• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Lemons + Zest logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Subscribe
  • Our Adoption Story
  • Privacy Policy
  • Follow me!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Air Fryer Recipes / Air Fryer Corn on the Cob with Cilantro Lime Butter Sauce

    Air Fryer Corn on the Cob with Cilantro Lime Butter Sauce

    Last Updated November 5, 2022. Published May 11, 2021 By Lorie 2 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Want the amazing taste of grilled corn without stepping outside? This Air Fryer Corn on the Cob is a perfect way to get the delicious browned corn and cooked in just ten minutes. A simple Cilantro Lime Butter Sauce pairs perfectly with this corn and will be a hit at your next cookout or weeknight dinner.

    Overview of corn on the cob with limes and cojita cheese on parchment.

    Not sure about you, but when summer hits I CRAVE corn. As in, we drive past a church festival and I want to jump out of the car and run in just for a few ears of my own. Double fisting? I am so into it--when it comes to corn!

    We have been pretty obsessed with this Street Corn with Garlic Feta Butter over the years. This Air Fryer Corn on the Cob was inspired by that recipe, but we swapped the grilling for my favorite indoor appliance these days.

    Did you know you can air fry corn in just 10 minutes? Yep, it's so super easy and it will free up some space on the grill this summer--or any time of the year!

    Why you will love this:

    • The easiest prep! Aside from your air fryer, this air fried corn on the cob will only use one dish and that is for the butter sauce. Other than that, everything is done in the basket. To prep the corn, just remove the husk. Add some oil, salt and pepper and you are set!
    • Ready in 10 minutes. Grilling corn typically takes around 15-20 minutes. Air frying can cut that time in half. You will still get some browned corn as you would from the grill.
    • That butter sauce--WOW. Anything that combines cilantro and lime is my favorite, but this is the first time I have had the combo with butter. So now I know this trifecta is perfection. Add just a touch or smother it on--you choose, and I know you will be happy either way.

    Ingredients and Substitutions:

    • corn: I use fresh corn on the cob as it is my preference. However, frozen corn will work just fine in the air fryer as well. You can pop it in frozen! Do you know how to freeze your own corn? Check it out here!
    • olive oil: this is my preference, but you can use any oil you like.
    • butter: unsalted butter is my preference.
    • cilantro: freshly chopped
    • lime juice: freshly squeezed is ideal especially since you will need zest from the lime as well.
    • garlic: one clove, minced. you can use about ½ teaspoon garlic powder instead
    • salt/pepper: adjust to your own taste on these. You can wait until serving to add it even. I like to cook the corn with just a touch of each
    Corn, butter, cilantro, oil and other ingredients labeled on counter.

    How to make this recipe:

    • Spray the basket of your air fryer with oil. Add the ears of corn, husk and silk removed from each. Spread the olive oil over each of the ears of corn, getting all sides. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt and pepper as desired. (step 1)
    • Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Place the basket into the air fryer and set the timer for 10 minutes. Turn the corn over using tongs halfway through. Keep a close eye in the last two minutes if you don't want your corn to brown too much. You can keep it in a minute or two longer for it to brown more.(step 2)
    Corn in air fryer basket before and then after air frying.
    • While the corn is cooking, whisk together the butter sauce ingredients. Add salt and pepper to taste as well. I add about ¼ teaspoon of each to mine. (step 3)
    • When corn is cooked as desired, spread the cilantro lime butter sauce over top, sprinkle with cotija cheese crumbles and serve! (step 4)
    Cilantro lime butter sauce in bowl and then brushed onto corn.

    Notes and Tips:

    • You can make the cilantro lime butter sauce for this air fryer corn ahead of time. You can soften or melt the butter and then whisk everything together. Melt it or let it sit out to room temperature before serving.
    • Easily reheat leftover corn in the air fryer. Heat it at 350°F for about 2-3 minutes or until hot.

    What to serve this recipe with:

    It seems funny to essentially suggest all things from the grill, but one reason I love this Air Fryer corn on the cob so much is that it allows more grill space. So Air Fryer Hamburgers really aren't a great idea, right? Unless you have a huge basket!

    If you are looking for a great veggie burger option to serve, these Black Bean Burgers are perfection. Some Grilled Steak Kabobs with Cilantro Chimichurri would be fabulous.

    I am thinking you could also add these corn kernels to a few things. One would be over top of this BBQ Ranch Chicken Flatbread. Or perhaps in this Grilled Zucchini Pasta Salad? Ok, now I am really hungry and need to go buy corn. Do you feel the same??

    Air fried corn with butter and cilantro.

