Grilled Sweet Potato Salad
This Grilled Sweet Potato Salad is a potato salad like no other! It’s packed with smoky grilled sweet potato, crumbled bacon, fresh veggies and it’s tossed in a maple bacon dressing. It’s an easy, delicious summer side dish!
Summer may be coming to a close, but my grill is still working over time. It’s so hot out that I’ve been grilling anything and everything.
I’ve almost been living off of grilled vegetables and grilled corn on the cob lately, and I’ve been on a grilled sweet potato kick as well.
This Grilled Sweet Potato Salad is one of the best summer salad recipes because it’s cooked on completely on the grill and it’s super easy to make.Â
Despite the bit of bacon grease in the dressing, this salad is on the healthy side compared to those mayo laden potato salads.
If you prefer potato salad with no mayo, be sure to try my German potato salad and grilled potato salad recipes as well!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- This sweet potato salad is a delicious twist on the classic with smoky sweet potato, crisp veggies, crumbled bacon and a maple bacon dressing.
- It makes a tasty summer side dish for any type of main dish.
- It’s an easy recipe that’s ready in just 30 minutes.
- It’s completely customizable with your favorite veggies or dressing.
Recipe ingredients
This sweet potato salad recipe includes just a few ingredients that you can customize to your liking.
Swap out the veggies or omit the bacon to make this recipe vegan.
Ingredient notes
- Sweet potatoes. Use your favorite variety of sweet potatoes for this recipe. They grill up beautifully when they’re cut into thick rounds. This salad would work well with roasted sweet potatoes if you prefer — just season with salt and pepper!
- Bacon. My favorite way to prepare bacon is in my air fryer. If you don’t have one, cook it using your preferred method and reserve bacon grease for the dressing.
- Veggies. I’ve used fresh bell pepper and green onion, but you can substitute them with your favorite vegetables.
- Dressing. This sweet potato salad recipe includes a maple bacon dressing, but it would also be wonderful with my red wine vinaigrette or your favorite store bought brand.
How to make this recipe
My easy instructions show you how to grill sweet potatoes, then assemble the salad.
They grill up super quickly and you can’t beat that smoky flavor and beautiful grill marks!
Pro tip: The potato salad may be made a few hours in advance — just keep the bacon separate to ensure that it retains its crispness.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Slice your sweet potatoes into 1/2″ thick rounds and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper, to taste.
- Place the sweet potato rounds on the grill and cook for 5-7 minutes per side or until tender and nice grill marks form.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together until emulsified.
- Cut the sweet potatoes into chunks and place in a large bowl with the veggies, bacon and toss with the dressing.
Recipe FAQs
Sweet potatoes are extremely versatile and pair beautifully with a variety of both sweet and savory ingredients.
Examples of sweet ingredients include brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, apples, and oranges, and savory pairings include bacon, onions, bell peppers, hearty greens, cheeses such as feta, parmesan and blue cheese, and a variety of spices such as chili powder, paprika and cayenne pepper.
Cut the sweet potatoes into thick 1/2″ rounds and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over medium high heat for 5-7 minutes on each side until well charred and tender. The potatoes will be begin to blister when they’re done.
Grill or roast the sweet potatoes. Once cooked, tossed with fresh veggies or your desired toppings, and toss with enough dressing to coat.
Serving suggestions
There are so many delicious ways to serve this sweet potato salad with bacon!
- Serve with grilled burgers or grilled bbq chicken at your next cookout. It also pairs well with grilled tomahawk steak!
- Serve as a side dish with air fryer chicken breast or air fryer pork chops on busy weeknights.
- Serve with Instant pot pulled pork or slow cooker bbq pulled chicken for game day! The salad works with air fryer chicken wings and slow cooker bbq meatball subs equally as well.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: The potato salad may be made a few hours in advance — just keep the bacon separate to ensure that it retains its crispness.
- This salad would work well with roasted sweet potatoes if you prefer — just season with salt and pepper!
- Customize this sweet potato salad with your favorite veggies, or make it vegetarian by omitting the bacon.
