Slow Cooker Boiled Peanuts: A South Carolina Tradition We Made Our Own

I had never eaten boiled peanuts until I moved to South Carolina. But somewhere along the way, this very Southern tradition became part of our family’s story—and my children grew up eating them.

That’s one of the things I love about family traditions. Not every tradition has to begin generations before us. Sometimes we are the ones who start them.

Here in South Carolina, boiled peanuts are especially at home as summer gives way to fall. They’re perfect for football Saturdays, tailgating, fall get-togethers, or simply having a big pot ready when family and friends stop by.

And they couldn’t be much easier to make. My slow cooker version uses only three ingredients, and the slow cooker does almost all the work. I often put mine on before bed and let them cook overnight.

There’s nothing fancy about boiled peanuts—and maybe that’s part of what makes them so good. Hospitality doesn’t always require an elaborate meal or a perfectly set table. Sometimes it’s simply making a big pot of something good and saying, “Come on in. There’s plenty.”

I may not have grown up with this South Carolina tradition, but my children did. And now, every time I make a pot, it reminds me that some traditions are inherited—and some begin right in our own homes.

Slow cooker boiled peanuts served in a white bowl on a warm wood table, a South Carolina family favorite from Westminster Accents.

Slow Cooker Boiled Peanuts

Ingredients

10–12 cups fresh green peanuts

¾–1 cup salt
Use ¾ cup for a less salty peanut or up to 1 cup if you prefer them saltier. I use Himalayan salt, but kosher salt works well, too.

Water, as needed

Directions

Wash the green peanuts thoroughly. They are often still covered with dirt, so rinse them well in a colander under cool running water.

Add the washed peanuts to your slow cooker.

Whisk 4 cups of water with the salt until well combined, then pour the salted water over the peanuts.

Add additional water until the peanuts are completely covered and the slow cooker is filled to an appropriate level. Stir well so the salt water is incorporated throughout.

Cook on HIGH for 6–8 hours for soft peanuts, or on LOW for about 12 hours. I often cook mine overnight.

Begin tasting a peanut at the lower end of the cooking time. If it is still too firm, continue cooking and check again later.

Our family prefers boiled peanuts completely soft, with no crunch, so I usually choose the longer cooking time.

Where to find green peanuts: Look for them in the produce section of some grocery stores during the season or at local farmers markets.

Printable 5x7 Slow Cooker Boiled Peanuts recipe card from Westminster Accents

From My Kitchen

The slow cooker makes this recipe nearly effortless. I can start a batch in the evening, let it cook overnight, and have soft boiled peanuts ready for football Saturdays, tailgating, or a fall gathering.

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Some traditions are inherited. Others begin in the homes we’re building right now. Either way, they become part of the story we pass along.