These homemade deep fried hush puppies are one delicious treat! Made with ground cornmeal, the batter is fried to crispy perfection.

inside of fried hush puppies

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Homemade Hush Puppies Recipe

Great for snacking, or served up with your favorite Southern dishes like Shrimp Creole or Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy, these fried hush puppies are hands down delicious.

Quick and easy to make, they are wonderfully crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle. I’m pretty sure these will become your new favorite recipe!

Why You’ll Love this Deep Fried Hush Puppy Recipe:

  • Quick and Easy: Simple to make with basic ingredients, it’s quick to make a batch before they are fried.
  • Simple Ingredients: Made with a few pantry staples, you can whip these up whenever the craving strikes!
  • So Delicious: The bread batter is perfectly seasoned and slightly sweet. Made with buttermilk they have such a wonderful flavor.

Treat yourself and cook up a batch of these fried hush puppies, you’ll be so glad you did!

step by step photos for how to make hush puppies
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basket with deep fried hush puppies

How to Make Fried Hush Puppies at Home

You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!

  1. Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet in another.
  2. Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
  3. Scoop into balls and fry til golden.
fried hush puppies in basket with butter
fried hush puppies in basket
Can you make hush puppies in an air fryer?

I find that deep-frying yields the best results, as air frying can make these quite dry. If you do want to try the air fryer, cook them at 390°F for around 10 minutes, and spray them well with oil.

Can you shallow fry rather than deep fry?

These hush puppies need to be submerged in the oil, and shallow frying is not a great method. They are more likely to fall apart as they are cooked, and it’s tricky to cook them evenly with this method.

What other ingredients can you add to hush puppies?

You can easily add other ingredients to your hush puppy batter to suit your tastes. Fold in some shredded cheese or add in some diced jalapenos for a spicy kick.

Can you make hush puppies ahead of time?

You can make the hush puppy batter a day ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge. Fried hush puppies will keep well for 3-4 days and can be reheated in the oven at 400°F for 10 minutes to warm them through and crisp them back up.

Serving Suggestions

These hush puppies are delicious served with butter and honey as a tasty snack, or serve them up with your favorite Southern-style mains or fried fish as a side.

However you enjoy them, this recipe is a real crowd-pleaser!

inside of fried hush puppies

Tips!

  • Make sure the oil is hot before adding the hush puppy batter. It should register at 365°F.
  • Don’t over-mix the batter or the gluten can overdevelop which can cause dense and chewy hush puppies. The flour should be just combined.
  • Each hush puppy should be made of around 2 tablespoons of batter. Don’t make them too big or they won’t cook through evenly.

These hush puppies are so quick and easy to make. They make a wonderful addition to any meal!

More Bread and Rolls Recipes to Try

up close inside of fried hush puppies

These deep-fried hush puppies are one delicious Southern treat that everyone will love. Crispy and soft and extra addictive!

More Deep Fried Recipes we Love

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.

Recipe Card

Homemade Hush Puppies Recipe

4.47 from 13 votes
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Rest Time: 10 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 12 people
Author: Becky Hardin
inside of fried hush puppies
These homemade deep fried hush puppies are one delicious treat! Made with ground cornmeal, the batter is fried to crispy perfection.
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Ingredients 

  • 1 cup ground cornmeal 156 grams
  • cup all-purpose flour 40 grams
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 13 grams
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder 4 grams
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda 3 grams
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ cup buttermilk 170 grams, room temperature (see note)
  • ¼ cup grated sweet onion
  • 1 large egg 50 grams, room temperature and lightly beaten
  • Peanut or vegetable oil for frying

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, add the buttermilk, onion, and egg, whisking well. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just combined.
    1 cup ground cornmeal, ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¾ cup buttermilk, ¼ cup grated sweet onion, 1 large egg
    how to make hush puppies
  • Allow to batter to rest for 10-15 minutes while you heat the oil of a deep fryer, or in a Dutch oven, to 365°F.
    Peanut or vegetable oil
  • Use a medium cookie scoop to portion heaping tablespoons (approximately 2 tbsp) of batter.
    how to make hush puppies
  • Drop the batter into the oil. Fry for 2-4 minutes, until golden. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the fried hush puppies to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Serve warm with butter.
    how to make hush puppies

Becky’s Tips

  • Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk, follow this simple homemade buttermilk recipe.
  • Make sure the oil is hot before adding the hush puppy batter. It should register at 365°F.
  • Don’t over-mix the batter or the gluten can overdevelop which can cause dense and chewy hush puppies. The flour should be just combined.
  • Each hush puppy should be made of around 2 tablespoons of batter. Don’t make them too big or they won’t cook through evenly.
  • To reheat, place in a 400°F oven for 10 minutes.
  • To freeze, lay the hush puppies out in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store.
Storage: Store homemade hush puppies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Calories: 124kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 200mgPotassium: 76mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 47IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.47 from 13 votes (13 ratings without comment)
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