• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Spoon Fork BaconSpoon Fork Bacon
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Twitter
    • TikTok
  • What’s for Dinner?
  • Recipes By Category
  • Most Recent
  • Contact
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes By Category
  • Most Recent
  • What’s for Dinner?
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Twitter
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home > Blog > Appetizers > Hush Puppies Recipe

    Hush Puppies Recipe

    by Teri Lyn Fisher · Published: Sep 13, 2022 · Modified: Jun 18, 2021

    Jump to Recipe
    These hush puppies are deliciously savory, fried balls of cornmeal based batter. They're finished with a spicy honey sauce for the perfect sweet, spicy, salty bite!
    Hush puppies with small glass bowl of sauce, small white bowl of salt, and a spoon.

    This Hush Puppies Recipe is one of our favorites! The first time I had Hush Puppies I was completely hooked. Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy in the middle. They are seriously addicting and I dare anyone to eat just one.

    We added some green onion to our hush puppies batter, for a boost of flavor, and finished ours off with a simple, spicy honey drizzle

    What Are Hush Puppies?

    Hush Puppies are southern, savory fried balls made from a cornmeal based batter. They’re usually eaten as an appetizer or snack.

    History of Hush Puppies

    There are a lot of varying stories about the origins, but most of them are myths. A popular story is that fishermen and hunters would fry up leftover batter (from frying fish for their own dinners). They would toss them at their dogs to eat to “hush the puppies” when they would get rowdy at night. This is something that I believed to be true for the longest time.

    After doing a little digging, I found out that they used to be called ‘red horse bread’ in South Carolina. They were specifically coined by a man named Romeo Govans. He was famously known for his fish fries that included red horse bread.

    Red Horse is actually a type of fish that Southerns would coat in a cornmeal based batter and fry up. They would then take the excess batter and fry up little balls to enjoy on the side or as a snack. The name ‘hush puppies’ is said to have started in Georgia. Newspapers began writing about a “cornbread concoction” by the name of Hush Puppies, although the exact origins of the name is up for debate.

    How to Make Our Hush Puppies Recipe

    Hush Puppies Ingredients

    Ingredients for Hush Puppies shot overhead.
    Jump to Recipe

    Process

    1. Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl.
    2. Whisk together until a thick batter forms and no dry spots remain.
    Hush Puppies batter ingredients in a glass bowl ready to be mixed together.
    Hush Puppies batter in a glass bowl shot overhead with a whisk in the batter.
    1. Preheat oil in a large pot.
    2. Drop small balls of batter into oil, a few at a time and fry for a few minutes until golden brown.
    Close up on a thermometer to show the correct oil temperature.
    Frying Hush Puppies in a pot with oil.
    1. Gently flip hush puppies in oil to evenly fry.
    2. Continue to fry until golden brown and fluffy on the inside.
    Hush Puppies frying in a pot of oil.
    Hush Puppies finishing up frying in a pot of hot oil.
    1. Drain hush puppies onto a paper towel and lightly season with salt.
    A close up of hush puppies on a wire rack.
    Jump to Recipe

    Spicy Honey Drizzle Ingredients

    Spicy honey drizzle ingredients in bowls shot overhead.

    Process

    1. Combine ingredients into a small bowl.
    2. Whisk together until fully combined.
    Spicy honey drizzle ingredients in a bowl ready to be mixed.
    Spicy Honey drizzle in a bowl mixed.
    1. Drizzle spicy honey over hush puppies
    A close up of hush puppies drizzled with spicy honey.

    Useful Tools for Our Hush Puppies Recipe

    An image of a thermometer on a tan background.
    Oil Thermometer
    A metal cookie scoop on a yellow background.
    Two Tablespoon Cookie Scoop
    Jump to Recipe

    Tips and Tricks for Hush Puppies Success

    • We add sliced green onion to our puppies, which is not traditional. They can easily be omitted, although we love the little oniony bits of flavor dotted throughout each fried ball.
    • If you don’t have buttermilk, you can combine 2/3 cup milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes before whisking it into the batter.
    • We like to use a small ice cream scooper to easily drop balls of batter into the oil, but two spoons also work well.
    • It’s important to flip each hush puppy while they fry in the oil about halfway through to ensure even all sides get golden brown and that they’re completely cooked through the center.
    • We use an asian style chili sauce for out spicy honey drizzle, but you can use crushed red pepper flakes instead.

    Storing Leftovers

    To refrigerate: Once your Hush Puppies have cooled, place them in an airtight container lined with paper towels. Place a layer of the puppies in the container and layer another paper towel on top. Repeat.
    To Freeze: Let Hush Puppies cool. Once they are cool transfer to a baking sheet and spread them out in one layer not touching. Place them in the freezer until they are completely frozen through. Transfer to an airtight tag and store in the freezer for up to three months.
    To reheat: Place frozen or refrigerated hush puppies on a baking sheet spread in an even layer not touching. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees, and bake for about 5 minutes. Be sure to not burn the tops, so check halfway through. If they are getting a bit too toasty on top, you can flip them.

