Try this all-star, easy to follow recipe for Grilled Sweet Potato Fries. Sweet salty, spicy and limey, these fries are addictive with flavor. These fries are a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional French Fries.
What You Can Expect From This Recipe
Grilling Sweet Potato Fries is an easy delicious side dish made special with a Southwestern flair. You’re going to love grilled sweet potatoes … every crispy smoky slice.
I’ve been wanting to try grilled sweet potato fries, and this recipe from Bobby Flay fell in my lap. Perfect with flavor, lime and cilantro are a perfect combination for the sweet flavor of sweet potatoes.
Parboiling sweet potato wedges before hitting the grill makes grilling time minimal.
Grilling adds a smoky flavor that complements their natural sweetness and creates a crispy texture that will have you coming back for more.
Grilled sweet potato fries are a must-try for anyone who loves sweet potatoes. Plus, they are a great alternative to traditional French Fries.
Sweet potatoes are loaded with nutrients, such as beta-carotene, fiber, and potassium, making them a great addition to any meal.
Let’s take a look:
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make grilled sweet potato fries, you will need these simple ingredients:
- Two medium sweet potatoes.
- Cilantro.
- Lime for zesting.
- Oil: canola, vegetable or avocado
- Chile Powder: New Mexico Chile Powder, or Cayenne
Ingredient Substitutions
Cilantro: For those who don’t like the flavor of cilantro, substitute fresh thyme or rosemary.
Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy
- Step 1: Slice the potatoes into eight wedges. Place them in a Dutch oven and cover with water. Par-boil the potatoes until almost done, but still firm. Let them cool before proceeding.
- Step 2: In the meantime, mix 1 tablespoon salt, the lime zest and chile powder in a small bowl
- Step 3: Brush the potato wedges with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Heat grill to medium high. 350 – 400 degrees. Grill until golden brown on all sides (including the skin) and just cooked through, about 1 ½ minutes per side.
- Step 4: Transfer to a platter or sheet pan and immediately season with the salt seasoning mixture and sprinkle with cilantro. Serve immediately.
Sweet potatoes can be hard to cut, here’s a tip for keeping those fingers safe.
Pro Tip Knife Skills: Always keep the hand that’s gripping the knife clean and dry. A wet hand could cause slips resulting in nicks or worse a nasty slice on your hand.
FAQ’s
No. Most sweet potatoes we find in our markets are shorter than yams, have a bulging shape in the middle with tapered ends. They have a dull orange skin with bright orange meat. You can also find white sweet potatoes that have a dark red skin, are longer and skinnier and have white meat. A true yam is an entirely different species. They are starchy and not very sweet. I like this article from Eating Well, which explains the differences in length. Select an orange sweet potato for this recipe.
Yes. The sweet potato skin is totally edible and you’re missing out on health benefits if you peel and toss it. Example, the fiber content of a sweet potato mainly comes from the peel. And eating sweet potato skins increase the intake of antioxidants. Source: HealthLine
You don’t have to, but I highly recommend it. A partially cooked sweet potato wedge will cook more evenly than if just tossed on the grill. If you cook them raw, the edges will cook quicker, and possibly burn before the thicker center is cooked. You want sweet potato fries to be tender in the middle with a crispy exterior.
Could be a couple of things. Don’t crowd the sweet potatoes on the grill. Leave plenty of space so air circulates well around each wedge. Fries that are touching each other will cause a steaming effect and soggy fries. Another reason could be that the grill wasn’t hot enough before you started the cooking process. Getting a good sear at the beginning is a key.
Sweet potato fries are best enjoyed right off the grill. They will lose their crispy texture if cooked too far in advance.
Dip For Sweet Potato Fries
These sweet potato fries are delicious on their own, but if you’re thinking about taking their deliciousness a step further… check out these ideas for dips for sweet potato fries..
- Chipotle Mayo: This recipe already comes with a Southwestern theme, so ramp things up with some chipotle mayo.
- Jalapeno Aioli: Spice things up even more with Jalapano mayo.
- Fry Sauce is a popular dipping sauce for any type of fry. Take a look at my recipe that I use for my Steakhouse Burgers.
- Blue Cheese Dressing: The earthy flavor of blue cheese dressing works well for these sweet potato wedges.
- Red Chili Buttermilk Ranch Dressing: It’s not just for salads. Give this one a try.
Variations
Customize the spices to your liking. Try adding cumin or smoked paprika for an extra kick of flavor.
Tips for Success:
- Be strategic with cutting those sweet potato wedges. Try your best to cut the wedges in equal sized wedges. This will insure even cooking.
- Don’t crowd those fries once they hit the grill. Allowing air to circulate around them will result in a crispier experience.
- Use a grill basket, pan or griddle to avoid any unfortunate slips through the grates.
What to serve with Grilled Sweet Potato Fries
We found these to be a delicious side dish for grilled chicken and a fresh salad. A wonderful summer meal. Or how about these suggestions.
- Maple Glazed Grilled Chicken Kabobs, the sweet and savory flavor of these grilled chicken kabobs is an excellent compliment for grilled sweet potato fries.
- The Best Grilled Pork Tenderloin, The sweet chile glaze is absolutely wonderful!
- Pollo Asado, Mexican Grilled Chicken.
- How about a side for your favorite burger, like this Jalapeno Steak Sauce Burger.
