Description
These classic Southern hush puppies are golden, crispy on the outside, and fluffy inside—perfect for football season or any gathering. Quick to make and crowd-pleasing, they pair well with chili, wings, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal (medium grind)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or paprika
- 1/2 cup finely minced yellow onion
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup buttermilk (or whole milk with 1 teaspoon vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons water (if batter is too thick)
- 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
- Optional: 1-2 tablespoons diced jalapeños
- Optional: 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional: Chopped chives or scallions
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and cayenne pepper.
- Stir in finely minced onion.
- In a separate bowl, whisk egg with buttermilk. Add wet ingredients to dry and gently fold until just combined.
- Fold in optional add-ins (jalapeños, cheese, herbs) if using. If batter is too thick, add water until scoopable but not runny.
- Let batter rest for about 5 minutes.
- Pour oil into a heavy-bottomed pot or deep skillet and heat to 350°F (175°C).
- Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, drop tablespoon-sized balls of batter into hot oil. Fry in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and crisp.
- Remove hush puppies with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels or a wire rack.
- Repeat until all batter is used.
- Serve hot. To keep warm, place in a 200°F (95°C) oven on a rack until ready.
Notes
Letting the batter rest before frying makes hush puppies fluffier. For gluten-free hush puppies, use a gluten-free flour blend and check your cornmeal. Fry in small batches to maintain oil temperature. Batter should be thick and sticky, not runny. For a lighter version, bake at 400°F for 15-18 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Southern, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 hush puppy
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 0.5
- Sodium: 60
- Fat: 3
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 1
Keywords: hush puppies, southern snacks, football food, fried cornmeal, easy appetizer, game day, party snack, comfort food