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Home › Recipes
9 Comments

Easy Roasted Peanuts in the Shell

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Updated: Oct 20, 2024

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This post may contain affiliate links.

Warm, nutty, with intense peanut flavor, Roasted Peanuts in the shell are the perfect nostalgic snack for ballgames, movie nights, bonfires and parties!

Easy oven roasted peanuts are a southern favorite. Perfect movie night or tailgate snack.


In the south, we love our peanuts! And a good batch of roasted (or parched, as my Pawpaw used to say) peanuts is hard to beat. Dry-roasting peanuts in the oven brings out deep, rich flavors and creates an amazing peanutty aroma. There’s nothing like cracking open that shell and popping a few hot peanuts in your mouth (or your coke).

RELATED RECIPE: Honey Spiced Pecans

As delicious as they are, for a lot of us, hot roasted peanuts are all about the memories. The Engineer remembers many a cold football game as a kid, huddled under a stadium blanket, clutching a bag of toasty roasted peanuts just to stay warm.

I remember their warm, nutty aroma filling up my Mamaw’s house as my Pawpaw took them from the oven to the hearth for some movie night snacking!

I’m sure you have your memories too. And there couldn’t be an easier or more simple snack to make and enjoy no matter the occasion!

you only need raw, shell on, dried peanuts to make roasted peanuts at home in your oven.

Ingredients for Roasted Peanuts

  • raw, shell-on, dried peanuts (not fresh, or green, peanuts)
  • rimmed baking sheet, or cookie sheet

See recipe card for measurements & full instructions.

What is the Difference between Raw Peanuts & Green Peanuts

Knowing this difference in “peanut lingo” is important if you want to have roasty, toasty peanuts with a nice crunch. Simply put, raw peanuts are peanuts that have been air dried after harvesting and have a moisture content of only about 10%. Their low moisture content makes them a perfect candidate for roasting in the oven.

On the other hand, Green peanuts aren’t called green because of their color. They are freshly harvested peanuts from which no moisture has been removed. Their moisture content can be anywhere around 35-50%!

Because of their high moisture content, green peanuts are NOT good candidates for roasting and will not deliver that deep flavor and crunch you’re looking for in a good dry-roasted peanut. Green peanuts are best for boiling instead.

Roast peanuts on a rimmed baking sheet, spread in a single layer.

How to Make Oven Roasted Peanuts

Roast. Arrange in-shell peanuts in a single layer on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 min. Around the 10 minute mark, shake the pan back and forth to rotate the peanuts for an even roast.

Cool. Remove the peanuts from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Peanuts will continue to cook a little while cooling.

Recipe Variations

Peanuts can be roasted without the shell too! If you want to enjoy the yumminess of toasty peanuts without worrying about the shells, purchase raw shelled peanuts and roast for about 15 minutes. Shelled peanuts can also be tossed in 1-2 tablespoons of canola oil and sprinkled with salt or a combo of salt, cinnamon and sugar or other spices before cooking.

Roasting peanuts in the oven produces a deep, nutty flavor in the peanut with a satisfying crunch.

Why Roast Peanuts?

Roasting peanuts in the oven develops a more intense flavor. After roasting, peanuts have a deep, rich taste similar to what all peanut butter lovers love about peanut butter! Roasting also creates a nice crunchy nut and will fill your house with amazing, warm peanutty aromas!

Snacking from toasty bags of roasted peanuts is also a perfect way to create memories with your family or enjoy a special touch of nostalgia at your tailgate, movie night, bonfire or party.

How to Serve Roasted Peanuts

Serve your roasted peanuts in small brown paper bags, fun homemade paper cones, paper snack boxes, small buckets or bowls. Just make sure you have somewhere to put (or toss!) the shells.

a bag of hot roasted peanuts makes a nostalgic treat at football games, tailgates and drive in movies.

Storing Instructions

Any leftover roasted peanuts can be stored in their shells in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

A Fun Gift

Oven roasted peanuts in the shell make great teacher and neighbor gifts! Fill up a jar, a cellophane treat bag or small paper bag, add a little twine or ribbon and a card and you have delicious, thoughtful treat anyone would be happy to receive!

