Cooking Corn On The Cob On The Grill

Grilled Corn on the Cob is definitely something to get fired up about. It's amazing how a little smoke and a little char enhances the sweetness and brings out the true flavor of corn.

A traditional grilled corn recipe is served slathered with butter and sprinkled with salt. It goes perfect next to grilled classic hamburgers, steak, grilled chicken or BBQ chicken. The pure taste of summer!

Grilled corn shown on a baking tray with salt

How to Grill Corn

There are different schools of thought on how to make the best grilled corn. Depending on what we are making, we use them all! Below I'll share how to grill corn in the husks and/or peeled corn.

Pre-Soaking Corn:

If you're grilling corn in the husks, it's a good idea to soak the husks. This keeps them from burning and also adds a bit of moisture so the interior steams as it grills. This technique yields juicy, tender kernels bursting with corn flavor in every bite.

Peel back the husk, but leave it attached. Thoroughly clean the corn silk.
Replace the husks and soak the whole cobs in clean water.
Place the cobs on the grill, and turn every few minutes for about 15 minutes total.

How Long Do You Have to Soak Corn Before Grilling? If you use the husk-covered method above, then soaking will ensure moist corn. Soak for a minimum of 30 minutes, and up to 6-8 hours to get the husks fully saturated.

Steps for making grilled corn

Or Corn Husks Removed:

A second option for cooking corn on the grill is to remove the husk entirely! This method is good for a quick easy fix and often results in a bit more char.

I prefer this method for dishes like Grilled Corn Salad or Mexican Elote where you'd like to have a bit more char and smoky flavor in the recipe.

To Grill Corn without Husks: Place on the grill, turning to a new side every few minutes until steaming hot and tender.

Flavored Butters for Corn

Corn on the cob tastes terrific with plain or homemade garlic butter. To bump up the flavor in your fresh corn grill, blend softened but not melted butter with some of these options:

Ancho chili powder, grated Cojita cheese, salt, and pepper, for a taste similar to Mexican Elote.
Fresh basil, salt, and pepper.
Old Bay seasoning (especially good with shrimp tacos).
Sugar and cinnamon (excellent for turning super sweet corn into a dessert!)

Corn on a table with the silk removed

Can You Grill Frozen Corn?

Grilling frozen corn on the cob is a great way to have corn all year long! It will keep in the freezer for several months.

Corn that has been frozen is partially cooked (blanched), so you shouldn't overcook it. Wrap each cob in aluminum foil and place on the grill, turning every few minutes for 10 minutes or until heated through.

More Corny Recipes

Easy Boiled Corn on the Cob – summertime classic
Microwave Corn on the Cob – quick for making 1-4 cobs
Fresh Corn Salad – tangy and full of summer veggies!
Frito Corn Salad – the perfect side for any potluck!
Mexican Corn Dip – party perfect.

Grilled Corn on the Cob

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 4 servings

A little smoke and a little char-blackening enhances the sweetness and brings out the true flavor of corn. This traditional grilled corn recipe is served slathered with butter and sprinkled with salt.

▢ 4 ears of corn
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil if direct grilling
▢ 2 tablespoons butter
▢ salt & pepper to taste

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To Grill Corn in Husks

Peel back the husks of the corn without detaching them from the bottom of the cob. Remove silk and fold husks back into place to cover the corn.
Place corn in a sink or large bowl of water to soak for at least 15 minutes (it can soak overnight if needed).
Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
Remove corn from the water and shake off excess so it's not dripping. Place cobs on the grill and cook 15-20 minutes, turning occasionally.
Once corn is cooked to your liking remove from the grill, peel off husks and serve with butter, salt & pepper.

To Direct Grill Corn

Preheat grill to medium heat.
Remove husks and silk from corn. Brush each piece with olive oil.
Place corn directly on the grill and cook 10-15 minutes turning occasionally.
Remove from grill and serve with butter, salt & pepper to taste.

Nutrition information does not include butter or olive oil as these can be added to taste.

Calories: 77 , Carbohydrates: 17 g , Protein: 3 g , Fat: 1 g , Saturated Fat: 1 g , Sodium: 14 mg , Potassium: 243 mg , Fiber: 2 g , Sugar: 6 g , Vitamin A: 170 IU , Vitamin C: 6.1 mg , Iron: 0.5 mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

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Grilled Corn shown with a title

Grilled Corn in husks shown with a title

Grilled Corn being prepared and grilled shown with a title