Grilled Potatoes

These perfectly grilled fingerling potatoes are an ideal side for grilled steak.

By
Mike Lang
Mike Lang
Mike Lang
Author of grilling cookbook One-Beer Grilling, founder of Another Pint Please, and "Grillographer" for Weber Grills.
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Updated June 21, 2023
Mike Lang
Close-up: Grilled Potatoes on the Grill

Simply Recipes / Mike Lang

With more potato varieties than I can count, my praise for the fingerling potato is not taken lightly. A hot grill grate is an ideal destination for the fingerling’s waxy flesh, as its soft buttery center is the needed partner for its crispy charred exterior. Add a touch of garlic and some grilled lemon juice, and it’s no wonder I consider these my go-to starch when grilling dinner.

Fingerlings for Flavor and Quick Grilling

Seeing my favorite side is a potato, any potato, I always come back to the fingerlings not only because of their taste but their fast preparation and grill time. With its short stubby finger form, it’s easy to see how the fingerling derived its name. While diminutive in size, the fingerling is in fact fully mature, sporting a rich nutty and buttery flavor. If you can’t find fingerlings at your local grocery, any other small waxy variety will work. Just adapt cooking times based on size.

Grilled Fingerling Potatoes and a Grilled Halved Lemon in a Black Bowl

Simply Recipes / Mike Lang

The Parboil and Grill

A fingerling can be roasted on the grill whole with good results, but it would also take three times as long to cook. However, I find it easy to overcook these small varieties and feel whole potato roasting is better suited for their larger russet cousins. In this recipe, introducing a fast parboil to the fingerlings reduces the amount of grill time, making it easier to cook the potato along with the rest of dinner. The average medium rare steak takes around 8 minutes to grill. Here, the fingerlings take 6. 

Setting Up The Grill Zones

Speaking of the grill, remember to always use a two-zone fire. This type of setup creates an area without direct heat under the food. If you are grilling a steak, it’s a safety area where meat experiencing a flare up can move, or in the case of these potatoes, a spot they can hang out without being overcooked while other food finishes over the fire. 

Close-up: Grilled Fingerling Potatoes

Simply Recipes / Mike Lang

Grill Up These Killer Sides

Grilled Potatoes

Prep Time 8 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 28 mins
Servings 4 servings

It might feel like an extra step, but parboiling the potatoes before grilling them cuts down drastically on the overall cooking time.

If you like, enjoy these with a dipping sauce like remoulade or romesco. If you’re serving the potatoes as a side with grilled steak, try chimichurri. 

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 1/2 pounds fingerling potatoes, cut in half lengthwise

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic

  • 1 lemon, halved

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley

Method

  1. Prepare the grill:

    Prepare the grill with a two-zone fire for medium-high heat, 375º to 425º F.

    Tip

    A two-zone fire allows for direct and indirect grilling. Direct grilling is where the heat source is under the food, think grilling a steak. Indirect grilling is where the heat source is not under the food, think baking a potato. On a gas grill, set up for two-zones by leaving, depending on the size of your grill, one or two burners off. On a charcoal grill, push the coals to one side of the fuel grate, leaving about 1/3 of the grate empty.

    Heated Charcoal Added to Grill

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang
  2. Parboil the potatoes:

    In a large pot on the stovetop, bring 2 quarts of water to boil. Add 2 teaspoons of the salt and the sliced potatoes to the water and boil until easily pierced with a knife, approximately 6-9 minutes. Drain in a colander and set aside.

    Fingerling Potatoes Cut in Half on a Cutting Board Using a Knife, and on the Cutting Board, More Fingerling Potatoes

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang
    Halved Potatoes Added to a Pot of Water

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang
  3. Season the potatoes:

    Transfer the potatoes to a bowl. Toss with the olive oil, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus the pepper, and garlic.

    Fingerling Potatoes Mixed With Seasoning

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang
  4. Grill the potatoes:

    Grill the potatoes, cut side down, over direct heat until charred, approximately 3 minutes. Flip the potatoes and grill an additional 3 minutes. At the same time, grill the lemon, flesh side down, until charred, approximately 3 minutes. 

    Tip

    If grilling additional items, the potatoes can be moved to indirect heat for 2-3 minutes while the other food is cooked.

    Grilled Potatoes Flipped on the Grill Using a Set of Tongs

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang
    Grilled Potatoes and a Halved Lemon on the Grill

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang
  5. Serve the potatoes:

    Remove the potatoes and lemon from the grill. Place the potatoes in a bowl. Juice the grilled lemons over the potatoes and toss. Garnish with parsley and serve. 

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    Spatula Used to Remove Grilled Potatoes from Grill

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang
    Grilled Fingerling Potatoes and a Grilled Halved Lemon in a Black Bowl on a Counter With a Glass of Water and a Fork on a Table Napkin

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
262 Calories
4g Fat
58g Carbs
7g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 262
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 808mg 35%
Total Carbohydrate 58g 21%
Dietary Fiber 9g 33%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 125mg 623%
Calcium 78mg 6%
Iron 3mg 17%
Potassium 1242mg 26%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.