Easy Hush Puppies Recipe (2024)

Hush Puppies are the perfect addition to accompany your Southern-inspired meal from fried chicken to shrimp and grits. Bites of corn batter fried until crisp on the outside and tender and fluffy inside!

Of course Hush puppies are great for snacking too! Slather them in a sweet Honey Butter, dip them in soups or even in a spicy mayonnaise.

Easy Hush Puppies Recipe (1)

Bites of Heaven

Small little handheld bites of heaven.

What Are Hush Puppies? Hush puppies are small bits of deep fried cornmeal batter. Unlike soft cornbread, they are crunchy and golden brown on the outside and melt-in-your mouth light on the inside. Typically, you’ll find them in golf ball sized globes or fingers, depending on how the cook drops them in the oil.

The main ingredient in hush puppies is always going to be cornmeal, we also add buttermilk, egg and a leavening ingredient, usually baking soda.

Easy Hush Puppies Recipe (2)

These homemade hush puppies most often served with those other Southern classics: fried fish, shrimp boil, fried chicken and collard greens.

Can you freeze them? Sure you can! If you have leftovers or want to make extras, let them cool, and place them in a freezer bag for up to four months. The next time you’re hungry for some hush puppies, let them thaw and spread them out on a foil-lined cookie sheet, and warm them in a hot oven for 10 minutes to restore some of the crunchiness.

So Why are They Called Hush Puppies? It’s a much-debated question! It’s speculated (among many other stories) that fishermen would fry up the batter they used for fish fries, and toss them to yapping dogs to “hush” their barking. The true origins may be lost, but that doesn’t mean we enjoy this iconic Southern staple any less!

Easy Hush Puppies Recipe (3)

How To Make Hush Puppies

This is one time when you’ll want to get out your deep fryer. True hush puppies are golden crisp on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. Here’s how to make this easy hush puppy recipe:

  1. Heat up your deep fryer. (If using a pan on the stovetop, you’ll need several inches of oil so the hush puppies will float as they fry.)
  2. Mix your ingredients and drop by spoonfuls into the fryer. Allow to cook until golden on the outside and tender in the middle.
  3. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.

Peanut oil holds up well to intense fryer heat and doesn’t produce any off flavors. You can also use canola oil, vegetable oil or corn oil.

More Southern Favorites

  • Corn Casseroleperfect for potlucks
  • Biscuits and Gravyserve with hush puppies!
  • Easy Homemade Buttermilk Biscuitseasy and flavorful
  • Dirty Riceanother delicious side
  • Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplingsperfect main to serve with hush puppies!

Easy Hush Puppies Recipe (4)

4.91 from 55 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Easy Hush Puppies Recipe

If you need a side of bread to accompany your Southern-inspired meal, you won’t find anything more delicious than hush puppies.

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Easy Hush Puppies Recipe (5)

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Easy Hush Puppies Recipe (7)

Author Holly Nilsson

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • cup flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup buttermilk you may not use all of it
  • oil for frying

Instructions

  • Preheat oil to 350°F.

  • Combine dry ingredients.

  • Beat egg. Add to dry mixture with most of the buttermilk adding more as needed to create a dough that is moist but not runny.

  • Drop mixture by teaspoon in hot oil.Cook 3-5 minutes until golden, turning once during cook time.

  • Place on paper towel to cool. Serve with honey butter.

Notes

If you do not have buttermilk on hand, you can make abuttermilk substitute!

Optional: add a tablespoon of minced onion.

4.91 from 55 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 124 | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 204mg | Potassium: 147mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Easy Hush Puppies Recipe (8) Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Easy Hush Puppies Recipe (9) Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

Easy Hush Puppies Recipe (10)

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Easy Hush Puppies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients for hush puppies? ›

Why do my hush puppies fall apart? ›

The Perfect Cornmeal-to-Flour Ratio

If made from just cornmeal, hush puppies will fall apart in the oil. If too much flour is used, the hush puppies become heavy, dense, and bread-like. After much experimentation, I landed on a 3:1 ratio: 1 1/2 cups cornmeal to 1/2 cup flour.

