Cajun Boiled Peanuts 🥜 – Black Foodie Finder

A Salty, Spicy Southern Roadside Classic

These Cajun Boiled Peanuts by Joe Isaac are a true Southern favorite—the kind of snack you’ll find simmering at roadside stands, street vendors, and gas stations throughout the South. Soft, juicy, salty, and spicy, boiled peanuts are all about giving raw peanuts plenty of time to simmer and soak up every bit of seasoned broth.

Joe keeps his version straightforward with salt, garlic, onion, and shrimp and crab boil seasoning. The peanuts simmer low and slow for several hours before resting in that flavorful cooking liquid. That final soak is key: the longer they sit, the more of that spicy, savory Cajun flavor makes its way inside the shells.

Note: The creator does not provide exact quantities for the peanuts, salt, garlic, onion, water, or the weight of the shrimp and crab boil package. Those measurements have not been invented.

Ingredients

For the Cajun Boiled Peanuts

• Raw peanuts in the shell, washed and cleaned
• Salt
• A couple of cloves of garlic
• Onion, chopped
• About 1/2 bag shrimp and crab boil seasoning
• Fresh cold water

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Clean the Peanuts

• Wash and rinse the raw peanuts thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris from the shells.

2. Add the Seasonings

• Place the cleaned peanuts in a large pot and add salt, garlic, chopped onion, and about half a bag of shrimp and crab boil seasoning.

3. Add the Water

• Pour in enough fresh cold water to cover the peanuts and stir everything together.

4. Boil & Simmer

• Bring the pot to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for about 3–4 hours.

5. Let Them Soak

• After about 4 hours, turn off the heat and leave the peanuts in the seasoned cooking liquid so they can continue absorbing flavor.

6. Taste & Serve

• After about 30 minutes of soaking, taste a peanut.
• Continue soaking until the flavor is where you want it, then serve and enjoy.

Pro Tips & Suggestions

• Wash the peanut shells thoroughly before cooking.
• Keep the peanuts covered with seasoned liquid as they simmer.
• Give them the full 3–4 hours for that signature soft texture.
• Let the peanuts soak longer after cooking if you want stronger flavor.

About the Creator

This recipe is by Joe Isaac, the creator behind @offthechainwithjoe. Joe shares approachable recipes rooted in big flavor, including Southern favorites and comfort-food classics made for the home kitchen.

Joe Isaac | @offthechainwithjoe