Hush Puppies are irresistible and SO easy to make at home!
Hush Puppies with a crispy, golden outside and soft, cornbread inside infused with bacon, pepper Jack cheese dunked in the most tantalizing sweet and tangy Sweet Chili Dijon Sauce! Are you drooling yet? Hush Puppies are one of the most crave worthy morsels ever – AND this hush puppies recipe is one of the world’s easiest appetizers to make! You can make hush puppy batter ahead of time and refrigerate for easy assembly, or make and either refrigerate or freeze the hush puppies for an almost instant/snack appetizer at a cravings notice.
Hush Puppies Recipe
I remember the very first time my teeth sunk into deep fried hush puppies. I was 11. It was summer vacation. Hawaii. Bubba Gumps. And paradise just got even more paradisiacal.
If you have never devoured hush puppies before, please end your deprivation right now starting with these Bacon Pepper Jack Hush puppies recipe!
This hush puppies recipe is so easy to make and take less than 30 minutes start to finish (most of that time is just babysitting them as they fry). Good thing, because you will probably inhale them in less than 10 minutes and need a second batch.
WHAT ARE HUSH PUPPIES?
Hush puppies are little balls of deep-fried cornmeal, about the same size as a meatball or a scoop of raw cookie dough AKA deep fried cornbread balls with seasonings. As if cornbread wasn’t delicious enough?!
HOW DID HUSH PUPPIES GET THEIR NAME?
There are many different tales about how or when hush puppies came to be. My favorite version of the tales is the one attributed to hunters and trappers who would be on the trail for months at a time. When their hunting dogs got hungry at night, the hunters would cook a basic cornmeal mixture on the grease of the fire and feed it to the dogs to “hush the puppies.” Maybe that’s also where the term “lucky dogs” comes from.
Whether you subscribe to the tales of Indians in Southern America, Civil War soldiers, southerners cooking at fish fry festivals, or cowboys out on the plains, the ingredients and how to cook this easy appetizer treat are pretty much the same in the end.
WHAT ARE HUSH PUPPIES MADE OF?
About a half dozen ingredients are in a hush puppies recipe. While there are some small variations (like onion powder instead of onion shavings, garlic powder, or even no onion at all), most people use cornmeal, wheat flour, baking powder, salt and milk or buttermilk as well as eggs. I, of course, add a punch of flavor with the addition of bacon and Pepper Jack cheese.
I have used Pepper Jack in my last three recipes (hush puppies, Southwest Pepper Jack Salad Bacon Ranch Pepper Jack Pull Apart Bread), so I guess you now have three wonderfully delicious reasons to buy pepper Jack, starting with these incredibly easy, tasty hush puppies. And if you need one more reason: everyone gathered around your television in their matching football jerseys will love you for it!
Hush Puppies Ingredients:
Simple ingredients for a simple recipe. Mix together the ingredients until it is smooth and creamy. See how quick and easy it is to make, then add golf ball sized round balls to the oil, spinning the ball around until the outside becomes a golden brown. The inside will maintain a light and flakey dough. These are best served with tartar sauce or even ranch dressing.
- Oil: Use a high smoking oil with a neutral flavor such as vegetable oil for frying.
- Cornmeal: This creates the base of the batter. Make sure to use finely ground cornmeal and not coarse ground for the best texture. Also, cornmeal expires and because extremely bitter, so make sure it’s fresh!
- Flour: I use all-purpose flour but I’m sure gluten free flour, almond flour, etc. would also work.
- Baking powder: Baking powder creates extra crispy batter as it reacts with the oil and produces tiny air bubbles which causes the breading to rise and create a lighter and airier batter AKA crunchier hush puppies! DON’T use baking soda!
- Sugar: Adds a slight sweetness to the batter.
- Seasonings: The batter is flavored with garlic powder, salt, ground cumin, black pepper cayenne pepper
- Eggs: Binds the batter ingredients.
- Creamed corn: Adds body and sweetness to the batter that is divine! Don’t skip or you’ll need to add buttermilk.
- Butter: Melted butter adds that tantalizing rich flavor.
- Bacon: Adds that fabulous bacon flavor.
- Pepper Jack cheese: Melts to create extra tender hushpuppies on the inside.
- Green onions: Adds flavor and cuts through the aromatic flavor.
recipe variations
- Cheese: Swap the Pepper Jack for cheddar or another semi-hard cheese. You don’t want a soft cheese or it will ooze out of the hush puppies
- Add-ins: Add chopped green bell peppers, poblanos or jalapenos to batter.
