• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Rosanna ETC logo
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • About
  • Writing portfolio and press
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Media
  • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Media
    • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Blog posts by Rosanna ETC » Food » Summer Recipes

    Spiced Buttered Corn On The Grill

    Published: Aug 27, 2021 · Modified: Apr 20, 2023 by Rosanna Stevens · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The sight of buttered corn on the grill always makes my mouth water. Charred on the BBQ grill and smothered in a spiced compound butter that's dripping off the warm kernels...it's enough to make me go weak at the knees. It's one of the best BBQ side dishes and a summer staple in my house.

    Buttered sweet corn with melted butter
    Jump to:
    • When is homegrown sweetcorn ripe?
    • Ingredients
    • How to make compound butter
    • How to cook BBQ corn on the grill
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • FAQ
    • Recipe Card

    I like to cook sweet corn on the grill as it gives it that smoky taste and then I'll make a compound butter to smother all over it. Because what can be tastier than buttered BBQ corn? Making compound butter is a really easy way to add finesse to a dish, and elevates this dish from simple to sublime if you're hosting guests.

    When is homegrown sweetcorn ripe?

    Wondering how to know when homegrown sweetcorn is ripe? When you grow corn on the cob in the garden you have to wait for the little tassels that grow out the top of the husk to go completely brown and dried out before you can harvest it. Peel back the green outer leaves and the corn kernels should all be pale yellow (not white) and fully formed and looking plump and juicy. Beware, squirrels and other pests love sweetcorn so protect it with a fruit cage or net or you will end up with nothing come harvest time. They also need a lot of water so make sure you keep them watered especially when the weather is hot and sunny.

    buttered sweet corn dripping in lime coriander spiced compound butter

    This grilled corn on the cob smothered in spiced compound butter is just one of my many summer recipes like this BBQ black garlic chicken that I love serving at summer parties. I often serve grilled corn on the side of various cuts of grilled meat (and it's easy to find cheap cuts of meat for grilling if you're feeding a crowd).

    Ingredients

    There's nothing fancy or complicated that goes into grilled corn on the cob, nature gives us what we need when it comes to fresh sweet corn and all we need to do is make a spiced compound butter to smother all over it. Don't boil corn first, as it will leech out all the flavor and goodness. If you do want to pre-cook corn before grilling, then lightly steam it for 10 minutes to preserve the sweetness.

    Here are the ingredients you will need...

    1. Sweet corn: Fresh corn on the cob is in season during high summer, and this is when it will taste its best.
    2. Butter: I always use unsalted butter (European style) in cooking to control both the quality and quantity of salt in a recipe.
    3. Lime: Zingy fresh lime juice and zest lifts the entire recipe, don't skip it!
    4. Cilantro: Use both cilantro (also known as coriander) leaves and stalk for optimal taste. Cilantro is one of the few herbs that has flavor in the leaves, stalks, and roots.
    5. Allspice: The earthy warmth of Allspice is delicious in compound butter and tastes delicious against the char of the grilled corn.
    6. Spring onion: Fresh green salad onions have a milder taste than white onions, and the vibrant green color also provides some visual interest to the dish.
    7. Olive oil: You can also use a neutral cooking oil, but be sure to find one with a high smoke point.
    8. Salt and freshly ground black pepper.

    See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full quantities and step-by-step instructions.

    ingredients for buttered sweet corn with spiced compound butter

    How to make compound butter

    1. Use a fork to mash the butter with the lime juice, zest, and ground Allspice powder. Then stir in the chopped cilantro and diced spring onion.

    Hint: Soften the butter first to make it easier to mix by taking it out of the fridge 30 minutes before you need it.

    How to cook BBQ corn on the grill

    1. Remove the outer leaves from the sweet corn husks, take off the ends, and cut them in half.
    2. Spray or lightly rub the sweet corn with olive oil and place them on the BBQ grill (the best temperature to grill corn is 375° Fahrenheit or 190° Celsius). Turn frequently (use tongs). Alternatively, place it on a hot griddle pan. The fresher the corn, the more likely the sugar content will cause it to burn so keep an eye on it.
    3. Take the sweet corn off the grill and place it in a warm serving dish. Spread the spiced compound butter on top and allow it to melt over the corn and pool underneath.

