Effortless Grilled Potato Planks: The Easiest No-Pre-Cook Recipe for Crispy & Tender Potatoes
Prepare to fall in love with these incredibly simple grilled potato ‘planks.’ They are remarkably easy to prepare, pair perfectly with almost any meal, and consistently deliver a delightful combination of crisp edges and wonderfully tender interiors. For more quick and healthy recipe ideas like this, make sure to explore our Quick Healthy Recipes section.
This recipe for grilled potato “planks” quickly became one of our family’s most cherished ways to enjoy potatoes, especially during the warmer months. The beauty lies in its simplicity: just slice, season generously, and toss them onto the grill alongside your favorite vegetables and meats. Before you know it, dinner is effortlessly complete. The resulting potatoes are bursting with flavor, boasting inviting smoky grill marks, and infused with delicious seasonings. Each bite offers a satisfying crunch on the edges, perfectly contrasting with their soft, fluffy centers.
The Secret to Simplicity: No Pre-Cooking Required!
You might wonder, what makes this grilled potato recipe stand out from the myriad of others? The answer is incredibly straightforward: there’s absolutely no time-consuming pre-cooking step involved. Unlike many recipes that instruct you to parboil or partially cook potatoes before grilling, our method takes the potatoes directly from slicing to the grill.
This innovative approach came about quite serendipitously. One day, I simply decided to grill potatoes, unaware that most existing recipes would insist on a pre-boiling step. To my delightful surprise, they turned out absolutely fantastic! This discovery eliminated an unnecessary and time-consuming step, aligning perfectly with my philosophy of simple and easy cooking. Since then, I’ve stuck with this method, and I’m thrilled to share it with you!
We call them “planks” because it seemed the most fitting description for these thin, substantial slices. Feel free to call them slices, grilled potatoes, or whatever you like – just be sure to give this technique a try. I’m confident you’ll find it as revolutionary and delicious as we do!
Choosing the Best Potatoes for Grilling
While most potato varieties can work for this recipe, some yield better results than others due to their starch content and texture. Waxy potatoes, such as red or yellow varieties, tend to hold their shape well when sliced thin and grilled, offering a slightly creamier interior. Russet potatoes, being starchier, can become wonderfully fluffy inside but might require a bit more attention to prevent them from becoming too dry or crumbly if sliced too thin. Regardless of your choice, ensure the potatoes are firm and free of sprouts or blemishes. Washing them thoroughly before slicing is crucial, as we’ll be leaving the skins on for added texture, nutrients, and rustic appeal.
Perfectly Slicing Your Potato Planks
The key to successful no-pre-cook grilled potato planks lies in consistent slicing. Aim for approximately 1/4-inch thick slices, cut lengthwise along the potato. While perfect uniformity can be challenging without specialized equipment, try your best to maintain an even thickness. Potatoes that are too thick will take much longer to cook and may burn on the outside before the inside is tender. Conversely, overly thin slices might char too quickly or fall through the grill grates. A sharp chef’s knife or a mandoline slicer (with caution!) can help achieve the desired consistency. Remember to trim off the very ends of the potatoes, as these pieces are often irregular, cook unevenly, and can easily slip through the grill.
Mastering the Seasoning for Maximum Flavor
I’ve discovered that the simplest and most delicious way to season these potatoes is with a good quality all-purpose spice rub, applied after a light brush of olive oil. Our homemade Amazing Basic Spice Rub is a fantastic choice, offering a balanced blend of savory and aromatic notes that perfectly complement the natural sweetness of the potatoes. However, the beauty of this recipe is its adaptability. Feel free to unleash your creativity with seasonings!
- Classic & Simple: A generous sprinkle of coarse sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a touch of garlic powder and onion powder is always a winner.
- Smoky & Spicy: Add a pinch of smoked paprika and a dash of cayenne pepper for a flavorful kick.
- Herbaceous: Mix dried rosemary, thyme, and oregano with your salt and pepper for an aromatic profile.
- Mediterranean Twist: Combine dried dill, lemon zest, garlic powder, and a hint of sumac.
- Cheesy Goodness: After grilling, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese pairs wonderfully with garlic and parsley.
The olive oil is essential not only for helping the seasonings adhere to the potato planks but also for preventing sticking on the grill and promoting those beautiful, crispy golden-brown exteriors.
