10 Easy Peanut and Peanut Butter Recipes

This round up of 10 Easy Peanut and Peanut Butter Recipes are simple and Southern. From 2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge to Microwave Peanut Brittle, I've got you covered with my best collection of halfway homemade peanutty snacks, desserts, breakfast casserole and appetizers.

All my recipes have shortcuts in them to help you get in and out of the kitchen quickly and these peanut and peanut butter recipes are no exception.

Some are strictly made from scratch, like Homemade 2 Ingredient Biscuits, where the shortcut is the method in which it shortens the ingredient and equipment lists. Some recipes use the air fryer, Instant Pot, and microwave like my Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Tilapia.

Others incorporate convenience products and ingredients to shorten the amount of prep time. For example, Stained Glass Jello Salad uses snack pack gelatin cups instead of preparing 4 boxes of Jello.

Peanuts are chock full of protein and are naturally cholesterol-free! Peanuts are classified both as a legume botanically and a nut nutritionally according to the American Peanut Council.

So, enjoy these tasty, sweet and salty recipes!

1. Two Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge

One of the most popular recipes on the blog, especially during the holidays. It's what I call "crazy easy" with no candy thermometer required to make this creamy microwave candy.

2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge

This super simple candy recipe has only 2 ingredients, 5 minutes to prep and it's made in the microwave without a candy thermometer!

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2. Peanut Butter French Toast Casserole

It's as easy as making pb & j sandwiches! That's exactly how this breakfast casserole starts. Each piece is perfect for eating like French toast sticks with your fingers. Or, drizzle with maple syrup for a knife and fork kinda brunch.

Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast Casserole

Drizzle this make ahead breakfast casserole with maple syrup and eat with a fork or sprinkle with powdered sugar and eat with your fingers like French toast sticks. Less custardy than bread pudding, this make ahead recipe is perfect for breakfast, lunch or after school snack...just like a PB & J sandwich!

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3. No Bake Peanut Butter Energy Bites (Small Batch)

For those afternoon peanut butter cravings, these energy balls are made with just 4 ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

Small Batch No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Bites

Small Batch, No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Bites make one dozen protein-packed, bite-size snacks; no baking involved, and the protein from peanut butter and carbohydrates from quick oats provides just the right amount of energy after a workout, after school snack, or mid-morning pick-me-up.

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4. Instant Pot Peanut Butter Swirl Cheesecake

The Instant Pot multi-cooker/pressure cooker is the perfect way to make a no-fail, no-crack cheesecake. Peanut butter is swirled in a thick layer in the middle and on top of this decadent chocolate cheesecake.

Instant Pot Chocolate-Peanut Butter Swirl Cheesecake

This is the BEST Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake made in an Instant Pot! I added the swirl of peanut butter in the middle and on top to gild the lily! The Instant Pot’s steamy environment is perfect to make a cheesecake that never cracks! Not heating the oven (and your kitchen) for over an hour is a bonus!

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5. Shortcut Teriyaki Chicken Tenders with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Bottled teriyaki sauce does double duty here. Marinate the chicken tenderloins in some of the sauce and make the creamy peanut sauce with the rest of it!

Shortcut Teriyaki Chicken Skewers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

The typical Teriyaki marinade and Thai peanut sauce has at least 10 ingredients in each of them. Most are not found in the average pantry such as lemongrass, garlic chili paste, and fish sauce. The main shortcut for this recipe is dividing store-bought teriyaki marinade and marinating the chicken in half and stirring the rest into creamy peanut butter to make the peanut sauce.

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6. Honey Roasted Peanut Pie

This will remind you of a traditional pecan pie with the buttery, gooey filling but with the peanuttiness of honey-roasted peanuts. There's even peanut butter in the filling!

Honey Roasted Peanut Pie

Think "pecan pie filling" with peanut butter traded for butter and honey-roasted peanuts traded for the pecans. I didn't forget the shortcut in this recipe, although it's already a simple and easy pie. Don't have honey-roasted peanuts? Cocktail peanuts and even peanuts with the red skins on them will work just fine!

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7. Shortcut Salted Peanut Caramel Rolls

This is my copycat version of the old-fashioned Pearson's Salted Nut Rolls. The shortcut nougat centers do NOT need a candy thermometer. Give these caramel-coated candy logs to friends and family for gifts during the holidays..or any day!

Shortcut Salted Caramel Nut Rolls (Peanuts & Nougat)

A shortcut copycat version of the famous Pearson's Salted Nut Roll candy bars. No candy thermometer needed to make the fluffy vanilla nougat! It's made with marshmallows.

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8. Microwave Peanut Brittle

Once you make this easy peanut brittle in the microwave, you will be hooked! Follow the step by step photos for fool-proof candy making.

Best Microwave Peanut Brittle

This is the Best Microwave Peanut Brittle! I share all my pro tips with you. This easy peanut brittle recipe is ready in 15 minutes from start to finish! No candy thermometer needed! Enjoy the taste of caramelized sugar and nutty richness of peanuts faster in this homemade peanut brittle made with a shortcut!

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9. Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

If you're a fan of boiled peanuts, you know they can take ALL DAY to cook on the stove top (or a cast iron cauldron at a festival). With the Instant Pot, these salty goobers are ready in a fraction of that time. Perfect for taking to a tailgate party or enjoying on the back porch with family.

Easy Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts couldn't be easier or quicker. Boiled peanuts are one of those Southern salty snack favorites that takes hours to cook so many people avoid making them. If you're are lucky enough to find a roadside hut selling them. The Instant Pot solves that problem and cooks them in about 1 hour.

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10. Honey Peanut Pie Tassies (No Corn Syrup)

Shortcut, bite-size peanut pies made with honey in the filling instead of high fructose corn syrup. They start with refrigerated pie crust so they are quick to make....and quick to eat.

Honey Peanut Pie Tassies (No Corn Syrup)

Honey Peanut Pie Tassies are bite-size peanut tarts made with Alabama peanuts, refrigerated pie dough, and honey instead of corn syrup in the filling. The silky smooth, honey-kissed filling doesn't even need flour or corn starch to thicken it!

Recipe easily doubles for a large party or gift giving!

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When I say I'm a peanut lover, I really mean it. I attended the Alabama Peanut Producers Association's fall harvest tour a few years ago. I learned how the farmers produce these nutritious legumes and the history behind this Southern commodity.

So, y'all shop local when you're out there buying your peanuts and peanut butter for these 10 Easy Peanut and Peanut Butter shortcut recipes!

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