Corn Ribs with Garlic Butter is the perfect summer side dish. The crispy corn is cooked to perfection and slathered with garlic and herbs, and goes great with hamburgers or hot dogs.
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Why this Corn Ribs Recipe is a Keeper
This spiced corn on the cob sections are a new way to eat corn on the cob. Juicy corn kernels are roasted on the grill and are super fun to eat. Better yet, they’re seasoned with garlic butter you can make yourself.
- 16 Minute Side: Have these simple seasoned corn ribs with smoked paprika ready in just 16 minutes.
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Family Friendly: Family dinners and cookouts won’t be complete without this garlicky spiced corn on the cob recipe.
If you’re looking for more ways to enjoy fresh corn on the cob, try these: Mexican Corn Salad, Chili Lime Grilled Corn, and Garlic Parmesan Corn on the Cob.
Which Corn is Best for Grilling?
There are three main types of corn, but sweet corn is the best for grilling and cooking. That’s because it has large, juicy kernels and a higher sugar content, and the sweetness of the corn lends itself to lots of great corn recipes. Dent corn and flint corn, the other corn types, are better suited for other uses, including livestock feed, popcorn, and decorations.
Ingredient Notes to Make Corn Ribs
- Fresh Corn Cob: Husk whole corn on the cob and remove the silk before cooking, then halve one whole corn cob with a sharp knife to make two ribs.
- Garlic Butter: Mix butter, garlic, spices, and olive oil together to make a delicious garlic butter mixture for the corn.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for the Best Corn Ribs with Garlic Butter
- Dairy Free Butter: Use dairy-free butter to accommodate lactose intolerance needs when making seasoned corn.
- Herbs: This recipe is a great use for fresh herbs from your garden. Rosemary, oregano, and thyme will all go great with these corn ribs.
Special Equipment Needed for this Cut Corn Side Dish
- Grill: Grill your corn to perfection! You can use a charcoal, gas, or wood grill. If you don’t have a grill, you can make corn ribs in a grill pan on the stovetop or make oven-baked corn with a baking sheet. For the oven method, preheat oven to 425 F, then add the corn after you preheat the oven and bake.
- Basting Brush: Use a basting brush to easily coat each ear of corn in garlic butter while it’s on the grill.
Corn Recipe Pro Tip
Keep the heat and flames low to medium for gas grills, and place charcoal corn on a grill topper or higher tier of grate to keep it away from the flames.
How to Make Roasted Corn Ribs with Corn Sauce
Summer corn ribs are delicious right off the grill. The flavor of corn is sweet and savory, roasted carefully and complemented by garlic and spices. Once you learn how to make corn this way, you’ll never go back!
These are the basic steps for making grilled corn ribs with garlic butter. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Cut Corn Ribs
Preheat the grill to medium high heat, or prepare your grill pan on the stove to prep the corn. In a casserole dish, combine melted butter, olive oil, garlic, paprika, salt, and black pepper to make the butter mixture. Cut off the ends of the corn, then hold the corn upright and use a sharp knife to cut the corn cob in half lengthwise. Arrange the corn ribs in a single layer in the casserole dish. Cut the halves again for shorter ribs if desired.
2. Cook the Corn Ribs
Once the corn is cut, make sure all of the corn pieces are coated evenly in the butter seasoning mixture, then add the corn to the grill. Cook the corn riblets for about 8-10 minutes, or until charred. While the corn is grilling, continue to coat the sides of the corn in the butter mixture using a basting brush.
3. Garnish
You’ll know your corn ribs are done when they start to curl slightly and have some black char spots. If the corn doesn’t curl, grill for a few minutes longer. Remove from grill and arrange the corn in a single layer on a serving dish, then garnish with cilantro or finish with a drizzle of BBQ sauce.
Corn on the Cob FAQs
Store leftover cooked corn in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should be good for 2-3 days. Reheat and serve the corn ribs hot.
To make the corn ribs easier to cut, remove the bottom and top of the corn first. To cut for the corn ribs method, stand the corn upright on your cutting board and use a large knife to cut the cob in half.
Coat the corn in onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and more! Get creative with your corn seasonings.
If your corn cobs weren’t fresh, they might not have had enough moisture to begin with or corn ribs cook quickly, as overcooking can easily dry them out.
Expert Tips for Making Grilled Corn Ribs with Garlic Butter
- Air Fried: You can also enjoy these corn ribs cooked in an air fryer. After coating strips of corn in oil mixture, transfer from bowl to air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees F.
- Mexican Street Corn Ribs: For a Mexican street corn variation, top corn ribs will drizzle of mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, cotija cheese, lime juice, and Mexican spices, such as ground cumin and fresh cilantro.
- Flavor: For maximum flavor and caramelization, cut the corn cobs into thick “ribs” rather than thin slices.
- Spices: Explore spice rubs, herb blends, or even marinades to add depth of flavor. For instance, try our Garlic and Herb Seasoning, BBQ Rub, or Chili Seasoning.
What to Serve with Garlic Butter Corn Ribs
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Corn Ribs with Garlic Butter
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Ingredients
- 4 Corn Cobs
- 4 tablespoons Butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 3 teaspoons Minced Garlic
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
Instructions
- Turn on your BBQ or grill pan to medium-high heat.
- Cut off the ends of each cob of corn, then cut the corn in half length-wise. Cut the corn again in have length-wise so that each cob of corn is quartered.
- Place the corn in a casserole dish and cover completely with the melted butter and olive oil.
- Sprinkle on the seasoning and minced garlic, then flip the corn in the casserole dish to ensure each piece of corn is evenly coated in the seasoning and butter-oil mixture.
- Once the grill is hot, place the corn ribs directly on the grill and cook until charred, about 8-10 minutes, then flip and continue to cook until charred on the other side and corn starts bending to look like a rib (slight arch shape).
- You can continue to brush the corn with the butter-oil mixture from the casserole dish as it cooks on the BBQ or grill.
Christina’s Notes
- Air Fried Corn Ribs: You can also enjoy these corn ribs cooked in an air fryer. After coating strips of corn in oil mixture, transfer from bowl to air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees F.
- Mexican Street Corn Ribs: For a Mexican street corn variation, top corn ribs will drizzle of mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, cotija cheese, lime juice, and Mexican spices, such as ground cumin and fresh cilantro.
- Flavor: For maximum flavor and caramelization, cut the corn cobs into thick “ribs” rather than thin slices. Explore spice rubs, herb blends, or even marinades to add depth of flavor. For instance, try our Garlic and Herb Seasoning, BBQ Rub, or Chili Seasoning.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Delightful recipe
Thanks