Cajun Boiled Peanuts Recipe
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Apr 25, 2025 
How to Make Boiled Peanuts in the Crock Pot, Instant Pot, or on the Stovetop! This EASY Cajun Boiled Peanuts Recipe is so zesty and fabulous, you’ll fall in love with southern boiled peanuts all over again.
Cajun Boiled Peanuts – The Snack of the South
If you aren’t from the South, you might be asking yourself, what are boiled peanuts? Boiled peanuts are a way to prepare raw peanuts that infuses them with a salty, flavorful brine, making them chewy and addictive! In comparison with roasted peanuts, the taste and texture are slightly different. Boiled peanuts are softer and chewier, and packed with loads of flavor!
Boiled peanuts are a nostalgic classic that has remained popular in the South for generations. They are a great snack for casual parties and events, especially on game days! You will see boiled peanuts at get-togethers in different states including Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Mississippi, among others. They are truly a Southern delicacy. They are the official state snack of South Carolina!
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
Boiled Peanuts… Pronounced “bold” peanuts here in the south.
A good boiled peanut recipe is easy to make, and includes spices and herbs to complement the flavor of the softened peanuts. Today I’m sharing my favorite version of boiled peanuts, a recipe that can be made on the Stovetop, in an Instant Pot, or in a Slow Cooker.
You can make the Instant Pot Boiled Recipe when you are in a hurry. Make the Stovetop Boiled Peanuts when you plan to hang around the house all day. Or make Crock Pot Boiled Peanuts when you want to set and forget them overnight.
Ingredients You Need
Although you can make this boiled peanuts recipe with just peanuts and salted water, they are SO much better with a few added spices. Here’s what you will need:
- Raw or Green Peanuts
- Kosher Salt
- Cajun Seasoning (or Creole Seasoning) – A great way to add a lot of herbs and spices with one ingredient!
- Crushed Red Pepper – For some spice!
- Garlic Powder
- Liquid Smoke – My secret ingredient to create a fabulous old-school open-flame flavor. If you don’t have this on hand, it is okay to omit it!
- Water – You will need at least a gallon of water, if not more!
What’s the Difference Between Green Peanuts vs Raw Peanuts?
There are two kinds of in-shell peanuts you can use to make boiled peanuts.
Green Peanuts are “fresh from the farm” peanuts. They take less time to cook, but are perishable. So if you buy them more than a day before cooking, you will need to refrigerate them.
Raw Peanuts are raw but dried, so they are safe to sit out for a week or two at room temperature. Yet they can take up to double the amount of cooking time, depending on the method you use.
Is one better than the other? No. They both produce soft plump boiled peanuts in the Instant Pot, Crock Pot, or on the stovetop.
How To Make Boiled Peanuts – 3 Ways!
You can make boiled peanuts in the Instant Pot, on the stovetop, or in the slow cooker.
Find the full cajun boiled peanuts recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Tips & Tricks
- To determine if your cajun boiled peanuts are done cooking, the shell should be soft and plump, but not mushy! The shell should come off pretty easily when you apply pressure, too. The peanuts inside will be tender! You can cook them until they are your desired texture.
- If you love spicy snacks, you can add some jalapeños or habanero peppers to the cooking liquid!
- Don’t eat the raw peanuts before cooking them! Raw peanuts need to be cooked to kill any potential bacteria or a mold called Apergillus flavus. Once cooked by either roasting or boiling, they are safe to eat.
Serving Suggestions
This boiled peanuts recipe is perfect to feed a crowd! It is a great snack to have at any gatherings, like football game viewing parties or holiday barbecues. You can also serve them with other dishes and snacks for a variety of options! Here are some of my favorites to pair them with:
- Southern Comeback Sauce and Cajun Fries
- Hot Shrimp Dip
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- Hushpuppies
- Lemon Pepper Wings
Frequently Asked Questions
Boiled peanuts are just that, peanuts that have been boiled! Peanuts are legumes that taste a whole lot better after cooking them. Instead of roasting them, it is common to boil them, especially in the Southeastern United States. Boiled peanuts can be made simply with just water and salt, or you can add different flavor combinations to infuse them with more flavor.
If you’ve never tried boiled peanuts before, you should know they are pretty soft in texture and they have a lovely taste thanks to the salty, flavorful brine. You should cook them according to your preference for texture. Old-timers usually like them to be very swollen and soft, like overly cooked beans popping out of their skins. However, I prefer them to be a little more firm, like the texture of a cooked chickpea. Really, it’s up to you! Try them at different stages of cooking and decide for yourself.
Nope! You do not need to soak the peanuts before cooking them since you will be cooking them for a pretty long period of time in each cooking method.
I don’t recommend eating the shell of a boiled peanut. While I don’t think it would do you harm, it isn’t the delicious part of the peanut! Tear the shell apart first to get to the kernels!
The texture of boiled peanuts is all about personal preference. Some people like them very soft and plump. However, I prefer them to be slightly more firm. You can always add a little more water to the Instant Pot, then cover and set on Pressure Cook High (again) for 5-8 more minutes. If you do this, the second time, perform a quick release.
