Name: Air Fryer Corn Ribs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 17 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 1 tablespoon lime juice; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; pinch sea salt flakes; 3 corn cobs; 1/2 cup butter; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 2 teaspoons paprika; 1 small lime (, zested and juiced); 2 red chilis (, finely chopped); small handful cilantro or parsley (, finely chopped); salt and pepper (, to taste)

These Air Fryer Corn Ribs are tossed with seasonings, lime zest, and butter for a flavorful side to any summer lunch or dinner or serve with a dipping sauce for a snack or appetizer. Ready in just 15 minutes, these corn riblets are fun to eat, too!

A pile of air fryer corn ribs on a plate

Easy Corn Ribs Recipe

We’ve been eating this Air Fryer Corn Rib recipe on repeat! It’s so cheap, quick and easy to make, and the whole family loves it. There are zero complaints in the house when I serve these.

Juicy, zesty, and tender corn ribs packed full of flavor and really fun to eat. If you haven’t tried these yet, think basic corn on the cob meets Mexican street corn. Corn cobs are cut into quarters, then tossed with seasoning, and cooked to tasty perfection.

The air fryer cooks them perfectly in next to no time.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Recipe

This corn rib recipe is on repeat throughout the summer. Here are a few reasons why.

Quick and easy. These corn ribs can be ready in as little as 15 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight side dish, when you need something to share with guests, or just as an afternoon snack.
Super flavorful. These sweetcorn riblets are coated in a mixture of butter, lime, garlic powder, and paprika, so you know every bite is bursting with flavor. Not to mention the mayo dipping sauce!
Fun new way to enjoy summer sweet corn. The truth is, these corn ribs are just plain fun. They definitely have a bit of a novelty factor to them and are a fun alternative to regular corn on the cob.

Overhead view of corn ribs in the air fryer

What Are Corn Ribs?

Corn ribs are simply corn on the cob that have been cut into quarters length-wise. They’re seasoned then cooked on the grill, in the oven, or in the air fryer.

They’re called corn ribs because of their shape and they’re also served as vegan ribs in some places, as they can take on the flavor of whatever seasoning you like. This corn rib recipe includes butter so it’s not vegan but you could swap it for a plant-based butter for your vegan friends.

Ingredients Needed

You’ll need just a handful of ingredients, including a few seasonings, to make both the corn ribs and dipping sauce.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for complete measurement details and instruction.)

Corn cobs – See below for tips on how to cut the corn into ribs.
Butter – Helps the seasonings stick to the corn.
Seasonings – Garlic powder and paprika season the corn. You’ll also need additional paprika and some sea salt for the dip.
Lime – Lime juice and zest really brightens the flavor of these corn ribs. Lime juice is also used in the dip.
Red chilis – For a bit of heat.
Cilantro – You can also use parsley, your choice.
Mayonnaise – Mayo is the base of the dip for these corn riblets.

How to Cut Corn Ribs

Corn cobs are very difficult to cut because they are hard so please proceed with caution. Here’s how we cut our corn ribs:

Soften first. We have found that softening the corn for a minute in the microwave before attempting to split them into quarters helps.
Cut straight down. Position the corn upright and cut it straight down with a very sharp knife. Do not hold the corn at the base. Keep your hands at the top of the corn.
You can also try hitting it on the counter. You might find making a small indentation at the top of the corn is enough to pick it up with the knife and hit the corn hard on the counter – the action is similar to splitting wood.

Process shots of how to make corn ribs in the air fryer

How to Make Air Fryer Corn Ribs

Here’s how to make these juicy, tender corn ribs in just a few steps.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for complete measurement details and instruction.)

Prepare the dip. Combine all dip ingredients, then chill in the fridge.
Cut the corn. Remove the husks from the corn then cut lengthways into quarters, using the tips recommended above.
Make the seasoning mixture. Whisk the garlic powder, paprika, lime zest, and lime juice into melted butter. Pour over the corn and use your hands to ensure the corn is fully coated.
Air fry. Air fryer at 400F for 12 minutes, flipping halfway. Transfer to a serving plate, top with the chilis and herbs, and enjoy with the dip on the side.

Tips & Variations

Here are a few tips for making the best air fryer corn ribs.

Try to make even slices. However, don’t fret if your sections of corn are slightly different sizes – they do not need to be perfect quarters.
Flip the corn halfway through the cooking time for best results. This will also give you an indication of how much cooking time your corn ribs need. You may find they need slightly more or less time depending on how many corn ribs you’ve added to the Air Fryer basket.
How do I know when my corn ribs are ready? They should be slightly charred on the edges and curled a bit, with the corn kernels juicy and tender.
Try different seasonings. Feel free to experiment with your favorite seasonings or seasoning blend on the corn.

Can You Eat The Whole Corn Rib?

No – you still cannot eat the cob. Even though we’re cutting these in quarters, each corn rib will still be attached to a part of the cob, which is inedible. Just bite the corn kernels off the cob, as you would when eating regular corn on the cob.

A hand dipping a corn rib into a mayo dipping sauce

What to Serve with Sweetcorn Ribs

These air fryer corn ribs make a great addition to any meal. We love them during the summer with some grilled meats and they’ve been a huge hit at cookouts too.

You can serve these as a fun appetizer with the dipping sauce or as a side. Here are some of our favorite dishes to serve these with:

Proper Storage

Make ahead. Once you’ve added the seasoned butter to the corn, you can cover the corn and put the bowl into the refrigerator to marinade for up to 24 hours.
Fridge. Air Fryer Corn Ribs are best eaten straight after they’ve cooked. However, if you have leftovers, cover and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat. You can reheat the corn ribs in the air fryer for 5 minutes.

More Air Fryer Veggies:

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!