Grilled Artichokes

For tender, smoky artichokes, use this simple recipe. Sliced in half for even cooking, grilled artichokes are a delicious appetizer or side dish.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated March 28, 2023
Elise Bauer
grilled artichokes on a baking sheet

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Are you an artichoke lover? We grew up with them and still every time the family is over for dinner we remember how we kids fought for hearts.

My mom first encountered artichokes in college in Los Angeles in the late 50s. She was babysitting for a family who left instructions for her on how to cook this strange looking vegetable.

She dutifully followed the instructions to cook them, and then removed the leaves to serve to the kids and threw out the hearts! Thankfully the kid's mom eventually set her straight, and to this day mom still bemoans the loss of those hearts.

artichokes on the grill

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

The Trick to Grilling Artichokes

Anyway, if you love artichokes, here's a great way to prepare them on the grill. The trick is to steam them first.

Artichokes take a long time to cook, and like moist heat, so it's best to just grill them at the end for the grill marks and smoky flavor.

Cut them in half so the steam penetrates the center more easily and the artichokes cook faster and more evenly.

Steam them instead of boiling them so they don't get too soggy from the water and they stay dry enough to get good browning on the grill. Sprinkle with salt and lemon juice to serve. Yum!

Grilled Artichokes on a baking sheet

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Grilled Artichokes

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 60 mins
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs such as rosemary, oregano, thyme

  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

  • 2 cloves garlic, cut in half (no need to peel)

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 1 lemon, cut into wedges

  • 2 to 4 large globe artichokes

  • Salt

Method

  1. Steep the herbs in warm olive oil:

    Place the chopped fresh herbs in a small bowl (not the bay leaf) and cover with olive oil. Microwave on high heat for 30 seconds (or heat oil and herbs on the stovetop until warm). Let the herbs steep in the warm olive oil while you prepare the artichokes.

  2. Prep the artichokes:

    Prepare a large pot with an inch of water at the bottom. Add the cut cloves of garlic and the bay leaf, and place a steamer rack in the pot.

    To prepare the artichokes, have lemon wedges ready. If you want a nice presentation, use scissors to snip away the pointy tips of the artichoke leaves. As you trim the artichokes, rub the cut areas with juice from the lemon wedges to prevent the artichokes from turning brown from oxidation.

    Use a vegetable peeler to cut away the thick outer layer of the artichoke stems. Trim the stems to 2 inches from the base of the artichoke. Cut off and discard the top 1/2 inch of the artichokes. Cut the artichokes in half.

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    Elise Bauer
    grilled-artichokes-method-2
    Elise Bauer
  3. Scoop out the chokes and inner leaves:

    Use a strong metal spoon to scoop out the fuzzy chokes and the small inner artichoke leaves. Rub lemon juice all over the inside and exposed cut areas of the artichokes.

    grilled-artichokes-method-3
    Elise Bauer
  4. Steam the artichokes:

    Heat the water in the large pot with a steamer rack on high. When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium high and place the artichoke halves, cut side down, on the steam rack.

    Cover. Steam for 20 minutes (less or more, depending on the size of the artichokes), until you can easily pull off the outer leaves, and you can pierce the heart easily with a knife.

    The artichokes can be just a tiny bit less cooked than would be typically perfect for steamed artichokes, as you will be cooking them further on the grill.

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    Elise Bauer
  5. Grill the artichokes:

    Prepare your grill for direct, high heat. Use a pastry brush to brush the artichoke all over with the herb infused oil. Sprinkle all over with salt.

    Place the artichoke halves cut-side-down on the grill grates. Cover, and grill for 5 to 10 minutes, until you have nice grill mark on the cut sides of the artichokes.

    To serve, sprinkle the cut sides with more lemon juice. Serve alone or with mayonnaise, remoulade, or aioli.

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    Elise Bauer
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    Elise Bauer
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
312 Calories
19g Fat
40g Carbs
7g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 312
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 3g 13%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 240mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 40g 15%
Dietary Fiber 14g 50%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 119mg 594%
Calcium 86mg 7%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 760mg 16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.