Slow Cooker Cajun Boiled Peanuts

Slow cooker Cajun boiled peanuts is a flavorful Southern-inspired snack made with raw peanuts, Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, and a simple blend of spices. Cooking the peanuts low and slow gives them their signature soft texture while allowing them to absorb the spicy, salty cooking liquid. Serve these crockpot boiled peanuts for game day, parties, cookouts, or anytime you want an easy, savory snack.

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Cajun Boiled Peanuts

• Raw peanuts: Use 1 pound of raw peanuts in the shell. Green peanuts may also be used, but they will cook faster. Do not use roasted peanuts.
• Water: You will need approximately 8 to 10 cups of water or enough to cover the peanuts by about 1 inch. Additional water may be needed during cooking.
• Cajun seasoning: Cajun seasoning gives the peanuts their primary flavor. Check the label to see whether your seasoning contains salt before adding additional salt.
• Salt: Start with 1 teaspoon and add more to taste. The amount needed will depend on the saltiness of the Cajun seasoning and hot sauce.
• Hot sauce: Louisiana-style hot sauce adds heat, tanginess, and another layer of Cajun flavor.
• Garlic powder: Seasons the cooking liquid without requiring fresh garlic.
• Onion powder: Adds a mild, savory onion flavor.
• Smoked paprika: Provides color and a subtle smoky taste.

How To Make Boiled Cajun Peanuts In The Slow Cooker

1. Rinse the peanuts thoroughly under cool running water. Remove any damaged peanuts, loose shells, or debris. Add the cleaned peanuts to the slow cooker.
2. Add the Cajun seasoning, salt, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.
3. Pour in enough water to cover the peanuts by approximately 1 inch.
4. Stir until the seasonings are distributed throughout the water.
5. Cook on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours or LOW 10 to 12. Cook until the peanuts inside the shells are very soft.
6. Check the slow cooker occasionally and add more hot water as needed. The peanuts should remain covered with liquid throughout the cooking process.
7. Taste the cooking liquid near the end of the cooking time. Add more salt, Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, if needed. Let the peanuts soak in the seasoned cooking liquid for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Easy preparation: Add everything to the slow cooker and let the appliance do the work.
• Bold Cajun flavor: Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, garlic, and smoked paprika create a flavorful cooking liquid.
• Adjustable heat: Make the peanuts mild, medium, or extra spicy by changing the amount of hot sauce.
• Great for entertaining: Boiled peanuts are a fun snack for parties, cookouts, tailgating, and game day.
• No soaking required: The peanuts can go directly into the slow cooker, although soaking is an option if you want to shorten the cooking time.

FAQs & Tips

What are boiled peanuts?

Boiled peanuts are raw or green peanuts that are cooked in seasoned water until the peanuts inside the shells become soft and tender. Unlike roasted peanuts, boiled peanuts have a texture similar to cooked beans. Boiled peanuts are especially popular throughout the South. They are traditionally seasoned with salt, but Cajun boiled peanuts include additional spices and seasonings that give them a bolder, spicier flavor.

What type of peanuts should you use?

Raw peanuts have been dried but have not been roasted. They are more widely available and can be stored at room temperature. Because they contain less moisture, raw peanuts take longer to soften. Green peanuts are freshly harvested peanuts that have not been dried. They contain more moisture than raw peanuts and have a shorter cooking time. Green peanuts are usually seasonal and should be kept refrigerated before cooking. Either type will work for this recipe. Begin checking green peanuts several hours earlier than dried raw peanuts.

Do you need to pre-soak the peanuts?

No. The peanuts do not need to be soaked before adding them to the slow cooker. However, dried raw peanuts may be soaked overnight in water to help them cook more quickly. Drain the soaking water, rinse the peanuts, and proceed with the recipe using fresh water. Green peanuts do not need to be soaked.

Why are the peanuts floating?

Your peanuts may float when you the water to the slow cooker. This is normal. As it cooks, they will sink. Peanuts float in water because they have a low density caused by air that is trapped inside the shell. As the peanuts absorb water during the slow cooking, the air escapes and they eventually sink. 

How do you eat boiled peanuts?

Serve boiled peanuts warm, at room temperature, or chilled. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the peanuts to a serving bowl, and provide a second bowl for the discarded shells. To eat boiled peanuts, crack open the shell, discard it, and eat the soft peanuts inside. Some people also like to sip the seasoned liquid from the shell. They are an excellent snack for game day, backyard cookouts, picnics, casual parties, road trips, or movie nights.

How do you store boiled peanuts?

Allow the slow cooker boiled peanuts to cool and refrigerate them in an airtight container with enough of the cooking liquid to keep them moist. Properly stored boiled peanuts will keep for approximately 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator. To freeze boiled peanuts, place the cooled peanuts and some of their cooking liquid in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and reheat them in their liquid on the stovetop or in the microwave.

What size slow cooker should you use?

I use a  6-quart slow cooker for this recipe. 

Appetizer Recipes

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Slow Cooker Cajun Boiled Peanuts

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Slow cooker Cajun boiled peanuts is a flavorful Southern-inspired snack made with raw peanuts, Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, and a simple blend of spices. Cooking the peanuts low and slow gives them their signature soft texture while allowing them to absorb the spicy, salty cooking liquid. Serve these crockpot boiled peanuts for game day, parties, cookouts, or anytime you want an easy, savory snack.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 6 hours
• Total Time: 6 hours, 5 minutes
• Yield: 10 servings 1x
• Category: Appetizer, Snack
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole30

1. Rinse the peanuts thoroughly under cool running water. Remove any damaged peanuts, loose shells, or debris. Add the cleaned peanuts to the slow cooker.
2. Add the Cajun seasoning, salt, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
3. Pour in enough water to cover the peanuts by approximately 1 inch.
4. Stir until the seasonings are distributed throughout the water.
5. Cook on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours or LOW 10 to 12. Cook until the peanuts inside the shells are very soft.
6. Check the slow cooker occasionally and add more hot water as needed. The peanuts should remain covered with liquid throughout the cooking process.
7. Taste the cooking liquid near the end of the cooking time. Add more salt, Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, if needed. Let the peanuts soak in the seasoned cooking liquid for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

If your Cajun seasoning contains a lot of salt, reduce or omit the additional salt at the beginning. More salt can be added after the peanuts have cooked.

Your peanuts may float when you the water to the slow cooker. This is normal. As it cooks, they will sink.

The exact cooking time will depend on the type, size, age, and moisture content of the peanuts. Cooking time will also vary depending on whether you use green peanuts or dried raw peanuts and how soft you like them.

Store leftover peanuts in some of their cooking liquid.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/2 cup
• Calories: 264
• Sugar: 2.6 g
• Fat: 22.2 g
• Saturated Fat: 2.9 g
• Carbohydrates: 9.4 g
• Fiber: 4.2 g
• Protein: 11.7 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg

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