Super Tasty Cajun Boiled Peanuts

Sharing is caring!

Learn how to make cajun boiled peanuts on the stovetop with this easy recipe. These spicy cajun boiled peanuts are a juicy, flavorful, and addictive Southern snack so grab a bowl and dig in!

Craving another delicious snack? Try these Crispy Homemade Wonton Chips next.

Cajun boiled peanuts are salty, tender, and packed with mind-blowing flavor. Boil raw peanuts in a mouthwatering broth infused with sugar and spices for a delicious snack. This is an underrated southern tradition, that everyone should try!

Why you will love Cajun Boiled Peanuts:

Great Anytime Snack! Serve it as a game day snack, or to munch on while watching movies. It also works as an appetizer (think Texas Roadhouse).

Easy to Make! Simply rinse the peanuts then dump them in a pot with water and seasoning. The hardest part is waiting for them to simmer to tender perfection.

Versatile! Making boiled peanuts at home allows you to customize the level of seasoning and spice according to your taste preferences. You can also experiment with different spices and create a recipe tailored to your liking.

What are boiled peanuts?

Boiled peanuts are a staple in the South and a true Southern delicacy. When cooked, they taste similar to beans.

To make them, boil raw, unroasted in-shell peanuts in a salty and flavorful brine until they become soft and fully cooked. The boiling process transforms the peanuts into a tender and slightly mushy texture, different from the crunchy texture of roasted peanuts.

You can eat them hot or cold. Just crack the shell, slurp the broth, and chew the nuts!

Ingredients for Cajun Boiled Peanuts Recipe

To make boiled peanuts, you will need the following ingredients:

1. Raw peanuts: Keep them in the shell. Do not use roasted peanuts or salted peanuts for this recipe.
2. Salt: This enhances the overall flavor.
3. Cajun seasoning: This amps the flavor of traditional boiled peanuts and adds a zesty, spicy flair.
4. Old Bay seasoning: This spice blend is sweet and savory.
5. Crushed red pepper flakes: Add this to enhance the spiciness.
6. Brown sugar: It adds a sweet element and mellows the spicy notes in this dish.
7. Liquid smoke: Get a distinct smoky flavor without pulling out the smoker or grill.
8. Garlic powder: This deepens the savory taste with a garlicky flavor.
9. Water: You need just enough water to cover the peanuts.

What’s the difference between regular raw peanuts and raw green peanuts?

You can use either raw peanuts or green raw peanuts for this cajun boiled peanuts recipe. Raw peanuts are dried nuts that can be stored at room temperature for weeks.

Green peanuts take less time to cook but go bad faster than raw peanuts. If purchased more than 1 day in advance, they require refrigeration. Green peanuts can not be eaten raw because they may be contaminated with mold. Cook them to be on the safe side.

How to Make Cajun Boiled Peanuts

Rinsing your peanuts thoroughly by adding them into a strainer and running cool water over them. 

After rinsing the peanuts, place them into a large stock pot and add your seasonings including: the salt, cajun seasoning, Old Bay seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, brown sugar, liquid smoke, and garlic powder.

Then submerge the peanuts completely. Stir the seasonings into the water. 

Add the pot to the stove and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and add a lid to the pot. Then leave the lid cracked a bit so that the steam can come out of the pot.

Let the peanuts simmer over low heat for about 7 hours. Be sure to check on them every hour or so to make sure there is still enough cooking liquid to cover the peanuts. Add more water if necessary.

After about 7 hours, the peanuts should be super tender on the inside. Taste for seasoning, and adjust to your liking. 

Serve immediately. Once the boiled peanuts have cooled down, store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They can be eaten cold, or warm them up in a pot over medium heat, or in the microwave for one minute.

Tips and Variations for Cajun Boiled Peanuts

• Want more seasoning? Try adding hot sauce. Instead of Cajun seasoning you could try a crab boil mix like Zatarain’s.
• You can prepare Southern boiled peanuts in a slow cooker or instant pot. For the slower cooker, add everything to the pot and set it on low for up to 24 hours. For instant pot boiled peanuts cook everything on high pressure for 90 minutes. Then let the instant pot release pressure.
• Cooked boiled peanuts are soft and plump but not mushy. The shells are easy to squeeze when they are ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

More delicious side dishes you’ll love

• Southern Fried Apples
• Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
• Fluffy and Moist Sweet Potato Cornbread

Sharing is caring!