Grilled Potatoes in Foil

These grilled potatoes in foil are tender, seasoned, and totally hands-off: just seal the packet and walk away! There’s no need to parboil using my go-to method for this easy grilled side dish.

Want an easy grilled side dish that requires no effort? You can truly “set it and forget it” with these grilled potatoes in foil. Throw the potatoes and onions in a foil packet and concentrate on the rest of the meal. In 30 minutes, they’re done!

My classic grilled potatoes recipe comes out crispy like French fries, but you have to parboil them first and then baby them on the grill. Grilled potatoes in foil are something different altogether. They come out moist and creamy, flavored with herbs and butter and taste just like the ones you grew up eating (at least, to me!).

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s truly hands-off. No parboiling, no flipping, no watching the grates grates. You can use the rest of your grill for things that actually you: like grilled salmon or grilled chicken.
Timing is forgiving. Anywhere from 25 to 35 minutes works depending on how big you chop and your grill temperature.
Cleanup is almost nothing. Just toss the foil and rinse the bowl!

Ingredients You’ll Need

These grilled potatoes in foil are perfect for when you’re making a grilled dinner and want to throw on an easy side dish that you can forget about. I love grilled potatoes, which take just 15 minutes to grill, but they require boiling in advance and turning on the grill. With these, you’ll just throw them in the packet! Here are the ingredients you need for grilled potatoes in foil:

Potatoes: I use a mix when I can: the colors look pretty when you open the packet. What you want is a waxy potato, like most red and yellow varieties, not a starchy potato like a russet (use that for a baked potato on the grill).
Onion: Pick any color: white, yellow, or red.
Olive oil and butter: The combination brings big flavor, but you can skip the butter for vegan
Fresh herbs: I like using fresh thyme and oregano.
Garlic powder, salt and pepper: All you need for the perfect seasoning.

How To Grill Potatoes In Foil

You might think grilling potatoes in foil is simply throwing potatoes into aluminum foil and grilling them. You’d be right! There’s really no trick to this recipe. However, it’s nice to know the grill temperature, approximate timing, and level of seasoning. That’s where we come in! Here are the basic steps (or jump to the recipe below):

Preheat a grill to medium high heat. That’s 375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature for most grilled vegetables.
Chop the veggies and throw them on foil with the seasonings. See the recipe below. Place a piece of foil on top, seal the seams, and poke holes to let the steam escape.
Grill the packet for about 30 minutes. Test with a fork to assess doneness.

Seasoning Variations to Try

The fresh thyme and oregano we used in this recipe bring an herbaeous flair to these potatoes in foil! As we ate them, Alex and I kept exclaiming: wow, these are so good! But there are so many other ways to season them. Here are some ideas:

Important: Keep in mind many of these blends have salt included. Use ¼ teaspoon of the salt below, then sprinkle with the seasoning.

Old Bay. Old Bay and potatoes are a classic combo! Use store bought or our homemade Old Bay.
Cajun or blackened seasoning: Add big flavor with Cajun seasoning (spicy) or Blackened Seasoning (not spicy).
Ranch seasoning. I mean, who doesn’t want potatoes with ranch? Try this Homemade Ranch Seasoning.
All purpose seasoning. Originally we made this All Purpose Seasoning for fish, but WOW is it good! We highly recommend giving it a try.

Serving Suggestions

There are lots of grilled veggies to throw on the grill alongside these potatoes in foil to make them a meal! Here are a few of our favorites we’d recommend:

Proteins on the grates like grilled salmon, grilled shrimp, chicken burger, or portobello burger
Corn like grilled corn, corn in foil, and grilled corn salad are always favorites
Veggies like grilled onions, grilled peppers, grilled sweet potatoes, grilled zucchini, grilled green beans or grilled broccoli
Mushrooms like portobellos or mushroom skewers are a nice meaty contrast
Desserts work on the grill: I like grilled desserts like grilled pineapple, grilled apples, or grilled bananas!

Dietary Notes

This grilled potatoes in foil recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to parboil the potatoes first?

No. The whole point of this method is that the foil traps steam and cooks the potatoes through without any pre-cooking step.

Can I prep the packet ahead of time?

You can assemble the packet up to a few hours in advance and refrigerate it until you’re ready to grill. Let it come closer to room temperature for about 15 minutes before it hits the grates so the cook time stays consistent.

Can I cook these in the oven instead?

Absolutely. Roast at 425°F for about 30 to 35 minutes. You’ll lose the slight smokiness, but the texture is nearly identical.