Twisted Skillet’s Cantina Peanuts

Twisted Skillet’s Cantina Peanuts are a crispy bar snack made with raw Spanish peanuts, fried up with garlic, chile de árbol, and crunchy tortilla bits, creating a classic, savory Mexican “botana” or appetizer.

Today is the day: the series premiere of Twisted Skillet! RFD Network’s newest food and lifestyle program is the crossroads where restaurant inspiration meets cowboy culinary creativity, exploring open-fire cooking techniques and regional ingredients.

Host and Texas chef Sean Koehler joins us again on Thursday’s Market Day Report for a taste of what we can expect. With “The Big Game” coming up on Sunday, he is sharing some unique recipes to help spice up our weekend festivities. On today’s menu: Cantina Peanuts.

———

Cantina Peanuts

Recipe by Sean Koehler, Twisted Skillet

PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 20 MINUTES

Twisted Skillet’s Cantina Peanuts are a crispy bar snack made with raw Spanish peanuts, fried up with garlic, chile de árbol, and crunchy tortilla bits, creating a classic, savory Mexican “botana” or appetizer.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb. Spanish peanuts, raw with skins
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil or neutral frying oil
  • 3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
  • 2 corn tortillas cut into 1/4-inch squares
  • 5 –8 dried chile de árbol, seeds removed and finely chopped
  • Salt, to taste
  • Knorr chicken bouillon powder (optional)

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a large stockpot (at least 4 quarts), heat the oil over medium heat
  2. Add the sliced garlic and fry until lightly golden and crisp. Do not burn. Remove immediately and set aside.
  3. Add the tortilla squares to the same oil and fry until golden and crisp. Remove and set aside with the garlic.
  4. Turn the heat down and add the peanuts and chopped chile de árbol.
  5. Return the oil to medium heat. Continuously stir the peanuts in the Chile and garlic-infused oil.
  6. Cook for about 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until the peanuts deepen in color and are fully toasted.
  7. Remove from the oil using a metal slotted spoon or wok tool, then transfer the mixture to a serving bowl.
  8. Stir in the fried garlic chips and tortilla chips. Season with salt, to taste.
  9. Let the peanut mixture cool slightly before serving; the peanuts will continue to crisp up as they cool.

———

Don’t miss the series premiere of Twisted Skillet TONIGHT — Thursday, Feb. 5, at 9:00 PM ET — only on RFD Network and streaming on RFD+.

Related Stories
Texas cowboy chef and host of RFD Network’s Twisted Skillet, Sean Koehler, shares an elote-style street corn dip just in time for Super Bowl Sunday. This skillet-cooked corn dish combines open-fire cooking and bold regional flavors for a delicious twist on Mexican Street Corn.
Quick to prep and packed with flavor, this dish is a bold way to kick up any weekend spread.
She joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to share more about her new cookbook, “Dishes and Devotions: Make Every Day Delicious,” which recently hit #1 in Amazon’s Cajun & Creole Cooking category.
Searches for “struggle meal” hit a record high in September, and #strugglemeals posts are climbing on Instagram and TikTok, reflecting a wave of budget-cooking content.
A tangy, buttery red snapper baked to perfection.
Justin Wilson’s Seven Steaks Étouffée is a slow-simmered Cajun beef stew made with 7-bone chuck steak. It’s perfect served over rice (or Étouffée) for a rich, comforting meal.
This Justin Wilson recipe is classic comfort food with bold Louisiana flavor: Southern-style baked pork chops layered over spicy Cajun dressing fortified with wine, hot sauce, and a splash of steak sauce.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Read the full press release published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Lily Pryer’s passion shows how National FFA members are making an impact in classrooms and communities all across Rural America.
A look at the legislative year ahead as lawmakers return to Washington with a slate of trade concerns to tackle in 2026—from new Chinese tariffs on beef imports to the USMCA review this summer.
Shaun Haney, Host of RealAg Radio on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147, joined us with his 2026 cattle market outlook and insights on beef prices.
Farmer Bridge Assistance payments provide immediate balance-sheet support heading into 2026, but remain a short-term bridge rather than a substitute for long-term market recovery.
The New Year is here, but in Oregon, some ranchers and livestock producers are still trying to recover from record wildfires back in 2024.
More Shows
Through scholarships, grants, endowments, junior livestock auctions, calf scramble program and show premiums, The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo impacts over 22,000 youth in Texas annually.
Dedicated to preserving the western way of life and promoting agricultural education to the Youth of Texas, the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Association works year round to continue to bring top notch events to the West Texas Area.
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
In the harsh Australian Outback, water drillers Danyelle and Anthony Haigh give up their nomadic life of searching for water for cattle ranches, to offer their two sons, Heath and Theo, a more settled life. They swap water drilling for something they’ve never done before – farming!
Analiese Gregory is taking one of the biggest risks of her life: she’s left her successful career as a restaurant chef and bought a century-old cottage at the bottom of the world, in pristine Tasmania, Australia. We share her journey of discovery as she gets under the skin of her new home – and learns to live seasonally off the land, by hunting, fishing, and foraging.
The fourth and final event in Major League Fishing’s Fishing Clash Team Series. Catch the final round each day LIVE only on RFD-TV.
Hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Tanji Patton, “Goodtaste with Tanji” focuses on chefs and popular dishes from restaurants across the culinary spectrum, along with wines, cocktails, and spirits, too. As a travelogue, the show visits restaurants, diners, and eateries across the Lone Star State in fun and adventurous settings, plus the program occasionally travels to neighboring states like Louisiana and New Mexico. In addition, the show educates viewers on wine pairings and value buys available in current wine trends.
The Folds of Honor Patriot Cup presented by B&W Trailer Hitches is the third of four Major League Fishing post-season invitational events in the Fishing Clash Team Series presented by Bass Pro Shops. Catch it LIVE on RFD-TV.
FFA
RFD-TV News is proud to provide viewers across Rural America with gavel-to-gavel coverage of the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana on Oct 29 – Nov 1, 2025.