Crispy Southern Hush Puppies Recipe – Golden Bites of Joy
Golden, crispy southern hush puppies recipe spark memories of lazy summer cookouts and southern comfort.
These delectable cornmeal fritters bring pure southern charm to any meal.
Deep-fried to perfection, they boast a delightful crunch that beckons you closer with each bite.
Generations have passed down this beloved recipe, filling kitchens with warmth and irresistible aromas.
Corn kernels and buttermilk create a tender interior that melts in your mouth.
Simple ingredients blend together to create magic in a skillet.
You’ll fall in love with these addictive little bites that dance between crispy exterior and soft, pillowy center.
Grab your apron and get ready to make the most mouthwatering side dish that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes
Calories: 240 kcal
Servings: 5
What You’ll Need for Southern Hush Puppies
For Dry Ingredients:
Flour: Provides structure and helps bind the hush puppies together, choose all-purpose flour for the best texture.
Cornmeal: Gives the classic Southern crunch and golden color, opt for stone-ground cornmeal for more authentic flavor.
Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness that balances the savory notes, use fine granulated sugar for even distribution.
Baking Powder: Creates light and fluffy texture, ensure it's fresh for maximum rising power.
Salt, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika, Pepper: Blend of spices that delivers deep, complex flavor profile with a zesty kick.
For Wet Ingredients:
Egg: Binds ingredients and adds richness, select fresh farm eggs for best results.
Buttermilk: Provides tangy flavor and tender crumb, choose full-fat buttermilk for maximum moisture.
Butter: Introduces rich, creamy undertones, use unsalted butter for precise seasoning control.
For Frying:
Vegetable Oil: Creates crispy exterior and golden-brown finish, maintain consistent temperature for perfect hush puppies.
Tools to Perfect Southern Hush Puppies
Large skillet: Deep, wide pan for frying hush puppies with enough space to cook multiple pieces.
Medium mixing bowl: Roomy container for combining dry and wet ingredients smoothly.
Metal strainer: Perfect tool for lifting hush puppies from hot oil and draining excess grease.
Measuring cups and spoons: Essential for accurate ingredient proportions.
Teaspoon: Used for dropping batter into hot oil in small, uniform amounts.
Paper towels: Helps absorb extra oil after frying, keeping hush puppies crisp.
Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring ingredients and mixing batter gently.
Cooking Steps for Southern Hush Puppies
Oil Temperature Prep Hot and Ready oil should be sizzling and waiting in a large skillet, deep enough to create crispy magic.
Dry Ingredient Symphony mix flour, cornmeal, and seasonings together creating a flavor foundation that will make taste buds dance.
Liquid Harmony whisking egg and buttermilk into the dry mix creates a smooth, creamy batter that promises deliciousness.
Butter Boost gently fold in soft butter cubes, which will melt and create pockets of rich flavor.
Golden Nugget Creation carefully drop small spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, watching them transform into crispy, golden bites.
Crispy Perfection fry until each morsel turns a beautiful amber color, showing they're perfectly cooked.
Drain and Serve rescue these southern treasures with a metal strainer, letting excess oil drip away on paper towels.
Finishing Touch enjoy warm, paired with tangy tartar sauce for a classic southern treat that feels like a hug from grandma's kitchen.
Crispy Hush Puppies Tips & Flavor Ideas
Enhance traditional hush puppies by folding in finely chopped jalapeños, crispy bacon bits, or green onions for extra flavor and texture.
Maintain consistent oil temperature around 365°F to ensure crispy exteriors and fully cooked interiors without greasy residue, using a deep-fry thermometer for accuracy.
Prepare batter up to 2 hours in advance and refrigerate, allowing flavors to meld and ensuring a lighter, more tender hush puppy when fried.
Experiment with homemade dipping sauces beyond tartar sauce, such as spicy remoulade, honey mustard, or chipotle aioli to complement the golden, crispy hush puppies.
For a lighter version, bake hush puppies in a preheated 425°F oven on a greased baking sheet for 12-15 minutes, rotating halfway through for even browning.
Southern Hush Puppies: Serving Suggestions
Dip into Seafood Delights: Pair these crispy hush puppies with fresh fried fish, shrimp, or crab cakes for a classic Southern coastal meal that brings the ocean's flavors right to your plate.