    Is Our Hush Puppies Recipe Gluten-Free?

    No, our hush puppies recipe is not gluten-free as we use a wheat-based flour. You can always try this recipe with a different kind of flour like almond, or cup 4 cup, to make these gluten-free (although we have no tested other versions)

    Hush Puppies close up with one ripped open and some spicy honey drizzle.

    More Delicious Appetizer Recipes You Will Love

    • Coconut Shrimp recipe with mango salsa on the side.
      Coconut Shrimp
    • Corn cakes with chives and queso fresco on blue and white platter.
      Corn Cakes
    • A serving of beer battered fried onion rings with ranch.
      Beer Battered Onion Rings
    • Spinach and artichoke dip in a skillet with chips on the side.
      The BEST Spinach Artichoke Dip

    Hungry for more?

    Subscribe to never miss a recipe.

    EmailPinTweetShareYummly
    Hush puppies recipe with a sweet and spicy sauce.

    Hush Puppies

    5 from 25 votes
    PRINT RECIPE Pin Recipe
    These hush puppies are deliciously savory, fried balls of cornmeal based batter. They're finished with a spicy honey sauce for the perfect sweet, spicy, salty bite!
    RECIPE BY Teri & Jenny
    Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
    Total Time: 30 minutes mins
    Servings: 8

      INGREDIENTS  

    • 1 cup cornmeal
    • ½ cup all purpose flour
    • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 egg
    • ⅔ cup buttermilk
    • 2 green onions, thinly sliced

    to fry

    • 2 cups oil for frying

    spicy honey drizzle

    • ⅔ cup honey
    • 2 tablespoons fresh chili sauce such as Sambal
    • sea salt to taste

      INSTRUCTIONS  

    • Pour oil in a large pot and begin preheating on medium-high heat.
    • Place all ingredients for the hush puppies into a large bowl and whisk together to create a thick batter.
    • Once the oil has reached 350 degrees F fry large (2 tablespoon) spoonfuls of batter for about 5 minutes, flipping every 2 to 3 minutes. This will take several batches.
    • Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
    • In a small bowl combine the honey and chili sauce and stir together.
    • Serve the hush puppies warm with a drizzle of the spicy honey sauce.

      NOTES  

    **Makes: 16 Hush Puppies – 2 Per Serving**
    Calories: 272kcal Carbohydrates: 47g Protein: 4g Fat: 8g Saturated Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 23mg Sodium: 439mg Potassium: 144mg Fiber: 2g Sugar: 26g Vitamin A: 118IU Vitamin C: 1mg Calcium: 67mg Iron: 1mg
    CUISINE: American, Southern
    KEYWORD: cornmeal, fried
    COURSE: Appetizer, sides, Snack

    You Might Also Love...

    • Coxinha on a blue plate with a drink.Coxinha
    • A close up of hallumi nuggets with marinara sauce on the side. A recipe to make as New Years Eve finger foods.Halloumi Nuggets with Marinara Dipping Sauce
    • A recipe for Shrimp Fritters with a spicy honey drizzle.Shrimp Fritters

    September 13, 2022 / 17 Comments

    About Teri Lyn Fisher

    Teri Lyn Fisher is half of Spoon Fork Bacon. She is also a food and cosmetics photographer. She is a big fan of hot dogs. #sfbTERI

    Previous Post: < Previous Post Chipotle Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos
    Next Post: Kung Pao Beef Next Post >

    Reader Interactions

    September 13, 2022 / 17 Comments

    Comments

      5 from 25 votes (8 ratings without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Did you make this recipe? We want to see!

      tag @SpoonForkBacon and #SpoonForkBacon on Instagram

    1. J.B. Kim

      August 19, 2020 at 7:38 pm

      5 stars
      These were awesome and so easy thanks!

      Reply
    2. Emily

      August 15, 2020 at 6:01 pm

      5 stars
      Made these to have with chili and it was a hit!

      Reply
    3. christine

      August 11, 2020 at 9:09 pm

      5 stars
      I rarely deep fry in my house because it’s kind of a pain, but these guys were totally worth it and actually really simple! It was the perfect movie night snack!

      Reply
    4. Amy P

      July 31, 2020 at 8:02 pm

      5 stars
      I hate frying – but will fry for these.
      So good

      Reply
    5. Jordan

      May 14, 2020 at 10:30 pm

      5 stars
      I haven’t had hush puppies in such a long time. These were the perfect weekend treat and so easy to make. Loved the spicy honey drizzle!

      Reply
    6. Denise

      May 10, 2020 at 8:09 pm

      5 stars
      These are incredible. I can’t wait to make these for my friends!!

