I'll unlock the secrets to cooking the most delicious air fryer corn on the cob! I cook sweet summer corn in the air fryer and top it with a luscious sauce, crumbled cotija cheese, and cilantro- it's a flavor explosion! It's the perfect side dish for your summer meals and can be made in just 15 minutes.
This air fryer corn on the cob is my latest obsession! This irresistible recipe brings out the best in sweet summer corn, giving you the perfect balance of tenderness and crunch.
The air fryer has changed the way I cook. It saves so much time in the kitchen and can be used to make so many different dishes from chicken wings to fish, vegetables, and even dessert. Check out my air fryer recipe collection.
Now, this corn on the cob is one of my new favorite easy air fryer recipes. I even included it in my air fryer cookbook! It's insanely delicious and so easy to make. It's especially perfect in the summertime when you don't want to turn on the stove or oven.
Whether you prefer your corn on the cob plain or topped with my creamy Mexican street corn-inspired toppings, this may just become your new favorite side dish!
For a fun twist on air fryer corn on the cob, you can also try my Ultimate Corn Ribs recipe.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Dish
- Why Air Fry Corn on the Cob?
- Doctor's Tip
- Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn
- Ingredients
- How To Make Corn on the Cob In The Air Fryer Step-By-Step
- Chef's Tips
- What To Serve With This Dish
- Get Healthy With My New Digital Cookbook!
- Recipe FAQs
- More Air Fryer Recipes and Resources
- Recipe
- Reviews
Why You'll Love This Dish
- Quick and Easy- air frying corn on the cob is so easy; you won't go back to boiling corn in a pot of water!
- Crispy and Tender- the air fryer's magic gives you lightly charred kernels on the outside while keeping the corn tender and juicy on the inside
- Healthy- air frying means you have to use minimal oil
- Family-Friendly- win over even the pickiest eaters with this dish
- Minimal Cleanup- the air fryer keeps things tidy, saving you time and effort in the kitchen
- Versatile- customize this dish to your heart's content! Top your corn with a little butter or try fresh herbs, grated cheese, or my Mexican street corn-inspired toppings.
Why Air Fry Corn on the Cob?
The air fryer method is my new favorite way to make corn on the cob. It brings out the natural sweetness of the corn while adding a slight char that elevates the flavor to a whole new level.
The air fryer gives you perfect corn in minutes with the ideal balance of crispiness and tenderness. Plus, you need minimal oil, making it a guilt-free and utterly delicious treat for everyone to enjoy.
An air fryer is basically a mini convection oven that sits on your countertop and cooks your food using hot air rather than hot oil.
Air fryers have a heating element at the top and a powerful fan that helps circulate the hot air around your food more efficiently. This makes air-fried food perfectly browned on the outside, while keeping it tender and juicy on the inside.
Doctor's Tip
If you're looking for a fun and tasty way to up your veggie intake, the air fryer is your secret weapon! With just a light drizzle of oil and some seasoning, you can transform ordinary veggies into addictive snacks or side dishes that even the pickiest eaters will love. From crispy zucchini fries to perfectly roasted potatoes and butternut squash, air fryers make healthy eating exciting and effortless!
Want to learn more? Read my post on Why You Need An Air Fryer In Your Life.
Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn
You can enjoy this corn on the cob straight from the air fryer slathered with a little butter, salt, and pepper. Or you can kick it up a notch and make my version of air fryer Mexican street corn.
Mexican street corn, also known as elote, is a beloved Mexican dish. It's made with grilled corn on the cob slathered in a creamy sauce made from mayonnaise or Mexican crema, and sprinkled with cotija cheese, a salty and crumbly cheese. It's typically seasoned with chili powder or paprika and garnished with lime juice for a tangy kick.
This delectable air fryer corn on the cob recipe is my lightened up take on this iconic Mexican snack. Instead of slathering the corn with mayonnaise, I drizzle it with a luscious sauce infused with spices and fresh lime juice. Then I top it all off with crumbled cotija cheese and bright cilantro.
The combination of the slightly charred, sweet corn with the creamy sauce, spices, salty cheese, tangy lime juice, and fresh cilantro is out of this world!
Are you a fan of Mexican street corn? Try my elote (Mexican street corn) dip or my tasty Mexican street corn fritters.
