Air Fryer Corn Ribs

Tantalize your taste buds with Air Fryer Corn Ribs! Seasoned with a special blend of spices and air fried until perfectly cooked, these corn ribs offer a sweet and buttery crunch in every bite. They’re an irresistible addition to your appetizer or dinner spread that’s sure to have your guests coming back for more. Thrill your friends and family with these delectable bites that are as fun to eat as they are to make!

Air fryer corn ribs and a bowl of garlic butter on a platter.


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What Are Corn Ribs and Why Are They So Good? 

Corn ribs, or corn ribblets, as some people prefer to call them, are ears of corn that have been cut in half the long way and then split each half into quarters. The corn is heavily seasoned and typically cooked on the barbeque or fried. The result is an intensely flavorful side dish that will surely be a crowd-pleaser.

This version takes the classic recipe and cooks the corn in an air fryer. Cooking seasoned corn ribs in the air fryer is much less messy than frying and quicker than firing up the grill, but you still wind up with plenty of the charred kernels that everyone loves. 

What Makes This the Recipe You Want to Try 

Corn is a versatile side dish that goes with just about anything, yet it is hardly the star of the show. Surprise your family with this quick and easy air fryer corn ribs recipe that transforms corn from a supporting role to the starring one. One taste of these seasoned corn ribs and even the pickiest eaters in your house will gobble up. 

Air Fryer Corn Ribs Ingredients

For those corn ribblets, you’ll need:

  • Fresh corn on the cob (whole corn cobs)
  • Paprika, sweet or smoked
  • Garlic powder 
  • Salt 
  • Freshly ground black pepper 
  • Vegetable oil

For the seasoned butter sauce, you’ll need:

  • Salted butter
  • Garlic, minced
Air fryer corn ribs ingredients on a platter.

How to Make Corn Ribs Air Fryer Style

To cut the corn ribblets:

  1. Remove the husks and silk from the ears of corn and extremely carefully cut each in half with a sharp knife. For extra safety, it is a good idea to wear a food-safe cut-resistant glove
  2. Stand one half of the corn upright on the larger end and use a very sharp knife to cut it in half from the top down. Cut each half in half again. Put in a large mixing bowl for later.
  3. Repeat with the rest of the corn. 

To season the corn ribs:

  1. Pour the vegetable oil into the bowl with the sliced corn and toss to coat. 
  2. Sprinkle in the paprika, garlic powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Toss well and use your hands to work the spice mixture onto the corn. 
  3. Set the bowl aside for at least five minutes to let the spice rub fully flavor the corn. Save the unwashed bowl for later. 
Collage of preparing corn on the cob for air fryer corn ribs.

To make the seasoned butter sauce:

  1. Mince the garlic and set it aside. 
  2. Put the butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Stir well. If there are any pieces of unmelted butter, heat for ten more seconds. 
  3. Stir in the minced garlic.
A bowl of garlic butter sauce.

To air fry corn ribs:

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. 
  2. Place the corn ribs in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them. You may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. 
  3. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until the kernels are golden brown with a little char. Turn the corn ribs halfway through the cooking time. Make the seasoned butter sauce while waiting for the corn to finish cooking. 
  4. Pour the seasoned butter sauce into the large mixing bowl you used to season the corn. Add the hot corn ribs and toss to coat or brush it on the corn.
  5. Serve immediately. 
Air fryer corn ribs and garlic butter sauce on a platter.

What to Serve With Corn Ribblets

Corn Ribs go with just about anything you can grill. But they’re delicious paired with other apps such as chicken wings and sliders.

While the seasoned butter sauce included in the recipe is good, you may want to leave it off and switch things up with one of these dipping sauces instead:

  • Garlic Aioli. Garlic Aioli is nothing more than a fancy way to say garlic-mayo with a bit of lemon juice. It’s creamy with a little zip and echoes the corn rib seasoning. 
  • Raising Cane’s Dipping Sauce. The famous Canes dipping sauce from Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers takes Garlic Aioli to the next level by adding Worchester sauce, ketchup, and mustard. 
  • Arby’s Sauce. Classic Arby’s sauce has been a customer favorite for decades. It is good on roast beef sandwiches and great with corn riblets!

How to Store Air Fried Corn Ribs 

Although the corn is best right out of the air fryer, you can keep leftovers in the fridge for two to three days. Ensure the corn ribs are at room temperature before putting them in an airtight container and then chilling. 

What Is the Best Way to Reheat Corn Ribs?

The ideal reheating method is the air fryer:

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. 
  2. Put the pieces of corn in the hot air fryer and spray them with water if the kernels look a little dry. 
  3. Heat for about five minutes or until hot. 
A fryer corn ribs and a bowl of garlic butter on a large platter.

Favorite Corn Recipes

Check out more of my easy air fryer recipes and the best appetizer recipes on CopyKat!

Air fryer corn ribs and a bowl of garlic butter on a platter.

Air Fryer Corn Ribs

Air fried corn ribs are a tasty appetizer or snack.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Air Fryer Recipes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 193kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 ears corn husks removed
  • vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons sweet or smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 ounces butter
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic

Instructions

  • Heat the air fryer to 375°F.
  • Cut the ears of cobs in half, so you have two shorter cobs. Stand each cob upright on its end and use a sharp knife to carefully slice down the middle of the cob to halve it. Slice each half in half again to quarter the cob, creating long, rib-like pieces.
  • Place the corn in a bowl and drizzle with vegetable oil.
  • In a small bowl, combine the paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and stir to combine. Sprinkle the seasoning blend over the corn.
  • Place the corn in the air fryer and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.
  • While the corn is cooking, melt the butter in the microwave and stir in the minced garlic. Drizzle the garlic butter over the corn just before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 429mg | Potassium: 54mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 1028IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.3mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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