Air Fryer Corn Kernels: 10 Minute Side Dish

Name: Air Fryer Corn Kernels
Prep time: 4 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 ounces frozen corn; 1 tablespoon avocado oil; 1/4 cup finely diced onion; 1/2 of a large jalapeno- finely chopped; 3 teaspoons elote seasoning

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It's corn season, and this delicious air fryer corn kernels recipe makes the most perfect side dish. This quick and easy recipe uses frozen corn, cooks in under 10 minutes, and is packed with big, bold flavors. It's gluten free, can easily be made vegan, and will instantly become a family favorite.

air fryer corn kernels with flowers and cilantro in white bowl.

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WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE AIR FRYER CORN KERNELS
HOW TO MAKE CORN KERNELS IN THE AIR FRYER
INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS & VARIATIONS
EXPERT TIPS
FAQs
Air Fryer Corn Kernels
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Summertime in New Jersey means 2 things, lots of beach days and an abundance of fresh sweet corn. My family usually likes to grill corn cobs and serve with chicken or burgers for a meal that feels like the epitome of summer, but we also par-cook and freeze some so we can have it fresh all year long.

Since it's frozen, it does lose some of it's fresh appeal, however I managed to breath new life into it and turn it into the most delicious corn recipe you could ever imagine. I took inspiration from Mexican Street Corn and air fried the corn with elote seasoning, onions, and jalapenos for the most incredible, and easy, side dish.

With only 8 minutes of cook time, 5 ingredients, and no need to turn the oven on- this is a great option for anyone looking for an easy and healthy new dish to try. You can serve it as an easy side dish with pork chops, tacos, quesadillas, or use it as a delicious salad topping with grilled chicken. No matter how you use these air fryer roasted corn kernels they're sure to become your family's new favorite way to enjoy corn.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

Can be made gluten free, dairy free, and vegan
Cooks in under 10 minutes
Only needs 5 ingredients
Can be made with frozen or canned corn
Bold, delicious flavor

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE AIR FRYER CORN KERNELS

EQUIPMENT:

INGREDIENTS:

Frozen corn kernels: I like the yellow sweet corn type, but any your grocery store carries will work
Onion: Yellow onions are great for cooking and have a sweet taste when roasted
Jalapeno: Leave the seeds in for a spicier side dish, or scrape them out for a more mild dish
Elote seasoning: I used my homemade seasoning which is both gluten and dairy free. Trader Joe’s has a delicious pre-made blend, but it's not certified to be free of any allergens.
Avocado oil: I prefer to use this because of the high smoke point

HOW TO MAKE CORN KERNELS IN THE AIR FRYER

Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees F
To a large mixing bowl add your frozen corn kernels, chopped onion, diced jalapeno, elote seasoning, and avocado oil
Mix all ingredient together, then pour them into an 8 inch round cake pan
Place the cake pan into your preheated air fryer basket, and air fry corn at 380 F for 6-8 minutes, stirring halfway through
Once cooked, carefully pull the pan out with an oven mitt, garnish the air fryer corn kernels with fresh cilantro and enjoy!

ingredients forroasted frozen corn in a glass bowl. — **Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl**

seasoned frozen corn in cake pan. — **Add all ingredients to an 8 inch cake pan**

corn kernels cooked in air fryer in cake pan. — **Cook in air fryer at 380 F for 6-8 minutes**

INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS & VARIATIONS

SUBSTITUTIONS:

Frozen corn: You could also use canned corn, just drain the liquid

Onion: Red onion or vidalia will also work

Jalapeno: Red bell pepper is great if you don’t like spicy food, or use a habanero pepper if you like it really spicy

Elote seasoning: These air fryer corn kernels would also be delicious with taco, Cajun seasoning, or your favorite seasonings

Avocado oil: Substitute with olive oil or melted butter

VARIATIONS:

Stir in parmesan cheese or cotija cheese at the end
Finish with a squeeze of lime juice or lemon juice
Add fresh cut grape tomatoes for a burst of freshness

air fryer frozen corn in white bowl with fresh herbs and flowers.

EXPERT TIPS

Don’t defrost the corn, cooking time listed is for frozen corn
Finely dice the onion and jalapeno so they cook evenly
Replace the jalapeno with red bell pepper if you don’t like spice
DON’T touch your eyes after handling a jalapeno
Cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer brand
If you don’t have a cake pan, an oven safe glass Pyrex dish will also work
Season with salt to taste

FAQs

Can you put a cake pan in the air fryer?

Yes, you can! As long as it’s oven safe it’s generally safe to use in your air fryer. Just check that your pan fits before making the recipe, an 8 inch round pan fits perfectly in my 5.8 quart air fryer.

Can I use fresh corn?

This recipe isn’t designed for fresh corn because 1. It’s hard to cut off the cob without cooking first and 2. Frozen corn is already par-cooked, so all the cook time in the air fryer is doing, is just defrosting and reheating. If you don’t have frozen, you can use canned though.

How do I store leftovers?

You can store any leftover corn in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, just put in a pan in your air fryer basket and cook at 350 for 3-4 minutes.

frozen corn cooked in the air fryer with tomatoes, herbs, and flowers.

Did you make my easy air fryer corn kernels recipe? If so, I would greatly appreciate you leaving a comment and star rating down below. Additionally, you can follow me on Instagram and tag me if you make this or any other of my easy air fryer recipes.