Corn on the cob is an easy and delicious addition to any BBQ this summer and this Grilled Corn with Herb Butter is a great way to use up leftover herbs and feed hungry guests at the same time. Mint, parsley, basil, use what ever you have and mix it with some butter and garlic and smother it on corn before wrapping it up and putting it on the BBQ grill.
Cooking corn on the BBQ is the best way to cook it in our opinion. A little bit of char and smoke really brings out the sweetness of the corn. These are a must side dish at any summer BBQ and they are cheap to make too. Nothing screams summer quite like grilled corn on the cob!
If you are looking for some other ways to eat sweetcorn, then why not try our easy Air Fryer Corn, simple Sweetcorn Fritters, delicious Sweetcorn Salsa, or our zingy Mexican Pasta Salad?
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Why You Will Love It
- Quick - It takes less than 5 minutes to prepare this and then 30 minutes to cook on the grill, and it can cook whilst everything else is cooking.
- Easy to double - You can double or triple this recipe if you are making it for a lot of guests at a BBQ.
- Can be made in advance - You can cover the corn in the herb butter and then keep it in the fridge until you are ready to put it on the BBQ.
- A good way to use up leftover herbs - Pretty much any herbs go here, so it's a great way to use up whatever you have left in your fridge. Go with leafy herbs over woody ones.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Sweetcorn ears - We use fresh sweetcorn ears for this and then cut them in half to have 4 pieces. Make sure that you remove the husk well before adding the butter.
- Butter - This is rubbed all over the sweetcorn to create an amazing sauce. We use unsalted butter and then salt it to taste.
- Herbs - This is a great way to use up leftovers herbs. We used basil, parsley and coriander (cilantro), but any leafy (rather than woody) herbs will work.
- Garlic - Freshly crushed is best, however you could use crushed garlic in a jar to save some time. Make sure that it is crushed really well, almost like a paste, as this will ensure even distribution in the herb butter.
- Salt and pepper - Season to taste. We like to use a generous pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
- Goat's cheese - This is totally optional, but we love crumbling some goats cheese on top when serving. The creaminess of the goats cheese goes so well with the creaminess of the corn.
Variations
Herbs - If you are growing herbs this year, then chances are they are going to be taking over your garden before long. I don't think you will ever be short of recipes that use a lot of herbs, but you can never have too many, right?
This recipe is a great way to use up herbs, as it uses basil, parsley and mint. But you could use dill, chives or coriander too. I wouldn't recommend using woody herbs like thyme or oregano though.
Spices - If you love food with a bit of spice, then there are a few things that you can mix into the garlic butter to give it a bit of a kick. Add some chipotle paste or red chilli flakes.
Toppings - Once you have cooked all your corn on the barbecue, serve it up on a platter and drizzle all the butter leftover in the foil on top of it so none of it is wasted.
Sprinkle over any leftover herbs and then to make the dish that little bit better, crumble some soft goats cheese on top. You could even add a squeeze of lime for a nice fresh summer flavour. Parmesan is also good grated over the hot corn.
Step by Step
- Step 1: In a bowl, mix together the butter, fresh herbs, garlic and salt and pepper.
- Step 2: Rub the butter mixture over the corn and then put each piece on a square of aluminium foil.
- Step 3: Wrap the foil up so it is sealed and put them on the BBQ for 30 minutes, turning half way.
- Step 4: Take them out of the foil and put them on a platter. Sprinkle them with more herbs and the goat's cheese.
Serving Suggestions
This is a great side dish to serve up at a BBQ, so it goes with all the usual BBQ foods like burgers, sausages and skewers. Why not try it with our Vegetable and Halloumi Skewers, Cajun Chicken Burgers, Hidden Vegetable Beef Burgers, Honey and Lime Chicken or Peri Peri Chicken.