- Sweet hush puppies: Skip the cheese for sweet hush puppies and roll fried hush puppies in cinnamon sugar.
- Cornmeal: If you are using self-rising cornmeal and flour omit the baking powder and salt for the recipe. This will ensure a lighter batter.
DO HUSH PUPPIES HAVE MEAT IN THEM?
Traditional hush puppies do not have meat in them – remember the tales of how they came to be. The best part about this hush puppy appetizer is how easy it is to throw together, how simple the ingredient list is, and how delicious they taste! Cornmeal, eggs, milk or buttermilk and a couple of other ingredients make this deep-fried dish complete.
I add bacon to my hush puppy recipe, but this isn’t traditional and of course optional- but totally delicious!
WHAT ARE LONG JOHN SILVER’S HUSH PUPPIES MADE OF?
Long John Silver’s hush puppies, are perhaps the most well known, but I guarantee this hush puppy recipe is even MORE delicious! Pretty much the only thing that stands out in Long John Silver’s hush puppies is the addition of onion, minced or in powder form. I replace this onion with green onions, for their milder but still punchy flavor.
How to Make Hush Puppies
Step 1: To make, simply combine your “wet” ingredients – creamed corn, green onion, pepper jack cheese, sharp cheddar, bacon and eggs with your dry ingredients – cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar and some spices to form a batter.
Step 2: Heat the oil in a large pot to 350 degrees F.
Step 3: Drop the batter by 1 ½ teaspoons (they don’t need to be neat!) into hot oil to fry.
Step 4: Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Can I Pan Fry Hush Puppies?
Although pan frying will work for many fried foods such as chicken, it is not suitably to make hush puppies. Hush puppies need to be submerged completed in oil or the will fall apart and not cook evenly.
Cooking tips for success
If you aren’t familiar with frying, it is easy! Just fill your pot with oil high enough to cover the hush puppies and heat to 350 degrees.
- I highly recommend a thermometer to ensure you have the correct temperature. If your oil is to hot, then the hush puppies will cook on the outside but still be raw on the inside. If the oil is too cold, the hush puppies can fall apart. You can still fry without a thermometer, but it may be be more trial and error.
- If you are frying without a thermometer, make sure you pinch off some dough and add it to the pot. If it boils, your oil is ready.
- If it boils and turns dark within a minute or so, your oil is too hot. You will have to reduce the temperature, wait, and try again.
- Take care you don’t overcrowd your pot so the hush puppies can cook evenly and so you have plenty of room to flip the hush puppies over with tongs.
- Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer fried hush puppies to a paper towel lined baking sheet or serving platter so they stay crispy. You don’t want them sitting in oil.
What oil is best for Frying?
Not all oils are suitable for frying. For this easy hush puppies recipe, you will need to use an oil with a high smoking point such as:
- Vegetable oil
- Corn oil
- Peanut oi
- Avocado oil
- Soybean oil
- Safflower oil
- Canola oil
- Cottonseed oil
- Sunflower oil
WHAT DO YOU DIP HUSH PUPPIES IN?
Dunking the golden, crispy hush puppies into a stand-alone-delicious dip is one of the best parts! My favorite dip for hush puppies is my Sweet Chili Dijon Dip.
It is made by whisking Asian Sweet Chili Sauce, Dijon mustard, honey and hot sauce. It is SO simple to make but results in sweet, tangy perfection. You will love it! I’m already concocting a chicken recipe based purely on this sauce – its that good.
Other popular dipping sauces for hush puppies include tartar sauce, any variety of aioli you can dream up, honey dip, and remoulade.
Can I make Hush Puppies Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! You can either make and fry and simply reheat (instructions below), or you can make the batter, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Refrigerated batter is even easier to work with.
How to Keep Hush puppies warm
Hush puppies are best served warm. To keep your hush puppies warm after frying, transfer to a baking sheet and place in the oven preheated to the “warm” setting.
HOW DO I STORE LEFTOVER HUSH PUPPIES?
I think homemade hush puppies are best eaten fresh, however, they can be refrigerated and/or frozen:
- To refrigerate: Once your hush puppies have cooled to room temperature, place them in a zip bag or airtight container lined with paper towels. Consume within a few days.
Can I freeze Homemade Hush Puppies?
Absolutely! Hush puppies make a delectable make ahead appetizer or snack! To freeze:
- Let hush puppies cool completely
- Space out evenly on a baking sheet and flash freeze by placing in the freezer until solid, about 1-2 hours. This prevents the hush puppies from freezing together.
