How to Cook Livermush

If you haven't tried this classic North Carolina dish, now is the time! Livermush is such a flavorful dish and it's so quick to cook and it's great for hearty breakfasts and weekend brunches. I promise you it will be your new favorite!

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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.

Ok, I know the name sounds a bit weird, but trust me, Livermush is delicious!

My hubby grew up eating this and now we have it on the regular in our house. It's a North Carolina favorite that is super flavorful and it's so quick and easy to cook!

For more Southern favorites, be sure to check out my Southern Chess Pie and Peach Cobbler Cake.

How to cook livermush

So quick and easy to cook, and you can prepare it on the stovetop or in the air fryer.

• Cut Livermush into slices, about ¼ inch thick.

Stovetop

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Place the slices in a skillet in a single layer.

• Brown the Livermush, about 4-5 minutes on each side, until the outside is crispy.

Air Fryer

• Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the slices in an air fryer basket and cook for 12-15 minute, until the outside is crispy.

What is it made of?

Livermush is made with pork liver and cornmeal and is known as 'poor man's paté' in some circles. It is bound together with cornmeal and seasoned with sage and black pepper. You buy it as a chilled block which you then slice and fry.

Livermush is not the same as liver pudding or scrapple. While they may sound or even look the same, livermush is made with a little more cornmeal. The other two are looser in texture. You can read more about the history of livermush.

You can opt to make your own livermush or buy it in the store if you see it in NC.

What does it taste like?

If you like sausage patties, you will love this! It has a softer and smoother texture and the sage and black pepper give it a slightly spicy, earthy and herbal flavor.

How do you serve it?

Typically eaten as a breakfast or lunch food. It's great to serve in place of a sausage patty in a breakfast sandwich and we also like to serve it with grits.

Can you eat it raw?

Livermush is already cooked when you buy it, so it is safe to eat raw...but don't do that. It's much better if you fry it so you get those crispy edges and the flavors are much more pronounced.

Recipe Notes and Tips

• Livermush is fully cooked and just needs to be crisped up. You can use either the stovetop or air fryer to cook it.
• I tend to only add oil if I am frying on the stovetop. I do not use oil if I am using the air fryer. You can lightly spray the slices in the air fryer if you like.
• Take care not to overcook the slices. When overcooked they can become dry.

More Breakfast Recipes

• Air Fryer Bacon
• Breakfast Air Fried Potatoes
• Cheesy Corned Beef Hash Breakfast Casserole
• Breakfast Granola Recipe
• Homemade Pumpkin Waffles
• Winter Fruit Salad

Tanya

How to Cook Livermush

4.80 from 5 votes

If you haven't tried this classic Carolina dish, now is the time! Livermush is such a flavorful dish and it's so quick to cook and it's great for hearty breakfasts and weekend brunches.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Calories: 180

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 16 oz pack of Livermush
• 2 teaspoon oil optional

Instructions

 

1. Cut Livermush into slices, about ¼ inch thick.

Stovetop

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Place the Livermush in a skillet in a single layer and brown the Livermush, about 4-5 minutes on each side, until the outside is crispy.

Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit. Place Livermush slices in an air fryer basket and cook for 12-15 minute, until the outside is crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 10gFat: 10g

Notes

• Livermush is fully cooked and just needs to be crisped up. You can use either the stovetop or air fryer to cook it.
• I tend to only add oil if I am frying the Livermush on the stovetop. I do not use oil if I am using the air fryer. You can lightly spray the Livermush in the air fryer if you like.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!