Ingredients
Ingredient notes and substitutions. See recipe card at the end of the post for full ingredient list.
- Corn- use fresh, sweet corn on the cob
- Sour cream- you can use regular sour cream or Mexican crema
- Mayonnaise- forms the base of the sauce along with sour cream
- Lime juice- I stir fresh lime juice into the sauce and also serve lime wedges on the side for squeezing on top
- Spices- I use chili powder and garlic powder; you can add a little cayenne pepper for heat if you want
- Cheese- I top the corn with crumbled cotija cheese, a Mexican cheese; you can substitute feta if you can't find it
How To Make Corn on the Cob In The Air Fryer Step-By-Step
See recipe card at the end of the post for full recipe details.
- Step 1- Lightly spray corn with a little avocado or olive oil and season with salt. Place corn in a single layer in the basket of your air fryer that's been preheated to 375°F.
- Step 2- Cook until corn is tender and lightly charred, turning it once or twice, about 12-15 minutes.
- Step 3- Stir sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, and garlic powder together in a small bowl.
- Step 4- Drizzle the sauce on top of the corn. Sprinkle cheese on top and garnish with cilantro and lime, if desired.
Chef's Tips
- Preheat the air fryer for best results.
- Lightly spray or brush a little oil on the corn cobs. Don't use cooking spray like PAM in your air fryer as it can damage the lining. To learn more, read my post on the Best oils and oil sprays for the air fryer.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. You may need to cook the corn in batches or cut the cobs in half depending on the size of your air fryer
- Turn the corn cobs halfway through so that they cook evenly on all sides.
- The final cooking time will depend on the make and model of your air fryer. Check on the corn halfway through cooking to make sure it's not browning too quickly.
- You can cook frozen corn on the cob the same way. Either defrost it first or cook it for a few extra minutes if cooking from frozen.
Learn how to adapt any recipe to cook in your air fryer! Read my Easy Oven to Air Fryer Conversion Guide and get my helpful conversion chart!
What To Serve With This Dish
This air fried corn on the cob is a great side dish to serve at summer parties or family dinners alongside main dishes like grilled chicken, burgers, hot dogs or pork chops.
Since you'll have the air fryer on, try serving this dish along with my air fryer chicken legs or juicy air fryer turkey burgers.
You can also cut the corn off the cobs and add it to salads like my Santa Fe (southwest chicken) salad or farro salad with corn, tomatoes, and edamame.
Because this dish has a Mexican spin, you can also serve it with Mexican-inspired dishes like my fish tacos, chicken quesadillas or tuna tostadas.
Wash it all down with a refreshing glass of my watermelon agua fresca.
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Recipe FAQs
Yes, corn is cooked to perfection in the air fryer! Air frying gives you corn that's slightly charred on the inside while staying juicy and tender on the inside.
Store leftover corn on the cob in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
More Air Fryer Recipes and Resources
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Recipe
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 ears fresh corn, shucked
- Avocado or olive oil spray
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ⅛ teaspoon chili powder
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons crumbled cotija cheese, can substitute feta cheese
- Optional garnishes: fresh cilantro and lime wedges
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
- Lightly spray the corn with oil and rub it in with your hands, coating all sides. Season the corn with salt.
- Place corn in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook until corn is tender and lightly charred, turning the corn once or twice, 12-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, stir the sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, and garlic powder together in a small bowl.
- Place the corn on a serving platter and drizzle some of the sour cream mixture on top. Serve extra sauce on the side. Sprinkle cheese on top of the corn and garnish with cilantro and lime wedges, if desired.
Notes
- Preheat the air fryer for best results.
- Lightly spray or brush oil on the corn cobs. Don't use cooking spray like PAM in your air fryer as it can damage the lining. To learn more, read my post on the Best oils and oil sprays for the air fryer.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. You may need to cook the corn in batches or cut the cobs in half depending on the size of your basket.
- Turn the corn cobs halfway through so that they cook evenly on all sides.
- The final cooking time will depend on the make and model of your air fryer. Check on the corn halfway through cooking to make sure it's not browning too quickly.
- You can cook frozen corn on the cob the same way. Either defrost it first or cook it for a few extra minutes if cooking from frozen.
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