Air Fryer Hush Puppies

For the sake of a quick clean-up and fewer calories, it's time to give air fryer hush puppies a try. Yes, dear fellow Southerners, let's trade the deep fryer for the air fryer—and you'll be thrilled with the results.

Why Southerners Love Hush Puppies

If there is one thing Southerners are truly great at, it’s frying. From okra and pickles to chicken and shrimp, practically any ingredient can be seasoned, coated, and tossed in hot oil until cooked to crunchy perfection. 

But there is, perhaps, no dish more quintessentially fried and Southern than hush puppies: round, golden fritters made from a cornmeal-based batter and most commonly served with seafood platters and barbecue.

The dinnertime staple is dense, heavy, and typically reserved for special occasions, but what if we told you that you could enjoy a lightened-up version of the classic any day of the week with no frying whatsoever? Meet our Air Fryer Hush Puppies.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Hush Puppies

The batter for these puffy cornbread bites comes together entirely in one bowl. Buttermilk lends a tenderness to the hush puppies, while hot sauce adds a hint of spice, and chives bring a pop of color. Melted butter and an egg round out the list of wet ingredients. 

Of course, a yellow cornmeal, flour, sugar, and baking powder base serves as its dough foundation, accented by garlic powder, black pepper, and a finely chopped yellow onion for extra aromatics. Feel free to experiment with these flavors and tailor them to your liking.

How To Make Air Fryer Hush Puppies

The process is simple: Whisk together your dry ingredients first. Stir in your chives and onions, and then slowly add your wet ingredients until just combined.

Refrigerate this mixture, uncovered, for no less than 10 minutes or up to 30 minutes. This step is essential, as it will help to firm up the batter and maintain their shape as they’re transferred to the air fryer.

In the meantime, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Line your fry basket with aluminum foil, and spray it down with cooking spray. Working in two batches, you'll next want to scoop out heaping tablespoons of the refrigerated mixture, ¼-inch apart, and then spray them lightly with the cooking spray. Cook until puffed and golden brown, which should take approximately eight minutes.

You can then transfer your finished hush puppies to a cookie sheet or wire rack to keep them warm in a 200°F oven until batch two is ready.

How To Serve Air Fryer Hush Puppies

These Air Fryer Hush Puppies are great with tartar sauce, white BBQ sauce, or comeback sauce (or a trio of all three). If you're feeling indulgent, you could even serve these hush puppies with melted butter for dipping.

Traditionally, hush puppies pair well with seafood bakes, barbecues, or any outdoor culinary soiree where piles of protein are served. They can take the place of cornbread, biscuits, white bread, or any other starch used to mop up the grease and sauces of your meal.

How To Store Air Fryer Hush Puppies

Cooled hush puppies can easily be stored in a resealable plastic bag or airtight container. You’ll likely want to wrap them in a paper towel to absorb excess oil and prevent mushiness. The refrigerated shelf life is typically three to five days. We recommend reheating them in the air fryer to gain back some of the crispiness.

You can also freeze hush puppies for up to three months using the aforementioned storage recommendation, but it’s advised that you flash freeze them first until solid (about one to two hours) so that they don’t stick together. 

Editorial contributions by Joey Skladany.