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 getting them perfectly golden and crispy every time. The secret? A hot oil temperature and not overmixing the batter. Keep reading for more tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Quick High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce and Easy Baked Sour Cream and Onion Chicken Recipe.
Why This Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides Is Pure Comfort
- Golden and crispy on the outside
- Soft and tender on the inside
- Perfect for soaking up BBQ sauce or honey
- Easy to make with simple ingredients
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.
- Self-rising cornmeal mix
- All-purpose flour
- Yellow onion
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Hot sauce (optional)
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Hot sauce (optional)
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: BBQ sauce
- Optional: Honey
- Optional: Hot sauce
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- Self-rising cornmeal mix: If you don't have self-rising cornmeal mix, you can make your own by combining 2 cups of cornmeal, 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, and 1 tablespoon of baking powder.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast iron skillet — Even heat distribution for perfectly crispy hushpuppies → See on Amazon
- Deep fry thermometer — Ensures perfect oil temperature for golden, crispy hushpuppies → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
- Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together self-rising cornmeal mix, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and hot sauce (if using).
- Combine batter: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Chop onion: Finely chop the yellow onion and fold it into the batter.
- Heat oil: Heat about 2 inches of oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry hushpuppies: Using a spoon, carefully drop batter into the hot oil, forming small balls. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Season and serve: Season with salt and pepper, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
- Common mistake and fix: Overmixing the batter can lead to tough hushpuppies. Stir the batter just until combined.
- Tip: For extra crispy hushpuppies, let the batter rest for 10 minutes before frying.
- Tip: To check the oil temperature, drop a small amount of batter into the oil. If it sizzles and floats, the oil is ready.
- Tip: For a spicy kick, add a few dashes of hot sauce 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 refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The batter can be made up to 1 day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
Freezing Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Freeze cooked hushpuppies for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat leftover hushpuppies in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat leftover hushpuppies in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. They may become soggy.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For extra flavor, add 1/4 cup of finely chopped green bell pepper to the batter.
- Best substitution: If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by mixing 1/2 cup of milk with 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
- Make-ahead: The batter can be made up to 1 day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your hushpuppies are not crispy, try increasing the oil temperature to 375°F (190°C) and frying for a shorter amount of time.
Want to level up this recipe?
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Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Self-rising cornmeal mix
- All-purpose flour
- Yellow onion
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Hot sauce (optional)
Seasonings
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Hot sauce (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley
- BBQ sauce
- Honey
- Hot sauce
Instructions
- Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together self-rising cornmeal mix, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and hot sauce (if using).
- Combine batter: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Chop onion: Finely chop the yellow onion and fold it into the batter.
- Heat oil: Heat about 2 inches of oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry hushpuppies: Using a spoon, carefully drop batter into the hot oil, forming small balls. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Season and serve: Season with salt and pepper, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Chef tip: For extra flavor, add 1/4 cup of finely chopped green bell pepper to the batter.
- Best substitution: If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by mixing 1/2 cup of milk with 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
- Make-ahead: The batter can be made up to 1 day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your hushpuppies are not crispy, try increasing the oil temperature to 375°F (190°C) and frying for a shorter amount of time.
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 the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Oven reheat: Reheat leftover hushpuppies in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat leftover hushpuppies in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. They may become soggy.
- Make ahead: The batter can be made up to 1 day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 120
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 5g
- Carbs: 17g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Cholesterol: 30mg
- 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 store it in the refrigerator. However, it's best to fry the hushpuppies fresh for the best texture.
Overmixing the batter or not frying the hushpuppies at a high enough temperature can lead to soggy hushpuppies. Make sure to stir the batter just until combined and fry at 350°F (175°C).
While you can try baking hushpuppies, they won't have the same crispy texture as fried hushpuppies. For a healthier option, try oven-fried hushpuppies coated in panko breadcrumbs.
Hushpuppies are a classic side dish for BBQ, fried chicken, or seafood. They also make a great appetizer or snack on their own.
Yes, you can freeze cooked hushpuppies for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
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!
