Easy Air Fryer Hush Puppies (Ninja Foodi or Ninja Crispi Recipe)

Instead of dealing with messy, splattering oil and heavy deep-frying, using the air fryer gives you that signature crispy exterior without the mess, plus in a fraction of the time. These Air Fryer Hush Puppies can be made in any air fryer, Ninja Foodi, or Ninja Crispi. The best part? They can be made gluten-free too.

We had the best dinner recently with Air Fryer Hush Puppies and Air Fryer Catfish. Both were made much lighter than the traditional deep-fried version but still packed with the crispy texture you would expect in fried food. This recipe uses only pantry ingredients, perfect for a last-minute addition to your next meal.

Table of contents

• What are Air Fryer Hush Puppies?
• Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Hush Puppies
• Have you ever wondered why hush puppies are called hush puppies?
• Ingredient Notes
• How to Make Air Fryer Hush Puppies
• Quick Tips for Making Air Fryer Hush Puppies:
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Storage and Reheating
• What to Serve with Air Fryer Hush Puppies

What are Air Fryer Hush Puppies?

Air Fryer Hush Puppies are a healthier, low-oil variation of the classic Southern side dish made from a cornmeal-based batter rolled into small balls and air fried until golden brown. They feature a crisp, savory outer crust and tender, warm interior packed with sweet cornmeal, onion, and subtle spices. Cooking them in the air fryer reduces the oil by more than 80%!

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Hush Puppies

• Ready in less than 20 minutes!
• Easy to make gluten-free.
• Uses basic pantry staples, easily found right in your cupboard.
• Better for you than the oil-fried hush puppies.

Have you ever wondered why hush puppies are called hush puppies?

I just read about it the other day that they were called that because this was a food fed to dogs to ‘hush the puppies’. Find out even more history on hush puppies here.

Hush puppies are small, round balls of seasoned cornmeal that are traditionally deep-fried until golden brown, but can easily be made in the air fryer too. If you need frozen hush puppies in the air fryer, check out this recipe for air fryer frozen hush puppies.

Ingredient Notes

• Yellow Cornmeal – Gives the traditional gritty texture and rich corn flavor.
• Flour or Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour – Adds the structure to the batter; use gluten-free if needed.
• Baking Powder – Leavening agent to give the fluffy interior.
• Sugar – Adds a touch of sweetness to the hush puppy.
• Salt – Cuts through the sweetness to add a savory touch.
• Egg – Binds the wet and dry ingredients.
• Milk – Adds moisture to the hush puppy and allows it to rise.
• Onion – Gives some texture and natural juices to the hush puppies.
• Onion Powder – Provides traditional flavor to the batter.
• Garlic Powder – Paired with onion powder for flavor.

These ingredients will likely be found right in your pantry. If you are making them gluten-free, the only swap needed is to use gluten-free all-purpose flour. This needs to be a high-quality flour that has a 1:1 ratio with regular all-purpose flour. Our favorites are King Arthur, Better Batter, Cup 4 Cup, and Bob’s Red Mill.

How to Make Air Fryer Hush Puppies

Begin by mixing the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and slowly whisk in the wet ingredients to form the batter. The batter will be very similar to cornbread batter. Once it’s mixed, let the batter rest for 2-5 minutes to harden and form.

It is very important to follow the process carefully of adding in the dry ingredients first and whisking in the wet ingredients. Be sure to find the full instructions in the recipe card below.

This recipe is made with full dairy milk, but alternative non-dairy milk can be used, but it may make the batter too thin. If this happens, add small amounts of flour or cornmeal to thicken the batter.

Scoop the mixture into small balls and place in a greased air fryer basket. The basket needs to be sprayed with cooking spray; this can be olive oil cooking spray or grapeseed oil cooking spray. Then air fry the hush puppies, making it in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding the basket.

Quick Tips for Making Air Fryer Hush Puppies:

• Don’t overcrowd the basket—give each hush puppy space to crisp up.
• If your batter feels too sticky to handle, chill it for 10–15 minutes.
• Serve warm with honey butter, tartar sauce, or a dipping sauce of your choice.
• Add these alongside fish sticks or Air Fried Fish!
• Remember, these are air-fried, not fried, so they will not have the same texture as fried hush puppies.
• For extra spice, add cayenne pepper, or for a savory flavor, add additional garlic powder.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are out of onion, use onion powder. The onion and onion powder will give the hush puppies flavor, so it is necessary to use one or the other. If you like a more potent flavor, add extra onion or onion powder.

They can come out dry if they are overmixed or overcooked; make sure they do not exceed the cooking time.

The batter is going to be moldable and slightly pourable, but it should not be runny. Let the batter sit for about 10 minutes if yours is runny to thicken up or chill briefly in the fridge.

Yes, use olive oil spray for the best results with the golden brown exterior.

Storage and Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to reheat, warm them at 350 degrees F for 3-5 minutes in the air fryer to restore their crispiness.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Hush Puppies

Classic Fried Fish

Air Fried Fish

Air Fryer Catfish

Pulled Pork

Looking for more Air Fryer Recipes? Check out the full air fryer recipe index!

Air Fryer Hush Puppies make the best side dish to the fish fry; they taste great and are easy to make in minutes in your air fryer. These are made with just 20 minutes and a few pantry staples!