Easy Grilled Potato Packets - From A Potato Expert

It’s almost summertime! Why would you ever think about putting a potato in the microwave? With only a few ingredients, you can have potatoes that will upstage any steak. I learned this easy grilled potato recipe from a woman in Idaho, so I would consider her an expert when it comes to cooking potatoes!

Here is what you need:

1 Pound of Potatoes – The stores have been stocking these pretty colored potatoes, but if purple isn’t your favorite color, red bliss work nicely.
1 Medium Onion – It’s Vidalia season, so that’s what we will use. Any other time of year I would suggest a red onion.
1 Garlic Blossom – Decide how many cloves based on how much you like garlic. Anywhere from 3 to the entire blossom works! You could also substitute powdered garlic in a pinch, but the flavor is not as well rounded.
3 – 5 Pats of Butter. Chilled butter can be easier to work with, but is not necessary.
2 Tbs Olive Oil – You can skip the butter and just use olive oil, if you like.
Salt & Pepper
Heavy duty aluminum foil.
Hot Grill

Let’s get cooking!

While your grill is heating up, wash and then cut your potatoes into 1/4 – 1/2 inch thick slices. The thinner the pieces, the quicker they cook.
Rough cut your onion keeping in mind the onion is part of the dish, not just an accent.

Break up the garlic cloves and crush with the flat side of the knife. This makes it easier to remove the paper skin. If you like, you can chop up the cloves or use them whole.

Make your foil packet:

It’s easiest to use one long length of foil that you can fold over so you are only dealing with 3 open edges, but sometimes that’s not an option. You will need approximately the length of 2 cookie sheets total. This will be enough for top and bottom.
With the dull side up, smear some of the butter and drizzle some olive oil on the bottom piece of foil as if you were greasing a baking dish.

Stack on the potatoes, onions and garlic leaving room around the outside of the foil. It’s okay to stack the ingredients in a small pile.
Drizzle with olive oil and a few more bits of butter.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Fold over the foil and crimp the edges to make a SECURE seal. Your foil packet will have to withstand flipping, so make sure you have a good border.
Is your grill hot? Medium high heat works best.

How do you like your potatoes? Soft? Crispy? Down right burned and crunchy?
Start with a 10-10-2-2 cooking time.
Cook for 10 minutes on each side. The foil pack will puff up like Jiffy Pop. This is good! The potatoes are steaming and grilling all at once! The Garlic and onions will soften and lovingly melt into the potatoes.

Flip and cook for 2 more minutes on each side. If you like a little crispness to your potatoes, open a hole in the top of the foil and let some steam out and grill a few more minutes. NOTE: STEAM IS HOT! Do not use your bare fingers! Tongs are your best friend for this recipe!
Trust your instincts here. Potatoes are done when you can poke them easily with a fork. Look for browning around the edges, too.
Remove from heat and serve!