Air Fryer Hush Puppies
Golden cornmeal hush puppies with green onion, a little jalapeño and a touch of sweetness, air fried crisp outside and tender inside.
Ingredients
Ingredients for servings
Enter a number of at least ½, in steps of ½.
Original recipe serves 6. Ingredient amounts adjust automatically. Cooking times and pan size may need adjusting separately.
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced, optional
- cooking spray
- 2 tbsp honey butter, optional, for serving
Gear
- Air fryer
- Perforated parchment liners
- Small cookie scoop
Some gear links may be affiliate links. Disclosure.
Steps
Step 1: Whisk the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, garlic powder and cayenne in a bowl.
Step 2: In another bowl, whisk the buttermilk, egg and melted butter. Stir into the dry ingredients with the green onions and jalapeño just until combined.
Step 3: Let the batter rest 10 minutes. It should be thick enough to scoop and hold its shape; add a spoonful of cornmeal if it's runny.
Step 4: Line the air fryer basket with a perforated parchment liner and spray it well.
Step 5: Scoop tablespoon-size balls onto the liner, about 1 inch apart. Spray the tops generously.
Step 6: Air fry at 370°F for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping after 6 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
Step 7: Serve warm with honey butter or alongside fish.
Swaps
- Add-ins: 1/2 cup corn kernels or 1/2 cup shredded cheddar.
- Sweet: Skip the jalapeño and cayenne and increase the sugar to 2 tablespoons.
- Dip: Remoulade, tartar sauce or honey butter.
Tips
- Air fryer hush puppies are a little less craggy than deep-fried ones, but they’re crisp, golden and much easier.
- Resting the batter lets the cornmeal soak up liquid so it holds its shape.
The story
HAM Cooking. Let’s fire it up.
There’s an old story that hush puppies got their name from cooks tossing bits of fried batter to barking dogs to quiet them down. Nobody knows if that’s true, but I can tell you they work just as well on a kitchen full of impatient people.
The batter is basically cornbread batter made thick enough to scoop. Baking powder and baking soda react with the tangy buttermilk to make bubbles that puff up the hush puppies, so they’re light and tender inside instead of dense. Resting the batter lets the cornmeal absorb liquid, which thickens it so the balls hold their shape instead of spreading out into flat little puddles.
Since an air fryer has no oil bath, the spray on top is what gives them a golden crust. Serve them with fried fish, barbecue, or just a big bowl of honey butter. No dogs required.
HAM out.
Related recipes
AI illustrationAir fryerSideAir FryerAir Fryer Baked Potatoes
Russet potatoes with crispy, salty skin and fluffy insides in less time than the oven. Load them with butter, sour cream, cheese and bacon.
50 min · serves 4 · Veggie
AI illustrationAir fryerSideAir FryerAir Fryer French Fries
Crispy homemade fries from russet potatoes using a quick soak, a light coat of oil and two temperatures. Golden outside, fluffy inside.
55 min · serves 3 · Veggie
AI illustrationAir fryerSideAir FryerAir Fryer Onion Rings
Thick sweet onion rings soaked in buttermilk and coated in a seasoned panko crust, air fried until crunchy and golden with a tangy dipping sauce.
40 min · serves 4 · Veggie
Cooked this? Tell us how it went.
Loading reviews…