Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Crispy Southern Hushpuppies are the ultimate easy dinner side. After making them dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly crispy hushpuppies every time. The secret? Using cornmeal and buttermilk. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Breasts and Easy 30-Minute Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl.
Why This Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides Is Pure Comfort
- Golden, crispy exterior
- Soft, tender interior
- Perfect with fried fish or as a snack
- Easy to make and ready in 30 minutes
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.
- cornmeal
- self-rising flour
- sugar
- baking powder
- salt
- buttermilk
- green onions
- jalapeño
- egg
- salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- chili powder
- Optional: hot sauce
- Optional: Tartar sauce
- Optional: Coleslaw
📝 Ingredient Notes
- buttermilk: You can substitute with 1/2 cup milk + 1/2 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast iron skillet — Even heat for perfect frying. → See on Amazon
- Deep fry thermometer — Ensures safe and even frying. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
- Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder.
- Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg, green onions, and jalapeño.
- Combine batter: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fry hushpuppies: Heat oil in a deep skillet to 375°F. Drop batter by spoonfuls into the hot oil and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overmix the batter. It's okay if there are a few lumps. Overmixing can make the hushpuppies tough.
- Pro tip: For extra crispy hushpuppies, refrigerate the batter for 30 minutes before frying.
- Pro tip: To keep hushpuppies warm while frying the rest, place them on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven.
- Pro tip: For a spicy kick, add a diced jalapeño to the batter.
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 fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The batter can be made up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated.
Freezing Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Freeze uncooked hushpuppies on a baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container for up to 3 months. Fry frozen hushpuppies for an extra 1-2 minutes.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until heated through. They may lose some crispiness.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a gluten-free version, substitute the flour with gluten-free flour or cornmeal.
- Best substitution: No jalapeño? Substitute with 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper.
- Make-ahead: You can make the batter up to 1 day ahead and refrigerate it.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your hushpuppies are soggy, try adding more cornmeal to the batter and frying them at a higher temperature.
Want to level up this recipe?
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Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- cornmeal
- self-rising flour
- sugar
- baking powder
- salt
- buttermilk
- green onions
- jalapeño
- egg
Seasonings
- salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- chili powder
Optional Toppings
- hot sauce
- Tartar sauce
- Coleslaw
Instructions
- Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder.
- Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg, green onions, and jalapeño.
- Combine batter: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fry hushpuppies: Heat oil in a deep skillet to 375°F. Drop batter by spoonfuls into the hot oil and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a gluten-free version, substitute the flour with gluten-free flour or cornmeal.
- Best substitution: No jalapeño? Substitute with 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper.
- Make-ahead: You can make the batter up to 1 day ahead and refrigerate it.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your hushpuppies are soggy, try adding more cornmeal to the batter and frying them at a higher temperature.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover hushpuppies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze uncooked hushpuppies on a baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container for up to 3 months. Fry frozen hushpuppies for an extra 1-2 minutes.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until heated through. They may lose some crispiness.
- Make ahead: The batter can be made up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 170
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 8g
- Carbs: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 420mg
- 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
Yes, you can make the batter up to 1 day ahead and refrigerate it. You can also freeze uncooked hushpuppies for up to 3 months.
If your hushpuppies are soggy, try adding more cornmeal to the batter and frying them at a higher temperature.
Yes, you can make hushpuppies in the air fryer. Cook at 375°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
You can substitute buttermilk with 1/2 cup milk + 1/2 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar.
This recipe is not gluten-free. To make it gluten-free, substitute the flour with gluten-free flour or cornmeal.
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!