In Conclusion
With this easy recipe, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious sweet potato fries anytime, anywhere. Give them a try at your next BBQ or weeknight dinner, and you won’t be disappointed!
More Potato Recipes You Might Like
And if you’re looking for more Summer side dishes, don’t miss my side dish category, you’ll find lots of recipes, including the most popular potato recipe on my site for Garlic Cumin Marbled Potatoes.
If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.
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Bobby Flay Grilled Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes unpeeled
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 Tablespoon lime zest
- ¼ teaspoon New Mexico Chile Powder or cayenne
- ¼ cup canola oil
- Freshly ground pepper
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro Don't like cilantro, garnish with tiny fresh thyme leaves.
Instructions
- Slice the potatoes into eight wedges. I like to slice a small portion off the ends of the potato. Then cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, then again down the middle to make quarters. Halve those quarters. Place them in a Dutch oven and cover with water. Par-boil the potatoes until almost done, but still firm. This will only take a few minutes. Let them cool before proceeding.
- In the meantime, mix 1 tablespoon salt, the lime zest and chile powder in a small bowl.
- Preheat a grill to medium high, 350 – 400 degrees. Or place an oiled cast-iron grill pan over medium heat on your stove-top.
- Brush the potato wedges with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until golden brown on all sides (including the skin) and just cooked through, about a couple of minutes per side.
- Transfer to a platter; immediately season with the salt mixture and sprinkle with cilantro.
Notes
- Be strategic with cutting those wedges. Try your best to cut the wedges in equal sized wedges. This will insure even cooking.
- Use a grill basket, pan or griddle to avoid any unfortunate slips through the grates.
- Don’t crowd those fries once they hit the grill. Allowing air to circulate around them will result in a crispier experience.
Nutrition
Bobby Flay’s Grilled Sweet Potato Fries … It’s What’s for a Summer Side Dish
Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and a lifelong student of home cooking. I hope to inspire you try to cook as often as you can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.
Love this. Simple and delicious. I typically roast my sweet potato fries-never thought about grilling. Definitely making this recipe!
Velva
Awesome! Next up for you is plank grilling sweet or mashed potatoes. It’s a fun presentation.
I’m loving that idea Chris!
I hear tales of people that can’t stand Bobby Flay and maybe they have some personal experience to back it up; but I have to tell you, his recipes have never disappointed me. Ever. I’m so loving sweet potatoes, wondering why for years we relegated to November only!
Uh-oh is that Bobby getting a “Martha” reputation? 🙂 re: Sweet Potatoes, maybe it’s only been in the last years that we’ve come up with better storage methods for sweet potatoes so we can have them year round???
Lovely recipe! But please try the Himalayan pink salt from Sustainable Sourcing (here’s their website: https://secure.sustainablesourcing.com ). I just got some and absolutely LOVE the flavor explosion it brings to everything I use it in! And I LOVE Bobby Flay, too!
I have some pink Hawaiian salt and love it. Thanks for the heads up for the Himalayan. And thanks so much for stopping by and the comment.
Jus became a follower. I found you through “a year on the gril”l and I can’t wait to go through your posts.
Yay! And Thanks for stopping by.
Those sound…and look…really good! I don’t think I’ve ever made a Bobby Flay recipe. Hmmm.
Whaaaaaaaaat? Never made a Bobby Flay? 🙂
Like you, I’ve always found Bobby’s recipes to be reliable. We like grilled sweet potatoes and have been looking for something different to do with them and this will fit the bill. That’s a good looking plate of food.
And it was a good plate of food. Thanks Larry. 🙂
I may not have a grill, but I am definitely roasting these babies up. Lime and cilantro are the perfect flavor pairing for sweet potatoes!
Roasting sounds good to me, or even a stove top grill pan.
How cool is that. I would have never thought to grill sweet potatoes. You got great grill marks Lea Ann, just like Bobby would do. I just read in a magazine that he’s been on the air fifteen years. He’s so cute it’s hard to believe he’s even that old. Love ya Bobby.
Sam
Who would have ever thought that a sweet potato would be the food to get me my first “grill mark” compliment. 🙂
I’m having friends from England for dinner on Sat. night and plan to barbeque chicken and was wondering what special little side I could serve. Thanks so much for solving my dilemma. This looks wonderful.
Hope they turn out gorgeous!
Are you watching Food Network Star? I’m loving this season!!
I am not watching Food Network Star… Will have to find it and check it out. I don’t watch a huge amount of television and currently am glued to True Blood and Weeds new seasons.
I just had a kids’ cooking class on Monday where we did everything on the grill (from salad to dessert!) and that included grilled potato slices. Never thought to try sweet potatoes, so thanks for the heads up on this recipe!
Thanks Michele! One of my favorite salad is a grilled romaine. LOVE it.
I put sweet potatos on the grill…whole with the skins on, rubbed with a little oil. I will definitely try Bobbie’s recipe with your suggestions.
I’m liking that idea Karen. Thanks for stopping by and the comment.
Just love Bobby!!! Interesting about the par boiling… i just slice em thinner and cook on the grill.
Excellent job with the grill marks!!!
beautiful plate
Dave
I agree Dave, I think I did white potato wedges and don’t think I pre-cooked. I was pretty proud of those grill marks. 🙂 Always good to hear from you.
Very cool, I’d never thought to do that! I have something new to grill!
It’s a must Greg.
I’ve never grilled potatoes other than in a foil packet. Must try these!
You must! 🙂