Golden-crispy on the outside, tender on the inside – these Air Fryer Hush Puppies bring Southern comfort food right to your kitchen. With just 252 calories per serving and 18 minutes of cooking time, you’ll love this healthier spin on the classic cornmeal bites.
Perfect as a side dish or party appetizer, these perfectly seasoned hush puppies deliver that irresistible crunch without the deep-frying mess. Plus, they pack a surprising 6 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein, making them a smarter choice for your comfort food cravings.
Ingredient Section
- Yellow Cornmeal: 1 1/2 cups, ensure it’s gluten-free for best results
- Gluten-free Flour: 3/4 cup, helps achieve perfect texture
- Dry Seasonings: 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt
- Flavor Enhancers: 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp paprika
- Fresh Elements: 1/4 cup chopped green onions for added zest
- Wet Ingredients: 1 large egg and 3/4 cup buttermilk for perfect binding
Instructions Section
- Mix Dry Components: Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, and all seasonings in a spacious bowl
- Add Fresh Elements: Incorporate chopped green onions into the dry mixture
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Mix in egg and buttermilk until everything comes together nicely
- Rest Period: Allow batter to rest for 5 minutes to achieve ideal thickness
- Shape Formation: With dampened hands, create ping-pong sized balls (yields about 18)
- Prep Air Fryer: Line basket with parchment and coat with cooking spray
- Arrange & Cook: Place dough balls with 1-inch spacing, spray tops, air fry at 370F for 6 minutes until golden
- Final Touch: Serve right away with your preferred dipping sauce for maximum enjoyment
Cooking Techniques
Making perfect hush puppies in your air fryer is super easy! The key is handling the dough with wet hands – this stops it from sticking and helps you form those nice round balls. When you’re spraying them with cooking oil, make sure to coat them evenly for that gorgeous golden-brown finish. And here’s a handy tip: don’t skip the 5-minute rest time for the batter. This little break lets the cornmeal soak up the buttermilk, giving you that classic, tender hush puppy texture.
Serving Suggestions
These crispy little bites taste amazing with all sorts of dips! Try them with tartar sauce for that classic fish-fry feel, or spice things up with some remoulade sauce. They’re also great with honey butter for a sweet-and-savory combo. Serve them piping hot alongside your favorite seafood dishes, barbecue, or just as a snack. These gluten-free hush puppies are perfect for parties too – just set out a few different dipping sauces and watch them disappear!
Storage Tips
While hush puppies are best fresh from the air fryer, you can save any extras! Let them cool completely, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To bring back their crispiness, pop them in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes. They’ll taste almost as good as fresh! If you want to make them ahead, you can mix the dry ingredients up to a day before and store them in a sealed container – just add the wet ingredients when you’re ready to cook.
Air Fryer Hush Puppies
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal gluten free
- 3/4 cup gluten free flour blend
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 cup green onions chopped
- 1 egg large
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Combine cornmeal, flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder in a large bowl. Whisk together. Mix in the green onions.
- Whisk in the egg and buttermilk until combined.
- Let the batter sit for about 5 minutes to thicken. Whisk again.
- With wet hands, form dough into small balls, about the size of ping pong balls. You should get about 18 of them.
- Place a sheet of parchment paper into the air fryer basket. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Working in batches, place the dough balls into the air fryer, leaving at least an inch between each one. Spray the tops with additional nonstick cooking spray or oil.
- Cook in the air fryer at 370F for 6 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