Easy oven roasted peanuts are a southern favorite. Perfect movie night or tailgate snack.

Other Snack Recipes You’ll Love

  • Southern Cheese Straws
  • Blueberry Muddy Muddy Snack Mix
  • Honey Spiced Pecans
  • Dill Ranch Snack Crackers
  • Buffalo Ranch Snack Mix
If You Love Easy Snack Ideas & Have Made This Recipe, Give It All The Stars & Leave A Fun Comment! Or Tag Me @SouthernDiscourse On Social Media To Be Featured. I Love Hearing From You!
a bag of hot roasted peanuts makes a nostalgic treat at football games, tailgates and drive in movies.

Easy Roasted Peanuts in the Shell

Warm, nutty, with intense peanut flavor, Roasted Peanuts in the shell are the perfect nostalgic snack for ballgames, movie nights, bonfires and parties!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Game Day, party, Snack, tailgate
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 3.5 cups shelled peanuts
Author: Stacey | SouthernDiscourse.com

Equipment

  • rimmed baking sheet

Ingredients

  • 1 pound raw, shell on, dried peanuts
  • salt, if desired
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
  • Sort through peanuts and remove any shells that are broken or badly blemished. Arrange the rest of the peanuts in a single layer on a large, rimmed baking sheet.
  • Roast in preheated oven for 20-25 min. Around the 10 minute mark, shake the pan back and forth to rotate the peanuts for an even roast.
  • Check the peanuts at 20 minutes to see if they are at your desired doneness. Shells should be a light golden brown, and the nuts should have a rich, nutty aroma. Do not overcook. Peanuts easily scorch and will continue to cook while cooling. Remove the peanuts from the oven when done and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
a bag of hot roasted peanuts makes a nostalgic treat at football games, tailgates and drive in movies.
Did you make my Easy Roasted Peanuts in the Shell?Show me how it went! Share on Instagram, tag @southerndiscourse, and use the hashtag #SouthernDiscourse!
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Warm, nutty and ever-so tasty, Roasted Peanuts in the shell are the perfect nostalgic snack for ballgames, movie nights, bonfires and parties!

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Filed Under: Appetizers, Recipes Tagged With: Fall favorites, tailgate

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Avatar photoJohn Bouttell

    November 2, 2023 at 9:59 am

    Hey there! Great to have the opportunity to explore Southern US cooking. Thank you!

    Europeans (and maybe others who read English) hit US food sites, too!. How about giving us quantities and temperatures in metric units as well as US ones.

    Some other of the great US cooking websites already do.

    Thank you!

    John

    Reply
  2. Avatar photoRegina Smith

    August 21, 2024 at 7:38 pm

    Hi
    Do you wash them first?

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      August 22, 2024 at 1:28 pm

      Hi, Regina! You can if they are particularly dirty. But generally no. You don’t want the shells to be damp (even a little bit) when you put the peanuts in the oven because the peanuts will steam instead of roast.

      Reply
      • Avatar photoRegina Smith

        August 22, 2024 at 4:51 pm

        Ok, thanks.

        Reply
  3. Avatar photoChristopher M. Yellman

    October 5, 2024 at 11:50 am

    Is is a great recipe, but I don’t use a rimmed baking sheet. I always worry about the younger peanuts that might panic and not be able to run away.

    Reply
  4. Avatar photoTwanna Lynette Batts-Grady

    December 13, 2024 at 12:14 pm

    5 stars
    Totally delicious. wonderful aroma.

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      December 20, 2024 at 5:05 pm

      Hi, Twanna! Thank you so much! I am just tickled you loved this recipe!

      Reply
  5. Avatar photoRose

    January 6, 2025 at 7:45 pm

    5 stars
    My grandfather raised some peanuts to help feed his livestock. One of my fondest memories is he always, always, had a pan of parched peanuts by his chair year round. I haven’t made any in several years, but I do love to make and eat them.

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      January 7, 2025 at 6:11 pm

      Hi, Rose! My Pawpaw made them too! It was always such a treat and a favorite memory of him. I’m glad we share that. I hope you make some peanuts soon!

      Reply

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Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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