How to Cook a Perfect Grilled Baked Potato
Not only are grilled baked potatoes delicious and an easy side dish, they are perfect for those days when you already have the grill going. It’s easy to toss them on the grill with a good cut of steak and you have a full meal in no time!
An easy way to get a meal on the table without dirtying your kitchen is to make it on the grill. Summer is the perfect time for utilizing your grill!
Grilled baked potatoes are often forgotten when people are thinking about meal time and easy sides to go with their meat of choice.
One of the best things about these potatoes is that they only require three simple ingredients and you can make them in a variety of ways.
Chop the potatoes into large pieces and enjoy foil packet potatoes. Or, wrap the entire potato with foil and grill them as a traditional baked potato.
I prefer to bake them whole since it means less meal prep and mess for me in the kitchen!
Let me share just how easy it is to get the perfect grilled baked potatoes!
Why You’ll Love Grilled Baked Potatoes
- They’re convenient! – Summertime is grilling time. You already have the grill going, so rather than work in the kitchen making side dishes, why not just pop some potatoes on the racks?
- They’re family friendly! – No two people top baked potatoes the same way. By providing the potatoes and an array of toppings, the whole family can decide for themselves how they want their potato to taste.
- They’re healthy! – Potatoes often star in some of the most unhealthy foods, but a potato that remains in it’s skin and isn’t deep fried is actually a very nutritious vegetable!
- They’re budget-friendly! – The simple ingredients in this potato recipe can all be gotten very cheaply.
Tell Me About These Easy Grilled Potatoes
- Taste – A hint of sea salt helps showcase the potato flavor without overpowering it.
- Texture – It’s the perfect blend of crispy skin and fluffy insides that the microwave method just can’t beat.
- Ease – The best thing about baked potatoes is that it’s a side that requires next to no prep!
- Time – You’ve already got the grill going, so with no added time, why not bake some potatoes as well?
How To Pick The Best Potato For Grilling
- Type of Potato – Russet potatoes are the default, and for good reason! But if your grilled potato is going to be the side dish of your meal, consider what will pair best with your entree. Maybe a pile of baby potatoes would be best, or the unique flavor of a sweet potato.
- Size of Potato – What size you choose isn’t as important as making sure that each potato is the same size. You don’t want one potato to still be hard inside while the other is getting a thick, charred skin!
Types Of Potatoes For Grilling
Not all potatoes are created equally! Each kind of potato has a different delicious flavor, and slightly different cook times.
- Russet Potatoes – Possibly the best grilling potatoes! They’re more absorbent than other types, so they will take on more of that charcoal flavor from the grill. They also have a higher starch content than other types, which leads to a particularly fluffy interior.
- Baby Potatoes – These types, such as Yukon golds or red potatoes, will cook much, much more quickly than Russet potatoes due to their tender skin and the fact that they are a smaller potato. Consider bunching them together into foil packets, rather than trying to wrap each other individually.
- Sweet Potatoes – The higher sugar content of sweet potatoes mean that they’re best cooked on the upper rack of the grill.
Ingredients For The Perfect Baked Potato
- Russet Potato – Russet potatoes are the perfect match for this cooking process!
- Olive Oil – Olive oil is my go-to for a great potato, but you can use any neutral oil you have on hand.
- Sea Salt – The oil and salt work together to make a crispy and flavorful skin.
- Aluminum Foil – The foil not only traps steam, but also traps heat, helping the potato to cook faster.
How to Make Grilled Baked Potatoes
- Preheat Grill – The first step of any grilling recipe is to get that grill hot! Foods stick to a cold grill. Warm your grill up to a medium-high heat.
- Prepare Potatoes – After washing them, poke potatoes slightly with a paring knife or fork, about 10 pokes spaced evenly. Rub olive oil into the potato skin, and then lay them on squares of aluminum foil. Sprinkle the tops with a pinch of sea salt, then wrap the potatoes up securely in the foil.
- Grill Potatoes – Place the wrapped potatoes on your grill. If you have a particularly hot grill, use the upper rack to keep them from being too close to the flames. Otherwise, they can be on the main level of the grill if it’s at a medium heat.
Delicious Toppings For Baked Potatoes
One of the most fun parts of baked potatoes is getting to top them to your heart’s content. Here’s some of our favorite toppings for you to try!
- Green Onions
- Bacon Bits
- Sour Cream
- Italian Seasoning
- Garlic Powder
- Cheddar Cheese
Tips For Grilled Baked Potatoes
- Microwave The Potatoes – Microwave the clean potatoes for 4 to 5 minutes prior to adding the oil and salt. This will soften them a bit before grilling, and help them cook more quickly. Wrap them in the aluminum foil, and then cook them on the grill for 30 minutes, according to the recipe.
- Preheat Your Grill – Potatoes can take a while to cook. Shave off a few minutes by getting the grill preheating while you prep the potatoes.
- Wrap With Double Aluminum Foil – The aluminum foil keeps the potato skin from drying out. A double layer of aluminum foil will keep steam from escaping at the edges!
- Choose Equal Sized Potatoes – Unless you’re going to check the temperature of each potato individually, it’s best to choose potatoes that are all the same size. This way, you know that when one is done, all are done. And you avoid burnt potatoes with leathery skins!
Should You Poke Holes In Baked Potatoes?
Absolutely. It’s actually dangerous not to.
Potatoes have a lot of moisture inside of them. That moisture will reach boiling point while the potato is being cooked, but the skin of the potato will trap the steam inside.
Once enough steam builds up, the potato can actually explode, spraying hot potato everywhere.
How Do You Know If Grilled Baked Potatoes Are Done?
When a potato wrapped up in tin foil, you can’t very well check to see if they’re done by cutting into it with a fork.
Instead, use a meat thermometer to check for the right temperature.
The center of the potato should read 205 degrees F. How long if takes to reach that temperature will depend on the size of your potato and the heat of your grill.
Make sure to rotate them every 10 minutes as you wait for them to cook through completely.
What To Serve With Grilled Baked Potatoes
Although a well-topped potato can be a main dish in itself, baked potatoes are the perfect side dish to any meal.
Here are some ideas of what to pair with grilled baked potato:
- Pork Chops
- BBQ Chicken
- Sirloin Steak
- Smoked Ribs
Grilled Baked Potato Recipe
Grilled Baked Potato
Equipment
- 1 grill
Ingredients
- 1 medium Russet Potato
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Wash potatoes well and dry them.
- Poke the potatoes 4-5 times to pierce the skin.
- Rub the outside of the potato skin with the oil or butter.
- Sprinkle with sea salt and wrap with aluminum foil.
- Preheat grill for 10 minutes to medium high heat (375° to 450°F).
- Grill for 30-40 minutes, rotating every ten minutes, until tender.
Notes
- Russet Potatoes – Possibly the best grilling potatoes! They’re more absorbent than other types, so they will take on more of that charcoal flavor from the grill. They also have a higher starch content than other types, which leads to a particularly fluffy interior.
