This recipe for air fryer corn on the cob is super simple and tasty, and cooking it in the air fryer means you can enjoy roasted corn anytime of the year, not just during grilling season! You can use both fresh or frozen corn, and this recipe is naturally gluten-free and vegan.
Enjoy Corn on the Cob All Year Round!
Just because grilling season is over doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy eating roasted ears of corn, and here’s where the air fryer comes in super handy! You don’t need to take out your grill to make this recipe – all you need is your countertop air fryer and you’ve got perfectly delicious corn on the cob!
We’ve been putting our air fryer to good use since getting it, and some of our favorite recipes include crispy air fryer French fries, perfect air fryer zucchini fries, crispy hasselback potatoes, and air fried chicken wings! (If you don’t already have an air fryer yet, be prepared for your life to be changed!).
What Ingredients Do You Need?
This super simple recipe requires just a handful of ingredients – fresh ears of corn (husks completely removed), olive oil or other neutral oil, salt, ground paprika, fresh parsley, and nutritional yeast (optional).
A note on nutritional yeast: Since my husband Juan became lactose-intolerant and we started cooking dairy-free earlier this year, I’ve been using nutritional yeast for sprinkling on foods because of it’s cheesy flavor profile, and how it looks and feels so much like grated cheese. However, if you’re able to tolerate dairy, feel free to use grated Parmesan cheese!
How to Air Fry Corn on the Cob
Once the ears of corn have been shucked, wash and dry them with paper towels, and then brush them with olive oil. Next, evenly sprinkle salt and ground paprika (or other seasonings of preference) over the corn.
Preheat the air fryer to 400F for 5 minutes and once the temperature has been reached, place the seasoned corn ears in one single layer in your air fryer. Cook the corn for 20 minutes, turning it over halfway through, until the kernels are fully cooked.
Do not Overcrowd: Make sure not to overcrowd your air fryer basket – if necessary, cook the corn in 2 separate batches – as the space is necessary for the hot air to circulate all over the corn for it to cook evenly on all sides.
Can I Use Frozen Corn on the Cob in the Air Fryer?
This recipe calls for fresh ears of corn, but if you’re not able to get ahold of fresh corn (because it’s not currently in season) or simply prefer to use frozen corn, you can definitely still cook it in the air fryer!
Simple follow the recipe, with the only difference being to wash the frozen corn with warm water beforehand, and drying it to help thaw faster, as well as to extend the cooking time by 5 minutes. That’s it!
Optional Seasonings/Toppings
Feel free to change the seasonings as you prefer! I’ve used salt and ground paprika in this recipe, but some other options include:
- salt and pepper
- red chili pepper flakes
- ground turmeric
- garlic powder
- onion powder
As for the toppings, I’ve used fresh parsley and nutritional yeast, but you can also use:
- fresh cilantro
- parmesan cheese (if you’re not lactose-intolerant)
- lime juice/lemon juice
What to Serve with Corn on the Cob?
Corn on the cob can be served as an appetizer, a snack, or even a side dish, since it’s such a versatile option! It goes well with chicken or fish, or even beef, or for a vegetarian option, serve it along side our favorite crustless spinach quiche or sweet potato and kale skillet.
You can also serve it with my favorite homemade Sriracha chili sauce, or this 5-minute garlic aioli! Or cut the kernels from the cob and sprinkle them in a salad such as this quinoa salad with butternut and arugula (we’ve been doing this lately and it’s such a quick way to incorporate color and slight sweetness into our salads).
Other Delicious Air Fryer Recipes:
- Air Fryer French Fries (Fresh or Frozen)
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Gluten-Free)
- Crispy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Easy Air Fryer Tofu (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Crispy Hasselback Potatoes (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
If you enjoyed this recipe, you’ll also love these other appetizers/side dishes:
- Gluten-Free Jalapeño Cornbread (Dairy-Free)
- Crispy Baked Yuca Fries (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Rosemary Focaccia Bread (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Easy Creamy Hummus (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Easy Gluten-Free Naan Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This recipe for air fryer corn on the cob is super simple and tasty, and cooking it in the air fryer means you get to enjoy roasted corn anytime of the year, not just during grilling season! Naturally gluten-free and vegan, this is the perfect appetizer, side dish, or snack!
Ingredients
- 4 ears, fresh corn, shucked
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- Fresh chopped parsley, for sprinkling (optional)
- Nutritional yeast, for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
- Brush each ear of corn with olive oil and sprinkle over salt and ground paprika.
- Place the corn in a single layer in the air fryer basket (depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to do this in either 1 or 2 batches).
- Cook the corn for 20 minutes, turning the corn over halfway through, until kernels are tender and golden brown.
- Sprinkle fresh parsley and nutritional yeast on top before serving hot.
Notes
Fresh or Frozen Corn: This recipe calls for fresh ears of corn, but if you wish to use frozen corn (or only have frozen corn on hand), simply add 5 extra minutes to the cooking time to allow the corn to fully defrost before cooking.
Do Not Overcrowd: It’s important that you do not overcrowd your air fryer basket and that you place the corn in one single layer. This is so that the corn can cook evenly on all sides and brown nicely. My air fryer is only big enough for 2 full ears of corn, so I cooked the corn in 2 batches. Simply reheat the previously cooked corn for a couple of minutes in your air fryer before serving.
Optional Seasonings/Toppings: I used salt and ground paprika in this recipe, but feel free to play around with the seasonings! Some other options you could use include salt and pepper, ground turmeric, red chili pepper flakes, garlic powder, and onion powder. For toppings, I used fresh chopped parsley and nutritional yeast (because we eat dairy-free at home), but feel free to use chopped cilantro, add a squirt of lime juice or lemon juice, and a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese if you are not lactose-intolerant.
Nutritional Yeast Substitute: We cook dairy-free at home so I like using nutritional yeast for its cheese-like flavor profile as well as the texture. However, if you can tolerate dairy, feel free to use grated parmesan cheese for sprinkling over the corn.
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: air fryer corn on the cob
