Grilled corn on the cob — the perfect side dish

Side Dish · The Rub Kitchen
Prep time20 min
Servings4
DifficultyEasy
MethodDirect heat

Short answer: Grill corn on the cob for 15 minutes over direct heat at 200°C, turning every 3–4 minutes. Then brush with seasoned butter and a pinch of rub for maximum flavor.

Grilled corn is the easiest side dish you can make on the BBQ — and one of the tastiest. The heat caramelizes the sugars in the corn, giving it a light smoky flavor and a bite you'll never get from boiled corn.

This recipe works with or without the husk, and is ready in 20 minutes while your meat rests.

01

What you'll need

For 4 people:

  • 4 ears of corn (fresh, with or without husk)
  • 60g butter (room temperature)
  • 1 tsp BBQ rub of your choice — Memphis or Toscana Fire work great
  • Sea salt and black pepper
  • Optional: lime, fresh cilantro, grated Parmesan
With or without husk?

Without the husk, you'll get more color and smoky flavor — the corn caramelizes directly. With the husk, the corn stays juicier and steams as it cooks. Both methods work; without the husk gives the best result on the BBQ.

02

Preparation

  1. Remove all husks and silks from the corn on the cob.
  2. Mix the butter with 1 tsp BBQ rub and a pinch of salt — this is your herb butter.
  3. Preheat the BBQ to 200°C direct heat.
  4. Lightly brush the corn with a little oil to prevent sticking.
03

Grilling

  1. Place the corn on the grill grate over direct heat.
  2. Grill for 12–15 minutes total — turn a quarter turn every 3–4 minutes.
  3. You want nice brown to slightly charred spots — that's the caramelization.
  4. Remove from the BBQ and immediately brush with the herb butter.
  5. Serve immediately.
Timing tip

Grilled corn is the perfect side dish to make while your meat rests. Pulled pork and brisket need 15–30 minutes of rest time — just enough for the corn.

04

Variations

Adjust the herb butter to your main course:

  • With spareribs or pulled pork: Memphis BBQ rub + butter + a dash of honey
  • With Jamaican Jerk chicken: lime butter + cilantro + pinch of cayenne
  • With Toscana Fire dishes: Toscana Fire rub + butter + grated Parmesan
  • Mexican street corn style: mayonnaise + lime + chili powder + Cotija cheese
Also read

More BBQ recipes

→ Spareribs recipe — the 3-2-1 method → Pulled pork recipe — step by step → Jamaican Jerk chicken on the BBQ

The rub makes all the difference

Freshly mixed to order. No fillers. Free delivery via DHL.

View all rubs Starter Pack · 3 flavors