- Place hush puppies in an airtight container or freezer bag, lined with paper towels.
- Label and store up to 3 months.
CAN I REHEAT HOMEMADE HUSH PUPPIES?
Yes, you can!
- From frozen: place a few hush puppies at a time on a microwave-safe plate and heat for up to 1 minute to partially defrost. Transfer hush puppies to a baking sheet, evenly spaced, and place in a 400-degree oven for about 4-6 minutes. Watch them to make sure you don’t burn the tops!
- From the refrigerator: place hush puppies in a 400-degree oven for about 4-6 minutes. Again, just watch them to make sure you don’t burn your tops!
What to Serve with Hush Puppies?
Hush puppies are fantastic appetizer for game day or parties that pair well with other southern fair like:
- MAIN COURSE: Barbecue Ribs, Nashville Hot Chicken, Barbecue Pulled Pork, Oven “Fried” Chicken, Barbecue Brisket, Mississippi Pot Roast
- SIDES: Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese, Baked Beans Potato Salad, Grape Salad, Creamy Bacon Pea Pasta Salad,Baked Parmesan Fingerling Potato Fries
- APPETIZERS: Sticky Buffalo Honey Hot Wings, Cheesy Chili Dip, Jalapeno Popper Dip, Artichoke Spinach Dip, Cheesy Pesto Pull Apart Bread, Garlic Herb Cheese Log
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Hush Puppies with Bacon & Pepper Jack
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Ingredients
Sweet Chili Dijon Sauce
- 1/2 cup Asian sweet red chili sauce (like Mae Ploy)
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Hot sauce to taste (optional)
Bacon Pepper Jack Hushpuppies
- 1 1/2 quarts peanut, canola or vegetable oil, for frying
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups fine cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Wet ingredients
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 15 oz. can creamed corn
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 cup cooked bacon, finely crumbled
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Pepper Jack cheese
- 1/4 cup green onions, thinly chopped
Instructions
- Whisk together Sweet Chili Dijon Sauce ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Heat oil to 350F degrees in a deep-fryer or Dutch oven.
- In a large bowl, whisk together Wet Ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together Dry Ingredients. Pour Dry Ingredients into Wet ingredients and stir just until evenly combined. Chill for 5 minutes.*
- Drop batter by 1 ½ teaspoons (or 1 heaping teaspoon) into the hot oil (it will be sticky!). Fry hushpuppies in batches for 2-3 minutes or until golden, flipping them about halfway through. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan while frying so you will have room to flip. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer fried hushpuppies to a paper towel lined baking sheet or serving platter.
- Hush puppies are best served hot but still delicious room temperature. You can also reheat in the microwave for about 45 seconds.
Notes
HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER HUSH PUPPIES
I think homemade hush puppies are best eaten fresh. however, they can be refrigerated and/or frozen. Once your hush puppies have cooled to room temperature, place them in a zip bag or airtight container lined with paper towels. Consume within a few days.HOW TO FREEZE HUSH PUPPIES
- Let hush puppies cool completely.
- Space out evenly on a baking sheet and flash freeze by placing in the freezer until solid, about 1-2 hours. This prevents the hush puppies from freezing together.
- Place hush puppies in an airtight container or freezer bag, lined with paper towels.
- Label and store up to 3 months.
HOW TO REHEAT HUSH PUPPIES
- From frozen: place a few hush puppies at a time on a microwave-safe plate and heat for up to 1 minute to partially defrost. Transfer hush puppies to a baking sheet, evenly spaced, and place in a 400-degree oven for about 4-6 minutes. Watch them to make sure you don’t burn the tops!
- From the refrigerator: place hush puppies in a 400-degree oven for about 4-6 minutes. Again, just watch them to make sure you don’t burn your tops!
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Donna says
Hi! I made these tonight and they are delicious! I have a couple of comments and a question. I used your basic recipe and modified it to fit my diet – left out the bacon and spices, used a blend of cheeses, and added chopped leafy greens and sweet red pepper. Because I left out the bacon, I needed to add more salt. My question is about the size. Your instructions call for 1.5 teaspoons with a yield of 50 hush puppies. I used measuring spoons and ended up with 90! Did you use a different kind of teaspoon? Thanks!
Jen says
Hi Donna, I’m so pleased you loved the Hush Puppies! As far as quantity goes- I have no idea! Maybe the additional leafy greens and red pepper added more volume?