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    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Air Fryer Recipes » Air Fryer Corn Ribs

    Published: August 1, 2022 / Updated: January 3, 2024 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Air Fryer Corn Ribs

    71 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    several air fryer corn ribs stacked on top of a bed of greens with drizzled mayo and chopped cilantro with title text overlay.
    several air fryer corn ribs stacked on top of a bed of greens with drizzled mayo and chopped cilantro with title text overlay.
    several air fryer corn ribs stacked on top of a bed of greens with drizzled mayo and chopped cilantro with title text overlay.

    This viral TikTok dish can now be seen in restaurants all over the country. Our Air Fryer Corn Ribs version is fast and packed with delicious Mexican-inspired flavors.

    several air fryer corn ribs stacked on top of a bed of greens with drizzled mayo and chopped cilantro.

    Corn ribs are popping up on restaurant menus all over the United States. They're often on bar menus and happy hour menus, served as appetizers.

    This Air Fryer Corn Ribs recipe lets you enjoy this viral TikTok dish at home! It's SO tasty, but please do read through all of the prep instructions and cooking tips very carefully before starting to make the dish.

    Jump to:
    • 🌟 Why you'll love this recipe
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • ✅ Step-by-step instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 Serving ideas
    • 🍷 Best wine pairings
    • More air fryer recipes
    • Air Fryer Corn Ribs

    🌟 Why you'll love this recipe

    several air fryer corn ribs stacked on top of a bed of greens with drizzled mayo and chopped cilantro.

    I could devour an entire plate of these corn ribs on my own. I love the big flavors for this vegetarian side dish, and hope you do, too!

    • You only need 2 ears of corn, but you can double the recipe to make more.
    • The Mexican-inspired sauce gives this dish tons of flavor.
    • Yet the sauce is also very flexible: use your favorite herbs and spices!
    • It only takes 10 minutes in the air fryer!
    • These are fun finger foods: they're meant to be eaten with your hands, like ribs. No forks required!

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    ingredients in bowls to make air fryer corn ribs, on a blue table, with labeled ingredients..

    Corn - You'll need two corn on the cobs for this recipe. Try to choose thicker cobs and avoid really thin corn on the cob, which might be trickier to cut and won't give you as much corn per riblet.

    Herbs and spices - I love this particular combo of herbs and spices. It gives the air fryer corn ribs an elote (or Mexican corn) flavor. You can use other herbs, such as rosemary and tarragon, if you prefer.

    Mayo - I use my favorite dairy-free vegan mayonnaise, but you can use any mayo. You can also use a Mexican crema, which would be super tasty!

    ✅ Step-by-step instructions

    While this dish is easy to make, prepping the corn requires some safety checks and may take some practice. Please be sure to read all of my tips very carefully before starting this recipe.

    corn on the cob on a plate in the microwave.
    green bowl rilled with sectioned ingredients to make seasoned sauce for air fryer corn ribs.
    seasoned sauce in a green bowl to use for air fryer corn ribs.
    1. Microwave the corn for 2 minutes.
    2. While the corn is in the microwave, whisk together the olive oil, butter, paprika, chili powder, cumin, cilantro, salt, and pepper.
    hands using a knife to slice off the end of a corn cob on a cutting board.
    hands using a knife to slice down a corn on the cob on a cutting board.

    3. Using a very sharp knife, carefully slice the ends off of each corn cob.

    Safety check: Now comes the potentially tricky part. Take your time and make sure you have a sturdy cutting board and very sharp knife. For added safety, you can place a thin kitchen towel underneath your cutting board to keep it from sliding around while you cut the corn.

    4. Holding the corn upright with one hand, with the widest base of the corn on the bottom side touching the cutting board. Then with the other hand, use a very sharp knife to carefully cut the corn in half, rocking the knife back and forth with some force to ease it down through the center core of the corn cob.

    Note: If the center core is still too tough to slice through, microwave the corn cobs for another 30 seconds, then try again.

    hands using a knife to slice down a halved corn on the cob on a cutting board.
    bowl of sliced raw corn ribs.

    5. Lay the corn halves flat on the cutting board, cork kernel side up. Then carefully cut each into half again. You will have 8 corn riblets total.

    basting a corn rib with seasoned sauce.
    four seasoned corn ribs in the air fryer basket.

    6. Baste the corn ribs with the seasoned sauce and place into the air fryer basket(s) or tray(s).

    7. Air fry at 400°F for 5 minutes. Use tongs to flip the ribs over, then air fry another 5 minutes.

    stack of air fryer corn ribs at an angle with drizzled mayo.

    8. Drizzle mayo over the corn ribs and sprinkle with remaining chopped cilantro.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    Do you eat the entire corn rib?

    No. Corn ribs are meant to be eaten like meaty ribs. Hold the sides with your hands and then eat the corn kernels off of the "rib," leaving the center core like you would leave the bones of meat ribs.

    Can I make this in the oven?

