Julie Clark
Posted:
Corn Ribs Recipe
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If you haven’t tried corn ribs yet, this is your time! Corn ribs are everything you love about roasted corn, but in a fun, bite-sized twist that’s perfect for sharing.
This corn ribs recipe is fusion of buttery ranch seasoning, a little Tajín heat, Cotija cheese, and a creamy, fiesta ranch dip. The corn curls up into tender, crispy “ribs” in the oven or air fryer thanks to the high heat. They are perfect as a side for tender ribs, served with Mexican grilled chicken on taco night or when fresh ears of corn are abounding in the garden.
From our kitchen to yours:
Some of our most popular recipes on Tastes of Lizzy T are corn recipes. There’s easy corn casserole and traditional grilled corn, and then we have our street corn recipes:
There’s something irresistible about flavors of Tajín, sweet corn kernels, creamy cotija cheese and lime, any way its served.
These corn riblets are a fun twist on traditional corn. They’re a perfect side dish for parties. You can prep them in advance and air fry them or bake them right before serving.
They’d go great with traditional pork ribs like our instant pot spare ribs, blueberry bbq ribs, crockpot ribs or easy pork ribs. I hope you give them a try this summer!
Enjoy! -Julie
Ingredients Needed
- Corn on the cob. If you have fresh garden corn? There’s nothing like it with this corn ribs recipe.
- Spicy ranch seasoning. Buy these packets in the aisle with the traditional ranch seasoning. They add a spicy flair to dip but still have that familiar ranch flavor.
- Cotjia cheese. To find this cheese, look first in the dairy section with traditional cheese. They often sell it in a block or in a bag. If you can’t find it there, look in the speciality cheese section. Feta cheese works well as a substitute because it’s salty and crumbly like Cotija. Parmesan or queso fresco are also good substitutes.
See the recipe card for full ingredients and amounts.
Corn Ribs with Fiesta Ranch Dip
If you haven’t tried corn ribs yet, this is your time! Corn ribs are everything you love about roasted corn, but in a fun, bite-sized twist that’s perfect for sharing.
Servings 14
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 7 ears of corn husks removed
- 1/2 cup salted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon Fiesta Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Tajín plus more for garnish
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ cup Cotija cheese crumbled
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro for garnish
- Chopped Green Onions for garnish, optional
Fiesta Dipping Sauce:
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons Fiesta Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sriracha adjust to taste
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon Tajín
Instructions
- Microwave the corn for 1–2 minutes to soften it slightly, this will help with cutting them into “ribs”. 7 ears of corn
- Carefully cut each corn cob into quarters lengthwise to create “ribs”. To make it easier, cut the ends off and use a very sharp knife.
- Preheat oven to 425°F (or air fryer to 400°F).
- In a bowl, mix melted butter with Ranch seasoning, Tajín, and garlic powder. Carefully dip the corn ribs in the butter mixture, making sure all sides are coated. If the corn ribs are extra fragile, gently brush or drizzle the butter mixture on the corn ribs. ½ cup salted butter, 1 tablespoon Fiesta Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning, 1 teaspoon Tajín, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Arrange in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet or in the air fryer basket. Bake for 20–25 minutes (or air fry for 12–15 minutes), until they curl slightly and edges are golden brown.
- While they cook, make the dipping sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayo, ranch seasoning, sriracha, lime juice, and Tajín until smooth. Set aside or refrigerate. ¾ cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons Fiesta Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning, 1 teaspoon sriracha, Juice of 1 lime, 1 teaspoon Tajín
- Once corn ribs are done, immediately sprinkle with Cotija cheese and chopped cilantro. Add a light dusting of extra Tajín for color and flavor. Serve with the spicy lime dipping sauce (garnished with green onions) on the side. ⅓ cup Cotija cheese, 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, Chopped Green Onions
Notes
- Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
- Storage: Store cooled corn ribs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 375°F until warmed through and slightly crisped up.
Nutrition
Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 328mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 314IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.3mg
How to Cut Corn Ribs
Cutting the ears of corn can be tricky, but there are a few tips to make it easier:
- Microwave corn for 1–2 minutes (with husk or wrapped in a damp towel) to soften slightly before cutting.
- Start by cutting off each end of the cob to make an even base for holding the corn stable.
- Use a very sharp chef’s knife and a stable cutting board. Cutting corn lengthwise is tricky—apply slow, firm pressure.
- Stand the corn up vertically and slice straight down through the core.
- Then cut each half in half again. This will give you 4 ribs for each ear of corn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grill the corn ribs instead of baking or air frying?
Yes! Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Grill the ribs for about 8–10 minutes, turning occasionally, until they’re charred and curled. Brush with butter seasoning during grilling for max flavor.
Can I make corn ribs ahead of time?
You can prep and cut the corn and even make the butter and sauce ahead of time. But for the best texture, bake or air fry them fresh just before serving. Reheating can make them a little chewy.
Can I make this dairy-free?
Yes. Use vegan butter and mayo, and swap Cotija for a dairy-free cheese or just leave it off. The flavor from the butter mix and Tajín is strong enough to carry the corn ribs.
Help! My corn ribs are falling apart.
This can be tricky and some kernels may fall off their “rib”. It’s ok! Let them fall. Be as gentle as possible when handling, but any that fall of will get
