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 warm, golden color and crispy exterior will make your whole family beg for more. Try them with my Easy Pesto Zucchini Corn Quinoa Salad for a complete meal. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Pesto Zucchini Corn Quinoa Salad and Easy Cherry Tomato Salad with Mozzarella and Fresh Herbs.
Why This Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides Is Pure Comfort
- Perfectly crispy exterior
- Warm, golden color
- Ready in just 20 minutes
- Better than takeout
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.
- cornmeal
- self-rising flour
- sugar
- salt
- baking powder
- milk
- egg
- green onions
- hot sauce
- baking soda
- salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- hot sauce
- Optional: lemon wedges
- Optional: butter
- Optional: hot sauce
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- self-rising flour: If you don't have self-rising flour, you can substitute all-purpose flour and add 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder per cup of flour.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast Iron Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfectly crispy hushpuppies. → See on Amazon
- Deep Fry Thermometer — Ensures safe and consistent frying temperature. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, self-rising flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Add wet ingredients: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add milk, egg, green onions, and hot sauce. Stir until just combined.
- Form hushpuppies: Using a small cookie scoop or spoon, drop batter into hot oil (375°F/190°C) and fry until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Drain and serve: Remove hushpuppies from oil and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Serve with lemon wedges, butter, and hot sauce.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent tough hushpuppies. Stir until just combined.
- Pro tip: For extra crispy hushpuppies, refrigerate the batter for 30 minutes before frying.
- Pro tip: Use a deep fry thermometer to ensure the oil is at the right temperature for perfectly crispy hushpuppies.
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 ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
Freezing Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Freezing is not recommended for hushpuppies as they can become soggy.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until warmed through. They may lose some crispiness.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For extra flavor, add 1/4 cup of finely chopped jalapeños or bell peppers to the batter.
- Best substitution: If you don't have self-rising flour, substitute all-purpose flour and add 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder per cup of flour.
- Make-ahead: The batter can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
- 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 or frying them for a shorter period.
Want to level up this recipe?
Cast Iron Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfectly crispy hushpuppies. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- cornmeal
- self-rising flour
- sugar
- salt
- baking powder
- milk
- egg
- green onions
- hot sauce
- baking soda
Seasonings
- salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- hot sauce
Optional Toppings
- lemon wedges
- butter
- hot sauce
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, self-rising flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Add wet ingredients: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add milk, egg, green onions, and hot sauce. Stir until just combined.
- Form hushpuppies: Using a small cookie scoop or spoon, drop batter into hot oil (375°F/190°C) and fry until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Drain and serve: Remove hushpuppies from oil and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Serve with lemon wedges, butter, and hot sauce.
Notes
- Chef tip: For extra flavor, add 1/4 cup of finely chopped jalapeños or bell peppers to the batter.
- Best substitution: If you don't have self-rising flour, substitute all-purpose flour and add 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder per cup of flour.
- Make-ahead: The batter can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
- 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 or frying them for a shorter period.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover hushpuppies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freezing is not recommended for hushpuppies as they can become soggy.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until warmed through. They may lose some crispiness.
- Make ahead: The batter can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 120
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 3g
- Carbs: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Cholesterol: 15mg
- Sat. Fat: 0.5g
Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides FAQs
While you can make the batter ahead of time, it's best to fry the hushpuppies right before serving for the best texture.
Overmixing the batter can cause hushpuppies to turn out hard. Stir until just combined to avoid this.
While you can bake hushpuppies, they won't be as crispy as when fried. Try baking at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway.
Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through for the best texture.
Freezing is not recommended for hushpuppies as they can become soggy.
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!
