Cajun Boiled Peanuts

Cajun boiled peanuts are a southern tradition, especially during college football season. They're actually quite easy to make, but you just need to plan ahead of time, as "time" is key to making great boiled peanuts.

It's the start of college football which means gameday snacks like pepperoni bread and baked mac and cheese bites.

For my family, college football is king. I grew up going to Florida football games every weekend. Before "adulting" I could count on both hands the amount of home games I missed. It had such an impact on me, that there was no question I was going to Florida for college and I loved every second of it.

So why am I talking about college football? Well everyone has childhood memories they associate with food, right? For me, I sure do as food is an important part of my family's life - hence this blog!

So today I'm sharing probably my most prominent food memory. And that's boiled peanuts! Every Gator game, as we were driving up I-75, my mom or dad would stop along the side of the road at a boiled peanut stand to get some. And if we for some reason didn't pick up some along the road, we for sure got Cajun boiled peanuts at the game!

So for those that have never had boiled peanuts, which is most people here in Maryland, you might be asking what do they taste like? As the Huffington Post said in an article - "Imagine if edamame tasted like peanuts and were frequently eaten with hot sauce. The peanut softens, sometimes to mush if you like them like that, sometimes just on the border of crunchy and tender."

Now traditional boiled peanuts are just cooked in salt and water and they're fantastic as well. I'm just a fan of Cajun boiled peanuts. My hope is by sharing this, it will inspire those that have never had crock pot boiled peanuts to try the snack we Southerners adore.

Jump to:

• Recipe Ingredients
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Instant Pot Version
• Green Peanuts vs Raw Peanuts
• Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
• Other Appetizer/Snack Recipes
• Cajun Boiled Peanuts

Recipe Ingredients

• Raw peanuts - green peanuts are the only way to go.
• Kosher salt - where the saltiness comes from.
• Cajun seasoning - use your favorite.
• Crushed red pepper flakes - adds heat.
• Jalapeño - more heat!
• Water - used to boil the peanuts.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Sort through peanuts and remove any debris by rinsing with cold water.
2. Place peanuts to slow cooker. Add kosher salt, Cajun seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes and jalapeño. Add about 6 cups of water or enough to cover the peanuts as they float. Cover and cook on low for 22-24 hours. Drain and serve warm or cold.

Instant Pot Version

After cleaning, add peanuts to pot and place trivet on top of the peanuts to force them under the water. Set to "Pressure Cook" on high for 75 minutes and then do a natural release.

Green Peanuts vs Raw Peanuts

There two kinds of in-shell peanuts you can use to make boiled peanuts.

• Green peanuts are raw peanuts that have been freshly dug from the soil and no moisture has been removed. Therefore, they have very high moisture content, much higher than raw peanuts.
• Raw Peanuts are raw but dried. You can use them but will have to throw in the slow cooker for 2 days.

FAQs

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

• While some people recommend soaking the peanuts for 6-8 hours in salted water, there is no need to do this, unless you are using raw peanuts.
• The peanuts will float at first, but will eventually settle as the slow cooker starts to cook them.
• You control the amount of heat by the amount of crushed red pepper flakes and jalapeño you add.
• Some like boiled peanuts harder while others like them softer. You control this by the amount of time you cook them, with the longer you cook the peanuts the softer they become.

Other Appetizer/Snack Recipes

• Baked Teriyaki Chicken Wings
• Pepper Jack Cheese Crackers
• Marinated Olives
• Pretzel Bites
• Homemade Pizza Rolls

If you’ve tried this Cajun boiled peanuts recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.