It isn’t summer without sweet, smoky Grilled Corn on the Cob! This recipe is a tutorial on how to grill corn using 3 different cooking techniques.  Learn how to grill corn in the husk, in foil, or with the husk removed!

Grilled corn on the cob with butter and lime

One of the ingredients that I look forward to the most in the summer is corn.  It’s crisp, sweet and I love how versatile it is.

It’s truly easy to prepare oven roasted corn, but during the warmer months I prefer to make air fryer corn on the cob or this smoky Grilled Corn on the Cob.

I love prepping a batch of grilled corn to eat as-is with grilled burgers, tequila lime chicken, or cut the corn off the cob to toss into my Santa Fe salad!

There’s really no wrong answer. 🙂

Grilled corn on the cob with melted butter and parsley

Why you’ll love this recipe:

  • You’ll learn how to make grilled corn on the cob in foil, in the husk, and with the husk removed quickly and easily.
  • Recipe yields perfectly tender grilled sweet corn every single time.
  • It’s extremely versatile and can be eaten right off the cob or used in a number of different dishes.

Recipe ingredients

The corn is the star of this recipe — the remaining ingredients can be customized to suit what you have on hand or special diets that you might have.

Corn on the cob with husk partially removed

Ingredient notes

  • Corn. Use your favorite variety of fresh corn on the cob. White, yellow and bi-color corn are all great options! You can purchase pre-shucked corn as a time saver, but corn in the husk is the most affordable.
  • Oil. Rub the corn in a bit of oil when cooking corn in foil or with the husk removed. You can also use butter if cooking the corn in foil for added flavor.
  • Optional ingredients. I served my grilled corn with butter, fresh lime juice and chopped parsley, but these are completely optional.

How to grill corn on the cob 

Grilled corn is very easy to make, and there are (3) simple methods to choose from. The results vary slightly, but they all produce perfectly tender, smoky corn on the cob.

Choose from the (3) cooking methods below:

  • Without the husk
  • In the husk with silks removed
  • In foil

How to grill corn on the cob without the husk

In my opinion, the best grilled corn on the cob is achieved by shucking the corn and cooking it in direct heat, or right on the grill. 

Grilled corn on the cob without husks achieves the big smoky flavor that I want my grilled corn to have, and is the best way to achieve a beautiful char.

Pro tip: Remove stubborn silks by rubbing with a paper towel.

How to grill corn on the cob
  1. Remove the husks and silks.
  2. Coat the corn with oil.
  3. Grill for 12-16 minutes over medium high heat, turning every 3-4 minutes until charred on all sides.  

How to grill corn in the husk

If you prefer your grilled corn to have less smoky flavor and don’t care as much about the char marks, this is a good option for you.

Leaving the husks on protects the corn from direct exposure to the heat, and yields corn that’s more tender as it is steamed inside the husk.

The drawback to grilling corn in the husk is that there’s a risk that the silk and/or husk will catch fire. 

I’ve grilled corn in the husk many times without soaking it, and have never encountered flare-ups.  If you’re worried about it, follow the steps below to prevent flare-ups from occurring:

  1. Gently pull back the husk about halfway and remove the silks. 
  2. As an added precaution, soak the corn in the husk after the silks are removed for 10-30 minutes before grilling.  This will add moisture to the husk to prevent flare-ups. 
  3. With the husk pulled back, coat the corn in olive oil and salt, to taste.  Pull the husk back over the corn to cover.
  4. Grill for 15 minutes over medium high heat, turning every 3-4 minutes to cook on all sides.  Check for doneness by pulling the husk back carefully and cook up to 5 minutes longer if necessary.

How to grill corn on the cob in foil

This cooking method is similar to grilled corn in the husk, and is a great option if you’re worried about the husk catching fire.

Grilled corn in foil results in very tender corn as well, as the corn steams inside the foil. 

  1. Shuck the corn and coat with olive oil and salt, to taste, or brush the corn with melted butter.
  2. Grill for 16 minutes over medium high heat, turning every 3-4 to cook on all sides.  Check for doneness, and cook 3-5 more minutes if necessary.
Ears of corn on the grill

FAQs

What’s the best way to grill corn?

There are (3) ways to make grilled corn — in the husk, in foil or without the husk. Each method produces tender, perfect corn on the cob with slightly different results.
Grilling corn in foil or in the husk steams the corn and reduces smoky flavor and char marks. Grilling corn out of the husk produces beautiful char marks and great smoky flavor.

How long to grill corn

Grilled corn takes 12-16 minutes to cook over medium high heat on the grill.  A good rule of thumb is to cook the corn between 3-4 minutes per side.

How to tell when grilled corn is done

When checking grilled corn for doneness, look for kernels that are plump and tender.  You can use a the tip of knife to test a kernel when in doubt.  Some kernels may be slightly shriveled in appearance, but that’s totally fine.

Serving suggestions

There are so many ways to serve grilled corn — it’s such a versatile veg.

Recipe notes

  • Pro tip: Remove stubborn silks by rubbing with a paper towel.
  • If grilling the corn in foil, you can omit the oil and brush the corn with melted butter if desired.
  • Change things up by seasoning your corn with your favorite spices or rubs, butter, herbs or pesto sauce!
  • Use pre-shucked corn for methods 2-3 to save time.
Ears of grilled corn on a white plate with lime

More corn recipes you’ll love:

Did you try this recipe?  If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram

Grilled corn on the cob with butter and lime

Easy Grilled Corn on the Cob

Easy Grilled Corn on the Cob is a tutorial on how to grill corn on the cob using 3 different cooking methods.  Learn how to grill corn in the husk, in foil, or with the husk removed!
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Ingredients

  • 4 ears corn
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil if cooking without husk
  • salt to taste
  • Butter, lime wedges and chopped parsley, for serving optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat the grill to medium high heat.

Method 1: Grilled corn on the cob with husks on:

  • Peel back the top part of the husk and remove the silks to prevent them from catching on fire on the grill. Rub the corn with the olive oil and season with salt, to taste, then pull the husk back over the corn to cover.
  • Cook for 15 minutes, over medium high heat, turning every 3-4 minutes to cook on all sides.
  • Shuck and serve!

Method 2: Grilled corn cooked in foil:

  • Shuck the corn and coat with olive oil and salt, to taste. Cover in foil and cook for 15 minutes, over medium high heat, turning every 3-4 minutes to cook on all sides.
  • Remove foil and serve!
  • Method 3: Grilled corn without husk or foil
  • Shuck the corn and coat with olive oil and salt, to taste.
  • Cook for 12-16 minutes, over medium high heat, turning every 3-4 minutes or until well charred and cooked on all sides.
  • If the corn is cooking too quickly, reduce the heat to medium.
  • Serve corn on the cob warm with fresh lime juice, a pat of butter and freshly chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Nutrition information does not include butter, lime or herbs as those ingredients are optional.
  • If grilling the corn in foil, you can omit the oil and brush the corn with melted butter if desired.
  • Change things up by seasoning your corn with your favorite spices or rubs, butter, herbs or pesto sauce!
  • Rub the corn with a paper towel to remove stubborn silks.
  • Use pre-shucked corn for methods 2-3 to save time.

Nutrition

Calories: 50kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 74mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Did you try this recipe?Be sure to tag @flavorthemoments with the hashtag #flavorthemoments on Instagram so I can see what you made!

**This recipe was originally published in June 2019. Step by step photos have been added and the text has been modified to include more recipe information.

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