How long does hush puppy batter last? ›

Can I make Hush Puppies Ahead of Time? Absolutely! You can either make and fry and simply reheat (instructions below), or you can make the batter, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Refrigerated batter is even easier to work with.

What are original hush puppies? ›

In fact, the Carolinas can proudly claim to be the birthplace of this now-iconic American food. A hushpuppy is a simple treat—thick cornmeal batter dropped in spheres (or nuggets or fingers) into hot oil and fried till crisp and brown.

What is hush puppy mix made of? ›

Hush puppies are made from a basic batter consisting of yellow cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, buttermilk or milk and eggs. Many recipes call for the addition of scallions or onions. The base lends itself to riffing, too, including the addition of spicy peppers, cheese, spices or even beer.

Do you put anything on hush puppies? ›

Besides fried catfish, shrimp, chicken, crab cakes, or bbq, you might want to serve a dipping sauce for you hush puppies. We like honey or ranch, but ketchup, tartar sauce, remoulade sauce, or Outback sauce are all great options that go well with the savory-sweet fried cornmeal dough.

What are Long John Silver's hush puppies made of? ›

The main ingredients in hush puppies are cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Some recipes also call for egg, milk, and butter.

How to break in hush puppies? ›

Either way, there's no "break-in" period required for this supremely comfortable style. - WorryFree leather is scuff, stain & water-resistant.

Do Hushpuppies need to be refrigerated? ›

Homemade hush puppies are best eaten hot or at least warm soon after cooking. However, if you have leftovers you can store them at room temperature for three days or in the fridge for up to five days. They can also be frozen for up to three months.

How hot should oil be to fry hush puppies? ›

Scoop and fry.

Then, heat your oil to 375°F and prepare to fry. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions with one spoon, then use the second spoon to slip the batter gently into the hot oil, or use your cookie scoop. Fry the hush puppies in batches, 3 minutes or until golden brown.

What is the difference between corn fritters and hush puppies? ›

Hush Puppies vs. Corn Fritters. Hush puppies and corn fritters may be in the same family, but each is unique. They're both deliciously indulgent, deep-fried dough featuring corn, but hush puppies are made from a cornmeal-based batter, while corn fritters are flour-based and studded with corn kernels throughout.

Does hush puppy mix go bad? ›

Shelf Life and Storage

A hush puppy mix, an ensemble of dry ingredients, typically can last up to 6 months when stored correctly. Ideal Storage Conditions: Temperature: Store the mix in a cool, dry place. Container: An airtight container is optimal to prevent the intrusion of moisture and other contaminants.

Why are hush puppies called that slavery? ›

So, escaping slaves used to throw balls of fried cornmeal out to distract the hounds from tracking them. The hound stopped barking and tracking thanks to the cornmeal which later adopted the name "hush puppies.” We know this is true because it's popping up all over Facebook, right?

What is the black history about hush puppies? ›

The one common thread is that this fried cornmeal was used to "hush the dogs." I have heard that Confederate soldiers used it to hush their dogs when the Union troops were getting near. I also have heard a similar story in which runaway slaves would use this favorite food to hush the dogs.

Did Native Americans invent hush puppies? ›

Southern tribes such as the Cherokee or Seminole would ground up corn which would then be boiled, a very early version of the cooking method used to create what we now know as hushpuppies.

What are hush puppies' shoes made of? ›

Pigskin was soft and flexible, but not tough enough to be used in Wolverine's work boots; the company developed a pair of casual shoes from the pigskin to market as a comfort brand.

What is Long John Silver's hush puppies made of? ›

The main ingredients in hush puppies are cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Some recipes also call for egg, milk, and butter.

What is the hush puppies bag made of? ›

You can choose from Hush Puppies women". S backpacks and other travel bags that are made from high-quality nylon.

Do hush puppies contain milk? ›

Typical hushpuppy ingredients include cornmeal, wheat flour, eggs, salt, baking soda, milk or buttermilk, and water, and may include onion, spring onion (scallion), garlic, whole kernel corn, and peppers.

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