Grilled Potatoes
Updated Jul 29, 2026
Grilled potatoes tossed with olive oil and herbs, cooked until crispy outside and tender inside. This is an easy grilled side that goes with almost anything.
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One of my favorite grilling accessories is hands down the grill basket, and grilled potatoes are probably the thing I make in it most. They’re super simple, and letting them crisp up on the grill makes the baby potatoes taste better than when I roast them in the oven. They get a little char on the outside from the grill, even in the basket!
Recipe Testing Notes
For the past 10 years, I’ve tested every recipe before sharing it with you! These notes give you a peek into the process of developing this recipe.
Getting the potatoes cooked through without burning the outside was the whole challenge. My first round I had the grill up too high and the cut sides charred fast while the centers were still hard. Dropping to medium-high and keeping the lid closed was the fix, because the closed lid traps the heat and basically turns the grill into an oven, so they cook through evenly instead of just scorching on the surface.
The size of the potatoes mattered more than I expected. When I used bigger potatoes or cut them unevenly, some were done while others were still raw in the middle. Sticking with baby yellow potatoes cut in even halves got them all tender at the same time, in about 20 minutes total.
The last thing was learning to leave them alone. Early on I kept flipping and moving them, and they never got any color. Laying them cut-side down and letting them sit for the first stretch before flipping once is what gave me those crispy, charred faces. A grill basket or a sheet of foil also kept the smaller ones from slipping through the grates, which I learned the hard way. Seriously soo good.
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
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Grilled Potatoes Ingredients
- Baby potatoes: I use baby yellow potatoes, but you can use any type you like. Small baby potatoes get crispier all around and cook faster than larger ones. Look for potatoes with thin skin; the thinner the skin, the crispier they’ll get. Halve them so they cook more quickly and try to keep the pieces close in size. For larger baby potatoes, quarter them so they cook at the same rate as the smaller ones.
- Olive oil: This coats the potatoes and helps the seasoning stick. You can also use avocado oil.
- Spices: Salt, garlic powder, oregano, dried thyme, paprika, and black pepper make up the seasoning for these grilled potatoes. Toss everything really well so the spices coat all sides of the potatoes rather than settling at the bottom of the bowl. You can also try Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, or Lebanese 7-spice seasoning.
How to Make Grilled Potatoes
These step-by-step photos walk you through how to make grilled baby potatoes. For the full ingredient list and detailed instructions, head to the recipe card below, or skip straight to the → Grilled Potatoes Recipe
1. Season the potatoes
Add the halved potatoes to a large bowl with the olive oil, salt, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, paprika, and black pepper.
2. Toss to coat
Mix everything together until the potatoes are evenly coated with the oil and spices. I use my hands to make sure the seasoning gets all over!
3. Add potatoes to grill basket
Spread the potatoes in a grill basket in a single layer so they have enough contact with the heat to brown. If you don’t have a grill basket, you can make grilled potatoes in aluminum foil.
4. Grill until fork-tender
Grill with the lid closed, flipping the potatoes partway through so they brown on more than one side. They’re ready when a fork slides easily into the centers and the outsides have browned spots.
Full Grilled Potatoes Recipe
Grilled Potatoes Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 pounds baby yellow potatoes halved
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- chopped parsley for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the potatoes, olive oil and seasoning, and toss well to combine.
- Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
- Place the potatoes on a grill basket or aluminum foil in a single layer. Grill for 10 minutes with the lid closed, then flip the potatoes and grill with the lid closed until the potatoes are fork tender, about 10 more minutes.
- Serve immediately with fresh parsley, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Recipe Variations
- Garlic potatoes: Toss the finished potatoes with 1 finely grated garlic clove while they’re still hot. Do it after grilling so it doesn’t burn on the grill.
- Parmesan potatoes: Toss the hot potatoes with ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan right after they come off the grill so the cheese sticks to them.
- Lemon herb potatoes: Add 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest after grilling, along with the chopped parsley.
Recipe Tips
- Boil the potatoes before grilling. This step is optional, but if you have time to boil the potatoes first, I would. It softens the outside crust, which lets the olive oil get into the inside cracks of the potatoes and form a perfect crust on the outside!
- Preheat the grill basket with the grill. A hot basket starts browning the potatoes as soon as they hit the surface instead of slowly warming up with them.
- Keep the grill lid closed as much as possible. The trapped heat helps cook the potatoes through while the hot grill basket browns the outside. I only open it when I need to flip them or check for doneness.
- Flip thoroughly, not just once or twice. I move the potatoes around so different cut sides make contact with the basket. That gives me more browned edges instead of one dark side and one pale side.
Serving Ideas
- Serve with chicken: I like grilled potatoes with a simple chicken main like Grilled Dijon Chicken, Pecan Crusted Chicken, or Pesto Grilled Chicken.
- Pair with seafood: For a seafood dinner, I serve the grilled potatoes with Grilled Cod, Air Fryer Greek Salmon, or Grilled Fish Tacos.
- Add a side salad: I like something fresh alongside the seasoned grilled potatoes, like Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad, Watermelon Feta Salad, or Strawberry Arugula Salad.
Troubleshooting
You can peel them before grilling if the skins are thick, tough, or blemished, or if that’s your personal preference. Otherwise, it’s not necessary.
No, but I find it helpful because it keeps the potatoes from falling through the cracks of the grill. If you don’t have either of those things, you can just place the potatoes directly on the grill grates.
The grill basket may be overcrowded, which traps steam around the potatoes. Spread them into a single layer with some room between them and make sure the grill and basket are fully preheated before adding the potatoes.
The grill may be running too hot, especially if the potatoes are on the larger side. Keep the lid closed so the potatoes cook with both direct and surrounding heat, and cut larger potatoes into smaller pieces before grilling so they cook through at the same rate.
Make sure the potatoes are thoroughly coated with olive oil and avoid trying to move them too early. Once the cut sides have browned, they should release more easily from the basket.
Comments
question! how long would I boil the potatoes if I wanted to do that before placing them on the grill and do I boil them whole or cut in half? thank you I’m definitely going to try these tomorrow
Hi! I would cut the baby potatoes in half first, then boil them in salted water for about 6–8 minutes, just until they’re starting to get tender but not fully cooked. Drain them really well, let them steam-dry for a few minutes, then toss with the olive oil and seasonings before grilling. Since they’ll be partially cooked, they’ll likely only need about 5–7 minutes per side on the grill, just until tender and nicely browned. Hope you enjoy!
Absolutely wonderful! Delicious, easy and beautiful! Perfect for company!
Yay, so happy you enjoyed it!! Thank you!
WOW! GREAT FLAVOR AND EXCELLENT DIRECTIONS FOR PREP. WE TRIED THE LAST NIGHT AND MY WIFE’S FIRST COMMENT WAS “THESE ARE BETTER THAN ANYTHING WE’VE TRIED!”
WAY TO GO!
Thanks so much, Kevin! Glad you guys enjoyed them!
Will definitely try them out 👌🏻👌🏻
Can’t wait to hear what you think!