Forget corn niblets, these are corn riblets! A fun alternative to corn on the cob, these Garlic Butter Corn Ribs curl up like real ribs – the perfect BBQ side dish if you’re willing to put in a bit of work chopping up the corn.

A less messy alternative to Corn on the Cob, these Garlic Butter Corn Ribs are a delicious BBQ side dish perfect for kids or guests that don’t want the mess of traditional corn on the cob.

Corn Ribs Recipe

Corn on the cob is hands-down my favorite BBQ side dish, but if I was to have one complaint about this BBQ mainstay – it’s that it is MESSY with a capital M.

I don’t wear facial make-up, but I do take really good care of my skin and when I get that sensation of butter dripping down my chin, I immediately start thinking of all the break-outs that are to come… so corn riblets are perfect for me. They provide all of the juicy flavor of corn on the cob without the buttery mess.

Corn ribs are quartered corn cobs that are grilled, baked or fried… they curl up when heated to resemble beef or pork ribs

They are also great for kids, who never finish a full cob on their own, or those who just want a taste of corn at a BBQ but don’t need a full serving.

Don’t get me wrong, I will happily sit down and eat several servings of these corn riblets… but I now do so without the mess, just that sweet, juicy corn with this lip-smacking garlic butter flavor and that light kick of paprika.

The hardest part of making this recipe is quartering the corn cobs – which I will admit, takes a bit of strength – and failing that, determination.

Husk and clean the corn well, then dry thoroughly to ensure there is no slip while cutting
Use a sharp, large and sturdy knife
Cut in half through the middle (width-wise) to make two sections
Be sure to protect your hand, using a cutting glove or covering the blunt side of the knife with a kitchen towel
To cut further into quarters, set the corn cobs on the flat ends created by halving them, and then cut in half lengthwise
Half the sections of corn further to create quarters resembling what you see in our pictures
Keep the core of the corn – it will serve as the “bone” of the rib, holding the corn in place while grilling

This recipe is naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, making them a great option to serve to meat-free guests at a BBQ, but if serving these to truly vegetarian friends, I suggest preparing them on a grill that has been well-scrubbed of any meat residue out of consideration.

To make these Mexican street corn ribs in the air-fryer: cook at 375 for 12 minutes, flipping over at the 7 min mark.

Can Mexican street corn ribs be made in advance? While these corn riblets are best served immediately, they can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.

More Corn Recipes:

Mexican Street Corn Ribs
Mexican Corn Salad
Crockpot Corn Chowder
Cream-Style Corn (with Video)
Crockpot Buttered Corn on the Cob
Ham and Corn Chowder
Sweet Corn Succotash with Bacon from A Food Centric Life
Cilantro Lime Sweet Corn from Once Upon a Chef

composite image of corn ribs alongside three images of how to make them

Garlic Butter Corn Ribs Ingredients

Corn Cobs
Butter, melted
Olive Oil
Minced Garlic
Paprika
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: adjust the seasonings called for in this recipe to suit your personal preferences.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

Sharp Kitchen Knife
Cutting Board
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Container for Marinating
Grill Pan (if not using a BBQ)
Pastry brush <– I like these because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.

close-up image of corn ribs in a white serving dish

How to Make Corn Ribs

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.

Makes 16 corn ribs, approximately 4-5 servings.

Pin this Easy Corn Ribs Recipe for your next BBQ:

Forget corn niblets, these are corn riblets! A fun alternative to corn on the cob, these Garlic Butter Corn Ribs curl up like real ribs - the perfect BBQ side dish if you're willing to put in a bit of work chopping up the corn.

Grab your free printable recipe card for our easy garlic butter corn ribs recipe:

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Yield: 12 servings

Garlic Butter Corn Ribs

Name: Garlic Butter Corn Ribs
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Side Dish Recipe
Ingredients: 4 Corn Cobs; 4 Tablespoons Butter, melted; 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil; 3 teaspoons Minced Garlic; 1 teaspoon Paprika; Salt and Pepper, to taste

Forget corn niblets, these are corn riblets! A fun alternative to corn on the cob, these Garlic Butter Corn Ribs curl up like real ribs - the perfect BBQ side dish if you're willing to put in a bit of work chopping up the corn.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

4 Corn Cobs
4 Tablespoons Butter, melted
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
3 teaspoons Minced Garlic
1 teaspoon Paprika
Salt and Pepper, to taste

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.
Makes 16 corn ribs, approximately 4-5 servings.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 84Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 56mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 1g

Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.

I hope your family loves this easy corn ribs recipe as much as mine did!

For more ways to make veggies delicious, check out our full vegetable recipe collection here:

For more scrumptious side dishes, check out our full side dish recipe collection here:

Garlic Butter Corn Ribs