Skip to content
RecipesWhipped Up

American

Air Fryer Corn Ribs

Ears of corn are quartered lengthwise so they curl, tossed with butter and chili, and air-fried until the edges char.

Prep
10 min
Cook
14 min
Total
24 min
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
Jump to recipe
Curled corn ribs with chili butter and lime wedges

Photo: Bex.Walton (CC BY). Source

Why you’ll love it

  • Quartering the cob is what makes them ribs.
  • A sharp knife and a steady board.
  • 400°F chars the edges.
  • Lime at the end, not in the basket.

Ingredients

Servings4

Ingredient amounts scale. Oven temperature and cook time do not. Salt, spices, and leaveners are a starting point after you scale. Taste and adjust.

View list

Check the ingredients you still need, then add them. If nothing is checked, the full list is added. Saved on this device.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Heat the air fryer to 400°F. Cut each ear in half crosswise, then cut each half lengthwise into two or four ribs.

  2. 2

    Toss with butter, chili powder, salt, and paprika.

  3. 3

    Cook in one layer, 12 to 14 minutes, shaking once, until the kernels are browned in spots and the ribs curl.

  4. 4

    Squeeze lime over them and scatter the cilantro.

Pro tips

  • If the knife slips, cut a thin slice off the cob so it sits flat.
  • Do not crowd. Two rounds is better than steamed corn.
  • Salt after if the butter made the first pinch disappear.

Easy substitutions

Butter
Olive oil
Chili powder
Everything bagel seasoning, added after cooking

Storage and reheating

Storage

Refrigerate up to 2 days.

Reheating

Air-fry at 375°F for 4 minutes. They will not curl again, but they reheat.

Nutrition

Estimates per serving, using standard ingredient averages and rounded to the nearest gram. This is not a lab analysis, and it shifts if you change brands or add sides.

Calories
190
Protein
4 g
Carbs
28 g
Fat
8 g
Fiber
3 g

Budget friendly · Air Fryer · Vegetarian, Gluten-Free

You might also like

Crispy-skinned chicken thighs in an air fryer basket.
Air Fryer Kitchen

Air Fryer Crispy Thighs

Bone-in chicken thighs crisp in a preheated air fryer with salt, paprika, and garlic. The skin renders because the basket is hot and the thighs sit in one layer, not because of a heavy breading.

31 min · Easy

View recipe

Still hungry?

More in the same lane, not a random mix.

Find something else

Air FryerQuick & EasyChickenSide Dishes

From the kitchen

Kitchen tools we love

Practical tools these recipes actually use. This is not a review roundup, and these are not paid placements. If affiliate links are added later, they will be labeled and disclosed.

  • A heavy 12-inch skillet

    Most of the chicken and steak recipes are written for one pan that holds heat. Stainless or cast iron both work.

  • An air fryer with a real basket

    The air-fryer recipes expect a single layer. A crowded basket steams instead of browning.

  • A half-sheet pan

    Drumsticks, potatoes, sausage, and carrots all use one. A dark pan browns faster than a very shiny one.

  • A sharp chef’s knife

    These recipes do not need a specialty blade. A sharp 8-inch knife is faster and safer than a dull one.

  • A large cutting board

    Big enough that the onion and the raw chicken are not sharing the same puddle.

  • Dry cups and a liquid cup

    Desserts in particular expect level dry measures and a separate cup for milk.

  • An instant-read thermometer

    Use it for poultry, pork chops, and meatloaf. Color is a weak guide.

Read the affiliate disclosure.

Ingredients