Name: Slow Cooker Boiled Peanuts
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: PT-476265H34M50S
Total time: PT-476265H34M50S
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 2 Pounds raw peanuts in shell; ¼ cup salt; water

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Slow cooker boiled peanuts are the ultimate hands-off snack. Just toss some peanuts, salt, and water in your slow cooker, hit a button, and come back to a pot of salty, savory goodness. They’re perfect for parties, game days, or just enjoying on the couch!

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Boiled peanuts are a Southern snack and a delicious treat, perfect for game days, picnics, or simply enjoying on their own.

But don’t worry, you don’t need to hunt down roadside stands to enjoy them. Your trusty slow cooker can whip up a batch of perfectly tender boiled peanuts with minimal effort.

Craving more Southern recipes? Try our fried green tomatoes, low country shrimp boil, or tasty fried okra!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Slow cooker boiled peanuts are more than just a nostalgic Southern treat. Here’s why you’ll love them:

Easy Prep: This recipe requires minimal prep work. Just toss the peanuts in the slow cooker with water and salt, and let your appliance do the work!
Flavorful and Savory: The slow cooking process allows the peanuts to absorb the salty brine, resulting in a deeply flavorful and satisfying snack.
Healthy Snack: Peanuts are a good source of protein, healthy fats, and fiber, making them a guilt-free way to satisfy your cravings.
Customizable: This recipe is a blank canvas for your taste buds! Feel free to add spices, herbs, or hot sauce for a kick.
Budget-Friendly: Peanuts are an affordable ingredient, and the slow cooker’s energy efficiency makes this a budget-friendly recipe.

Ingredients

raw peanuts
salt
water

Step by step

Sort through your peanuts and make sure there are no random pieces of shell, debris, etc. Rinse the peanuts and then soak them in cold water for 30 minutes. Drain.
Place the peanuts and salt in the crockpot and cover with water until there’s about 1 inch of head room.
Cook on high for 7 ½ hours or until the desired softness level has been reached.
Test a peanut halfway through and see if it’s salty enough for you. If not, add more salt and stir.
Add more water to the crockpot if the water ever falls below the top of the peanuts.
Once the peanuts are at your desired level of softness, drain and enjoy!

Tips for best results

At 7 ½ hours, the peanuts were pretty soft, which is how we prefer them. So, if you don’t like them that soft, cook them for less time. Each crockpot is different, so the cook time may vary.
Adjust the salt to your personal preference. One-fourth cup salt is a great starting point, but everyone prefers a different salt level. So, be sure to check the saltiness halfway through so there’s plenty of time for the added salt to cook into the peanuts. If you don’t prefer very much salt at all, start with 1/8th of a cup.
We used raw peanuts in the shell, which is different from green peanuts. This is important to note as cook time, soak time, etc. can change with the different types of peanuts. If you have green peanuts (which are seasonal) try our Instant Pot boiled peanuts recipe.

Serving suggestions

Slow cooker boiled peanuts are delicious on their own, but they can also be enjoyed with a variety of other snacks and drinks. Here are a few ideas: Raspberry Moscow Mule Recipe and Strawberry Iced Tea Recipe.

Variations on Slow Cooker Boiled Peanuts

This slow cooker boiled peanut recipe is a basic template that you can easily customize to suit your taste preferences. Here are a few variations to try:

Spicy: Add a few tablespoons of your favorite hot sauce, Cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes, or chili powder to the slow cooker with the peanuts.
Smoky: For a smoky flavor, add a teaspoon of smoked paprika or a few drops of liquid smoke to the slow cooker.
Herbed: Add a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, thyme, or bay leaves to the slow cooker for a touch of herb flavor.
Cajun: Get creative with Creole seasoning like cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Asian-inspired: Add a splash of soy sauce, a tablespoon of brown sugar, and a few cloves of garlic for an Asian-inspired twist.

Storage

Slow cooker boiled peanuts can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

To freeze, spread the cooled peanuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for a few hours. Once frozen, transfer the peanuts to a freezer-safe container (affiliate link) for up to 3 months.

If you try this recipe, please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!