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A baked potato on the grill? You bet! Here’s how long to cook it and when to choose this grill method for summer entertaining.
If you love a great big potato topped with all the fixin’s, this one’s for you. Here’s how to make a baked potato on the grill! It’s not as crazy as it sounds. Grab a few potatoes, wrap them in foil and bake them up whole. The method works beautifully, and these spuds are easy to throw on while you grill up the main course. It’s summer entertaining at its finest! Or, find some hearty toppings and make them into a main dish (baked potato bar, anyone?).
Why make a baked potato on the grill?
Why make a baked potato on the grill? We’re glad you asked. Grilled potatoes are cut into wedges and cooked right on the grates, kind of like the grilled equivalent of French fries. A grilled baked potato is wrapped in foil and cook whole on the grill, just like a normal potato cooked in the oven! Here’s when to use this method:
- Baking a potato on the grill does not pick up a charred flavor from the grill, because it’s wrapped in foil. If you’re looking for smoky flavor, go to Grilled Potatoes instead.
- Basically, it tastes just like a baked potato! Use this method when you have your grill fired up and love the flavor of a classic baked potato.
- It takes about 1 hour to cook. One pro to this method: you don’t have to soak the potatoes like with traditional grilled potatoes.
How to grill baked potatoes: a few tips
How long do baked potatoes take on the grill? 50 to 60 minutes on medium high heat. This is much longer than most grilled vegetables, because you’re grilling them whole. But it’s about on par with a normal baked potato in the oven! Here’s what to know about how to grill baked potatoes, or jump right to the recipe:
- Preheat the grill to medium high: that’s 375 to 450 degrees.
- Brush the potatoes in melted butter (or olive oil) and wrap in foil. Prick the potatoes all over before and after you place them in the foil.
- Grill 30 minutes, then flip and grill 20 to 30 minutes more. You’ll want it to be tender when pierced with a paring knife. Or, here’s a better way to tell when it’s done…
Internal temperature to look for
Here’s a great way to tell when a baked potato on the grill is done: use a quick read thermometer or probe! Sometimes it can be hard to tell if a potato is tender or flaky enough. This is a sure-fire way to make sure this potato is full cooked.
- Grab a quick read thermometer or grill probe and insert it into the thickest point in one of the potatoes.
- The internal temperature should be 210 degrees Fahrenheit! This results in a moist and fully cooked potato.
Toppings for a baked potato on the grill
You can top a baked potato on the grill just like you would a potato in the oven, of course! Throw on butter, salt and pepper, or go crazy with some of these fun ideas! Some of them make it a side dish, others turn it into a grill main! How fun would a grilled baked potato bar be? Just saying! Here are some baked potato toppings to try:
- Old Bay: a sprinkle of Old Bay goes a long way!
- Garlic butter: mince garlic and add it to melted butter with some chopped herbs
- Sour cream and chives: add sour cream and chopped chives, or cashew cream for vegan
- Pesto: Bright green basil pesto is deliciously classy
- Grilled vegetables: add all your favorite grilled vegetables on top
- Chili: Chili baked potatoes are classic
- Bean dip: Why not add cheesy bean dip over the top?
- Fajita veggies: Turn them into fajitas with grilled fajita veggies
Want a faster grilled potato option?
Don’t want to wait an hour for your baked potato on the grill? (We feel you.) Here’s an alternative option: Grilled Potatoes in Foil! Chop up the potatoes and throw them in foil with onions and herbs. It tastes amazing and it only takes 30 minutes to grill up. Head to the linked recipe for more!
More grilled vegetable recipes
There are so many other tasty ways to eat grilled vegetables all season long! Whatever you’ve got, you can throw it on for a grilled side dish incredible charred flavor. Here are some of our master methods:
- Try Grilled Sweet Potatoes instead
- Go classic with Perfect Grilled Corn on the Cob or a rainbow of Grilled Peppers
- Thread them all onto Grilled Veggie Kabobs
- Make huge and meaty Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
- Grab beautifully green Grilled Broccoli, Grilled Broccolini or Grilled Asparagus
- Try Grilled Zucchini, Grilled Tomatoes or Grilled Onions
This baked potato on grill recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Baked Potato on the Grill
A baked potato on the grill? You bet! Here’s how long to cook it and when to choose this grill method for summer entertaining.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: Grilled
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 2 tablespoon salted butter, melted (or olive oil)
- Kosher salt and pepper, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450 degrees).
- Prep the potatoes: Wash the potatoes and pierce them all over with a fork. Place each potato on a sheet of foil and brush it all over with melted butter. Wrap the potatoes in the foil, and pierce the foil several times with a fork.
- Grill: Place the foil wrapped potatoes directly on grill. Cook 30 minutes, then flip them. Cook 20 to 30 minutes more depending on the size, until tender when pierced with a paring knife or until the internal temperature is 210 degrees Fahrenheit when measured with an instant read thermometer or grill probe. (As a rule of thumb, 1-pound potatoes should take roughly 1 hour to grill: but it varies based on size, exact grill temperature, and other foods that may be on the grill.) Season with additional butter, salt and pepper, or other toppings as desired.
Sounds like a great recipe. Couple questions, isn’t it a good idea to nuke the spuds first to reduce baking time next dont you get pieces of foil in the potatoes if poked through the foil ?
Thanks for the recipe, I might tweek it abit but will try today with grilled fillet minion and some cheese broccoli.
The potatoes turned out great! Thanks for the recipe!!
You’re welcome!
Let us know if you have any questions!