Road trips in the South mean stops for boiled peanuts. I love pulling over at a roadside stand and buying a small paper bag full of them. They are such a wonderful salty snack with a very unique taste.
Making Boiled Peanuts in a crock pot is super easy. Much easier than cooking them stove-top. They take close to 24 hours cooking on LOW so I typically start them in the crock pot some time in the afternoon, check on them before I go to bed, and again in the morning. Sometimes you need to add just a little more water, but besides that it’s a completely hands off way to make this salty and delicious southern snack.
To make Crock Pot Spicy Boiled Peanuts, you need to start with green raw peanuts. They are seasonal and can be found at many supermarkets and farmers markets when they are in season. Look for them during the months of August and September in the south.
If you can’t find green peanuts, you can use raw dried peanuts, but you will need to cook them longer. They have a much lower moisture content than green peanuts and it takes more time to get them soft.
Use green peanuts within a few days of purchasing them and store in a cool, dry place. They will grow mold in a hurry if you aren’t careful.
The peanuts are slow cooked until they get soft. Add lots of seasonings, salt, and spices to the water and the peanuts will eventually soak up all that flavor. For spicy boiled peanuts I like to add sliced jalapenos, Cajun seasoning (Tony Chachere’s is my favorite), and lots of red pepper flakes. Tabasco sauce is also a good choice.
Boiled peanuts can be eaten either warm or cold. I like them both ways, but if I had to choose, I prefer them cold, especially during the summer which tends to be when I do most of my boiled peanut eating. They go great with a cold beer.
Cooking time can vary greatly depending on you crock pot, the peanuts you use, and your personal preference. Some people like their boiled peanuts to still be firm, while others like them completely soft. It’s easy enough to take one out every now and then and sample it.
The salty, spicy cooking liquid eventually makes its way inside the shells and really flavors the peanuts.
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Crock Pot Spicy Boiled Peanut
Ingredients
- 2 pounds green peanuts
- 3 jalapenos, sliced
- 1/2 cup kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons Creole or cajun seasoning, I use Tony Chachere's
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 10 cups water
Instructions
- Place peanuts in a 6-quart crock pot.
- Add jalapenos, salt, red pepper flakes, cajun seasoning, and garlic powder.
- Pour in approximately 10 cups of water.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 22 to 24 hours. You may need to add a little more water before they are finished cooking.
- Drain and serve warm or cold.
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I have used baking powder or baking soda on my peanuts , and they seem to get softer faster I put 2 teaspoons that’s per ten cups of water and they come out perfect.
Made this recipe ,added a little more cayenne and pepper flake, I also used salted, roasted peanuts instead and omitted the kosher salt. They came out awesome.
Hi there, Sherry!
I plan on making my own batch of boiled peanuts with my crock pot very soon, and noticed you used roasted peanuts. It seems many people recommend that you use green or raw peanuts, neither of which the availability in my area I’m sure of. Roasted peanuts being very accessible I plan on trying to use them, but there’s not a lot of recipes online explaining how to boil roasted peanuts in particular. I’d really appreciate any advice you can give based on how yours came out!
Like how long to boil them, and at what setting?
And anything else you can think to do different with roasted peanuts?
I’d seriously appreciate your time and help! Thank you so much in advance =)
-Kristy.
Christin, this recipe is great. I made it for the first time this week. My cooking took 27 hours since I used raw peanuts but they worked out perfectly. I made a different type of spice mix than yours, with more heat and bite, but this idea works with any spice level you want to make. I really like the idea of using fresh or canned peppers to add flavor. And it is so easy – thank you for sharing this.
Thanks Jim! Glad your peanuts came out perfectly!
Made these last night and in 16 hours they were already pretty soft and edible. This recipe is great – nice heat and spice without being overpowering. So glad I chose this recipe – so simple and foolproof, it’s a keeper.
Do I need to rinse before cooking and can I use fresh garlic instead?
It’s a good idea to rinse them and yes, you can use garlic.
I love boiled peanuts when I can find them at the grocery to cook. I start mine in my pressure cooker, 10-15 lbs of pressure for 1 to 1 1/2 hrs, no salt, then transfer to the slow cooker with salt and seasonings to finish. I am always working with raw peanuts, and this method allows me to be snacking within a day.
I am going to have to try starting them in a pressure cooker! That is a great idea!
Learned how to make These a few years ago from a Florida Cracker . GREAT friend . GREAT boiled peanuts ! I added diced red bell peppers this time . of course jalapeno diced pepper, Cajun sseasoning and garlic power with sea salt . I am giving them to a girlfriend that is going through a very heartfelt felt time this Christmas. She is getting the entire crock pot full with an Extra bag of raw nuts on the side. And of course the Crockpot ! Merry Christmas to all and to all that made their boiled nuts a tasty day of sharing with others !😀
Do you think if I soaked my raw peanuts over night they would cook faster?
Yes, I think that would help some.
I live in Florida and started my children on them early in life. They would push candy away to get to these. If you are a Yankee, it is an acquired taste. Keep at it, it is worth it.
I cooked mine for 12 hours in the crockpot on low and then for another 6 hours on high and they turned out perfect. Love boiled peanuts.
Thanks for the cooking time suggestions Bud. Glad you enjoyed them!
I don’t see how this is possible. See last post
My peanuts have been in the crock pot on low now for 30 hours and are still not soft. Checked them at 15 hours, 24 and now 30.
Are they green peanuts or raw Paul? I am guessing that they are raw and they were really dried out.
We just dug for our own raw peanuts at Hollins Farms in VA. So looking forward to this recipe! We tried spicy boiled peanuts at a tavern outside of Charlottesville and absolutely loved them!
Oh wow! Doesn’t get any fresher than that! Hope you like the recipe!
How long do I let them stay in the slow cooker?
It depends on whether you have raw or green peanuts and even then it can vary a great deal. Plus, some people like their boiled peanuts softer than others. Once you get towards the end of the cooking time, try one and if you want them softer, keep cooking them, sampling one every hour or so.
Will this method work for Raw, in the shell? Just getting to try my first batch ever, but will probably do them in the traditional stovetop boil for the first attempt. I like the simplicity of this, the boil methods required a slight varying in cooking times for green vs raw. Thanx!
You can do it with raw peanut but they will take much longer to cook since they have been dried and have less moisture.
I Love boiled peanuts!! Can’t wait until these are ready!!
First time I have tryed cooking peanuts in a slow cooker,they are great this is the only way I will do my peanuts.from now on
So easy isn’t it?
How long are boiled peanuts good for after cooking?
They will keep in the fridge for a good 5 days.
And if you make a large batch you can freeze some of it for later.
WOW!!! This looks delicious ,i love the idea of boiling peanuts nuts…so clever!
Oh my goodness. I’ve never had boiled peanuts before. I am so intrigued. This looks so homey and comforting. And I love a little spice!