    Yes. You can bake the sliced and basted corn ribs on a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil at 375°F for 25 to 30 minutes.

    What's the best way to store leftovers?

    Allow the corn ribs to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    🍽 Serving ideas

    several air fryer corn ribs stacked on top of a bed of greens with drizzled mayo and chopped cilantro.

    These corn ribs are delicious when served at any barbecue, picnic, party, or any dinner!

    Serve them at a BBQ, along with Filipino Pork BBQ Skewers, Grilled Shrimp Pineapple Skewers, and Filipino Mac Salad.

    They are also tasty when served with Mexican-inspired or Tex Mex flavored dishes, like Mexican Lasagna, Sheet Pan Tex Mex Vegetarian Nachos, and Instant Pot Vegetarian Burrito Bowls.

    🍷 Best wine pairings

    Enjoy these air fryer corn ribs with a glass of unoaked Chardonnay, crisp Sauvignon Blanc, or dry Riesling.

    More air fryer recipes

    • broccoli in the Ninja Foodi
      Air Fryer Broccoli (Ninja Foodi)
    • air fryer bang bang shrimp
      Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
    • air fryer crab legs with lemon wedges and chopped parsley.
      Air Fryer Crab Legs
    • two half loaves of french bread pizza in an air fryer basket.
      Air Fryer Pizza

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    closeup photo of air fryer corn ribs stacked on top of one another with drizzled mayo and chopped cilantro.

    Air Fryer Corn Ribs

    5 from 7 votes
    Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
    Total Time: 25 minutes mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    This viral TikTok air fryer corn ribs recipe is packed with big flavors. Perfect for BBQs, Game Day, and picnics!
    Servings: 8 riblets
    Calories: 173kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE 🤍 SAVESaved!

    Equipment

    • 1 Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 2 corn on the cob
    • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
    • 1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro, divided
    • 1 teaspoon ground garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon chili powder
    • ¼ teaspoon cumin
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ½ cup mayonnaise, for serving
    • lime wedges, for serving
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    • Microwave the corn for 2 minutes.While the corn is in the microwave, whisk together the olive oil, butter, ½ Tablespoon of the chopped cilantro, paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
    • Using a very sharp knife, carefully slice the ends off of each corn cob.
    • Take your time and do this part very carefully. Holding the corn upright with one hand, use a very sharp knife carefully cut the corn in half, rocking the knife back and forth with your other hand to ease it down through the center core of the corn cob. If the center core is still too tough to slice through, microwave the corn cobs for another 30 seconds, then try again. Repeat with the other corn rib.
    • Lay the corn halves flat, then carefully use your knife to cut each into half again. You will have 8 corn ribs total.
    • Baste the corn ribs with the seasoned sauce and place into the air fryer basket(s) or tray(s).
    • Air fry at 400°F for 5 minutes. Use tongs to flip the ribs over, then air fry another 5 minutes.
    • Drizzle mayo over the corn ribs and sprinkle with remaining chopped cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

    Notes

    Use a very sharp knife. It is very important that you use a sharp chef's knife for this recipe. If your knives haven't been sharpened in a while, make sure you sharpen them before starting this recipe.
    Cutting the corn:  Be VERY careful when cutting the corn. Take your time and follow the instructions on how to cut your corn cobs into thin quarters, into riblets. Microwaving the corn first helps soften the core, which can be very difficult to slice even with the sharpest knife. 
    Sturdy cutting board: Make sure you use a sturdy cutting board that will not slide out easily from underneath while you are cutting the corn. For added safety, place a kitchen towel flat underneath your cutting board to keep the board from sliding around.
    No distractions. When cutting the corn, make sure you are not distracted and can give this job your full attention. Clear the area of kids and pets, and don't attempt this while also in the middle of making other recipes. 
     
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 241mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 190IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.3mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Ana F. says

        August 05, 2022 at 6:04 am

        5 stars
        These corn ribs are incredible delicious and so easy to make! I'm so glad this trend started. Thanks for the recipe!

        Reply
      2. Mahy says

        August 05, 2022 at 5:24 am

        5 stars
        I love how delicious these corn ribs look. I bet they taste like it is nobody's business - extra yummy!

        Reply
      3. Dannii says

        August 05, 2022 at 3:37 am

        5 stars
        We had these on a BBQ and they were amazing. Wish I had of made more.

        Reply
      4. Kate says

        August 05, 2022 at 3:28 am

        5 stars
        So genius to make these corn ribs in the air fryer. Love the marinade too. So good.

        Reply
      5. Ieva says

        August 05, 2022 at 2:25 am

        5 stars
        Loved them! I saw the craze of corn ribs on Tik Tok and decided to go your recipe a go. Really simple to make, and delicious! Another great recipe for the air-fryer!

        Reply
      6. Mairead says

        August 04, 2022 at 11:50 pm

        5 stars
        Such a delicious summertime side dish. This corn was delicious at our cookout.

        Reply
      5 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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