      Reply
    7. Aubrey

      April 29, 2020 at 9:22 am

      5 stars
      I’ve made these a couple of times. Love love love the sauce!

      Reply
    8. Sagar A.

      April 26, 2020 at 9:39 am

      Very similar to dish “Bhajiya” in India. Gonna try this receipe your way. Thank you.

      Reply
    9. Sherry

      April 24, 2020 at 11:10 am

      I’ve been making hushpuppies for the 50+ years I’ve been married now. I use to use spoon dipped in water between each hushpuppy but learned a few years ago to use ice cream scoop. Works perfect. I’ve made with jalapeño added and also crawfish. One tip my parents always said was don’t mix until right before frying and do not stir down the batter. Leave it alone once you add in the milk. My recipe also has yeast. I can’t wait to try the drizzle.

      Reply
    10. Kirsten Oliphant

      March 21, 2014 at 8:56 pm

      5 stars
      Hush puppies are my favorite food group. Pinning!

      Reply
    11. Marie

      October 15, 2013 at 3:38 am

      They sound yummy! you could make them into a dessert and add some dessicated coconut and vanilla extract and make a bit of a chocolate dipping sauce. :-D

      Reply
    12. Amy@HealthyGrits

      May 18, 2012 at 3:47 pm

      Obviously I’m a little late to the party (as in almost a year late) but as a southern girl I love hush puppies and would never think to drizzle them in what looks to be an asian inspired sauce. With that being said…these look yummy!

      Reply
    13. Megan

      January 30, 2012 at 10:38 am

      Whoa, I’d probably eat 14 and save just 1 for whoever else was over for the Harry Potter marathon. Yum.

      Reply
    14. nicole {sweet peony}

      October 31, 2011 at 1:00 pm

      5 stars
      this is awesome version of the southern classic… totally digging the spicy drizzle!

      Reply
    15. Meg's Everyday Indulgence

      August 24, 2011 at 1:22 am

      These sound great! They would be a yummy and different app for a football viewing party! I’m keeping this one in mind!

      Reply
    16. myFudo

      August 23, 2011 at 10:04 am

      5 stars
      These are great appetizers. I ate them while on a vacation in Kenya, they are called as bhajia there. really good.

      Reply
    17. Georgina

      August 23, 2011 at 2:17 am

      5 stars
      Oh yum! Funny: I make an eerily similar spicy honey “drizzle” (“dip”) as well. So much better than Thai Sweet Chili sauce.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    HI! WE ARE GLAD YOU'RE HERE!

    Teri and Jenny of Spoon Fork Bacon

    We hope you find something you love in
    our little corner of the internet.
    XOXOXO, Teri + Jenny

    ABOUT US

    As Featured On

    A complication of logos showcasing where Spoon Fork Bacon has been featured. Including delish, today show, cosmopolitan, good morning america, domino, good housekeeping, william sonoma, and country living.

    Asian Inspired

    BBQ

    PORK

    DESSERT

    For Dinner Tonight

    • Air fryer chicken thighs on a platter with slice taken out of one. Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
    • Chili being served in a bowl with toppings on the side. Easy Chili Recipe
    • Shrimp scampi recipe on a plate with bread and lemon wedges. Shrimp Scampi Recipe
    • Cajun shrimp pasta recipe in a bowl with a fork on the side. Cajun Shrimp Pasta
    • Bang bang shrimp close up on a plate. Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe
    • Baked ziti in a baking dish with some scooped out next to it. Baked Ziti

    Popular Now

    • Baked egg boats with a knife. Baked Egg Boats
    • A sliced bacon, cheddar, and chive quiche with hash brown crust. Hash Brown Crust Bacon and Cheddar Quiche
    • Mongolian Beef recipe in a platter ready to be served. Mongolian Beef Recipe
    • Tomato soup recipe in two bowls with garlic bread on the side. Tomato Soup Recipe
    • Panfried potstickers with ramekin of sauce. Potstickers
    • Baked hot honey chicken sandwiches on a cutting board. Baked Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich with Honey

    Footer

    As Featured On
    As featured on graphic.

    GET NEW RECIPES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Twitter
    • TikTok

    All content including images © 2011-2022 Teri Lyn Fisher & Jenny Park. Stealing is bad karma.

    Spoon Fork Bacon contains paid advertising banners and occasionally affiliate links, and sponsored posts.
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Sponsored posts are indicated at the start of such posts. All of our opinions are always our own.
    Thank you for supporting our sponsors. It helps us pay to run this site and bring you unique and original recipes.

    Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement

    A close up on Hush Puppies on a platter with spicy honey drizzle.
    Hush puppies close up with a honey dipping sauce.
    Hush puppies close up on a plate with one torn open.
    Hush puppies freshly fried on a baking sheet.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.