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.
Why this is the best recipe for homemade hush puppies
This recipe is in the middle of 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.
Ingredients you will need
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:
- Combine all of the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- 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 calls for. Ensure the batter is scoopable but thin enough so the hush puppies won’t become too dense. Think Belgian waffle batter.
- Let the hush puppy mix sit on the countertop for about 5 minutes, then stir it well to ensure there are no pockets of dry ingredients. It is okay if the batter tightens up slightly.
- 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.
- 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.
- Fry for about 45 seconds, then use wooden chopsticks or a slotted spoon to flip the hush puppies over carefully. Continue to cook the hushpuppies until golden brown, for an additional 45 seconds to 1 minute.
- 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.
Storage & reheating instructions
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days
- Freezer: Freeze thoroughly cooled hush puppies for up to 3 months
Reheating Instructions
- Oven: Reheat at 350°F for 4–5 minutes if thawed or 6–7 minutes if frozen.
- Air Fryer: Reheat at 325°F for 3–4 minutes if thawed or 5–6 minutes if frozen.
Hush Puppies
Ingredients
- vegetable oil for frying
- 2 cups cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 9 tablespoons finely chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
- 1 cup milk
- 1 Large egg
Instructions
- Pour vegetable oil into a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot until the oil is 3 to 4 inches deep.
- Heat the oil to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, onion, salt, and ground red pepper.
- Add the milk, the egg, and stir to combine.
- Drop heaping spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil. Fry only a few at a time for best results. If you add too many at once the oil temperature may drop and they make not cook well.
- Fry the hush puppies for 1 to 2 minutes, until they have browned.
- Remove them from the oil, and drain on a wire rack.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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 onions or corn kernels.
- Sweeten the cornmeal mixture with 1 tablespoon of white sugar or 1.5 tablespoons 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
Great Cornmeal and Cornbread Recipes
- 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!
I didn’t know these were so easy. This recipe reminded me of the ones we used to have at our old fish fries.
You can’t eat just one of these!