Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides

Crispy Southern Hushpuppies are the perfect easy dinner side. After making these dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to getting them golden and crispy every time. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Tomato and Cottage Cheese Toast Recipe for Quick Meals and Crispy Chipotle Honey Chicken with Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes.

What You'll Need for Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Paprika
• Onion powder
• Cayenne pepper (optional)
• Optional: Lemon wedges
• Optional: Hot sauce
• Optional: Ranch or tartar sauce

How to Make Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides

1. Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the self-rising cornmeal mix, all-purpose flour, cornmeal, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
2. Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg. Stir in the chopped onion, green onions, and jalapeño (if using).
3. Combine ingredients: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. The batter should be thick and slightly lumpy.
4. Heat oil: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).
5. Fry hushpuppies: Using a spoon or small ice cream scoop, drop batter into the hot oil in small balls. Fry until golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
6. Serve: Serve hushpuppies hot with your favorite dipping sauce and a lemon wedge.

Storing & Reheating Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover hushpuppies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The batter can be made up to 1 hour ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature before frying.

Freezing Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides

Freeze cooked hushpuppies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container for up to 1 month. Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven until crispy.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat hushpuppies in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes or until heated through and crispy. Microwave: Reheat hushpuppies in the microwave for about 30 seconds or until heated through. They may not be as crispy as when first cooked.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a lighter version, you can bake hushpuppies at 400°F (200°C) for about 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Best substitution: If you don't have buttermilk, you can use sour milk (1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice per 1 cup of milk).
• Make-ahead: Hushpuppies are best served fresh, but you can make the batter ahead and fry just before serving.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If hushpuppies are sticking to the skillet, try adding a little more oil or using a non-stick skillet.

Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

10 mins

⏳

Total

25 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• Vegetable oil, for frying

Seasonings

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Paprika
• Onion powder
• Cayenne pepper (optional)

Optional Toppings

• Lemon wedges
• Hot sauce
• Ranch or tartar sauce

Instructions

1. Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the self-rising cornmeal mix, all-purpose flour, cornmeal, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
2. Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg. Stir in the chopped onion, green onions, and jalapeño (if using).
3. Combine ingredients: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. The batter should be thick and slightly lumpy.
4. Heat oil: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).
5. Fry hushpuppies: Using a spoon or small ice cream scoop, drop batter into the hot oil in small balls. Fry until golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
6. Serve: Serve hushpuppies hot with your favorite dipping sauce and a lemon wedge.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a lighter version, you can bake hushpuppies at 400°F (200°C) for about 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Best substitution: If you don't have buttermilk, you can use sour milk (1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice per 1 cup of milk).
• Make-ahead: Hushpuppies are best served fresh, but you can make the batter ahead and fry just before serving.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If hushpuppies are sticking to the skillet, try adding a little more oil or using a non-stick skillet.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftover hushpuppies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked hushpuppies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container for up to 1 month. Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven until crispy.
• Oven reheat: Reheat hushpuppies in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes or until heated through and crispy.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat hushpuppies in the microwave for about 30 seconds or until heated through. They may not be as crispy as when first cooked.
• Make ahead: The batter can be made up to 1 hour ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature before frying.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 220
• Protein: 5g
• Fat: 8g
• Carbs: 32g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 500mg
• Cholesterol: 25mg
• Sat. Fat: 1g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!