    Check out these other Air Fryer recipes:

    • 15 Minute Air Fryer Fish Tacos
    • Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
    • Buffalo Cauliflower
    • Air Fried Parmesan Potato Wedges
    • Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

    HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for all the latest!

    Cilantro lime air fryer corn on the cob sitting on brown parchment.

    Air Fryer Corn on the Cob with Cilantro Lime Butter Sauce

    Want the amazing taste of grilled corn without stepping outside? This Air Fryer Corn on the Cob is a perfect way to get the delicious browned corn and cooked in just ten minutes. A simple Cilantro Lime Butter Sauce pairs perfectly with this corn and will be a hit at your next cookout or weeknight dinner.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: air fryer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4 ears
    Calories: 199kcal
    Author: Lorie Yarro

    Ingredients 

    For the Corn:

    • 4 ears of corn husk and silks removed
    • 2 teaspoon olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt or as desired
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper

    For the Cilantro Lime Butter Sauce:

    • ¼ c unsalted butter melted
    • ½ teaspoon lime juice
    • ½ teaspoon lime zest
    • 1 garlic clove minced
    • 1 T chopped cilantro
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt more or less to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon cracked pepper more or less to taste

    For serving

    • cotija cheese
    • extra squeeze of lime juice

    Instructions

    • Prep the corn. Spray the basket of air fryer with oil or brush well with olive oil. Add the corn into the air fryer basket. You can work in batches if your air fryer is small. Brush the corn with olive oil, making sure to get all sides. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.
    • Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Put the air fryer basket into the fryer and heat for 10 minutes. Half way through, flip the corn. Heat a minute or two longer if you like your corn more brown.
    • While the corn is cooking, whisk together all of the cilantro lime butter sauce ingredients together. Adjust to add more lime or salt and pepper if desired.
    • When corn is ready, brush with butter sauce and sprinkle with cotija cheese if desired. Add an extra squeeze of lime juice and enjoy immediately!

    Notes

    • You can make the cilantro lime butter sauce for this air fryer corn ahead of time. You can soften or melt the butter and then whisk everything together. Melt it or let it sit out to room temperature before serving.
    • Easily reheat leftover corn in the air fryer. Heat it at 350°F for about 2-3 minutes or until hot.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 306mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 525IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you try this recipe? I would love to see it! Mention @LemonsAndZest or tag #LemonsAndZest!

    Shop this Post:

    Image of Air Fryer

    Air Fryer

    Buy Now →
    Image of Tongs

    Tongs

    Buy Now →
    Image of Citrus Juicer

    Citrus Juicer

    Buy Now →
    « Homemade No Churn Strawberry Ice Cream
    Strawberry Basil Margarita Cocktail Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. MaryBeth White says

      November 05, 2022 at 9:43 pm

      how much cilantro is used, the ingredients doesn't even mention cilantro

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        November 05, 2022 at 10:47 pm

        Hi! Thanks so much for catching that error! 1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro. Recipe card edited to include it. Thanks!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to lemons + zest!

    Hello! I’m Lorie, welcome to lemons + zest! If you love to eat, and you love delicious, simple recipes, then you are in the right place. When it comes to cooking these days, I firmly believe that if it takes too long, or too much work to make, then it’s not for me. Read More…

    30 Minute Dinners

    Air fryer fish tacos on white plate with lime and fresh cilantro.

    Air Fryer Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw

    Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken with Tomato and Basil

    Spinach Ricotta Chicken

    Baked Orange Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

    Easy Chicken Stuffed Poblano Peppers

    Ground beef pasta recipe in skillet with parsley and basil on top.

    Simple Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

    honey lime chicken fajitas on sheet pan.

    Honey Lime Baked Chicken Fajitas

    Simple Ground Turkey Skillet Dinner

    Skillet with chicken thighs and fresh parsley on top.

    Creamy Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms

    Vegan sloppy Joes on bun with chips.

    15 Minute Vegan Sloppy Joes

    Top Recipes

    Cream of mushroom bone in pork chop with parsley on top over mashed potatoes.

    Cream of Mushroom Pork Chops

    Peanut Butter banana overnight oats.

    Protein Overnight Oats

    Vanilla Cold Brew Coffee Overnight Oats

    Air fryer fish tacos on white plate with lime and fresh cilantro.

    Air Fryer Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw

    Lemon orzo salad in white bowl with fresh parsley on top.

    Easy Lemon Orzo Salad With Feta

    Tortellini caprese pasta salad in bowl with balsamic glaze.

    Tortellini Caprese Salad

    Overhead view of Air Fryer BBQ Chicken on cutting board.

    Simple Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast

    Pop tarts with sprinkles stacked.

    Easy Homemade Pop Tarts with Pie Crust

    More 30 Minute Recipes →

    Copyright © 2023 · lemons + zest