First seen on TikTok, corn ribs are this summer’s favorite food trend. Easy to make and fun to eat, corn ribs curl up when they cook to look like, well, ribs!
Not only are they cute as the dickens, they are also so much easier to eat than a full ear of corn and they are wonderful for a vegetarian or vegan barbecue.
Grill them or roast them in the oven or air fryer. Whichever way you make them, they are going to be a hit, I guarantee.
The hardest step is cutting the corn lengthwise into 4 strips. I’m a klutz in the kitchen, so I cut the cob in half first. A shorter ear is easier to manage.
Put a damp wash rag or paper towel under your cutting board so it doesn’t slip, use a heavy, sharp knife and please go slowly.
I like to get as much prep work done early in the day as I can to make cooking dinner easier. Once prepared, these corn ribs can wait to be cooked for a couple of hours up to 2 days in a zip top bag or other closed container in your refrigerator.
Corn Preparation
Step 1:
Cut the cob in half.
Step 2:
Hold the cob vertically by resting it on its freshly cut flat surface to minimize slippage. Take your time and cut all the way down the length of the cob. Rock the knife a little if needed but watch your fingers!
Step 3:
Repeat the process until you’ve got 8 corn ribs from each ear of corn.
Step 4:
Put the corn ribs in a big bowl, drizzle them with olive oil and give them a good rub.
Step 5:
Salt and pepper them or go with a generous sprinkling of barbecue seasoning.
Step 6:
Grill, roast, or air fry until they begin to curl up and brown, about 15 minutes.
Step 7:
Eat them just like they are, or drizzle with melted butter or barbecue mayo. Sprinkle with grated parmesan and cilantro for an out-of-this-world flavor.
Corn Ribs
- 2 ears of corn, cut into 8 ribs each
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt
- pepper
- barbecue seasoning (optional)
- parmesan cheese (optional)
- cilantro (optional)
In a large bowl, cover the corn ribs with the olive oil, rubbing it in well. Season with salt and pepper or barbecue seasoning.
Barbecue Mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
Stir barbecue sauce and mayonnaise until blended. Set aside until needed. (Make ahead of time and store in the refrigerator in a covered container if you are like me and like to get things done ahead of time.)
To Grill
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Place the corn on the grill and turn it regularly until each side starts to char, about 15 minutes grill time, total.
To Oven Bake
Preheat oven to 375. Place corn ribs on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. They are done when they start to curl, and you see a few charred kernels.
To Air Fry
Lay them in a single layer in your air fryer and cook for 15 minutes at 375. Flip them over half way.
To serve:
Serve plain, or with a little melted butter or with barbecue mayonnaise. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cilantro.