    Variations

    Here are some ways to adapt this easy grilled corn-on-the-cob recipe to suit you

    1. Spicy - add red pepper flakes or hot sauce as well as the allspice to give this an extra kick!
    2. Vegan - Use dairy-free butter or vegetable spread to make this dish vegan or olive oil.
    3. Herbs - Change things up with different herbs. Mint, dill, and parsley can also taste delicious.

    Equipment

    An outdoor grill (BBQ) or a griddle pan on your stovetop will work best for this dish.

    Storage

    Sweet corn is best cooked as fresh as possible to maintain its sweetness.

    You can make the compound butter ahead of time though and freeze it in covered ice cube trays which is a great way to free up fridge space.

    FAQ

    Can I grill frozen corn?

    Yes! For best results wrap it in foil so that the escaping steam can help it to cook faster.

    What temperature to grill corn?

    Grill corn at 375° Fahrenheit or 190° Celsius.

    How long to grill corn?

    Corn on the BBQ will take around 20-25 minutes depending on size and external temperature.

    Recipe Card

    Buttered sweet corn

    Spiced Buttered Corn On The Grill

    Rosanna Stevens
    Lime and coriander butter smothered over BBQ corn on the cob
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 96 kcal

    Equipment

    • BBQ or grill
    • mixing bowl
    • Saucepan

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 sweetcorn husks
    • 3 tablespoon butter (softened)
    • 2 limes
    • 2 spring onion
    • ½ teaspoon allspice
    • 2 tablespoon coriander
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil

    Instructions
     

    • Remove the outer layers of the sweet corn husks
      sweetcorn in husks
    • Cut the sweet corn into pieces
      sweet corn cut into pieces
    • Spray the corn with olive oil or lightly brush some on and place on the BBQ or on a hot griddle pan, turning frequently
      sweet corn on the bbq
    • Make the butter by mashing it with the other ingredients and season to taste
      make the lime and coriander compound butter
    • When the corn is cooked, place it in a dish and spread over the butter straight away, allowing it to melt. Serve immediately and enjoy!
      bbq sweet corn covered in butter

    Nutrition

    Calories: 96kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 14mgPotassium: 70mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 110IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword buttered sweet corn, compound butter, corn on the cob, sweet corn, sweetcorn
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Summer Recipes

    • A poached pear on a plate with some cream and caramel sauce.
      How To Make Poached Pears In Wine - Easy & Elegant
    • Mediterranean_Tuna_Orzo_Salad_Nicoise.
      Mediterranean Tuna Orzo Salad Niçoise
    • Lemon-ice-cream-in-lemon-shells-on-a-patterned-tile-surface.
      Creamiest No Churn Lemon Ice Cream In Lemon Shell
    • Peaches-and-cream-ice-cream-in-a-tub-with-ice-cream-scoop.
      Homemade No Churn Peaches And Cream Ice Cream

    Share this post

    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Maddie says

      February 08, 2022 at 2:51 pm

      5 stars
      I love BBQ corn so much - and this butter made it even better! Will definitely be making it again

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Rosanna-Stevens-holding-bottle-of-champagne.

    Hi! I'm Rosanna, a trained chef, wine enthusiast, former event director, and style fanatic. At rosannaetc.com, I share seasonal dinner party recipes, wine pairings, and hosting tips. If you love to entertain in style, you've come to the right place!

    More about me →

    What's popular right now

    • baked camembert in bread
      Baked Camembert in Bread
    • Butternut autumn squash soup with crispy sage
      Honeynut squash soup With Crispy Sage
    • A glass of wine being poured.
      Basic Food And Wine Pairing Tips
    • Easy Salmon En Croute With Dill Cream Sauce

    Elegant desserts to try

    • Fig and cardamom macarons.
      Fig And Cardamom Macarons
    • Foolproof Apple Tarte Tartin.
      A Foolproof Tarte Tatin Quick Dessert

    As seen in

    Logos for media publications featuring Rosanna ETC.
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • About
    • Writing portfolio and press

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About me

    Newsletter

    • Sign up

    Contact

    • Contact

    View privacy policy

    This site uses affiliate links

    Copyright © 2023 Rosanna ETC

    Manage Cookie Consent
    To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    Manage Cookie Consent
    To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}