By Becky Hardin
Updated Jan 13, 2025
I know everyone will love this delicious Southern treat Fried Hush Puppies. These homemade Hush Puppies made with cornmeal, perfectly crispy from outside, and fluffy from inside. They are quick and easy to make, slightly sweetened yet savory, I’m pretty sure these flavorful cornmeal balls will become your new favorite recipe!
The bread batter is perfectly seasoned and slightly sweet. Buttermilk gives a little tanginess to hush puppies that you can sense in one bite. Made with a few pantry staples, you can whip these up whenever the craving strikes!
I would insist to treat yourself once and cook up a batch of these fried hush puppies, you’ll be so glad you did!
Ingredients for Fried Hush Puppies
- Ground Cornmeal: Yellow or white, both cornmeal will work for this recipe. I am using yellow corn meal here.
- All purpose flour: I will recommend using all purpose flour, It helps in binding all ingredients together and hold them while deep frying.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk sets moisture and a little tang in hush puppies. If you don’t have it in handy, make your own buttermilk. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar in 1 cup of milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes and a substitute for buttermilk is ready.
- Egg: Eggs is another ingredient helps in holding everything together.
- Sweet onion: I prefer to use sweet onion with their subtle flavors and mild sweetness.
- Oil for frying: I am using vegetable oil for deep frying. But you can use any other oil.
Tips For Success
- 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 evenly.
How to Store and Reheat
Refrigerator: Transfer any leftovers in an air tight container and store for 3-4 days in refrigerator.
Freezer: Homemade hush puppies taste best once they are out of deep frying. 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. Make sure thawing them overnight in refrigerator before reheating.
Reheat: For that crunch place them in oven at 400F for 10 minutes. Air fryer works great for these to reheat. I won’t suggest to warm them in microwave as they turned soft.
Serving Suggestions
These hush puppies are delicious served when with butter and honey as a tasty snack, or serve them up with your favorite Southern-style mains or fried fish as a side. Creamy Coleslaw , Fish Sticks , Beer Battered Fish , Pan Fried Tilapia and Black Eyed Peas are few to enjoy.
However you enjoy them, this recipe is a real crowd-pleaser!
5-Star Review
“I made this last night and it was the moistest chicken we’ve ever had. A bit of crispy and the flavor was wonderful. I didn’t have buttermilk and did add lemon juice to 1% milk. I am making it again today. Thank you for this recipe.” – Dawn
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 cup ground cornmeal 156 grams
- ▢ ⅓ 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
Video
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. 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
- In a separate bowl, add the buttermilk, onion, and egg, whisking well.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just combined.
- 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.
- 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.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Deep Fryer OR
- Dutch Oven
- Deep Frying Thermometer
- Cookie Portion Scoop (optional)
Becky’s 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.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Fried Hush Puppies Step by Step
Mix-in All Ingredients: To make this easy hush puppies recipe, all you have to do is to mix everything together and prepare the batter.
In a large bowl starting adding 1 cup ground cornmeal, ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Combine them well.
In another bowl add ¾ cup buttermilk, ¼ cup grated sweet onion and 1 large egg. Whisk them well until no lumps.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just combined.
Allow the batter to sit for 10-15 minutes. White batter is resting heat the oil in a deep fryer or in Dutch oven, to 365°F.
Scoop into balls and fry: To make hush puppies balls, use a medium cookie scoop to portion heaping tablespoons (approximately 2 tbsp) of batter.
Drop them into the oil. Fry them for 2-4 minutes or until golden.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the fried hush puppies to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Serve warm with butter. A perfect comforting treat on cold days, just add some butter and gulp
More Deep Fried Recipes we Love
Deep Fried Brownie Bites
Fried Mashed Potato Balls (Loaded Mashed Potato Bites)
Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Cherries and Pecans
Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
Fried Pickles (Ranch Pickles)
Fried Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives (with Garlic Aioli Dip)
Fried Mozzarella Sticks
Toasted Ravioli
Homemade Hush Puppies Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Deep Fryer OR
- Dutch Oven
- Deep Frying Thermometer
- Cookie Portion Scoop (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 cup ground cornmeal 156 grams
- ⅓ 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. 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
- In a separate bowl, add the buttermilk, onion, and egg, whisking well.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just combined.
- 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.
- 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.
Video
Notes
- 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.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
