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 golden, crispy exterior gives way to a soft, tender interior that’s irresistible. Serve them with my Creamy Chicken Stroganoff or Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for a complete meal. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Creamy Chicken Stroganoff with Mushrooms and Egg Noodles and Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw Recipe for Quick Dinners.

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 self-rising flour
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• Optional: Lemon wedges, for serving
• Optional: Hot sauce, for serving

How to Make Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides

1. Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine cornmeal mix, flour, buttermilk, egg, onion, green onions, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. Mix until just combined.
2. Form batter: Using your hands or a spoon, form the batter into 1-inch balls. You should have about 20 hushpuppies.
3. Heat oil: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).
4. Fry hushpuppies: Carefully place hushpuppies in the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
5. Serve: Serve hushpuppies hot with lemon wedges and hot sauce, if desired.

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: Hushpuppy batter can be made up to 2 hours ahead. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to fry.

Freezing Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides

Freeze cooked hushpuppies for up to 2 months. Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat hushpuppies in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes. Microwave: Reheat hushpuppies in the microwave for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until heated through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the batter.
• Best substitution: If you don't have buttermilk, you can substitute with 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar.
• Make-ahead: Hushpuppies can be made ahead and reheated in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your hushpuppies are falling apart, your batter may be too wet. Try adding a bit more cornmeal or flour to thicken it up.

Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides

⏱

Prep

10 minutes

🍳

Cook

15 minutes

⏳

Total

25 minutes

🍽

Serves

Makes 20 hushpuppies

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix
• 1/2 cup self-rising flour
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Seasonings

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Vegetable oil, for frying

Optional Toppings

• Lemon wedges, for serving
• Hot sauce, for serving

Instructions

1. Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine cornmeal mix, flour, buttermilk, egg, onion, green onions, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. Mix until just combined.
2. Form batter: Using your hands or a spoon, form the batter into 1-inch balls. You should have about 20 hushpuppies.
3. Heat oil: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).
4. Fry hushpuppies: Carefully place hushpuppies in the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
5. Serve: Serve hushpuppies hot with lemon wedges and hot sauce, if desired.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the batter.
• Best substitution: If you don't have buttermilk, you can substitute with 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar.
• Make-ahead: Hushpuppies can be made ahead and reheated in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your hushpuppies are falling apart, your batter may be too wet. Try adding a bit more cornmeal or flour to thicken it up.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftover hushpuppies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked hushpuppies for up to 2 months. Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes.
• Oven reheat: Reheat hushpuppies in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat hushpuppies in the microwave for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until heated through.
• Make ahead: Hushpuppy batter can be made up to 2 hours ahead. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to fry.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 120
• Protein: 3g
• Fat: 4g
• Carbs: 19g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 260mg
• Cholesterol: 15mg
• Sat. Fat: 0.5g

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!