Imagine biting into a perfectly grilled sweet potato, its exterior caramelized with a luscious cherry glaze that promises to make your taste buds dance with excitement. This isn't just another side dish—it's a culinary adventure that transforms humble sweet potatoes into a gourmet masterpiece that will have your guests begging for the recipe. Whether you're firing up the grill for a summer barbecue or looking to elevate your weeknight dinner, these Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Cherry Glaze are about to become your new obsession.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 cup cherry preserves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Wash sweet potatoes thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels. Slice sweet potatoes lengthwise into 1/2-inch thick planks, ensuring even thickness for uniform cooking.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cherry preserves, olive oil, salt, and black pepper to create a smooth glaze. Set aside approximately 1/4 cup of glaze for final brushing.
- Preheat outdoor grill to medium-high heat (around 400°F), or prepare a gas or charcoal grill with direct and indirect heat zones.
- Brush sweet potato planks generously with cherry glaze mixture, ensuring both sides are evenly coated.
- Place sweet potato planks on the preheated grill's direct heat zone. Grill for 5-6 minutes per side, rotating 45 degrees halfway through each side to create attractive crosshatch grill marks.
- Move sweet potatoes to indirect heat zone if they start to char too quickly. Continue grilling until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork and have developed a caramelized exterior.
- Remove grilled sweet potatoes from heat and brush with reserved cherry glaze. Let rest for 3-4 minutes to allow glaze to set and flavors to meld.
- Transfer to a serving platter, optionally garnish with fresh herbs like chopped parsley or thyme, and serve immediately while warm.
Tips
- Choose firm, uniform-sized sweet potatoes for even cooking and consistent results.
- Slice potatoes to a consistent 1/2-inch thickness to ensure they cook evenly and develop beautiful grill marks.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat to achieve that perfect caramelization without burning.
- Use a clean, well-oiled grill grate to prevent sticking and help create those impressive crosshatch marks.
- Monitor the heat zones carefully—move to indirect heat if the potatoes are browning too quickly.
- Don't skip brushing with the reserved glaze at the end; it adds a final layer of flavor and shine.
- Let the sweet potatoes rest briefly after grilling to allow the glaze to set and flavors to meld.
- For extra flair, consider garnishing with fresh herbs like chopped parsley or thyme just before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 361kcal
Carbohydrates: 73g
Protein: 2g
Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
