Easy Grilled Corn on the Cob

Name: Easy Grilled Corn on the Cob
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 16 min
Total time: 21 min
Ingredients: 4 ears of corn; 1 tablespoon olive oil (if cooking without husk); salt (to taste); Butter, lime wedges and chopped parsley, for serving (optional)

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by Marcie // June 10, 2019 (updated 9/19/21)

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It isn’t summer without this Easy 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!

close up front view of grilled corn on the cob with butter and lime wedges

One of the ingredients that I look forward to the most in the summer is corn. I grill it weekly, sometimes more than once, and use it in my dishes throughout the week.

Oftentimes I simply eat it as-is, because there’s nothing like smoky, delicious grilled corn on the cob!

I love serving grilled corn with grilled burgers, steak kebabs, or I toss it into my Santa Fe salad!

overhead shot of grilled corn on a platter with butter, lime and parsley

I’ve always loved corn on the cob, but I’d only enjoyed it boiled growing up. Several years ago I started grilling my corn, and I’ve never looked back.

Don’t get me wrong — I would never turn down boiled corn on the cob. It’s just that grilled corn is next level with it’s smoky sweetness and that beautiful char!

No barbecue is complete without grilled corn. 🙂

What’s the best way to grill corn?

Grilled corn is very easy to make, but it’s up to you to decide how to grill your corn.

There are (3) different ways to grill corn:

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.

For me, it’s all about those char marks. 🙂

To grill, simply shuck your corn, and coat in olive oil and salt, to taste.
Grill for 12-16 minutes over medium high heat, turning every 3-4 minutes until charred on all sides.
If your corn is cooking too quickly, reduce the heat to medium once it’s charred.

grilled corn on the cob on a white plate with lime wedges and melted butter

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 my corn on the cob 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:

Gently pull back the husk about halfway and remove the silks.
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.
With the husk pulled back, coat the corn in olive oil and salt, to taste. Pull the husk back over the corn to cover.
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.

overhead shot of grilled corn on the cob on a white plate with melted butter on top

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.

Shuck the corn and coat with olive oil and salt, to taste, or brush the corn with melted butter.
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.

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, which is fine.

Recipe notes

If grilling the corn in foil, you can omit the oil and brush the corn with melted butter.
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.

front view of grilled corn on the cob on a white plate with melting butter on top

See all of my Grilling recipes for more inspiration.

More grilled corn recipes you’ll love:

If you make this recipe I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and rating below, or tag me @flavorthemoments on Instagram!