Learn how to make spicy boiled peanuts that have a flavor similar to Nashville Hot Chicken.

Nashville Hot boiled peanuts are a flavorful twist on the classic Southern snack, featuring tender peanuts infused with bold flavor.

two white bowls containing Nashville Hot boiled peanuts, with a bottle of Nashville Hot Chicken seasoning in the background.

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Boiled peanuts have a rich history in the South, where they’ve been enjoyed for generations.

I have fond memories of getting a cup of boiled peanuts from “The Peanut Man” who had a stand down by the railroad tracks in the town where I lived.

There’s something special about those warm, salty, and soft peanuts that instantly takes me back to my childhood.

If you love boiled peanuts as much as I do, you need to give these Nashville Hot boiled peanuts a try!

They offer that classic soft texture and briny taste, but with an exciting kick of heat from the Nashville hot chicken seasoning.

Plus, you can easily adjust the spiciness level to suit your taste, making them perfect for everyone from spice lovers to those who prefer a milder flavor.

They’re on our list of the best boiled peanuts recipes, and when you give them a try, you’ll see why!

More Boiled Peanut Recipes:

overhead view of two bowls of boiled peanuts. A shaker of Nashville Hot seasoning blend is next to the bowls.

Cooking Nashville Hot Boiled Peanuts

The traditional way to make boiled peanuts involves simmering raw peanuts in their shells in a large pot of salted water for several hours until they become soft and tender.

Stove top boiled peanuts require a bit of patience, as the peanuts need to soak up the brine and cook slowly to achieve that perfect, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

This traditional, yet slow process allows the flavors to develop fully, but I simply don’t have time to babysit a pot all day.

Thankfully this recipe gives you two options that are essentially hands off and still have that traditional slow-simmered flavor.

Making these delicious Nashville Hot Boiled Peanuts is a breeze, whether you use an Instant Pot or a Crock Pot.

The convenience of these cooking methods means you can whip up a batch without much fuss.

Instant Pot Hot Boiled Peanuts

Making boiled peanuts in the Instant Pot is an easy and simple process because it significantly reduces the cooking time while still delivering that tender, flavorful result.

The high-pressure setting cooks the peanuts in just 85 minutes, compared to the traditional method that can take several hours.

Plus, the Instant Pot’s consistent heat and pressure ensure the peanuts absorb all the delicious flavors of the Nashville hot chicken seasoning and brine.

Crock Pot Hot Boiled Peanuts

Using a Crock Pot to make boiled peanuts is another convenient option that ensures a flavorful and effortless cooking process.

The slow cooker method allows you to set it and forget it, making it perfect for busy days.

The passive process still takes 5-7 hours and while you can still check in occasionally to stir and add more water if needed, you don’t have to baby sit it all day!

close-up view of spicy boiled peanuts made with Nashville Hot seasoning, served in white bowls.

How to Make Nashville Hot Boiled Peanuts

It’s really easy to make this simple recipe.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Raw Peanuts (in the shell)
Nashville Hot Seasoning
Coarse Sea Salt
Hot Sauce
Water

How to Make It:

(Full printable recipe card is available below)

Prepare the peanuts. First, you’ll rinse peanuts well and sort, discarding any debris or peanuts that are cracked or broken.

Place peanuts in the insert pot of an Instant Pot or Crock Pot.

Season the peanuts. Next, you’ll add Nashville Hot seasoning, sea salt, hot sauce, and enough water to generously cover the peanuts.

If using an Instant Pot, place the trivet on top of the peanuts and add a heatproof bowl to the trivet to help weigh it down.

This will help to keep the peanuts submerged (I don’t find this step necessary with the Crock Pot, but you certainly can if you’d like).

two photos; one shows raw peanuts combined with Nashville Hot seasoning, sea salt, and hot sauce. The other shows the peanuts submerged in water in an Instant Pot, with a trivet and bowl on top to weigh them down.

Cook the peanuts. Last, you’ll cook the peanuts, using either the instructions for the Instant Pot or the Crock Pot.

overhead view of spicy Nashville Hot boiled peanuts in a glass bowl, stored in their brine.

Notes and Adaptations:

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 add sliced jalapenos if you want an even spicier version.
Feel free to increase the Nashville Hot seasoning to taste, adding as much as 1/4 cup, if preferred (if your seasoning blend includes salt, you may want to decrease the sea salt a bit if you increase the Nashville Hot seasoning).
Storing the peanuts in their brine will allow the peanuts to soften and the flavor to soak in even more.
It’s important to use raw peanuts, not roasted. 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.

two small white bowls containing boiled peanuts, with a container of Nashville Hot chicken seasoning blend next to them.

Recommended Equipment:

Yield: 10 Servings

Nashville Hot Boiled Peanuts (Instant Pot or Crock Pot)

Name: Nashville Hot Boiled Peanuts (Instant Pot or Crock Pot)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 h 25 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb raw peanuts, in the shell (not roasted); 3 Tablespoons Nashville Hot seasoning (*see note below regarding spice level); 1/4 cup coarse sea salt; 1-2 Tablespoons hot sauce; 6 cups of water (or more, as needed)

These easy boiled peanuts are cooked with Nashville Hot seasoning, for a fun variation of the classic southern snack.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 25 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 lb raw peanuts, in the shell (not roasted)
3 Tablespoons Nashville Hot seasoning (*see note below regarding spice level)
1/4 cup coarse sea salt
1-2 Tablespoons hot sauce
6 cups of water (or more, as needed)

Instructions

Rinse peanuts well and sort, discarding any debris or peanuts that are cracked or broken.
Place peanuts in the insert pot of an Instant Pot or Crock Pot.
Add Nashville Hot seasoning, sea salt, hot sauce, and enough water to generously cover the peanuts.
If using an Instant Pot, place the trivet on top of the peanuts and add a heatproof bowl to the trivet to help weigh it down. This will help to keep the peanuts submerged (I don't find this step necessary with the Crock Pot, but you certainly can if you'd like).
For Instant Pot cooking, cook on high pressure for 85 minutes, followed by a natural release of pressure.
For Crock Pot cooking, cook on the high setting for 5-7 hours, or until the peanuts are tender. Stir occasionally during cooking, adding more water as needed to keep the peanuts covered.
Remove the peanuts to an airtight container and add some brine to cover them. Refrigerate until ready to serve (they become softer and more flavorful as they sit in the brine, preferably overnight).

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 add sliced jalapenos if you want an even spicier version.

Feel free to increase the Nashville Hot seasoning to taste, adding as much as 1/4 cup, if preferred (if your seasoning blend includes salt, you may want to decrease the sea salt a bit if you increase the Nashville Hot seasoning).

Storing the peanuts in their brine will allow the peanuts to soften and the flavor to soak in even more.

It's important to use raw peanuts, not roasted. 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.