Texas’ Best Hush Puppy Recipe: Betty Newby’s Famous Hush Puppies
This is Betty Newby’s hush puppy recipe — the one I use at fish fries and the one I call Texas’ best. That’s my personal endorsement, not an official title. The batter starts with Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, Rotel with its juice, drained corn, a large red onion and pickled nacho jalapeños.
How I got the recipe
About 25 years ago, someone gave me this recipe and claimed it was the world’s greatest hush puppy recipe.
That’s a bold statement in Texas. People have started arguments over less, usually involving barbecue sauce or somebody putting beans in the wrong pot.
I wasn’t convinced until I tried them. These hush puppies have won awards and stopped people in their tracks at fish fries.
Betty was related to a well-known country singer. The story passed along with the recipe was that he made special side trips on his bus to pick up batches of her hush puppies. I can’t verify his travel schedule, but after eating these, I understand the alleged detour.
Ingredients
- 1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, about 8.5 ounces
- 1 small can Rotel tomatoes with green chiles, juice included
- 1 can whole-kernel corn, drained well
- 1 egg
- 1 large red onion, finely minced, the hotter the better
- Finely chopped pickled nacho jalapeño peppers, to taste
- About 1 cup flour, added gradually as needed for consistency
- Oil suitable for deep frying
Directions
- Mix the Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, Rotel with all its juice, drained corn, egg, minced red onion and chopped pickled jalapeños.
- Add flour gradually until the batter is thick enough to scoop and hold its shape, similar to scooping ice cream. Betty said about a cup, but consistency is the guide.
- Do not add milk or water. The Rotel juice and egg supply the moisture.
- Use a small trigger-style scoop, like a melon baller or small cookie scoop, to portion the batter.
- Fry small portions in oil around 350°F, turning as needed, until golden and cooked through. Test the center of the first hush puppy before frying the rest. If the outside browns before the center cooks, make smaller portions and check the oil temperature.
- Drain on a wire rack and serve warm.
Pro Tips from Chad
Use Jiffy, not regular cornbread mix
Betty said regular cornbread mix would never get done in the center the same way. Use Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix.
Add the flour gradually
She added flour until the batter scooped properly. Don’t dump in the entire amount before checking the consistency.
Make enough
Double or triple the ingredients for a crowd. At a fish fry, the phrase “we have enough hush puppies” tends to age poorly.
Troubleshooting
- Outside brown, center raw: Make smaller portions and check the oil temperature. Test the first hush puppy before frying the rest.
- Batter too thin to scoop: Add flour gradually until it holds its shape. Don’t add milk or water.
- Batter too stiff: You may have added the flour too fast. Consistency is the guide, not an exact cup.
Storage
Serve these warm from the fryer, alongside how to fry catfish.
Printable recipe
Printable recipe
Betty Newby’s Hush Puppies
Ingredients
- 1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, about 8.5 ounces
- 1 small can Rotel tomatoes with green chiles, juice included
- 1 can whole-kernel corn, drained well
- 1 egg
- 1 large red onion, finely minced, the hotter the better
- Finely chopped pickled nacho jalapeño peppers, to taste
- About 1 cup flour, added gradually as needed for consistency
- Oil suitable for deep frying
Directions
- Mix the Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, Rotel with all its juice, drained corn, egg, minced red onion and chopped pickled jalapeños.
- Add flour gradually until the batter is thick enough to scoop and hold its shape, similar to scooping ice cream. Betty said about a cup, but consistency is the guide.
- Do not add milk or water. The Rotel juice and egg supply the moisture.
- Use a small trigger-style scoop, like a melon baller or small cookie scoop, to portion the batter.
- Fry small portions in oil around 350°F, turning as needed, until golden and cooked through. Test the center of the first hush puppy before frying the rest. If the outside browns before the center cooks, make smaller portions and check the oil temperature.
- Drain on a wire rack and serve warm.
Catch Fish With a Local Guide.
Guided catfish trips on Eagle Mountain Lake and Lake Worth, right here in Fort Worth. Boat, bait, rods, reels and tackle provided. I clean and bag your fish when we're done.
