Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Crispy Southern Hushpuppies are the ultimate side dish for your fried fish or BBQ. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to getting them perfectly crispy every time. The warm, golden hushpuppies are irresistible and will make your meal unforgettable. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Smoky Grilled Mushroom Skewers and Easy No Bake Orange Creamsicle Truffles.
Why This Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides Is Pure Comfort
- Easy to make with simple ingredients
- Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside
- Perfect side for fried fish or BBQ
- 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 mix
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 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 onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- Optional: Lemon wedges, for serving
- Optional: Hot sauce or your favorite dipping sauce
📝 Ingredient Notes
- self-rising cornmeal mix: You can substitute with 2 cups of cornmeal and 2 teaspoons of baking powder.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast Iron Skillet — Gives hushpuppies a crispy exterior and even cooking → See on Amazon
- Deep Fryer or Dutch Oven — Safely and evenly fries hushpuppies → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
- Prepare Batter: In a large bowl, combine cornmeal mix, flour, milk, water, egg, onion, green onions, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and baking powder. Mix until smooth.
- Form Hushpuppies: Using a small cookie scoop or spoon, form batter into 1-inch balls. Carefully drop into hot oil.
- Fry Hushpuppies: Fry hushpuppies in batches for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
- : For extra crispy hushpuppies, try chilling the batter for 30 minutes before frying.
- Common mistake and fix: If your hushpuppies are falling apart, try adding more flour to the batter. If they're too hard, add more milk.
- : To keep hushpuppies warm while frying the rest, place them on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can make the batter up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to fry.
Freezing Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Freeze uncooked hushpuppies on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Fry frozen hushpuppies for an additional 1-2 minutes.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven 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 extra flavor, add 1/4 cup of chopped jalapeños or 1/4 cup of chopped bell peppers to the batter.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the milk with buttermilk for a tangier flavor.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your oil is smoking, it's too hot. Reduce heat and let it cool down before continuing.
Want to level up this recipe?
Deep Fryer Thermometer — Ensures safe and even frying at the perfect temperature → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 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 onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Optional Toppings
- Lemon wedges, for serving
- Hot sauce or your favorite dipping sauce
Instructions
- Prepare Batter: In a large bowl, combine cornmeal mix, flour, milk, water, egg, onion, green onions, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and baking powder. Mix until smooth.
- Form Hushpuppies: Using a small cookie scoop or spoon, form batter into 1-inch balls. Carefully drop into hot oil.
- Fry Hushpuppies: Fry hushpuppies in batches for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
Notes
- Chef tip: For extra flavor, add 1/4 cup of chopped jalapeños or 1/4 cup of chopped bell peppers to the batter.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the milk with buttermilk for a tangier flavor.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your oil is smoking, it's too hot. Reduce heat and let it cool down before continuing.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze uncooked hushpuppies on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Fry frozen hushpuppies for an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven 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: You can make the batter up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to fry.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 140
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 2g
- Carbs: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 250mg
- 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
Yes, you can make the batter up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to fry.
If your hushpuppies are hard, it's likely because the oil was too hot. Try frying at a lower temperature or reducing the heat if the oil starts to smoke.
Yes, you can make hushpuppies in the air fryer. Preheat to 375°F and cook for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
The best way to reheat hushpuppies is in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. They may lose some crispiness.
Yes, you can freeze uncooked hushpuppies. See storage notes for details.
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!