- If you prefer not to use bacon grease in your dressing, replace it with the same amount of olive oil, or substitute with my red wine vinaigrette.
More side dishes 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 Sweet Potato Salad
Ingredients
For the Grilled Sweet Potato Salad:
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 lbs. sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1/2″ thick rounds
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 slices air fryer bacon crumbled (reserve the bacon grease for the dressing); or cook bacon using your preferred method
- 1 large green onion thinly sliced, both white and green parts
- 1 small bell pepper seeded or chopped (I used half red and half yellow)
For the dressing:
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon reserved bacon grease
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to medium high heat.
- In a medium bowl, toss the sweet potato rounds with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper until the potatoes are well coated. Place the potato rounds on the preheated grill and turn the heat down to medium. Grill 5-7 minutes per side or until each side is well charred and the potatoes are tender (the potatoes will appear slightly blistered when they're ready). Remove from heat and set aside.
- Place the olive oil, red wine vinegar, bacon grease, maple syrup, dijon mustard, salt and pepper in small bowl and whisk to combine.
- When the sweet potatoes have cooled slightly, cut them into chunks or slice width-wise and place in a serving bowl. Add the bacon, green onion and bell pepper and toss with the desired amount of dressing. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pro tip: The potato salad may be made a few hours in advance — just keep the bacon separate to ensure that it retains its crispness.
- This salad would work well with roasted sweet potatoes if you prefer — just season with salt and pepper!
- Customize this sweet potato salad with your favorite veggies, or make it vegetarian by omitting the bacon.
- If you prefer not to use bacon grease in your dressing, replace it with the same amount of olive oil, or substitute with my red wine vinaigrette.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
**This post was originally published in September 2014. The photos, recipe and the text have been updated to include step by step photos and more recipe information.
52 Comments on “Grilled Sweet Potato Salad”
The recipe sounds yummy. I only have one question/comment. I don’t understand step 4: When the sweet potatoes have cooled slightly, cut them into chunks or slice width-wise and place in a serving bowl.
The finished salad does not appear to have been altered in any way from their original shape as rounds when they were grilled….they’ve already been sliced, soo…. ????
other than that, it’s sounds amazing and I can’t wait to try it!
I left them in the original shape as I thought it would look better in photos, but it really doesn’t matter what shape they’re in — that is completely up to you! I’d love to hear how you like the recipe 🙂
This salad is making my mouth water! So many yummy ingredients!
Thank you Zainab!
Looks so delicious!!
Thank you so much!
I totally agree! When I treat myself to bacon, I go big or go home! This salad looks delicious Marcie. Thanks for the tips on grilling sweet potato. Definitely need to try it some time!
I’m glad I’m not the only one! haha Thanks Leanne!
This looks like a superb salad Marcie. I simply love sweet potatoes with vinaigrette and that addition of maple syrup to it is tempting me to make some for my lunch today!
Thank you so much Neha!
I love everything about this salad. Looks incredible!!
Thank you Balvinder!
I need a grill so bad!! This is making me seriously want to buy one but we’re waiting until after we move into the house. Once I do, this is definitely happening!
You’ll be moved in with that grill in no time! 🙂
I like the idea of throwing sweet potato slices on the grill! I actually haven’t broken out my grill yet, not sure why.. that’ll have to change soon!
Thanks Nicole and I hope you get grilling soon! 🙂
This is beautiful, Marcie. My boys love sweet potato so I love that I could grill this up and serve it to the whole family! No one would object to that maple bacon vinaigrette!
We all love it over here — my boys love the bacon of course! Thank you Katherine!
I love this salad! So easy to make ! The new pictures look amazing!
I am the only one who likes sweet potato in my family but that’s okay I would want these all to myself!
The more for you the better! haha
I have never grilled sweet potatoes, but now I feel like I have to! Looks great, Marcie!
I hope you try them soon, Jamie! 🙂
Thanks, Lindsey! Whenever I use bacon, I find it hard not to use the bacon grease in something. It’s a freebie and it makes things taste so incredible. 🙂
I love cayenne pepper with sweet potatoes! This salad has so many amazing flavors! Love it 🙂
Thank you, Christin! 🙂