Transform fresh corn into crispy, flavorful corn ribs with our Air Fryer Corn Ribs Recipe. This easy, step-by-step tutorial will help you get a great side dish on the table in no time.

Corn ribs recipes are all over Instagram and TikTok. Have you seen them? They look delicious – but what’s the real scoop? Worth it? Or social media hype?

Since it is currently prime sweet corn season in Iowa, we had to give them a try. Here’s how we made these air-fried corn ribs (plus directions for oven baking too). And even better – our real thoughts on this viral TikTok corn trend! 

Flavorful Air Fryer Corn Ribs Recipe for a Delicious Taste of Summer

We love growing corn and freezing corn kernels to eat all year. But during sweet corn season, it also means – drop everything and eat fresh sweet corn.

As far as we’re concerned, the only time to eat corn on the cob is during sweet corn season. Unless the corn is fresh from the field, garden, or farmer’s market it’s not worth eating.

Turns out, Iowa is full of sweet corn snobs for good reason. The best sweet corn in the world grows right here! And during the summer, sweet corn makes a great side dish for so many meals.

I’ve seen lots of posts about this corn rib recipe trend. They all say it’s easy and delicious. Part of it’s true and part of it’s not. Here’s the scoop on air fryer corn ribs!

What are Corn Ribs?

If you haven’t heard of corn ribs or corn riblets, they’re kind of like a crunchy version of Mexican Street Corn. In a nutshell, you cut a cob of corn in fourths, season with olive oil and spice mix, and then bake or air fry until it’s crispy.

If you’d like to top it like street corn, add a bit of fresh lime, cilantro, and Mexican Cotija cheese or my favorite, feta cheese. Parmesan cheese is also great on sweet corn ribs too.

Why are they called corn ribs?

They’re called corn ribs because the cob is a bit like a ‘bone,’ acting as something to hold while you eat the ‘fleshy’ corn bits. Because eating corn ribs is something like eating meat ribs, they’ve been dubbed corn ribs.

How do you eat corn ribs?

When you make this recipe, you end up with small pieces of crispy corn. Because part of the cob is still attached, you eat the corn kernels off the riblets like you would eat an ear of corn.

It’s pretty good, all things considered. But is it worth all the work? I guess that’s for you to decide!

How to Cut Fresh Corn into Long Strips of Corn

The real challenge with this corn riblets recipe is cutting the corn cobs into fourths. You’d think it might be an easy endeavor, but corn cobs are really hard, so turning a whole corn cob into four skinny corn pieces is tricky.

In addition to being hard, they’re also challenging to hold. These two characteristics of corn on the cob mean that cutting the cob into corn curls is a challenge. 

The best way to cut fresh corn on the cob into fourths is to have very good knife skills. It also helps to have the following supplies:

• A large sharp knife – it really needs to be very sharp
• Cutting board
• Metal meat pounder or a rolling pin

You’ll also need the following kitchen items to make this recipe

• Air Fryer – we like this Instant Vortex 5.7QT Air Fryer Oven Combo
• or Sheet Pan if you prefer to bake it – this half-sheet pan with rack is really nice!
• Parchment paper – Eco-Friendly If You Care is our favorite brand
• Silicone basting brush

How to Make this Air Fryer Corn Ribs Recipe

This air fryer version of corn ribs makes them a relatively simple and quick side dish. Add a smoky rub to take them to the next level. Whether you’re serving corn ribs as an appetizer, a snack or a side dish at a BBQ, they’ll keep your friends and family coming back for more! Don’t worry – if you don’t have an air fryer, you can also bake them in an oven.

Corn Ribs Recipe Ingredients

• 4 ears of fresh sweet corn – husks and corn silks/threads removed
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 ½  teaspoons smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon tsp garlic powder
• Salt & pepper

Optional serving suggestions:

• Fresh cilantro – roughly chopped
• Lime wedges, freshly squeezed lime juice
• Sriracha mayo, chili mayo, BBQ sauce, or other dipping sauce

Easiest Way to Make the Perfect Side Dish – Corn Ribs

Makes 16 ribs – serves 4

1. Remove any husks and corn silks/threads from the corn cobs.
2. Cutting corn cobs is the only tricky part of this recipe. Very carefully cut each cub lengthways into quarters. Start by standing a cob vertically with the widest end on the chopping board, then using a very sharp knife, gently apply pressure in a rocking motion back and forth to cut through the center of the cob.
3. Repeat the technique in step 3 on each half cob, being extremely careful, to end up with quarters. Repeat for each cob. Cutting the halves can be a little more tricky because they’re less stable when held vertically. 
4. A different cutting method is to lay the half cobs down on the cutting board, flat side down, which provides more stability. This method has the cut going against the grain so can be more challenging to get the knife through. If you’re having trouble, hit the back of the knife with a rolling pin to help you break through the cob.
5. In a small bowl, mix together the oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder and season with a little salt and pepper to make the rub. Then lay out the quartered cobs in a tray or board and use a pastry brush to evenly season the corn by coating them with the dry rub mix. This is our favorite silicone pastry brush – easy to use and wash!
6. Using an air fryer: Evenly lay out the corn ribs in the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 375°F and cook for 10-12 minutes, until tender and the edges have started to brown and crisp.
7. Using an oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lay out the corn ribs on a non-stick or parchment-lined baking sheet and put in the oven for 25- 30 minutes, until tender and the edges have started to brown and crisp.

Notes

1. Another good spice mix is chili powder and ground cumin.
2. For a vegetarian alternative, leave off the cheese.

What Else To Eat with Corn Ribs

Corn ribs are a versatile and delicious snack or side dish that pairs well with lots of food! Serve them up at a family BBQ or simply add them to your family dinner line-up. Here are a few family-friendly ideas for what to eat with corn ribs:

BBQ Brisket Sandwich

Pork Pita Sandwiches

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken

Slow Cooker Beans & Ribs

So, Corn Ribs. Worth the Hype?

Honestly, sweet corn all on its own is so good, I’m not sure this is a recipe that will make the dinner line up all that regularly. It’s a fun dish to serve to a gathering of friends or when you need small bites during appetizer night. Otherwise, I’ll probably just stick to a perfectly cooked, whole ear of corn. 😀

What do you think?