I am a sucker for hush puppies! Consider trying these air fryer hush puppies for a great side dish or snack! These hush puppies are made with yellow corn meal, flour, and various spices and air-fried to golden crispy perfection. Skip the deep fryer and make these homemade hush puppies for a side dish or appetizer. A southern classic you can make at home.
Cornmeal-based bites are a magical treat. I loved eating them at Long John Silvers paired with their crispy chicken and coleslaw! It is easy to make these hush puppy balls for bite-size comfort food. They go great with a fish fry and are freezer-friendly if you want to stock up the freezer for a tasty snack later on.
What are hush puppies?
Hush puppies were first made by Southern cooks who would fry leftover bits of cornmeal batter to feed to their dogs to keep them quiet during hunting trips or other occasions when they needed to remain silent. The cooks eventually began to eat the fried bits and found them to be a delicious and satisfying snack or side dish. Over time, the dish became known as “hush puppies” in honor of its original use as a dog silencer.
These Air Fryer Hush Puppies Are…
- Quick and Easy
- Made from Scratch
- Easy Snack or Appetizer
- Crispy and Crunchy Outside Tender Centers
Ingredients Needed
Here is all you need for these hush puppies.
- Cornmeal – Yellow cornmeal.
- Flour – All-purpose flour.
- Baking Powder
- Seasonings – Garlic salt, Cayenne pepper, garlic powder, minced onion
- Corn – Cream-style corn in a can.
- Milk
- Egg – large.
- Oil
How to Make
Full steps to make these air fried hush puppies are in the printable recipe card. This is a quick walk-through.
- Add the dry ingredients and seasonings to a mixing bowl. Mix well.
- In a separate bowl, add egg and milk. Whisk well to combine.
- Stir in the onion and creamed corn to the wet ingredients. This will be a thick batter.
- Mix with dry ingredients.
- Line the baking sheet with a parchment paper liner. Use a cookie scoop to form balls and freeze them for 30 minutes.
- Remove hush puppies from the freezer and place them in the air fryer. Spray with oil.
- Air fry as directed, and serve these golden brown hush puppies.
Variations to Recipe
- Add cheese: Try adding shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese to the hush puppy batter for a savory twist.
- Spices: Add some spices like cumin, chili powder, or smoked paprika to the batter to give them a kick of flavor.
- Herbs: To give the batter a fresh and fragrant flavor, add chopped fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or thyme.
- Onion: Add finely chopped green onion or scallions to the batter for a savory and slightly sweet flavor.
- Jalapeno Peppers: Add diced or hot peppers to the batter for a spicy kick.
- Corn: Add fresh or canned corn kernels to the batter for a sweet and crunchy texture.
- Bacon: Add crumbled bacon or bacon bits to the batter for a smoky and savory flavor.
- Sweet: Add some sugar or honey to the batter for a sweet twist.
- Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free flour blend to replace all-purpose flour. You will still get those cozy hush puppies.
Expert Tips For Success
Preheat the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer for 3-5 minutes before adding the hush puppies. This will help them cook evenly and crisp up nicely.
Evenly Sized: You want to make sure you make evenly sized balls. Use a cookie scoop or other measuring tool to ensure all the cornmeals are the same size.
Use cooking spray: To prevent the hush puppies from sticking, coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray before adding them.
Don’t overcrowd: Leave some space between the balls in the air fryer basket so that they cook evenly and get crispy on all sides. Make sure they are in a single layer.
Flip halfway through: Flip the hush puppies halfway through the cooking time to ensure they cook evenly on both sides.
Check frequently: Watch the hush puppies while they’re cooking in the air fryer to prevent them from burning.
Enjoy hot: Serve the hush puppies hot and crispy, ideally with some dipping sauce like honey mustard or ranch dressing.
Storing Leftovers
Refrigerate—If you have leftover hush puppies, place them in an airtight container. You can also place them in a sealed bag.
Freezer—You can freeze any hush puppies. Just allow them to cool and then place them in a freezer container. Then, when you want to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat in the microwave, air fryer, or oven. You can also reheat straight from being frozen if you want.
FAQs
It’s a good idea to preheat the air fryer for 3-5 minutes before adding the hush puppies. This will help them cook evenly and crisp up nicely.
Cooking times may vary depending on the size of the hush puppies and the specific model of the air fryer. Generally, hush puppies will take about 8-10 minutes in the air fryer, but it’s a good idea to check them frequently to prevent burning.
Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the hush puppies. They should reach at least 165°F to ensure that they are fully cooked.
More Air Fried Recipes
Craving more air fryer recipes? Here are a few more that I recommend trying out if you get a craving.
Have you tried the recipe? If so, please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below or drop a comment. Also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Facebook, Pinterest, or My Facebook Group
Printable Recipe Card
Air Fryer Hush Puppies
Ingredients
- 1 cup of yellow corn meal
- 1 cup of flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of Cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons of minced onion
- 1 can of cream style corn
- 1/4 cup of milk
- 1 large egg
- Spray oil
Instructions
- To make the hush puppies, start by mixing the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, garlic salt, and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and milk, then stir in the minced onion and cream-style corn. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place about a cup of cornmeal in a shallow bowl. Roll the hush puppies into small balls, then roll them in the cornmeal and place them on the parchment-lined cookie sheet.
- Place the hush puppies in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- Remove the hush puppies from the freezer and place them in the air fryer basket. Spray the hush puppies with oil spray and set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and the time to 10 minutes.
- Check the hush puppies halfway through cooking, turn them over, and spray them again with oil spray. Finish cooking the hush puppies until golden brown on the outside and cooked through in the middle. If necessary, add 3 minutes and cook again until they are completely done in the center.
- Once the hush puppies are done, sprinkle them with finely minced parsley and serve with ketchup. Enjoy!
Notes
Equipment
- Cooking Oil Sprayer
Nutrition
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