Instant Pot Cajun Boiled Peanuts are a spicier version of the salty snack made famous in the south!

If you love boiled peanuts, you have to try these Instant Pot Cajun boiled peanuts! They’ve got a hint of spicy kick to them, and they’re SO easy to make!
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I spent many of my growing-up years in Charleston, South Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida.
In those areas, it was very common to find roadside stands selling hot boiled peanuts. Sometimes, the stands sold two types–plain or Cajun flavored.
We were typically purists, opting for the plain, salty snack we loved so much.
Depending on how they were packaged, we’d bring home a brown paper bag or Styrofoam cup full of the treat, eating them on the front porch while the juices ran dripped down our wrists.
Since I no longer live in those areas, I’ve had to learn how to make a few boiled peanuts recipes myself in order to satisfy my cravings!
I have made Instant Pot boiled peanuts and Crockpot boiled peanuts. Both are super simple to make, but the Instant Pot version cooks faster.
At the recommendation of many readers, I tried Instant Pot Hawaiian boiled peanuts, so then I decided to try making a Cajun version.
That’s how this Instant Pot Cajun boiled peanuts recipe was born.
Don’t have an Instant Pot yet? Try my Crockpot Cajun boiled peanuts recipe! No slow cooker either? Make boiled peanuts on the stove!
For a fun flavor variation, try these Nashville hot boiled peanuts!

How to Season Cajun Boiled Peanuts
I’ve seen a handful of ways to season Cajun boiled peanuts, and I think it’s one of those things that comes down to personal preference.
Most plain boiled peanuts just use salt and peanuts, but the options for Cajun boiled peanuts vary a bit more.
Some people add Cajun shrimp & crab boil to their peanuts. Some use a lot of hot sauce. Some use Creole seasoning. So if you have a personal preference, go with that! In my case, I used a combination!
I’ll preface this by saying I am a wimp when it comes to spice, so I kept mine mild. You can definitely increase the spice factor, though!
I used a combination of hot sauce and Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning, plus sea salt. The result was a lightly spiced and flavorful batch of boiled peanuts!
If you love Cajun flavors, you’ll also love my Instant Pot jambalaya with chicken and sausage!

How to Make Boiled Cajun Peanuts in the Instant Pot
To start, you’ll rinse and sort through the raw peanuts, discarding any debris or severely cracked shells.
Put the peanuts into the insert pot of the Instant Pot along with some Creole seasoning, sea salt, and hot sauce.

Pour in enough water to cover the peanuts well. Because the peanuts float, it’s helpful to weigh them down a bit to keep them in the liquid during cooking.
To do this, I use the trivet that came with my Instant Pot, placing it on top of the peanuts and then putting a heatproof Pyrex bowl on top to weigh it down.

Then, it’s time to pressure cook these babies to tender, flavorful perfection!
How Long Do You Cook Cajun Boiled Peanuts in the Instant Pot?
Normally, I use a cook time of 80 minutes at high pressure. However, for this Cajun boiled peanuts recipe, I use a cook time of 90 minutes.
I find that the extra time helps the seasonings to infuse into the peanuts a little bit better (storing the peanuts in the brine after cooking also helps the flavor to sink in more).
If you like your boiled peanuts to be pretty soft, without much firmness, I’d recommend adding another 10-20 minutes onto that.
Once the cook time is complete, allow a natural pressure release. Once the pressure has released and the valve has dropped, you can carefully open the lid and use some tongs to remove the dish and trivet. Then enjoy!

Where Can I Buy Raw Peanuts?
I have found raw peanuts for sale at Walmart, as well as at a few different grocery stores in the produce section.
If you can’t find them locally, you can also order them from Amazon.
Recommended Equipment:
- Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker
- Trivet (I use the one that came with the Instant Pot)
- Small Pyrex dish (or other heatproof dish)
Instant Pot Cajun Boiled Peanuts

This Cajun boiled peanuts recipe cooks quickly, thanks to the Instant Pot pressure cooker! Kick up the spice on this southern favorite!
Ingredients
- 1 lb raw peanuts in the shell (not roasted)
- 1/4 cup coarse sea salt
- 2 Tbsp Cajun seasoning (I used Tony Chachere's--see recipe notes below)
- 1-2 Tbsp hot sauce (adjust to taste; see recipe notes below)
- About 6-8 cups of water
Instructions
- Rinse and sort through the peanuts, discarding any debris or severely cracked shells.
- Add peanuts to the insert pot of the Instant Pot. Add sea salt, Cajun seasoning, and hot sauce.
- Pour water over the peanuts until they are fully covered. Place a trivet on top of the peanuts, then put a small heatproof dish on the trivet to weigh it down.
- Close the lid and set the vent to the sealed position. Select a cook time of 90 minutes at high pressure, using the Manual/Pressure Cook button.
- Once the cook time is complete, allow a natural pressure release. After the pressure has released and the valve has dropped, carefully remove the lid. Use tongs to remove the heatproof dish and trivet.
Notes
- If you prefer spicier peanuts, feel free to increase the hot sauce. As written, this recipe yields a fairly mild spice level. You can also increase the Cajun seasoning to taste, adding as much as 1/4 cup, if preferred (this will also make them saltier, so you may want to decrease the salt a bit if you increase the Cajun seasoning).
- You can often find raw peanuts in grocery stores in the produce section. If you cannot find them locally, you can order them from Amazon.
- Storing the peanuts in their brine will allow the flavor to soak in even more.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 276Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3612mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 12g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is not guaranteed for accuracy.

Making these now! I actually live in Jacksonville Florida. My favorite peanut man is out on Heckscher Drive. A memorable part of my childhood as well. Thanks for the recipe!!!
What a small world, Angela! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do! 🙂
So if I have 2lbs of raw peanuts do I keep the salt the same since they will be in the same brine or do I double it?
That’s a good question, CJ! I’d probably just leave the amount of salt the same, since the amount of water will be about the same. Just be sure 2 lbs of peanuts doesn’t exceed your pressure cooker’s maximum fill line. Enjoy! 🙂
Made these for the Super Bowl. First got addicted to these when I traveled for the government and had them in the south. Thanks for the recipe, these were right on for what I remembered. Did 1 pound and halved the spice. Had grandkids coming so I didn’t want them too spicey. (Should have went with full spice.) Recipe is a keeper.
Thank you so much! I love hearing that you enjoyed them and they brought back memories for you. 🙂
Hello and thank you for putting this recipe up!
I grew up in Chicago but live in Tampa fl now for 20. I love Cajun boiled peanuts. I make them every chance I get!
Thanks again…
You’re welcome, Dawn! I hope you enjoy them! 🙂