How to Make Boiled Peanuts in the Crock Pot with either green peanuts or raw peanuts! This easy Crock Pot Cajun Boiled Peanuts Recipe is spicy and flavorful. Your family will LOVE the addition of the smoked ham to these cajun Southern boiled peanuts!
Making Southern boiled peanuts in the crock pot could not be more simple to prepare. These Crock Pot Cajun boiled peanuts are salty and smoky from the ham yet yield spicy boiled peanuts from the addition of Cajun seasoning and hot peppers.
Ingredients and Tools for Cajun Boiled peanuts recipe
Main Ingredients
- Green or raw peanuts in the shell – Raw peanuts are green peanuts that have been dried to remove moisture and can usually be found pre-packaged and shelf-stable almost year-round. Raw peanuts can be used for boiled peanuts but will require more boiling time than green peanuts.
- Cajun or Creole Seasoning – you can use a homemade Cajun Seasoning recipe but Tony Chachere’s Cajun or Creole seasoning is a great seasoning you can use for this recipe.
- Red pepper flakes – Use more or less to your desired spice level.
- Jalapenos – Use more or less to your desired spice level.
- Ham hocks – totally optional. My family likes the addition of smoked ham.
Tools
- 6-qt Programmable Crock Pot [paid link] or adjustable insert Slow Cooker [paid link].
- Measuring Cups [paid link]
- Measuring Spoons [paid link]
- Sharp Knife
how to make spicy boiled peanuts in the Crock Pot
- Place peanuts, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and red pepper flakes into a slow cooker [paid link]. Pour in water to cover the peanuts and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on Low until peanuts are soft, about least 24 hours on LOW or 16 hours on HIGH. Stir occasionally, and add water as needed to keep peanuts covered.
- Drain; serve hot or cold.
Green peanuts vs Raw Peanuts
So the burning question here is are green peanuts the same as raw peanuts? Yes and no.
Raw peanuts are green peanuts that have been dried to remove moisture and can usually be found pre-packaged and shelf-stable almost year-round. Raw peanuts can be used for boiled peanuts but will require more boiling time than green peanuts.
Green peanuts, on the other hand, are freshly dug peanuts with very high moisture content. Since the green peanuts have not been dried, they require less boiling time. Green peanuts are highly perishable and should be refrigerated. They are typically only available during the harvest season which varies by region but typically runs from mid-June to November in the southern United States.
Peanuts are grown commercially in 13 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
Variations of Boiled Peanuts
FAQs
What’s the difference between green and raw peanuts?
Raw peanuts are green peanuts that have been dried to remove moisture and can usually be found pre-packaged and shelf-stable almost year-round. Raw peanuts can be used for boiled peanuts but will require more boiling time than green peanuts.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eGreen peanuts, on the other hand, are freshly dug peanuts with very high moisture content. Since the green peanuts have not been dried, they require less boiling time. Green peanuts are highly perishable and should be refrigerated. They are typically only available during the harvest season which varies by region but typically runs from mid-June to November in the southern United States.
Do Boiled Peanuts need to be refrigerated
Yes. According to the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA), all perishable foods, including boiled peanuts are not safe to eat after sitting at room temperature overnight. This rule holds true whether your boiled peanuts have meat in them or not.
Can Boiled Peanuts be Frozen
Yes. Freeze them in zip-top bags with a little of the cooking brine for up to 6 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight. Serve warm or cold.
Can Boiled Peanuts be reheated?
Yes. Reheat boiled peanuts in the microwave using 50% power in small 30-second time increments until the desired temperature is reached. Be careful of reheating too hot as steam burns can result from opening the wet shells with your hands or in your mouth. u003cbru003eAlternately, reheat peanuts in brine in a small sauce pot over medium low to low heat until the desired temperature is reached.
If you are looking for a roasted peanuts recipe, check out these Ball Park Roasted Peanuts. They’re super simple to make – just 35 minutes in the oven!
love these Crock Pot Cajun Boiled Peanuts? Check out these other Crock pot recipes:
Crock Pot Cajun Boiled Peanuts with ham
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds Green peanuts , in the shell – raw peanuts may be substituted. see recipe notes.
- 1/3 cup Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp Salt season with more or less to taste throughout the cooking process.
- 2 Tbsp Red pepper flakes , more or less to preferred spice level
- 8 cups Water 6-8 cups. Fill until the peanuts start to float off the bottom of the crock.
- 2 – 4 Whole Jalapenos or Habaneros , optional. Canned sliced jalapenos may be used.
- 2 Ham hocks optional
Instructions
For GREEN peanuts – see recipe notes
- Place ham hocks (if using) on the bottom of the 6-qt slow cooker [paid link]. Then add the peanuts, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and red pepper flakes. Pour in enough water to cover the peanuts and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 to 8 hours or LOW for 12 to 16 hours until peanuts are cooked to your desired softness. Stir occasionally, and test salt level. Add more if you prefer a saltier brine. Add additional water if needed to keep peanuts covered.
- Serve hot or cold.
- Storage: Store cooked peanuts in the refrigerator in zip top bags with brine for up to 7 to 10 days. Freeze peanuts with brine in zip top bags up to 6 months. Allow to defrost and serve warm or cold.
For RAW Peanuts – see recipe notes
- Place ham hocks (if using) on the bottom of the 6-qt slow cooker [paid link]. Then add the peanuts, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and red pepper flakes. Pour in enough water to cover the peanuts and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on HIGH 12 to 14 hours or LOW for 24 -26 hours until peanuts are cooked to your desired softness. Stir occasionally, and test salt level. Add more if you prefer a saltier brine. Add additional water if needed to keep peanuts covered.
- Serve hot or cold.
- Storage Suggestions – See recipe notesStore cooked peanuts in the refrigerator in zip top bags with brine for up to 7 to 10 days. Freeze peanuts with brine in zip top bags up to 6 months. Allow to defrost and serve warm or cold.
Notes
Green peanuts vs Raw Peanuts
Raw peanuts are green peanuts that have been dried to remove moisture and can usually be found pre-packaged and shelf-stable almost year-round. Raw peanuts can be used for boiled peanuts but will require more boiling time than green peanuts. Green peanuts, on the other hand, are freshly dug peanuts with very high moisture content. Since the green peanuts have not been dried, they require less boiling time. Green peanuts are highly perishable and should be refrigerated. They are typically only available during the harvest season which varies by region but typically runs from mid-June to November in the southern United States.FAQs
Do Boiled Peanuts need to be refrigerated
Can Boiled Peanuts be Frozen
Can Boiled Peanuts be reheated?
Alternately, reheat peanuts in brine in a small sauce pot over medium low to low heat until the desired temperature is reached.
Your blog posts are remarkable
Continue your great work!! You are an inspiration
Thank you so much for the wonderful post.
My FAVORITE recipe for cajun boiled peanuts! I reduce the salt to only 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons per pound, but oh my goodness these turn out amazing! Thank you for the recipe!
Although I had none, my daughter ( right out of Louisiana) swears by throwing in 2 handfuls of garlic cloves
That sounds great! I will have to try it.
I threw a ham hock in with mine and really came out great.