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These Cajun Boiled Peanuts are the perfect salty, savory, totally addictive snack. Raw peanuts are simmered for hours in a flavorful mixture of water and cajun seasoning to create an irresistibly soft texture and mouth watering flavor.
Easy Recipe for Boiled Peanuts
Don’t wait for the next game day or long road trip to indulge in this salty snack. These Cajun Boiled Peanuts are your favorite stadium snack made right in your own kitchen.
This recipe requires next to no hands-on time…just rinse, season, boil, and dig in! These peanuts are perfect for snacking, for sharing at your kid’s little league game, or for your next summer BBQ.
How to Make Boiled Peanuts
While the actual cooking process takes some time, the hands-on time needed for this recipe is super minimal! Just 5 minutes needed!
Scroll to the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and full instructions.
- Add the peanuts to a large stockpot, then cover with water. Use your hands to mix and loosen any dirt or debris from the peanuts. Drain and repeat the process.
- In the same stockpot, combine fresh water with the peanuts along with the seasonings you’re using. Stir to combine, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover.
- Simmer the mixture for 6-8 hours or until the peanuts are tender, then drain the water and serve.
Tips and Notes
- Use a big pot. It should be big enough that it can hold the peanuts and all of the water.
- Make sure the peanuts are covered. Add enough water to the pot so that the peanuts are completely submerged. This is key to making sure they cook evenly.
- You may need to add more warm water as the peanuts simmer if the water level starts to go down. Just check every once in a while to make sure.
- Stir every 30 minutes. This redistributes the peanuts and helps them cook evenly.
- Don’t be alarmed when the peanuts sink to the bottom. As they get more and more saturated with the liquid, they will start to sink to the bottom of the pot. This is normal.
- Customize! I love the cajun seasoning or creole seasoning, but you could also use old bay, lemon pepper, blackened seasoning, or just plain salt.
- If you use seasoning that doesn’t have salt in it, add an additional 1-2 tablespoons of kosher salt for flavor.
- Prefer to use raw green peanuts? Those can be used as well! They will only need about 2-3 hours to cook, but are perishable before boiling. Be sure you’re following their specific storage instructions.
Serving Suggestions
I love to enjoy a salty and sweet snack by enjoying a generous helping of these alongside a strawberry soda or blueberry soda.
They’re also a great addition to a baseball snack board or as part of a larger snack spread for your next party! Here are a few other snack ideas you’ll love:
- Baked Jalapeño Poppers
- Firecracker Chex Mix
- Popcorn Bars
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies
Storage
Refrigerator: I love these homemade boiled peanuts fresh and hot, but any leftovers will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. They can be stored in the cooking liquid or drained, then stored.
Freezer: Drained boiled peanuts can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve, thaw them in the fridge.
Reheating: Boiled peanuts can be served cold, at room temperature, or they can be warmed up before serving. To reheat, warm in the microwave until heated through. If you’re storing the peanuts in the cooking liquid, heat them on the stove by bringing the mixture to a simmer until warmed through.
Nope! Soaking the peanuts before boiling can cut down on the cooking time, but it isn’t necessary. I prefer to just follow the recipe as-is and skip the extra step.
We love to eat boiled peanuts just after they’ve finished cooking while they’re still warm. However, they’re good either way, warm or cold.
Yes, most definitely. If peanuts cook too long, however, they can become extremely soft and mushy.
Cajun Boiled Peanuts Recipe
5 from 2 votes
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Author: Kimberly
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours hours
Total Time: 8 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 32 Servings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds raw peanuts, in their shells
- 4 quarts water, plus additional for rinsing the peanuts
- ¼ cup kosher salt
- ¼ cup Cajun seasoning, or Creole seasoning (adjust to taste)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
Place the peanuts in a large stockpot, and add enough water to cover the peanuts. Use your hands to combine the peanuts and water to loosen any dirt or debris. Drain the water, and repeat the process one more time.
2 pounds raw peanuts
Add 4 quarts of water (or just enough water to cover the peanuts when they sink to the bottom of the stockpot) salt, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder to the pot. Stir to combine.
4 quarts water
¼ cup kosher salt
¼ cup Cajun seasoning
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cover. Simmer for 6-8 hours until the peanuts are tender.
Drain away excess water and serve immediately.
Serve hot, warm, room temperature, or cold! See post for storage options, tips, and FAQs.
Suggested Equipment
Nutrition
Serving: 1ounce | Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 897mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 831IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg
Notes
*The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 1 ounce of peanuts. Actual calories will vary.
*For more information, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions, please refer to the post.
*Photos courtesy of This Silly Girl’s Kitchen.
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