This Butter Board Grilled Corn is the ultimate summertime side dish. It’s sweet, smoky grilled corn cobs rolled in three melty, flavor-packed butter boards: Pesto Parm, Blueberry Honey Mint, and Spicy Harissa Honey.
Why You'll Love It
If you've ever slathered hot grilled corn with butter straight off the grill, you already know it’s a top-tier summer move!
But rolling your corn in a butter board? That’s a whole main character moment.
Think: melty salted butter infused with bold, punchy flavors. All ready and waiting on a board for your freshly grilled corn to swipe through.
No need to choose just one, either. We've got 3 different flavors to so that your friends and fam swipe their way to buttery grilled corn bliss.
This setup makes you look like a backyard BBQ genius, but it's wildly simple to pull off. The corn is grilled with nothing more than a brush of melted butter and a sprinkle of kosher salt. because when the butter boards are bringing all the flavor, the corn gets to keep it classic.
And the three butter board flavors hit all the notes: salty + cheesy Pesto Parm, sweet + citrusy Blueberry Honey Mint, and bold + spicy Harissa Honey.
It’s a choose-your-own-cornventure (hehe) that’s perfect for cookouts, block parties, or just showing off a little at your next family dinner.
Trust me, once you try grilled corn this way, you’ll never go back to boring butter again.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Corn Cobs: Use 8 ears of fresh corn, shucked and cleaned. You could also use frozen corn on the cob if that’s what you’ve got. Just defrost before grilling.
- Melted Butter: Helps caramelize the corn while it grills and makes those gorgeous grill marks extra golden. You could also swap for olive oil or nonstick spray.
- Kosher Salt: Keeps the corn flavorful and savory without overpowering the butter board flavors.
- Salted Butter: Use a full pound of room-temp salted butter as the base for your butter boards. Salted butter helps round out and enhance each flavor combo.
- Pesto: Store-bought or homemade both work great. You can also swap in basil paste or even chimichurri in a pinch.
- Parmesan Cheese: Grated Parm adds salty umami magic. Pecorino Romano or asiago would also be delish.
- Blueberry Jam: Adds that perfect fruity pop to the Blueberry Honey Mint Butter. Blackberry or fig jam would be fun to try too!
- Lemon Zest: Brightens up the blueberry butter and balances the sweetness. A little goes a long way.
- Harissa Paste: This North African chili paste brings smoky heat. Can’t find it? Try Calabrian chili paste or even sriracha in a pinch.
- Honey: Rounds out the heat in the Harissa Butter with just the right touch of sweetness.
How to Make It
This is the ultimate easy grilling setup that looks way fancier than it is. Here’s exactly how to make your Butter Board Grilled Corn magic happen:
- PREP THE BUTTER BOARDS: On a marble cutting board, add your room temp butter and spread it out over the entire surface.
- MAKE THE PESTO PARM BUTTER: On ⅓ of the butter board, Smear on 2 tablespoons pesto and 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese.
- MAKE THE BLUEBERRY HONEY MINT BUTTER: On ⅓ of the butter board, Smear on 2 tablespoons blueberry jam and ½ teaspoon lemon zest.
- MAKE THE SPICY HARISSA HONEY BUTTER: On ⅓ of the butter board, Smear on 2 tablespoons harissa paste and 1 tablespoon honey. Place butter board aside in a cool spot in the kitchen.
- GRILL THE CORN: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Brush each corn cob with melted butter and sprinkle with kosher salt. Grill for 5–10 minutes, turning every couple of minutes, until charred and golden all around.
- BUTTER BOARD TIME: As soon as the corn comes off the grill, plate the corn next to the butter board.
- SERVE: Serve immediately by letting each person roll their corn into the butter.
- SAVE: Got leftovers? Store grilled corn in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet or microwave. Extra butter board spread can be refrigerated and used on toast, veggies, or pasta!
What to Serve With It
This Butter Board Grilled Corn is the ultimate cookout star, but here are a few dishes to round out the party:
- Grilled chicken thighs or skewers
- Watermelon feta salad
- Creamy potato salad or any one of these pasta salads
- A big pitcher of spicy watermelon margaritas
- Or just serve with a big napkin and let the corn be the main event!
And if that sounds interesting, be sure to check these recipes out, too!
- Meme's Southern Fried Corn Recipe (The Best Skillet Recipe!)
- How to Create a Festive Fall Cheese Board with Wine Pairings
- Vodka Sauce Chicken Parm Sliders Recipe with Mozzarella
- Easy Honey Harissa Chicken Recipe (for CAVA bowls)
- How To Build A Beautiful Yet Cheap Cheese Board for Under $30
Recipe
Butter Board Grilled Corn Recipe
Equipment
- Marble Board
Ingredients
FOR THE CORN COBS
- 8 ears Corn prepared and cleaned
- Melted Butter for brushing
- Kosher Salt to taste
FOR THE BUTTER BOARD BASE
- 1 lb Salted Butter room temp
PESTO PARM BUTTER
- 2 tablespoon Pesto
- 1 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese grated
BLUEBERRY HONEY MINT BUTTER
- 2 tablespoon Blueberry Jam
- ½ teaspoon Lemon Zest
SPICY HARISSA HONEY BUTTER
- 2 tablespoon Harissa Paste
- 1 tablespoon Honey
Instructions
- On a marble cutting board, add your room temp butter and spread it out over the entire surface.
- MAKE THE PESTO PARM BUTTER: On ⅓ of the butter board, Smear on 2 tablespoons pesto and top with 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese.
- MAKE THE BLUEBERRY HONEY MINT BUTTER: On ⅓ of the butter board, Smear on 2 tablespoons blueberry jam and top with ½ teaspoon lemon zest.
- MAKE THE SPICY HARISSA HONEY BUTTER: On ⅓ of the butter board, Smear on 2 tablespoons harissa paste and drizzle with 1 tablespoon honey. Place butter board aside in a cool spot in the kitchen.
- Grill the Corn: Heat grill to medium-high. Brush corn cobs with melted butter and sprinkle with kosher salt. Grill for 8–10 minutes, turning every couple minutes, until nicely charred and golden.
- Plate the grilled corn next to the butter board and let your guests roll their corn cobs in their desired butter flavors.
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