Grilling Like a Pro: Step-by-Step Guide
Once your potato planks are seasoned, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet or a large platter. This makes them easy to transport to the grill. This is often my favorite part of any grilled recipe: handing the seasoned tray to the designated grill master (in our case, it’s usually Brian!). There’s something truly satisfying about the sizzling sound and the aroma of food cooking outdoors.
(And yes, if you’re wondering about the weather in the photos – it was August, and Brian was wearing a sweatshirt under a grey, sprinkling sky. Welcome to summer in Oregon! Just last week, it was 105 degrees, so you never quite know what you’ll get.)
Grilling Instructions:
- Preheat the Grill: Start by heating your grill to high. This ensures the grates are hot enough for those coveted grill marks and prevents sticking.
- Reduce Heat & Place Potatoes: Once hot, immediately turn the heat down to low. Carefully place the potato planks on the grill grates in a single layer, ensuring they don’t overlap.
- First Side: Close the lid and grill for approximately 3-5 minutes. The goal here is to achieve distinct grill marks and for the potatoes to begin softening.
- Flip & Continue: Using tongs, carefully flip each potato plank. Close the lid again and grill for another 3-5 minutes.
- Check for Doneness: Around the 6-minute mark (total grilling time), begin testing the potatoes for tenderness. Insert a fork into the center of a plank; it should slide in easily with minimal resistance.
- Manage Uneven Cooking: Since it’s challenging to slice every potato plank exactly the same thickness, some will inevitably cook faster than others. As planks reach desired tenderness, simply move them to the upper warming rack of your grill. They can stay warm there while any remaining planks, or other foods you’re grilling (like the onions you see in the photo), finish cooking. This strategy ensures everything is hot and ready at the same time. This is exactly what Brian tells me he does, and it works like a charm!
- Final Check: Continue cooking any remaining potatoes, checking them frequently, until they are all perfectly tender and have beautiful grill marks on both sides.
Seriously, I really do enjoy this grilling process, especially when someone else is at the helm!
Serving Suggestions & Perfect Pairings
And there you have it! A plate full of delicious, perfectly grilled potato planks. Once you try this method, you’ll undoubtedly find yourself making these often. They boast a lovely crisp exterior, a smooth and creamy interior, and are seasoned just right to enhance their natural potato flavor.
And yes, if they happen to be cooked by someone else, they always taste extra good!
These grilled potato planks are incredibly versatile. Serve them alongside classic burgers, juicy sausages, grilled chicken, or any of your favorite grilled meats. To complete a truly effortless outdoor meal, pair them with easy grilled vegetables like these. Everything cooks on the grill, minimizing cleanup and maximizing your enjoyment of the beautiful weather.
Don’t forget the essential condiments! Our homemade honey-sweetened ketchup is always a hit with kids (and adults too!), while the Addictive Tomato Chutney offers a more sophisticated, flavorful punch for the grown-ups. These delicious sauces elevate the potato planks, making them even more irresistible!
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Easy Grilled Potato Planks Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 potato per person red, yellow, brown, or any variety
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 to 3 teaspoons all purpose spice rub or seasonings of choice: salt, pepper, paprika, garlic & onion powders, cayenne, etc.
Instructions
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Wash and cut the potatoes in about 1/4″ slices lengthwise. Try to make the slices all the same width for even cooking.*
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Lay the planks in one layer on a cookie sheet and brush one side with a little olive oil. Sprinkle with seasonings, turn and repeat on the other side with the oil and spices.
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Heat your grill on high.
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Turn the heat to low while adding the potatoes to the grill in a single layer, then turn the heat up, close the lid and grill about 3-5 minutes (or until the potatoes have grill marks). Turn and grill 3-5 more minutes before checking each potato and removing any cooked planks to the warming level.
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Continue cooking until all potato planks are cooked through.
Notes
Nutrition
Other Grilling Recipes You’ll Love:
- Easy Grilled Vegetables – A Perfect Warm Weather Side Dish
- Greek Style Grilled Beef Lettuce Wraps
- Grilled Shrimp and Vegetable Tacos with Chipotle-Yogurt Sauce
- Thai Grilled Pork and Vegetable Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing
Note: This recipe was originally published in 2009 and has since been thoughtfully updated with new photos, improved formatting, and a convenient printable recipe card. Enjoy the enhanced experience!