Buttermilk Hush Puppies

These fried nuggets of cornmeal batter are crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside.

By
Yvonne Ruperti
A photo of Yvonne Ruperti, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Yvonne Ruperti
Yvonne Ruperti is a food writer, recipe developer, former bakery owner, and cookbook author. She is also an adjust professor of baking at the Culinary Institute of America in Singapore.
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Updated March 12, 2025
Buttermilk hushpuppies with a small ramekin of remoulade dipping sauce sitting on a rectangular white platter.

Serious Eats / Yvonne Ruperti

Why It Works

  • Forming the hush puppies into balls helps them crisp on the outside while still staying moist and tender on the inside.
  • A restrained mix of onion, scallion, cayenne, and hot sauce yields hush puppies with a classic flavor profile.

Would you like fries or hush puppies?" That was the question I'd ask every customer, all night long, during my stint at a popular seafood restaurant years ago. Most went for the fries, which was a mistake if you ask me. You could get french fries anywhere—hush puppies were so much more interesting. Hush puppies are simply fried nuggets of thick, lightly sweetened cornmeal batter. The history of the hush puppy is unconfirmed, though a common story is that the name evolved from folks settling down their pet dogs by tossing them these cornmeal fritters and saying "hush puppy." I'm not convinced by that story, but it's cute.

Whatever their origin, hush puppies are delicious, super easy, and make a fun appetizer or side dish. Once fried, the exterior develops a wonderful crunchy texture from the cornmeal, while the inside stays moist. Hush puppies are versatile. Make 'em plain and simple, or throw in all sorts of add-ins such as onion, spices, jalapeño, bacon bits, shrimp, or cheese.

The hush puppies here celebrate a modest version, with the flavors that I remember from my hush puppy slingin' days: chopped onion, cayenne, and tangy hot sauce. Roll the batter into corn dog shapes, spoon drop it into the hot oil, or do as I did and roll 'em into balls for that irresistible pop in your mouth effect. Dip 'em in the tangy-sweet remoulade and you'll be sweetly hushed yourself.

March 2014

Recipe Details

Buttermilk Hush Puppies Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Cook 15 mins
Active 15 mins
Total 20 mins
Serves 4 servings
Makes 16 hush puppies
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup cornmeal

  • 1/2 cup (2 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 3/4 to 1 teaspoon salt (see note)

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne

  • 1 small onion, minced (about 1/4 cup)

  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk

  • 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) unsalted butter, melted

  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce

  • 2 tablespoons chopped scallions (optional)

  • Oil for frying

Remoulade Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1 teaspoon mustard

  • 3/4 teaspoon sugar

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 teaspoon fresh juice from 1 lemon

  • 1 to 2 teaspoons hot sauce

  • 1 tablespoon chopped scallions

Directions

  1. Make Remoulade sauce: Stir all ingredients in a bowl until combined. Season to taste and set aside.

  2. Make hush puppies: Stir cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cayenne in a medium bowl. Add onion, buttermilk, melted butter, hot sauce, and scallions (if using), and then stir until just combined.

  3. Pour oil into a heavy duty pot to 2 inches deep. Heat over medium high heat until temperature reaches 375°F. Working in batches, gently roll dough into golf ball-sized balls and carefully lower into hot oil using a slotted spoon. Take care not to crowd pot. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, turning with wooden spoon for even browning, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve warm hush puppies plain or with remoulade dipping sauce.

Special Equipment

Heavy duty pot

Notes

For varying salt preferences, I've offered a range. I suggest starting with the lesser amount, tasting the batter or one you've fried, and then adding more salt if desired.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
599 Calories
44g Fat
47g Carbs
6g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 599
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 44g 56%
Saturated Fat 7g 33%
Cholesterol 21mg 7%
Sodium 1154mg 50%
Total Carbohydrate 47g 17%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 6mg 28%
Calcium 198mg 15%
Iron 2mg 14%
Potassium 247mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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