If you are looking for some other side dishes that will go well with this grilled corn, then why not try our Garlic Spring Greens, Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli, Easy Hasselback Potatoes, Garlic Smashed Potatoes or Little Gem Salad.
Extra Tips
- Pick the freshest corn that you can find - this will ensure that it is nice and sweet.
- Try not to overcook the corn, as it will start to become quite chewy.
- Add a kick of heat by sprinkling a few red chilli flakes just before serving.
- If you make too much, you can slice to corn off and keep it in an air tight container for a couple of days.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is always best cooked fresh, however if you make too much of it that you can slice all the corn off and put it in an air tight container. It will then be good to add to salads or tacos for the next couple of days.
Yes, you can slice all the corn off and store in a freezer bag for up to a month.
You can put it on a baking tray in a preheated oven and heat through for around 5 minutes to warm it up.
Yes, as long as you make sure that there is no cross contamination, then this can be gluten free.
If you use a plant based butter (or swap it for oil) and leave the cheese out, then this can be vegan.
No, you don't have to, and keeping them on will actually prevent them from burning and can trap in the moisture. But, we actually like the char on the corn.
Yes it can. Follow the steps to prepare and simply cook in the oven for 30 minutes at 220°C/425°F/Gas 7.
More Vegetarian Side Dish Recipes
If you’ve tried this grilled corn on the cob recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
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Recipe
Grilled Corn with Herb Butter
Ingredients
- 2 Sweetcorn ear - leaves removed and each ear cut in half
- 2 tablespoon Butter
- 1 handful Mixed fresh herbs - (we used basil, parsley and coriander - but you can use any)
- 2 Garlic clove - crushed
- 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper
- 20 g (0.75 oz) Soft goats cheese - crumbled
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together 2 tablespoon Butter, 1 handful Mixed fresh herbs, 2 Garlic clove and 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper.
- Rub the butter mixture over 2 Sweetcorn ear and then put each piece on a square of aluminium foil.
- Wrap the foil up so it is sealed and put them on the BBQ for 30 minutes, turning half way.
- Take them out of the foil and put them on a platter. Sprinkle then with more herbs and 20 g Soft goats cheese.
Recipe Tips
- Pick the freshest corn that you can find - this will ensure that it is nice and sweet.
- Try not to overcook the corn, as it will start to become quite chewy.
- Add a kick of heat by sprinkling a few red chilli flakes just before serving.
- If you make too much, you can slice to corn off and keep it in an air tight container for a couple of days.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Aneel Gupta says
This Grilled Corn with Herb Butter recipe sounds amazing! I love the simplicity and the idea of using leftover herbs. The variations and serving suggestions are super helpful too. Perfect for a summer BBQ. Thanks for sharing!
Susan says
Scrolled through the reviews while waiting for these to cook and was surprised how many people rated without having tried the recipe! Feels like the average rating is skewed because of it. Struggled deciding on a rating myself - these didn’t taste bad by any means, but honestly were bland. I loaded them with the suggested herbs and topped with feta, but the corn really had no noticeable flavor. As my father in law likes to say, “the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze.” Next time we’ll stick to just regular buttered corn and enjoy our simple dish! :)
Dannii Martin says
Thanks for your rating. Lots of people rate the idea, not just the results. I am a bit confused about your comment about the flavour. If you loaded the corn with herbs and feta, then it should have a lot of flavour. Unless your herbs were old and you didn't use real feta. Even without anything added, corn still has lots of flavour just grilled, so adding these extra ingredients would add flavour. Hope that helps!
Tara says
Such a fantastic use for corn and fresh herbs! Looks absolutely amazing with the addition of the goat cheese too.
Garcinia Cambogia Herbs says
wow, nice BBQ recipes. I Really like these type of articles.
nutralyfe Regain says
Wow! It looks delicious! I love how you wrapped the corn in foil and the herbs you used.
Cecilia Keinapel says
This looks absolutely delicious and I would love to try make this myself! You are so talented :-)