Southern Gold: The Ultimate Hush Puppies Recipe

There’s something magical about that first bite into a perfect hush puppy – the satisfying crunch giving way to a tender, steaming interior. This treasured recipe comes straight from my grandmother’s kitchen in Missouri, where these golden orbs of cornmeal goodness were a staple at family gatherings. Her hush puppies were always the first to disappear from the table, with everyone reaching for “just one more.” This recipe strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and flavor, creating hush puppies that are crispy on the outside and wonderfully soft on the inside – a cherished family classic that’s surprisingly easy to master at home

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Southern Hush Puppies

These little bites of deep-fried goodness have been a staple of Southern food for generations, and for a good reason. Hush puppies are the ultimate comfort food made from a simple batter of cornmeal, flour, and other ingredients. Served hot and fresh, they’re the perfect side dish to accompany everything from seafood to barbecue to fried chicken. With their crispy exterior and tender, flavorful interior, it’s no wonder that hush puppies have become a classic Southern dish.

The perfect hush puppy is crisp and crunchy on the outside, yet soft and chewy on the inside. They’re iconic and delicious.

What is a Hushpuppy?

Whether you call them hushpuppies or hush puppies, they are cornmeal fritters made from cornmeal, eggs, and seasoning brought together into a thick batter with a liquid.

Hush puppies are famous in the South, where they are often served as an accompaniment to fried fish or smoked meats. But with their crunchy exterior and lightly airy interior, these cornmeal fritters are a versatile side dish worth trying.

Why This is the Best Recipe for Homemade Hush Puppies 

This recipe is in the middle on the hush puppy complexity scale. The formula is not basic and bland but doesn’t go over the top with ingredients.

The hushpuppies taste lovely, but you can easily tweak the recipe if you want to get a bit more creative.  

Red Horse Bread

Red Horse bread was part of the repertoire of a famous cook named Romeo Govan, who ran a clubhouse where people came during fishing season. The bread was made by mixing cornmeal with egg, salt, and water. Gobs of this mixture were then dropped into the hot lard in which the fish had been fried.

One reporter wrote:
“This was a new bread to the writer and so delicious that I beg lovers of the finny tribe to try some.”

It is worth noting that this history still does not explain the change of name from Red Horse Bread to Hush Puppy, so you may prefer to entertain your children with other stories.

What Are Hush Puppies Made Of?

To make homemade hush puppies, you’ll need these ingredients:

• Cornmeal – Provides the signature texture and authentic corn flavor
• All-purpose flour – Helps bind the batter and creates structure
• Baking powder – Creates lift and lightness in the interior
• Large egg – Binds ingredients and adds richness
• Onion – Delivers aromatic flavor and subtle sweetness
• Salt – Enhances all the flavors Ground red pepper – Adds a gentle heat that balances the sweetness
• Milk – Creates the proper batter consistency
• Vegetable oil or canola oil – The frying medium that creates the perfect crispy exterior

How to Make Hush Puppies

There are only a few simple steps for making this delicious fried bread:

1. Combine all of the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.

2. Slowly pour the milk into the large bowl while stirring. Depending on the cornmeal you use, you may need more or less milk than the recipe. Ensure the batter is scoopable but thin enough so the hush puppies won’t become too dense. Think Belgian waffle batter.
3. Let the hush puppy mix sit for about five minutes on the countertop, and then give it a good mix to ensure there aren’t any pockets of dry ingredients. It is okay if the batter tightens up slightly.

4. Meanwhile, heat approximately four inches of oil to 350°F in a deep, heavy-bottomed pot, a large Dutch oven, or a deep fryer, if you have one. Using a home deep fryer makes everything much more manageable and is worth purchasing if you deep fry at least once a week. Otherwise, use a deep-fry thermometer to check and monitor the oil temperature.
5. Use a tablespoon or a small cookie scoop to portion the hush puppy batter and drop it into the hot oil. Fry them in small batches to avoid overcrowding the cooking oil.
6. Fry for about 45 seconds, then use wooden chopsticks or a slotted spoon to carefully flip the hush puppies over. Continue to cook the hushpuppies until golden brown, for an additional 45 seconds to 1 minute.
7. Use a skimmer or deep fryer basket to remove the fried cornmeal cakes and spread them out on a wire rack to cool. You could use a paper towel-lined plate if you desire.

Recipe Variations

You can easily add your spin to this hush puppies recipe. Here are just a few suggestions:

• Replace some or all of the onions with sliced green onion or corn kernels.
• Sweeten the cornmeal mixture with a tablespoon of white sugar or a tablespoon and a half of honey.
• Spice things up by adding a quarter cup of chopped jalapenos to the batter.
• Replace the milk with your favorite lager.
• You can use self-rising cornmeal; omit the baking powder if you have self-rising cornmeal.

What to Serve Hush Puppies With

You will want a great recipe, like this one for hush puppies. They are perfect for a fish fry but also go well with other types of food. Serve them instead of cornbread with baked beans or chili. Fry up a bunch when you make chicken wings.

Here are some recipes to try:

• Beer Battered Chicken
• Beer Battered Shrimp
• Captain D’s Batter Dipped Fish
• KFC Fried Chicken
• Long John Silver’s Battered Cod
• Tartar Sauce

What to Dip Hush Puppies In

Dip them in any of these sauces for a delicious snack:

• Bloomin Onion Sauce
• Garlic-butter Sauce
• Ketchup
• Remoulade Sauce
• Thai Sweet Chili Sauce

How To Store Hush Puppies 

Keep leftover hush puppies in a plastic bag between layers of paper towels in the fridge for up to three days.

To store for longer, lay the room-temperature hush puppies on a baking tray and pop the tray into the freezer until the hush puppies are fully frozen. Transfer them to an airtight container.

Hush puppies will last in the freezer for up to three months. 

How to Reheat Hush Puppies 

This recipe for hush puppies reheats from either frozen or thawed beautifully in the oven:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place the hush puppies on a baking tray in a single layer. 
3. Bake in the oven for four to five minutes if thawed and six to seven minutes if frozen. 

Another fantastic way to reheat your hush puppies is in an air fryer.

To reheat hush puppies in the air fryer:

1. Preheat the air fryer to 325 degrees.
2. Put the hush puppies in a single layer into the air fryer.
3. Cook for three to four minutes for thawed hush puppies and five to six minutes for frozen hush puppies.

Great Cornmeal and Cornbread Recipes

• Black Eyed Pea Cornbread
• Boston Market Cornbread
• Captain D’s Hush Puppies
• Chicken Cornbread Casserole
• Cornmeal Mush
• Easy Cornbread Dressing
• Luby’s Jalapeno Cornbread
• Mexican Cornbread Casserole
• Mini Corn Dogs
• Tippin’s Cornbread

Check out more of my easy bread recipes and the best budget-friendly recipes here on CopyKat!