Memorial Day Grilled Corn (Print Version)

Charred corn with four vibrant herbed butters for summer gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Corn

01 - 8 ears fresh sweet corn, husked

→ Basic ingredients

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

→ Herbed butters (total)

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

# How to Make It:

01 - Light the grill and set to medium-high heat until it reaches an even cooking temperature suitable for direct grilling.
02 - Brush each ear of corn lightly and evenly with olive oil and season all sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
03 - Place the corn directly on the grill and turn occasionally until kernels are tender and exhibit light charring, about 12 to 15 minutes; transfer to a platter.
04 - Divide the softened butter into four equal portions (about 1/4 cup each) placed in separate small bowls to assemble the four flavored butters.
05 - Mix each butter portion with its designated herbs and seasonings: combine one portion with 2 tablespoons parsley, 2 tablespoons chives and 1/2 clove minced garlic for the parsley–chive butter; combine another with 2 tablespoons basil and 1 teaspoon lemon zest for basil–lemon butter; combine the third with 2 tablespoons cilantro, 2 teaspoons lime juice and 1/2 clove minced garlic for cilantro–lime butter; combine the last with 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika and 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes for Parmesan–paprika butter. Stir until homogeneous.
06 - Serve the grilled corn hot with the four herbed butters presented in small bowls for spreading or smeared directly on the cobs; offer guests the choice of flavors.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Mixing and matching four kinds of herbed butter feels like a secret backyard hack for making guests swoon.
  • It flatters fresh corn’s sweetness and turns a casual gathering into a flavor adventure.
02 -
  • If you don’t soften your butter, it’ll stubbornly resist mixing and you’ll end up with uneven flavor pockets.
  • Grilling with the lid closed helps caramelize the corn—leaving it open never gave me the same sweetness.
03 -
  • Letting the corn rest for two minutes post-grill helps the butters melt in perfectly, not just run off.
  • Whipping the butters for a minute with a fork makes them irresistibly fluffy and easier to spread.
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