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Make this Hush Puppies Recipe for the ultimate side dish for all your fried seafood, BBQ or your Southern comfort feasts! The perfect texture with every bite and ready in under 20 minutes!
Hush Puppies make the best bite size snack or side dish any time we make our favorite Seafood Recipes. These golden brown bites are the first to disappear because of the crispy coating on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, and just the right amount of savory flavor.
With this simple step recipe and pantry ingredients, I will show you how to create Crispy Homemade Hush Puppies everytime. They make the perfect addition to our meal when I make Air Fryer Fried Shrimp or Air Fryer Salmon.
Ingredients
- Fine Grind Yellow Cornmeal – This creates a crispy texture
- All Purpose Flour – Helps to bind the ingredients
- Kosher Salt – Helps to balance the flavor
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda – Gives the hush puppies light and airy texture
- Granulated Sugar – Adds a hint of sweetness
- Small Yellow Onion – Finely grated
- Egg – Use whole egg
- Buttermilk – Adds a hint of tangy flavor
- Vegetable Oil – For frying. You can also use Peanut oil, Canola Oil or high smoking point oil
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe details.
How to Make Hush Puppies
Step 1 – In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and sugar until dry ingredients are combined.
Step 2 – Stir in the wet ingredients – grated onion, egg and buttermilk until combined. Set cornmeal batter aside and let the batter rest for 10-15 minutes before frying.
Step 3 – Heat the oil in a deep fryer or a large pot. Use a small ice cream scoop, small cookie scoop or 2 spoons to drop approximately 1 inch size balls of the batter into the hot oil approximately 5-7 at a time (do not overcrowd the pan). Place in a single layer. Rotate hush puppies to fry all sides.
Step 4 – Remove the hush puppies from the oil with a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with paper towels to soak up and drain the excess oil. Let the hush puppies cool slightly and then they’re ready to serve and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce.
Hush Puppies
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fine Grind Cornmeal
- ¾ cup All Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Granulated Sugar
- ½ Small Yellow Onion finely grated
- 1 Large Egg
- ¾ cup Buttermilk
- 4 cups Vegetable Oil for frying
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and sugar.
- Stir in the grated onion, egg and buttermilk until combined.
- Set aside and let the batter rest for 10-15 minutes before frying.
- While the batter is resting, prepare the oil for frying. Add the oil to a large pot, dutch oven or fryer until it’s approximately 1 ½ inch deep. Heat over medium high heat until the oil reaches approximately 350 degrees F.
- Use a small ice cream scoop, cookie scoop or 2 spoons to drop approximately 1 inch size balls of the batter into the oil approximately 5-7 at a time (do not over crowd the pan).
- Rotate the hush puppies frequently while in the oil to brown them on all sides. Fry them until all sides are browned (approximately 3-4 minutes).
- Remove the hush puppies from the oil with a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with paper towels to soak up the excess oil.
- Continue until all the batter is fried.
- Let the hush puppies cool slightly and then they’re ready to serve and enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Recipe Tips
- Cooking Scoop – Make sure that the hush puppies are approximately 1 inch in size or the inside of the hush puppies will not get cooked all the way through while they are frying. We recommend using a cooking scoop so they are about the same size.
- Cook in Batches – Ensure that you do not overcrowd the pan or fryer when frying as it will reduce the temperature of the oil and not cook them fully.
- Oil Temperature – Keep at 350°F for even frying—too hot and they burn, too cool and they absorb oil.
- Combining Batter – Stir just until combined for light, fluffy centers.
- Flavor Variations – Add shredded cheese, jalapeños, Cayenne Pepper, or Cajun seasoning.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Recommendations
- Shrimp Scampi
- Grilled Ribs
- Blackened Salmon
- Crock pot Shrimp Jambalaya Recipe
- Dipping Sauce – Tartar Sauce, Honey, Homemade Ranch Dressing or Ketchup
Frequently Asked Questions
The main difference is the cooking technique. Cornbread is baked in a cast iron skillet or baking dish. But a hush puppy is deep fried for a crispy texture.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
Yes, this is a great recipe to make ahead and freeze to enjoy at another time. We do recommend freezing cooked hush puppies on a baking sheet for about an hour. Once slightly frozen, place in a freezer safe container so you can take out individual servings to reheat.
Reheat the hush puppies in an air fryer to create a crispy texture again. But you can also reheat in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.
More Fried Snack Recipes
Easy Side Dishes
Deep Fried Onion Rings
Easy Copycat
Texas Roadhouse Fried Pickles Recipe
Easy Appetizer
Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
If you make this Hush Puppies Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review. We love hearing from you!
These Hush Puppies were so delicious! Crispy, flavorful and made the perfect side dish when we made Fried Shrimp.