It’s so easy to make boiled peanuts in the slow cooker! All you need is a few ingredients to enjoy this simple snack!
These Crock Pot boiled peanuts are a salty snack made famous in the south–and they are ridiculously easy to make!
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Growing up in the south, particularly in Charleston, South Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida, boiled peanuts were a staple snack for our family.
Boiled peanut stands were a common sight, and we could easily buy a paper bag or Styrofoam cup full of the salty, tender peanuts–usually hot out of the large pot or kettle at roadside stands or farmers markets.
Sometimes we’d find them on road trips at local gas stations.
We would sit on the front porch and eat them as the brine dripped down our arms. It’s a southern tradition!
Since I now live in Nashville, TN, I don’t have any roadside stands to visit, so I learned how to make a few boiled peanuts recipes at home!
I most often make Instant Pot boiled peanuts (I also have a boiled peanuts recipe for Instant Pot Hawaiian boiled peanuts for something unique, as well as Instant Pot Cajun boiled peanuts and Crockpot Cajun boiled peanuts if you like things a little spicy with some Cajun seasoning!).
You can even make Nashville Hot flavored boiled peanuts.
But I realize not everyone has a pressure cooker at their disposal, so I wanted to share how to make Crock Pot boiled peanuts!
Boiling peanuts in the crockpot is super easy to do, and you’ll love the results.
Don’t have a slow cooker? Try my stove top boiled peanuts recipe!
What Kind of Peanuts to Use for Crockpot Boiled Peanuts
You need to use raw peanuts in the shell, NOT roasted peanuts, when making boiled peanuts.
When it comes to raw peanuts, there are two types: green peanuts and regular raw peanuts.
Green Peanuts
Green peanuts are fresh, raw peanuts that haven’t been dried. So they have more moisture and therefore have a shorter shelf life.
From my research, it seems it is easier to find green raw peanuts if you live in an area where peanuts are grown and harvested locally.
If you have access to green peanuts in your area, feel free to use those!
Regular Raw Peanuts
In my area, I haven’t been able to find green peanuts.
Instead, I use regular raw peanuts. These have been dried to make them more shelf-stable, but they haven’t been roasted. So they are raw, but not green.
I’ve been able to find these at Walmart in the nuts section. I’ve also found them at some grocery stores, such as Publix grocery store, in the fresh produce section.
If you can’t find them locally, you can order them from Amazon.
Should You Eat Boiled Peanuts Hot or Cold?
This boils down (haha!) to personal preference. Most roadside stands serve them hot, but I eat them both ways.
After they initially cool to room temperature, I store the Crockpot boiled penauts in their brine in the refrigerator (in an airtight container), and I don’t reheat them. I just eat them cold.
I think both ways of enjoying this perfect snack are delicious!
How to Make Boiled Peanuts in a Crock Pot
To start, you’ll rinse and sort through some raw peanuts. Remove any debris or pieces of shells that need to be discarded.
Add the peanuts to the slow cooker and top with some coarse sea salt.
Next, you’ll cover the peanuts with cold water and cook on high for a cooking time of about 5-7 hours, or until the peanuts are as tender as you’d like.
I recommend stirring them every so often to ensure they all get exposed to the salty brine. You may also need to add some water along the way, depending on how much evaporates.
Use a slotted spoon to scoop them out into bowls or cups. Enjoy this southern favorite!
Notes and Adaptations:
- This is a great recipe as is, but you’re welcome to add seasonings to taste, if you’d like! Some people add dry crab boil or other cajun spice (such as Old Bay seasoning), hot sauce, red pepper flakes, liquid smoke, garlic powder, etc.
Recommended Equipment:
- Slow cooker
- Slow cooker liners for easy cleanup (then you don’t have to scrub off salt residue!)
Crock Pot Boiled Peanuts
These southern boiled peanuts cook in the Crockpot, so it's a simple way to enjoy the salty snack!
Ingredients
- 1 lb raw peanuts in the shell (not roasted)
- 1/4-1/3 cup coarse sea salt, depending on your preference
- 6 cups of water (or more, as needed)
Instructions
- Rinse and sort peanuts, discarding any debris or peanuts that are cracked or broken.
- Combine peanuts, salt, and enough water to generously cover the peanuts in the slow cooker.
- Cook on the high setting for 5-7 hours, or until the peanuts are tender. Stir occasionally during cooking, and add more water as needed to keep the peanuts covered.
Notes
I have found raw peanuts at Walmart in the nuts section and at some grocery stores (such as Publix) in the fresh produce section. You can also order them from Amazon if you can't find them locally.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 274Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 6578mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 12g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is not guaranteed for accuracy.
Stock Your Freezer!
2. No need to thaw before cooking in the Instant Pot--meals can cook from frozen!
3. Easy-to-use plan includes shopping lists, labels, recipes, and instructions!
In Florida, Winn-Dixie is another place to find raw, green peanuts. Sold by the pound.
Thank you Jeff for this helpful tip!
I add some chopped garlic and 2or3 beef bouillon cubes to add both flavor and darkness. Also my wife like a little kick so I add some hot sauce to taste. The bouillon cubes may make it saltier so you need to adjust accordingly
Thanks for sharing your tweaks, Barry! Sounds delicious! 🙂
Making this now thank you for the recipe. Do you have any tips on how to keep the peanuts that are floating on top submerged underwater in the crockpot?
Hi Zaina! I find it doesn’t really make a big difference with the slow cooker. But if you have a heat-proof trivet or something like that, you can add it on top of the peanuts and weigh it down with a small heatproof dish. Enjoy! 🙂
Can you freeze boiled peanuts ???
Hi Suebee! I haven’t personally tried it, so I can’t speak from experience (they never last long enough in my house, haha!). However, I’ve heard of others doing it. I think you’d probably have to drain them first.