An easy, breezy side for a summer day, it’s Grilled Corn on the Cob in Foil.
Back when our boys were little, and we needed to wear them out every day, we’d take advantage of a nice summer evening and head outside. Often, we’d drive about 30 minutes outside of town to our favorite county park, which has a large lake, picnic shelters, and lots of open space. We’d pack the little bikes and scooters and some outdoor toys. Since most of the picnic shelters had grills, we’d also grill our supper. However, these were simple grilled meals—we had to keep an eye on the boys, who, once let loose into that open space, were like a couple of unleashed retrievers after they’d been in the house all day! So the grilled meals usually involved hot dogs and grilled corn on the cob, along with some sides like fresh fruit and chips. Simple but just right.
While summertime is the perfect time to enjoy a local park or your backyard grilling, you don’t want fussy dishes that take all your time and energy. In our case, with the little kids running around, being able to grill the corn alongside the hot dogs is just what we needed. The best way to master this grill multi-tasking is by grilling corn on the cob in foil.
You will love grilled corn on the cob in foil because it takes minutes to prep, is largely hands-off once you get it going, and features super easy cleanup. All you need is your ears of corn, some butter, and your foil. So simple! Especially in the summer months when corn is super fresh and at its peak, this method of cooking lets the flavor shine through. Even if you’re just staying home and eating indoors, it’s a great way to easily cook your ears of corn without heating up your kitchen.
No Outdoor Grill?
Whether there are restrictions where you live or you just do not own an outdoor grill, no problem. You can easily make grilled corn on the cob in foil indoors. The piece of equipment that you do need is an indoor grill pan. These are often made of cast iron, and you can usually pick one up at most home goods stores or online. Simply let it preheat to medium-high on your stovetop before placing the wrapped ears of corn on it. Once you do that, you just follow the recipe as directed.
FAQs & Tips
How to Make Ahead and Store
Grilled corn on the cob in foil can be a make-ahead recipe. You can prep the corn through Step 5 and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. When ready to grill, set the corn out to come to room temperature while the grill preheats. Alternatively, you can prepare the entire recipe as directed, let the ears cool, and store them in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 3 days.
How Often Should I Turn the Corn on the Grill?
When I grill the corn, I set a timer for 20 minutes but then set another timer for 5 minutes. Every 5 minutes, I quickly rotate the corn. That way, all of the sides get cooked evenly, and you can avoid burning. Although a little charring is tasty, nobody wants undercooked corn on one side and burnt rows of kernels on the other.
Add Some Flavor
If you have the time, there are a couple of easy flavor boosts you can add in. The simplest is adding a teaspoon of garlic powder to the softened butter. When finished, sprinkle a little chopped parsley on the corn. Another easy add-in is chili powder and cumin. Mix in 1 teaspoon of chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin with your salt and pepper. After grilling, top with a bit of Mexican Crema and a little lime zest. This Tex-Mex spice blend makes for great corn on Taco Tuesdays.
Serving Suggestions
While there is nothing wrong with grilled corn on the cob in foil served alongside your basic hot dogs, there are lots of possibilities for other grilled meals. For instance, Easy Grilled Pork Loin is fabulous: tender and moist and with hardly any extra steps. Another family-friendly option is Grilled Chicken Drumsticks. Finally, Grilled Barbecue Chicken is a quintessential summertime favorite, and is the perfect accompaniment to this corn on the cob recipe.
How to Grill Corn on the Cob in Foil
Ingredients Â
- 4 ears corn husks and silk removed
- 4 tablespoons butter softened
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
InstructionsÂ
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 400 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Lay each ear of corn on a large sheet of aluminum foil.
- Spread 1 tablespoon of softened butter over each ear of corn.
- Sprinkle each ear with salt and ground black pepper.
- Wrap the aluminum foil around each ear of corn, sealing the edges tightly.
- Place the wrapped corn on the grill grates and cook for 20 minutes, turning occasionally.
- Carefully remove the corn from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes before unwrapping. Serve warm.
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