high smoke point and don't let them get too charred.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
Here are a few more of my favorite sweet potato recipes!
- Sweet Potato Fries (plus the best Sweet Potato Fry Seasoning!)
- Sweet Potato Chips
- Shredded Sweet Potato Hash Browns
- Foil Packet Sweet Potato Tacos (great for camping!)
- Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Chili-Orange Butter
- Vegetarian Paleo Sweet Potato Chili
If you make one of my recipes, I'd love to see! Post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!
Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges with Hot Honey
Thin sweet potato wedges grilled until tender and caramelized, then drizzled with hot honey for a sweet, smoky, just-a-little-spicy finish. Five ingredients, no parboiling, and it all happens right on the grill alongside whatever else you're cooking.
Ingredients
- 2-3 medium sweet potatoes
- 2 Tablespoons Avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
- 3 Tablespoons hot honey
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium heat (about 450F)
- Leave the skins on the sweet potatoes and cut them in half lengthwise. Then cut them into wedges lengthwise. Try to make them as uniform as you can with the wide parts no bigger than an inch.
- Toss the sweet potatoes in the oil and salt.
- Lay the wedges on the grill. Cover and cook for 3 minutes. Flip them and cook another 3 minutes covered. By now they should have some good grilled marks.
- Move the potatoes to an indirect heat area on your grill. Either over a portion of the grill where the flames aren't running or on that little rack above the main rack -- if your grilll has one.
- Cover and cook for another 8-10 minutes. Check them after 7-8 minutes. If they're getting too dark and aren't cooked through, then turn the heat down. They should be fork tender and very soft with some crisp edges.
- Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with hot honey before serving.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 3-4 wedgesAmount Per Serving Calories 290Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 2gUnsaturated Fat 19gSodium 833mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 0gSugar 26gProtein 0g
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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