Nothing quite beats biting into an ear of BBQ corn on the cob. Juicy grilled kernels, slathered in BBQ seasoning, are one of our favourite side dishes - perfect to accompany that grilled steak or burger. Here's how to grill corn to perfection and make your backyard BBQ one to remember.
How to grill corn on the cob
The path to great grilled corn starts at the grocery store. Look for ears with bright green husks (the leaves around the kernels), and sticky brown or gold silks (those are the hair-like tassels on the cob). The corn kernels should be plump and evenly spaced. Avoid cobs with dry or brown husks, dried-out tassels, or missing kernels.
Getting your corn grill-ready
When you get the corn home, you can prepare it for grilling. Remove the husks and silks if you want a cleaner look.
We often leave the husks on for a more rustic appearance. To do that, peel back the husks and remove just the silks before rewrapping the corn in the husks. If you do this it's important to soak the corn in water for 15 minutes to prevent them from burning on the grill.
You can optionally pre-boil the corn for a few minutes. While not mandatory, this makes it extra tender before grilling. Pre-boiling is one reason why this Bacon Wrapped Grilled Corn with Maple Bacon Butter recipe tastes so good - along with that delicious, sweet-savoury maple bacon, of course.
While you heat your grill to medium-high, season the pre-boiled corn. This is where you can get creative. A little salt and pepper with some butter or olive oil alone will create flavourful corn, but experimenting with seasonings can supercharge your meal.
A little seasoning is all it takes to transport your corn around the world. Check out our Brazilian Grilled Corn recipe, which uses nothing more than Brazilian Style BBQ Seasoning to add a mild, smoky heat to fresh corn cobs.
Grilling your corn on the cob
Once the grill is up to heat, the corn can go on. If husked, grill it for about 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally until charred and tender. If you wrapped it in foil or left the husks on, grill it for about 15-20 minutes before removing the foil.
The seasoning doesn't have to stop once the corn is off the grill. You can add other sauces and herbs to give your grilled corn an extra layer of flavour. This Smoky Ranchero Grilled Corn already uses butter along with our Smoky Ranchero Seasoning to give pre-boiled corn a deliciously spicy, smoky taste. But then it adds a drizzle of sour cream mixed with lime juice, along with cilantro for a fresh, sharp flavour.
Our Grilled Corn with Spicy Honey Butter recipe also applies the flavour both before and after the grill. Combining tangy cider vinegar with Vegetable Seasoning in the butter infuses flavour into the corn kernels on the grill. Then, brushing on a mixture of butter, Liquid Honey combined with fiery Ground Cayenne Pepper after grilling provides some sweet heat that gives every kernel a little extra bite.
For a Mexican-themed dish, try this Chipotle Mango Mexican Style Street Corn recipe. It blends sour cream, mayo, and our delicious Chipotle Mango Seasoning for a fruity, spicy grilled corn side that will leave your taste buds tingling.
How to serve grilled corn
Now you've mastered seasoning and grilling, try experimenting with some imaginative ways to serve corn. We like it cut into cross-segments and skewered so that you can cook it along with other veggies on the grill. This is how it's served in this Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Kebabs recipe. The corn isn't the star of the show in this recipe, but some of its best work is done in supporting roles.
These grilled corn recipes will give your friends and family alike a new-found appreciation for corn on the cob. So get your buttering brush, break out the seasonings, and prepare for some char-grilled joy around the BBQ this summer.
More Mouthwatering Vegetable BBQ Recipes
Eager to get some more veggies on the grill? Here are some other ideas.
- BBQ Jackfruit Sliders
- Grilled Portobello Mushroom Panini
- Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Mushrooms and Onions
- PEI Herb and Onion-Spiced Grilled Tornado Potatoes
