Easy Grilled Corn

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This Easy Grilled Corn is honestly the easiest grilled corn you will ever make. By grilling the corn right in the husk, you save tons of time preparing your corn, and the corn comes out perfectly cooked with kernels that pop right in your mouth. So put away that pot of water. Once you grill your corn, you’ll never go back to boiling again.

Grilled corn cobs on a wooden serving platter. Text overlay reads "Easy Grilled Corn on the Cob."
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Grilled Corn

Since I’m in the business of BBQ, I like to cook most of my vegetables on the grill. Corn is especially amazing when it is grilled. Not only does it enhance the flavor, but it saves you a lot of prep time. Your days of waiting for a giant pot of water to boil are over. No time spent pulling those stubborn silky strands out between each kernel, beating up your hands and essentially breaking your spirit. Am I being too dramatic? Possibly. But I can’t emphasize enough how great grilled corn tastes (spoiler alert: it tastes freakin’ amazing).

Grilling Corn in the Husk

The secret to easy grilled corn was built right in by friendly Mother Nature: the husk. All of our lives, we were taught to peel the husk off before cooking. No more! When grilling corn, it’s best to grill it still in the husk. Go ahead and toss that corn right on the grill and watch the fire work its magic.

The perfectly packaged corn essentially steam cooks from the heat of the grill and the moisture in the husk. When it’s done, the corn practically peels itself. The silk nearly disintegrates and pulls away from the corn so easily. Easy to grill. Easy to peel. I’m calling this a BBQ win-win.

Husks on grates above charcoals.

How Long to Grill Corn

It takes approximately 30-40 minutes to grill corn. I like to rotate my corn a few times while grilling to ensure it is evenly cooked all the way around, but you are welcome to simply flip once or twice while grilling.

Quick note while grilling: don’t put the corn over a high flame. It will catch fire. The corn inside will still be absolutely delicious (and probably cook a little faster), but you don’t want a mammoth fire in your grill, so just keep the heat settings to medium or lower and you are good to go.

How to Grill Corn on the Cob

Let’s talk all about how to help you achieve gorgeously grilled corn in less than an hour. Simply follow the steps below:

  1. Preheat the grill and prep the corn. Preheat your preferred grill to Medium heat (approximately 375-400 degrees F). Rip or cut off the large ball of silk from the top of the corn. Remove any loose pieces of the husk.
  2. Grill the corn. Place the corn still in the husks directly on the grill grates. Grill for approximately 30-40 minutes, turning occasionally to evenly cook the corn throughout.
  3. Remove from heat and serve. Remove the corn from the grill and place on a serving platter. You can either peel the corn yourself before serving to your guests, or you can allow your guests to peel their own corn before eating. Add your favorite seasonings (butter, salt, and pepper for me, always) and serve.
Corn with husks still attached on a wood cutting board.

Husk on or off?

Grilling corn in the husk is a great way to cook and transport corn to a summer BBQ and still have magically hot corn when everybody is ready to eat. Just load the cooked corn (still in the husk) into an insulated cooler and take it with you. The husks and the cooler will keep the corn at the perfect melt-your-butter temperature until you are ready to serve.

As an added bonus, I have a secret trick to helping you peel corn quickly and easily (with less mess). Cut the stem from the bottom where you start to hit corn kernels. Grab the tip of the corn (where all of the silk is) and peel from the bottom up. All of the silk stays up in the top of the corn and you have a perfect silk-free cob. Of course, you can still make this recipe with the husks off, but it’s not nearly as fun to eat.

Serving Suggestions for Grilled Corn

I like to serve my corn with some simple Kosher salt, black pepper, and butter, so my guests can season to their liking. If you want to get really wide with your corn, then check out this video. I teach you 3 easy compound butter recipes to give your corn an extra, melty later of flavor. Whatever you serve next to your corn, it’s sure to steal the show at your BBQ.

Husked and unhusked ears of grilled corn on a serving platter.

More Grilled Sides

I’m a big fan of making things easier when it comes to preparing food. Grilling your sides while you’re making the main course is a great way to save time and energy. Check out these awesome grilled sides below:

Grilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

Round out your BBQ with this Easy Grilled Corn, and feel free to give the recipe a 5-star rating if you had fun making it. If you want even more easy and delicious BBQ recipes just like this one, then check out the Hey Grill Hey App. I’ve got over 600 awesome recipes you can make for your family. Plus, you can make shopping lists and meal plans, all with a tap of your screen. Becoming a backyard BBQ hero has never been easier.

Easy Grilled Corn

5 from 2 votes
The secret to Grilled Corn is in the husk. The heat of the grill and moisture in the husk steam cook some perfectly grilled corn on the cob.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Servings6 people
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Ingredients
 

  • 6 ears fresh corn still in the husk
  • butter, salt, and pepper if desired

Instructions
 

  • Preheat. Set your grill to medium heat (375-400 degrees F). Prep the corn by ripping or cutting off the large ball of silk from the top of the corn and any loose or hanging pieces of the husk.
  • Grill. Place the corn directly on the grill grate without peeling off the husk. Grill for 30-40 minutes, flipping a few times to ensure the corn is evenly grilled all the way around.
    6 ears fresh corn
  • Serve and enjoy. Remove the corn to a serving platter, and allow the guests to peel their own corn before eating. The husks make a perfect handle so you don't have to touch the hot corn. Top with butter, salt, and pepper if desired.
    butter, salt, and pepper

Nutrition

Calories: 77kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 243mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 168IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

**I originally published this post in July 2015, but recently updated it with more information and helpful tips. However, the recipe remains the same.

About

FOUNDER/BBQ BOSS LADY

Susie is the BBQ Brain behind the Hey Grill Hey website. Her passion for smoked meats and developing fun, new recipes have landed her on the Food Network, cooking turkeys with Shaq, and on a couple of Guinness World Records. When she’s not grilling, she is hanging out with Todd and their three kids, preferably outdoors!

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Recipe Rating




Reader Reviews

9 Reviews

  1. Jeff Hoffman says:

    Try smoking your meat over your corn. The dripping from the meat flow over the corn as it cooks and adds a different level of flavor like you have never experienced!

  2. Kirk N says:

    It’s now my “Go To Recipe “. Love it, thank you!

  3. Matthijs says:

    Wow, excellent! The corn was cooked to perfection, moist and soft but not watery with all the taste still in there! Delicious and easy to peel.
    I made them on a kettle grill with the lid closed. I was wondering: would this also work without the lid?

    1. Hey Grill Hey says:

      It would! It might increase the cook time though.

  4. Jared says:

    I did sweet corn in the husk on my offset smoker with apple wood! Absolutely amazing!!

  5. Popeye says:

    Do you soak your corn before grilling it?

    1. Hey Grill Hey says:

      I don’t! Just straight on the grill!

  6. Karrott says:

    Do you not wash the corn beforehand?

    1. Hey Grill Hey says:

      Nope!