Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Crispy Southern Hushpuppies are the ultimate easy dinner side! After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly crispy hushpuppies every time. The golden, crispy exterior gives way to a soft, tender inside that’s perfect for soaking up your favorite BBQ sauce. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips, including how to prevent soggy hushpuppies. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Smoked Baby Potatoes with Beer Mustard and BBQ Rub and Refreshing Blueberry Coconut Water Drink Recipe.
Why This Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides Is Pure Comfort
- Golden, crispy exterior with a tender inside
- Ready in just 20 minutes
- Perfect for soaking up your favorite BBQ sauce
- Better than takeout and freezer-friendly
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
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 large egg
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Vegetable oil
- Optional: Lemon wedges
- Optional: BBQ sauce
- Optional: Hot sauce
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Self-rising cornmeal: You can substitute with 2 cups of plain cornmeal and 2 teaspoons of baking powder.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast iron skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect frying → See on Amazon
- Deep fryer or Dutch oven — Safety and convenience for deep frying → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
- Prepare batter: In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, water, and egg. Mix well. Add onion, green onions, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir to combine.
- Heat oil: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry hushpuppies: Using a small cookie scoop or spoon, carefully drop batter into hot oil. Fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve: Serve hushpuppies hot with lemon wedges, BBQ sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
- General: Keep the oil temperature consistent for even frying.
- Common mistake and fix: If your hushpuppies are soggy, try adding more cornmeal to the batter or frying at a higher temperature.
- Variation: Add 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese or 1/4 cup of chopped jalapeños to the batter for a twist.
- Storage: Store leftover hushpuppies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Up to 3 days Make-ahead tip: Batter can be made up to 1 hour ahead
Freezing Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Not recommended
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes Microwave: Not recommended
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For extra crispy hushpuppies, add 1/4 cup of cornstarch to the batter.
- Best substitution: You can substitute buttermilk with 1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.
- Make-ahead: The batter can be made up to 1 hour ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If your hushpuppies are burning too quickly, reduce the heat or try frying at a lower temperature.
Want to level up this recipe?
Deep fryer or Dutch oven — Safety and convenience for deep frying → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups self-rising cornmeal
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 large egg
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Seasonings
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Vegetable oil
Optional Toppings
- Lemon wedges
- BBQ sauce
- Hot sauce
Instructions
- Prepare batter: In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, water, and egg. Mix well. Add onion, green onions, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir to combine.
- Heat oil: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry hushpuppies: Using a small cookie scoop or spoon, carefully drop batter into hot oil. Fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve: Serve hushpuppies hot with lemon wedges, BBQ sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Chef tip: For extra crispy hushpuppies, add 1/4 cup of cornstarch to the batter.
- Best substitution: You can substitute buttermilk with 1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.
- Make-ahead: The batter can be made up to 1 hour ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If your hushpuppies are burning too quickly, reduce the heat or try frying at a lower temperature.
Storage
- Fridge: Up to 3 days
- Freezer: Not recommended
- Oven reheat: 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes
- Microwave reheat: Not recommended
- Make ahead: Batter can be made up to 1 hour ahead
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 220
- Protein: 5g
- Fat: 7g
- Carbs: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Cholesterol: 20mg
- 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, the batter can be made up to 1 hour ahead. However, it's best to fry hushpuppies fresh for the best texture.
If your hushpuppies are soggy, try adding more cornmeal to the batter or frying at a higher temperature.
While you can freeze hushpuppies, the texture may not be as crispy upon thawing.
Yes, you can make hushpuppies in the air fryer. Preheat to 375°F (190°C), lightly grease the basket, and fry for about 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Hushpuppies are perfect with fried fish, BBQ, or as a side dish for any meal. Serve with lemon wedges, BBQ sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce.
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!
