Southern Hush Puppies
These Southern hush puppies are golden, crispy, and perfectly fluffy on the inside. Made with cornmeal, buttermilk, and onion, they fry up light and tender and make the perfect side for fish fries, barbecue, seafood, or any Southern-style meal.

Prep
10 min
Cook
6 min
Temp
350°F–375°F Oil
Yield
6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 small onion, grated (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup)
- Peanut or vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
1In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cayenne pepper.
2In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and buttermilk. Stir into the dry ingredients along with the grated onion and its juices until combined.
3Pour about 2 inches of oil into a large cast iron skillet or Dutch oven. Heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350°F to 375°F.
4Using two spoons or a small scoop, carefully drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil. Fry in batches for 2 to 3 minutes, turning partway through, until golden brown and crisp.
5Transfer the hush puppies to a wire rack or paper towel-lined pan to drain. Serve warm.
Tips & Variations
- Use a small cookie scoop for evenly sized hush puppies.
- Do not overcrowd the pan or the oil temperature will drop too quickly.
- Add a little extra cayenne pepper if you prefer more heat.
- Serve with ranch, honey butter, tartar sauce, or comeback sauce for dipping.
- Leftovers reheat best in an air fryer or oven to crisp the outside back up.
