Memorial Day Grilled Corn (Printable Version)

Grilled corn on the cob with four flavored herbed butters, ready in about 35 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Corn

01 - 8 ears fresh sweet corn, husked

→ Basic Ingredients

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - Salt, to taste
04 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Herbed Butters

05 - 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
06 - 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
07 - 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives
08 - 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
09 - 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil
10 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
11 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 2 tsp fresh lime juice
14 - 1 tsp lemon zest
15 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
02 - Brush each ear of corn lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
03 - Grill corn, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, about 12–15 minutes. Transfer to a platter.
04 - While the corn grills, prepare the herbed butters: In 4 small bowls, divide the softened butter (1/4 cup each). Mix in the following ingredients for each butter: Parsley-Chive Butter: 2 tbsp parsley + 2 tbsp chives + 1/2 clove garlic; Basil-Lemon Butter: 2 tbsp basil + 1 tsp lemon zest; Cilantro-Lime Butter: 2 tbsp cilantro + 2 tsp lime juice + 1/2 clove garlic; Parmesan-Paprika Butter: 1 tbsp Parmesan + 1 tsp smoked paprika + 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes. Mix each flavor until combined.
05 - Serve grilled corn hot with each herbed butter in small bowls or smeared directly onto the cobs. Offer all four variations for guests to choose from.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Everyone gets to pick their favorite butter so the table is never bored.
  • You literally elevate basic corn into a conversation starter with just a handful of herbs and spices.
02 -
  • I once rushed and tried to mix cold butter, leading to chunky, uneven flavors – always soften it well ahead.
  • Combining salty Parmesan with smoked paprika was a total game changer; don’t skip this one even if you think it’s odd.
03 -
  • Wrap leftover butter in parchment and freeze for future grilling nights – you’ll thank yourself.
  • Taste each butter before serving; a last dowse of salt or citrus can make all the difference.
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