Fresh stone-ground cornmeal makes hush puppies that actually taste of corn rather than plain fried batter. Keep the oil steady at 350F and drop in small spoonfuls of batter. Go too big or let the oil run cool and you end up with a raw center.
By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026
Prep15 min
Cook15 min
Makes24 pieces
CuisineAmerican
Cost$
Vegetarian
Contains dairy · eggs · gluten
Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.
Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for24pieces
Yellow cornmeal
Stone-ground cornmeal gives real corn flavor and a coarser, crispier crumb.
Yes — this is exactly what an air fryer does well. Work in a single layer so the air can move, and shake or flip halfway for even crisping. It runs a touch faster than the oven, so check early.
Can you freeze Hush Puppies? — Not ideal
You can, but the crisp coating softens. Freeze the cooked pieces, then re-crisp them in a hot oven or air fryer — never the microwave.
Can you make Hush Puppies ahead of time? — Prep ahead
Best fried to order — the crunch fades if it sits. Do the breading or shaping ahead and cook it fresh when you serve.
Is Hush Puppies gluten-free? — Not as written
Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).
Is Hush Puppies vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan
It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy and egg. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.
Community Notes
Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.
Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →