Southern Boiled Peanuts Recipe (2024)

Hot Boiled Peanuts are a traditional Southern snack perfect for football games and fall drives! This easy version lets the slow cooker do all the hard work!

Southern Boiled Peanuts Recipe (1)

Growing up, as soon as the weather started turning a little bit colder, my Daddy was ready to drive up into the North Georgia mountains for the weekend. Sometimes, my Grandparents would come along with us because he knew that they loved the mountains as much as he did.

Grandmother would make a breakfast for us to take along with us on the trip. Big, delicious biscuits filled with either sausage or bacon or sometimes tenderloin. The idea of stopping by a drive through restaurant never occurred to us. There simply wasn’t one in our small town back then.

She would also bring along a small cooler packed with Coca-Colas in the bottle, some Ginger Ale, grapes and apples, and zip top bags filled with wet washcloths in case anyone got queasy on the curvy roads during our trip. Next came the pillows and quilts and the notebooks she always brought along to record tidbits about the trip or things that she saw along the way. An extra notebook and pencils were included to play games with me and my sister during our trip as well.

Daddy would always be ready to go early in the morning so we could reach the mountains before too late in the day.

I remember rounding one winding road on trip after trip and seeing the roadside stand set up with large, wooden handpainted signs that read, “Boiled Peanuts.” Now, any kind of peanut has always been a favorite of my Mama’s, but boiled peanuts were my Daddy’s all time favorite. I would think we were about to pull in to buy a few styrofoam cups filled with these warm delicious little nibbles when Daddy would say, “No, this isn’t the good boiled peanut spot. Our spot is on a little farther.”

I started thinking about what made Daddy say that the other day and figured out that you can have good boiled peanuts and then you can have GOOD boiled peanuts. There is a difference. This recipe is for the GOOD kind with the perfect balance of salty brininess and well-cooked peanuts, but you don’t have to drive to the North Georgia mountains to get them.

My family’s love for boiled peanuts has now passed along to Little Buddy. When we made these, I taught him how to make them, too.

Here’s how we make them.

Southern Boiled Peanuts Recipe (2)

Start with about 3 pounds of green peanuts and put them in your slow cooker.

Southern Boiled Peanuts Recipe (3)

Pour in salt. Just regular salt is fine.

Southern Boiled Peanuts Recipe (4)

Then pour water over them until they are covered. This took about 6 cups of water for me.

Now, set your slow cooker for 12 hours and just let them go. You may want to check them about halfway during their cooking to make sure you don’t need to add more water.

After the 12 hours of cooking, leave them in the slow cooker in the brine water for another 9-12 hours or so. This makes them the GOOD kind in my family’s book.

Southern Boiled Peanuts Recipe (5)

To serve your peanuts, dip out a serving and strain away the brine. Place them into a cup or bowl and serve with plenty of napkins.

Boiled peanuts are great for tailgating, game day festivities, or Fall camping trips! Start your peanuts well in advance to make sure they are done in time for the big game. Then, just serve them straight from your slow cooker to keep them warm!

Here’s my Boiled Peanuts Recipe. I hope your family loves it as much as mine does!

Southern Boiled Peanuts Recipe (7)

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Boiled Peanuts Recipe

Robyn Stone

5 from 3 votes

Boiled Peanuts are a favorite southern treat! Get this delicious, easy boiled peanuts recipe that you’ll love!

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 day day

Total Time: 1 day day 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds green peanuts
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 6 cups water

Instructions

  • Rinse peanuts until the water runs clear.

  • Place into slow cooker. Add in salt and pour in water.

  • Cook for 12 hours on high setting, checking occasionally to add more water if needed.

  • Turn slow cooker to warm setting and allow to sit in slow cooker for another 9-12 hours.

  • Serve straight from the slow cooker to keep warm, straining off brine and pouring into cups or bowls.

Nutrition

Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 11g | Sodium: 2364mg | Potassium: 1mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Southern Boiled Peanuts Recipe (8)

Originally published September 2011.

Categorized as:All Recipes, Appetizers, Camping, Cooking, Game Day Recipes, Recipes, Simple Recipes, Snacks, Southern Favorites

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Southern Boiled Peanuts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to soak raw peanuts before boiling? ›

Use a large dinner plate to help submerge the floating peanuts. Soak peanuts 8 hours or overnight. (This step saves a little time boiling, but if you don't have the luxury of soaking time, you can skip it.)

Why do you put vinegar in boiled peanuts? ›

Made from sugar, fermented apples, and yeast, the vinegar adds a sweet, tangy flavor to the peanuts. The acid provides balance to the savory spices that have already been added, transforming the peanuts into a well-rounded, flavorful snack with depth.

