Stovetop Popcorn

Popcorn just might be the perfect snack! It’s light, filling, low in calories, low in fat and easy to make. It’s portable, naturally gluten free and super tasty.

In this house we pop our own popcorn! No bagged stuff for us. We buy organically grown corn kernels in bulk at our local health food store and pop it old-school style on the stove. A little bit of avocado oil, a hot burner and a covered pan, you’re good to go!

Add a little sea salt and you’ve got yourself a delicious treat! Scroll down for more delicious seasoning options.

Ingredients needed

Making homemade stovetop popcorn requires just a few ingredients: popcorn kernels, oil, and sea salt or another seasoning. So simple! Let’s discuss the ingredients with a few helpful tips:

• Popcorn kernels – For this recipe, you’ll need 3/4 cup of kernels, which yields plenty of popcorn for a little crowd (anywhere from 15 to 18 cups).
• Oil – My favorite oil for tasty, perfectly crisp popcorn is avocado oil. It adds great flavor and richness. Other oils that can be used are extra virgin olive oil or refined coconut oil. Movie theaters typically use canola oil, but that’s not the best oil in regards to keeping this recipe healthy.
• Sea salt – We typically love to keep our popcorn simple with a good dash of sea salt. However, feel free to change up the flavors depending on your mood.

How to make popcorn on the stovetop

This recipe could not be easier! Here’s how to make this tasty homemade popcorn on the stovetop (printer-friendly recipe below):

• Heat the oil. In an 8-quart saucepan over a medium high heat, heat the oil.
• Start popping. Test the heat of the oil by adding two or three popcorn kernels into the oil and cover. Once the kernels pop, add the rest of the kernels to the pot. Cover the pot, remove from the heat and wait for 30 seconds before placing the pot back over the burner (this will help to ensure that all your kernels pop at the same time!).
• Shake the pot. Once you hear the popcorn begin to pop, begin to gently shake the pot back and forth over the burner. I usually pick the whole pot up and give it a few intermittent shakes throughout the popping process.
• Serve + enjoy! Once the popping slows to several seconds between pops, remove the pot from the heat and pour your popcorn into a serving bowl. Season with sea salt and/or any other favorite seasoning.

Tips for recipe success

For perfectly popped popcorn every time, here are some useful tips:

• Use a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven. For best results, use a large 8-quart pot. This will provide enough room for the kernels to pop around and withstand the heat of the oil.
• Test the heat of the oil. It’s important to make sure your oil is at the right temperature to begin popping, check by throwing 2 or 3 kernels into the pan. Once they pop, you’ll know the oil is the right temperature.
• Shake the pan while the popcorn is cooking. To prevent kernels from burning, as the corn kernels begin to pop, shake the pot a few times to keep the kernels from getting stuck at the bottom of the pot.
• Season immediately. As soon as the popcorn comes off of the heat, transfer it to a large bowl and while the popcorn is still hot, add a generous amount of salt and seasoning.

Popcorn seasoning ideas

Now that you have perfect stovetop popcorn, there are endless options when it comes to popcorn seasoning flavors. Here are a couple of my favorites:

• Nutritional yeast. For dairy free cheesy tasting popcorn.
• Cinnamon + brown sugar. For a sweeter popcorn. Use monk fruit for a low sugar option.
• Ranch Popcorn Seasoning. ½ tsp dried dill, ½ tsp dried chives, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper
• Taco Popcorn Seasoning. 1 Tbsp taco seasoning, 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

Frequently asked questions

Best way to make seasoning stick to the popcorn?

Spray the popcorn lightly or drizzle with either olive oil or avocado oil. Toss to coat the whole batch. Then, sprinkle on your seasoning and toss once more for evenly coated popcorn.

Can leftover popcorn be reheated?

Yes! To make leftover popcorn crisp and delicious again: preheat oven to 250ºF, spread the popcorn over a baking sheet, bake for 5 to 8 minutes and enjoy!

Is homemade popcorn healthy?

Popcorn is a whole grain that is high in fiber. Making it from scratch allows you to control the toppings and oil.

Is popcorn gluten free?

Yes, corn kernels are naturally gluten free! If you add any extra toppings, just be sure they’re gluten free, too.

More snack ideas

Looking for more healthy snack options? You’re sure to love our other favorites!

• No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls
• Buffalo Deviled Eggs
• Sweet and Spicy Toasted Nuts
• No-Bake Almond Butter Cookies
• Banana Oatmeal Muffins

If you make and enjoy this homemade popcorn, be sure to leave a comment and ★ rating below letting me know how they turned out. Your feedback is so helpful for me and our Clean & Delicious community (thank you!).