One serving of boiled peanuts is 333 calories, 15 grams of protein, and 11 grams of carbohydrates. Boiled peanuts are packed with protein and fiber, so I wouldn’t say they are unhealthy as long as you eat them in moderation! We provide full nutritional facts in the recipe form below.
Yes, as long as the cajun seasoning you buy is gluten-free, the whole recipe is as well.
Yes, you can serve boiled peanuts warm or at room temperature.
If left submerged in the briny liquid, boiled peanuts with last for weeks and weeks in the fridge in a sealed container. Yet if you drain off the liquid, they can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
More Southern Recipe Favorites
- Perky Pimento Cheese
- Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
- Coca-Cola Baked Ham
- Best Ham Salad
- Ambrosia Salad
- Southern Orangeade
- Southern Coleslaw Recipe
- Homemade Chicken and Dumplings
- Sheet Pan Low Country Boil (Crab Boil)
- Southern Shrimp and Grits (Charleston Style)
- Old Bay Perfect Maryland Crab Cakes (baked or sautéed)
- Coconut Macadamia Nut Waffles
Cajun Boiled Peanuts Recipe (3 Ways!)
Video
Ingredients
- 2 pounds raw peanuts in shells (or green peanuts)
- 1/3 cup kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons cajun seasoning (or creole seasoning)
- 1-3 teaspoons crushed red pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4+ quarts water
Instructions
- INSTANT POT BOILED PEANUTS: (77-93 Minutes) Place the peanuts in a 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot. Add the salt, cajun seasoning, crushed red pepper, liquid smoke, and garlic powder. Pour in 4 quarts water… Or enough to cover the peanuts when you push them down.
- Lock the lid into place. Set on Pressure Cook High for 77 minutes for green peanuts or 93 minutes for raw peanuts. Once the timer goes off, perform a natural release. Once the steam button drops it's safe to open the Instant Pot.
- STOVETOP BOILED PEANUTS: (2-8 Hours) Place a large 6-8 quart dutch oven over high heat. Add the peanuts, salt, cajun seasoning, crushed red pepper, liquid smoke, and garlic powder. Pour in 4+ quarts of water, or enough to cover the peanuts when they are pushed down.
- Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir well, then lower the heat to a mild simmer. Cover and cook for 2-3 hours for green peanuts or 6-8 hours for raw peanuts. Check the water level every hour and add warm tap water if needed.
- CROCK POT BOILED PEANUTS: (22-38 Hours) Set out a large 6+ quart crock pot. Add the peanuts, salt, cajun seasoning, crushed red pepper, liquid smoke, and garlic powder. Pour in 3-4 quarts water, or enough to cover the peanuts when they are pressed down.
- Cover the crock pot and set on low. Cook for 22-24 hours for green peanuts, and 36-38 hours for raw peanuts. Add water every 8 hours if needed.
Hello… I could not find raw or green peanuts so I used 1 lb. of unsalted roasted peanuts in the pressure cooker. Not sure if using the roasted peanuts was a big mistake, but my finished product was a soggy mess. After trying a few, I disgraced the rest.
I’d like to try this again if you believe using raw peanuts will really make a difference.
Kind regards,
Nick
You should not ever use roasted peanuts. Definitely look for raw or green! I can never find green unless I go to a specialty store… But I’ve been able to find raw peanuts at Walmart neighborhood markets and at Asian markets.
What flavor of liquid smoke do you use? Hickory, mesquite, applewood?
Hi Tanis,
Honestly, you can use whichever variety you prefer. However, hickory is probably the most common smoking wood in the south. :)
These are so good. Thank you for the recipe. (I omitted the crushed red pepper and they were still delicious).
Instead of Cajun Seasoning, I use Crab & Shrimp Boil granulated or liquid. That gives the peanuts a little more ZIP. If you wish to have the raw peanuts cook faster just cut or pierce the hull with a sharp pointed knife or ice pick.
I cook the raw seasoned peanuts in a pressure cooker which also lessens the cooking time slightly.
Hello!
Can you make this recipe with roasted peanuts vs the raw or green? Thanks in advance!
This was even better than my mom’s. Loved that you provided information on how to make it in Instant pot as well. Thank you!
This is genius making them in the instant pot! And the flavor is perfect!
I really loved this method! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Bald Paynuts. And mine are just salt. Because that’s how my Grandmother made them in Dothan, Alabama.
I asked my Grandmother once how much salt I should add when boiling peanuts. She looked at me like I was dumb, and said, “Well, Steve, you put enough salt in there so that your water tastes like you want your peanuts.” For someone as analytical as I am, this concept of cooking empirically was like a curtain pulled back. Cooking didn’t have to be just about recipes. It was not a chemistry lab. Cooking was also about direct feedback. Taste, feel, sight and smell. When I smell peanuts on the boil, I remember my Grandmother.
My aunt used to make these when I was younger and I absolutely loved them. Thank you so much for this!
I love spicy boiled peanuts, can’t wait to try these!!
The most appetizing boiled peanuts I have ever seen!