What happens when you overcook boiled peanuts? ›

Boiled peanuts that are overcooked or left out for too long can become slimy. Make sure to cook until tender (not mushy), and refrigerate any leftovers after serving.

How do I know when boiled peanuts are done? ›

Once the peanuts have boiled for three hours (one hour for green peanuts), sample them to check their texture and salinity. Remove a peanut, and when it is cool enough to handle, crack open its shell and taste the kernel, slurping some brine with it. If the peanut crunches, it should be cooked further.

How many hours to boil peanuts? ›

Cover the pot and bring the contents to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 4-6 hours, or until peanuts are tender. (Open the shell and taste to test, but be careful of the heat!) Once the peanuts are tender, turn the heat off and transfer the peanuts to a large clean bowl.

How long do raw peanuts take to boil? ›

Put the water, salt, seasoning, peanuts in a large stockpot, bring to a boil: Cover and reduce the heat just enough to maintain a low boil. Boil for 2 to 3 hours or longer (some boil their peanuts all day), until peanuts reach desired level of softness.

Why are my boiled peanuts slimy? ›

Boiled peanuts can get slimy if they're overcooked or sit in the brine for too long.

Is it better to boil peanuts green or raw peanuts? ›

The truth is, both work great but raw peanuts take more time to soften. Green peanuts are freshly dug and haven't been through a drying process, so their moisture content is already high. It's like boiling fresh beans versus dry. One is quicker to cook than the other but they both taste great in the end.

What makes boiled peanuts good? ›

The process of boiling peanuts draws antioxidants from their shells. The boiled peanuts have four times the antioxidants of raw or roasted peanuts. Boiled peanuts have also been studied as a potential way to treat people with peanut allergies since boiling peanuts denatures proteins that trigger allergic reactions.

What happens if you eat a lot of boiled peanuts? ›

Too much peanuts intake at one time may even lead to stomach discomfort. Constipation, diarrhoea and bloating are common issues associated with excessive peanuts intake. So, it is recommended to take peanuts in moderate quantities if you are already suffering from stomach related issues.

Is it OK to eat a lot of boiled peanuts? ›

They are extremely beneficial because they have carbohydrates, good fats, proteins and fibre as well,” she told indianexpress.com. Nutritious and packed with antioxidants, boiled peanuts are an excellent source of energy. “A half cup of boiled peanuts contains approximately 286 calories with no cholesterol.

Can you eat boiled peanuts straight out of the can? ›

Q: Do you have to cook Peanut Patch Boiled Peanuts? ANSWER: Of course not. They're already cooked (boiled) and ready to savor right out of the can. But you can heat them if you'd like.

Do boiled peanuts sink when done? ›

Some people like to place a plate inside the pot to push the peanuts under the water. In the end, it really doesn't matter. Raw peanuts will absorb the water, and sink when they are ready. Our motto at Boiled Peanut World is "Boiling softens the peanuts, soaking and simmering wets the peanuts, and infuses flavors."

What texture should boiled peanuts be? ›

When done, boiled peanuts should have a similar texture to a cooked dry bean. It should hold its shape, but not crunch when bitten. Add more water throughout the cooking process, if needed.

What are the best peanuts to boil? ›

Virginia Jumbos are okay for boiling and roasting, but I personally prefer Valencias and Georgia runners for their sweetness. The flavor of Valencias is my criteria for their selection as being the best peanuts for boiling and roasting.

Why soak peanuts before boiling? ›

Soaking peanuts eight hours or overnight cuts the boiling time in half, to as little as two hours.

Can you boil dry raw peanuts? ›

Raw peanuts can be boiled in a pot, a pressure cooker, or a slow cooker. Green peanuts need at least 1 hour of boiling up to 4 hours. Raw, dried peanuts require more boiling, up to 24 hours in a slow cooker, or an open pot. A pressure cooker boils dried peanuts much faster, especially at high altitude.

How do you soak raw peanuts? ›

1 In a 10- to 12-quart stockpot, stir 1/2 cup salt into 2 gallons of water until the salt dissolves, and add the raw peanuts. Use a large dinner plate or two to help submerge the floating peanuts. Allow to soak for 8 hours or overnight.

How to clean raw peanuts before boiling? ›

Wash raw peanuts thoroughly in cool water; then soak in cool clean water for about 30 minutes before cooking. 2. Put peanuts in a pot and cover completely with water. Figure 1 cup of salt per gallon of water - or salt to taste.

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