Boiled peanuts are a Southern classic, and this Instant Pot boiled peanuts recipe infuses them with a unique dill flavor and a kick of Cajun spice. Whether you're new to boiled peanuts or a lifelong fan, this recipe is sure to become a favorite!
(Originally posted on December 28, 2018; Updated on June 17, 2024.)
I don't think everyone even knows what boiled peanuts are. I mean, we eat them like crazy in the South! But I'm not sure anybody else in America really eats them - which is shocking because they're so delicious. As you probably know, peanuts are not nuts at all; they're legumes (aka beans). So it makes perfect sense to boil them, right? Well, these Instant Pot boiled peanuts are my gift to all of you.
This particular recipe was developed after I recently tasted some at a Florida flea market, which blew my mind! I had never heard of using a dill brine, but it quickly became my favorite way to eat them. The flavor is WAY more interesting than pure Cajun spice.
Why This Recipe Works
- Quick Cooking Time: Using the Instant Pot significantly reduces the cooking time compared to traditional stovetop methods.
- Enhanced Flavor: Pressure cooking helps the brine penetrate the peanuts, ensuring they are thoroughly seasoned.
- Convenient: You can cook them overnight and have a ready-to-eat snack by morning.
- Unique Dill Brine: The dill flavor, combined with Cajun spices, offers a distinctive and delicious twist on the traditional recipe.
- Versatile Ingredients: The recipe includes jalapeños, dill pickles, and green olives, adding complexity to the flavor profile.
- Perfect for Gatherings: Boiled peanuts are a great snack for parties, game days, or casual get-togethers.
More Instant Pot Recipes with a Twist
- Cilantro-Lime Creamed Corn
- Shepherd's Pie with Turkey and Sweet Potatoes
- Savory Bread Pudding- with Mushrooms and Parmesan
- Spicy Sweet Potato and Peanut Stew
- Greek-Style Spaghetti Squash
Ingredients for Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts
- 2 lbs. raw peanuts in shells: The star ingredient, providing the base for our delicious snack.
- 3 jalapeños, sliced: Adds a spicy kick to the peanuts.
- 2 dill pickles, sliced: Infuses the peanuts with a tangy dill flavor.
- 7 oz. jar of green olives with juice: Enhances the brine with a salty, briny taste.
- ⅓ cup Creole seasoning: Provides a robust and spicy flavor.
- 2 cups dill pickle juice: Intensifies the dill flavor in the peanuts.
- 6 cups chicken broth or water: The cooking liquid; chicken broth adds extra depth of flavor.
How to make Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts
And this is the AMAZING Result…
Expert Tips
- Don't Stir: Keep the peanuts submerged by not stirring the ingredients. This ensures even cooking and seasoning.
- Soak Peanuts: Soak the peanuts in water before cooking to loosen any dirt and improve texture.
- Overnight Cooking: Let the peanuts sit overnight in the Instant Pot on the "keep warm" setting for the best flavor and tenderness.
- Adjust Spice Level: Modify the amount of jalapeños and Creole seasoning to suit your spice preference.
- Flavor Variations: Try adding other spices or seasonings, like Old Bay or smoked paprika, for different flavor profiles.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve boiled peanuts warm or at room temperature. They make a great snack for movie nights, picnics, or road trips.
- Leftover Brine: Save the leftover brine for pickling other vegetables or adding to soups and stews for extra flavor.
FAQs
Is a 2-hour cooking time really necessary? Yes. I know it seems like a lot! But you may need to cook up to 4 hours even for stovetop-boiled peanuts. It all really depends on the peanuts: how fresh they are, how young or old they are, and… how soft you like them.
Can I use roasted peanuts in the shell? No, this recipe is written for raw peanuts. Our grocery stores carry them in the produce section, and you can also purchase raw peanuts on Amazon.
After cooking, do I drain the liquid and let the nuts dry, or do I serve them in the pot in the liquid? Let them stay in the brine the whole time. Have each person use a slotted spoon to remove them and eat them right away. You don’t want them to dry out.
How long do these keep? These can be kept refrigerated for up to one week.
Can I freeze these? Yes. They can also be frozen and reheated.
★ Did you make these Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts?