Create a Flavor Explosion: Serve alongside tangy remoulade sauce or homemade tartar sauce to enhance the hush puppies' golden, crispy exterior with a zesty complementary dip.
Build a Comfort Food Platter: Arrange hush puppies with coleslaw, baked beans, and grilled corn on the cob for a complete down-home Southern-style spread that celebrates traditional comfort cuisine.
Host a Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer: Pile these bite-sized treats onto a rustic wooden board for parties, allowing guests to grab and enjoy these irresistible golden nuggets as a perfect finger food.
Storing Hush Puppies Without Losing Crunch
Maximize Freshness: Store cooled hush puppies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Reheat and Crisp: Warm leftover hush puppies in a preheated oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes to restore their crispy exterior.
Freeze for Later: Wrap completely cooled hush puppies individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze up to 1 month for quick snacking.
Quick Meal Prep: Make batter ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before frying. Let it come to room temperature before cooking for best results.
Southern hush puppies boast crispy golden exteriors with cornmeal-based deliciousness inside. Seasoned southern cooks drop batter into hot oil, creating irresistible bite-sized corn fritters you cannot resist sampling.
Ingredients
Scale
1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
1 large egg
1 ½ tsps salt
¾ cup (90 g) cornmeal
¾ cup (90 g) flour
4 tbsps (60 g) cold butter, cut into small cubes
1 tbsp (15 g) sugar
1 ½ tsps baking powder
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp paprika
¼ tsp pepper
Oil for frying
Tartar sauce for serving
Instructions
Oil Preparation: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet to 365°F, maintaining a consistent depth of 2 inches for optimal frying.
Dry Ingredient Blend: Whisk cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and ground black pepper in a mixing bowl until uniformly combined.
Batter Formation: Create a central well in dry ingredients, add whole egg and buttermilk, then gently fold with a spatula until ingredients are just integrated, avoiding overmixing.
Butter Incorporation: Fold cold cubed butter into the batter, ensuring even distribution throughout the mixture for rich flavor and texture.
Frying Process: Carefully drop rounded batter spoonfuls into hot oil using two spoons, working in small batches to maintain consistent oil temperature and prevent overcrowding.
Golden Browning: Fry hush puppies for 2-3 minutes, rotating periodically to achieve an even, golden-brown exterior that’s crispy and uniform.
Draining and Serving: Remove hush puppies with a metal strainer, drain excess oil on paper towels, and serve immediately with tangy tartar sauce for a classic Southern appetizer experience.
Notes
Prevent Tough Texture: Mix batter minimally to avoid overworking, which can develop gluten and create dense hush puppies.
Maintain Oil Temperature: Use a thermometer to keep oil consistently at 365°F, ensuring crispy exterior and fully cooked interior without burning.
Batch Frying Technique: Drop small spoonfuls in hot oil and cook in batches to prevent overcrowding, which can lower oil temperature and result in greasy puppies.
Butter Precision: Use cold butter and cut into small cubes for better distribution and creating tender, flaky texture throughout the hush puppies.
The French Culinary Institute (now part of the International Culinary Center)
Program: Classic Culinary Arts
Focus: An intensive curriculum rooted in classical French techniques, artisanal bread production, and contemporary culinary methods.
Michael Rivera is a seasoned chef and culinary instructor based in San Francisco, CA. Trained in Classic Culinary Arts at The French Culinary Institute, he refined his skills in Michelin-starred kitchens, mastering classic French techniques and artisanal bread baking.
Passionate about making gourmet methods accessible, Michael co-founded thatsmyhome.com to share his expertise through interactive online lessons and innovative, plant-based recipes. He loves blending traditional techniques with modern ideas, encouraging home cooks to enjoy the art of cooking in a relaxed, fun environment.
Michael Rivera
Co-Founder & Culinary Instructor
Expertise
Education
The French Culinary Institute (now part of the International Culinary Center)
Michael Rivera is a seasoned chef and culinary instructor based in San Francisco, CA. Trained in Classic Culinary Arts at The French Culinary Institute, he refined his skills in Michelin-starred kitchens, mastering classic French techniques and artisanal bread baking.
Passionate about making gourmet methods accessible, Michael co-founded thatsmyhome.com to share his expertise through interactive online lessons and innovative, plant-based recipes. He loves blending traditional techniques with modern ideas, encouraging home cooks to enjoy the art of cooking in a relaxed, fun environment.