Southern Boiled Peanuts (3 Different Flavors)

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If you are in the mood for a delicious homemade snack, then you can’t go wrong with these delicious Southern boiled peanuts. Choose from 3 different flavors; Cajun, lemon pepper, or salt and vinegar and grab instructions to make them on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot or slow cooker.

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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the 
recipe card at the bottom of the post. 
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

These Southern boiled peanuts are a firm favorite of mine. These peanuts are boiled in a flavorful salty brine until they become soft on the inside.

My first encounter with boiled peanuts happened at a gas station on a Carolina road. They came in a styrofoam cup and were covered with a spiced liquid. Once I ate my first peanut, I was hooked. The peanut was soft and tender and perfectly flavored.

Boiled peanuts come spicy or not spicy, whatever you prefer.

Be sure to try my 15 Minute Sugared Pecans too!

How to make Southern boiled peanuts

Be sure to scroll down to the end of the post to get cooking instructions for the Instant Pot and Crockpot methods too!

Rinse the peanuts in water and get your seasonings.

Add peanuts in a large pot. Cover with water and seasonings and stir.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer for 2-3 hours, until peanuts are softened.

Serve and enjoy.

How soft should the boiled peanuts be?

It’s really up to you, but they shouldn’t be hard. I like mine soft and tender, but not mushy. I suggest tasting a peanut after 2 hours to see if there as soft as you like them.

How to eat a boiled peanut

I like to eat my boiled peanuts the same way I eat sunflower seeds and I put the entire peanut in my mouth, shell and all. I then slightly bite on the shell, remove the peanut and juices, and spit out the shell.

Others eat boiled peanuts by carefully opening the shell before eating the peanuts inside.

Either way is fine, just don’t eat the shell.

Southern Boiled Peanuts FAQ

Recipe Notes and Tips

• For the salt and vinegar peanuts, reduce the amount of water to 1.5 cups to add to the 2.5 cups vinegar. You could also use vinegar powder instead if you don’t want your entire house smelling like vinegar.
• Once cooked, store the peanuts in the fridge. If left at room temperature they can become slimy.
• Do not eat the peanut shell. Place it in your mouth, suck off the flavor, bite the shell to remove the peanut, then spit out the shell. So easy 🙂

More Snack Recipes

• Crispy Air Fryer Beet Chips
• Air Fryer Chickpeas (4 Different Flavors)
• Air Fryer Apple Chips

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4.80 from 5 votes

Southern Boiled Peanuts (3 Different Flavors)

If you are in the mood for a delicious homemade snack, then you can't go wrong with these delicious Southern boiled peanuts. Choose from 3 different flavors.

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword flavored boiled peanuts, how to make boiled peanuts, seasoned peanuts

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Author Tanya

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 1 lb green raw peanuts
• 4 cups water
• Seasonings

Cajun Seasoning:

• 2 Tablespoon old bay
• 2 Tablespoon kosher salt or to taste
• 2 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Lemon Pepper Seasoning:

• 3 Tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
• 2 Tablespoon kosher salt or to taste

Salt and Vinegar Seasoning:

• ¼ cup kosher salt
• 2.5 cups apple cider vinegar*

Instructions

• Rinse the peanuts in water. Cook by following either of the instructions/methods below:

Stovetop:

• Add peanuts in a large pot. Cover with water and seasonings, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer for 2-3 hours, until peanuts are softened.
• Serve. Remove the shells before consuming.

Electric Pressure Cooker:

• Add peanuts, water, and seasoning to the pressure cooker insert. Cover and cook on high pressure for 50 minutes, then allow it to naturally release for 10 minutes. Quick release any remaining pressure. Open and enjoy.

Slow cooker:

• Add peanuts, water, and seasoning into slow cooker insert. Cover and allow to cook on low for 12-14 hours, or until the peanuts have softened.

Notes

• This recipe calls for green raw peanuts, which can be found in some supermarkets and farmers’ markets during the growing season. If subbing with raw peanuts, you will need to cook the peanuts for longer. Raw peanuts take about 4 hours to soften and 90 minutes in the pressure cooker.
• For the salt and vinegar peanuts, reduce the amount of water to 1.5 cups to add to the 2.5 cups vinegar. You could also use vinegar powder instead if you don’t want your entire house smelling like vinegar.
• Do not eat the peanut shell. Place it in your mouth, suck off the flavor, bite the shell to remove the peanut, then spit out the shell. So easy 🙂

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