Please give it a star rating below!★
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts with Dill and Cajun Spice
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. raw peanuts in shells
- 3 jalapeños sliced
- 2 dill pickles sliced
- 7 oz. jar of green olives with juice
- ⅓ cup creole seasoning
- 2 cups dill pickle juice
- 6 cups chicken broth or water
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash raw peanuts under running water. You may want to let them soak for a while to loosen any extra dirt.
- Add peanuts to an empty pot. Then add jalapenos, pickles, and olives to pot. DO NOT STIR.
- Add creole seasoning, pickle juice, and chicken broth. Again, DO NOT STIR. We want all the peanuts to remain submerged. And if you stir them, they will all float to the top.
- Lock lid and cook at high pressure for 120 minutes.
- Once cook time is complete, allow pressure to release naturally. Then let the peanuts sit for as long as you can stand it! I've made these several times and recommend cooking them at night and letting them sit overnight.
Video
Notes
Expert Tips
-
- Don't Stir: Keep the peanuts submerged by not stirring the ingredients. This ensures even cooking and seasoning.
- Soak Peanuts: Soak the peanuts in water before cooking to loosen any dirt and improve texture.
- Overnight Cooking: Let the peanuts sit overnight in the Instant Pot on the "keep warm" setting for the best flavor and tenderness.
- Adjust Spice Level: Modify the amount of jalapeños and Creole seasoning to suit your spice preference.
- Flavor Variations: Try adding other spices or seasonings, like Old Bay or smoked paprika, for different flavor profiles.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve boiled peanuts warm or at room temperature. They make a great snack for movie nights, picnics, or road trips.
- Leftover Brine: Save the leftover brine for pickling other vegetables or adding to soups and stews for extra flavor.
FAQs
Is a 2-hour cooking time really necessary? Yes. I know it seems like a lot! But you may need to cook up to 4 hours even for stovetop-boiled peanuts. It all really depends on the peanuts: how fresh they are, how young or old they are, and… how soft you like them. Can I use roasted peanuts in the shell? No, this recipe is written for raw peanuts. Our grocery stores carry them in the produce section, and you can also purchase raw peanuts on Amazon
.
After cooking, do I drain the liquid and let the nuts dry, or do I serve them in the pot in the liquid? Let them stay in the brine the whole time. Have each person use a slotted spoon to remove them and eat them right away. You don’t want them to dry out.
How long do these keep? These can be kept refrigerated for up to one week.
Can I freeze these? Yes. They can also be frozen and reheated.Nutrition
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Krystal
I'm looking forward to trying this! Can you share which cajun spice blend you use/recommend?
Amanda
Just tried these. I recently started making Boiled peanuts in my instant pot. I was just doing salt, cayenne, pepper flakes, chili powder, and garlic. I love dill pickles and for some reason, randomly looked up a recipe for dill pickle instant pot boiled peanuts, and this is where it lead me. I tweaked it a bit for batch size and added salt and garlic. I love that I didn't have to use my egg racks to weigh down the peanuts. When I opened the pot, the water level was low, so I stirred everything and added more water so they could soak on warm more. The peanuts are amazing, but surprisingly the pickles and olives are even better. They soaked up all that flavor so great.
Amanda Kalkins
Do you eat the pickles and olives after or just toss them?
Gary White
I usually eat some of them, but I definitely eat all of the olives.
Karin
So yummy! Not pretty, but delicious.
Sol
I tried this recipe, given that I love pickles, olives, and boiled peanuts, it seemed like it would be a winner. However, what came out was not very good after 2 hours pressure cooking and 8 hours on keep warm. They were fine, but not really what I was expecting given how flavorful the cajun boiled peanuts that I make are.
The major issue was the sealing ring in my instant pot. It now utterly reeks of this terrible combination of olive and jalepeno. I've cleaned it twice with a 2 minute vinegar steam and three times with water/lemon, but it still just reeks of that awful brine. I've had to toss it out and replace it. Even the steam valve and pressure button still smell like the brine, and I can't clean those any more than I have.
Appreciate the recipe, but not sure it's very good for the instant pot. It's certainly done a number on mine, and it was brand new. :/
Gary White
This is common with any recipe with strong flavors, such as dill, curry, or even chili. We find that the odor washes out after a couple of trips though our dishwasher, but many people simply buy an extra silicone ring for their Instant Pot. They use one ring for recipes with strong flavors, and one for recipes with regular or delicate flavors.