Easy Homemade Popcorn Seasoning

Making homemade popcorn seasoning is so much easier than you would think. Today I’m showing you how to make 7 of my favorite popcorn flavors, from herby ranch to gingerbread!

The day I learned that popcorn is a whole grain was a pretty big day. Suddenly my favorite mindless-munching snack was a healthy one, and let’s just say I ate a lot of popcorn after that discovery. But while many store bought flavored popcorns are loaded with butter and sugar, you can make your own homemade popcorn seasoning at home that’s healthier (and cheaper!) than the store bought stuff.

How to make flavor stick to homemade popcorn

There are a few ways to make the seasonings really stick to the popcorn. I always like to spray the popcorn lightly with either flavorless or olive oil (depending if I want the olive flavor to shine through, like in the savory seasoning recipes). Simply spray or drizzle the oil over the popcorn and toss to coat the whole batch. Then sprinkle on your seasoning and toss once more for evenly coated popcorn.

Another way to ensure your seasonings stick is to swap out regular sugar for powdered sugar in the sweet recipes. This light sugar will coat each kernel without all sinking to the bottom. Ready to get popping?

Savory Popcorn Recipes

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

Dorito Popcorn Seasoning: 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp cumin, ¼ tsp paprika, ¼ tsp chili powder, ¼ tsp salt

Taco Popcorn Seasoning: 1 Tbsp taco seasoning, 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

Coconut Curry Popcorn Seasoning: 1 Tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut, ½ tsp curry powder, ¼ tsp salt

Sweet Popcorn Recipes

Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn Seasoning: 2 Tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp salt

Gingerbread Popcorn Seasoning: 1 ½ Tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground ginger, ¼ tsp ground cloves

Mexican Chocolate Popcorn Seasoning: 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 Tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp salt, pinch of cayenne pepper

Easy Homemade Popcorn Seasoning

Making homemade popcorn seasoning is so much easier than you would think. Today I’m showing you how to make 7 of my favorite flavors, from herby ranch to gingerbread!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snacks

Keyword: popcorn, popcorn seasoning

Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Occasion: Christmas, Game Day, Halloween

Time: 15 minutes or less, 30 minutes or less, 45 minutes or less

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 3 mins

Total: 8 mins

Servings: 4 cups

Author: Sarah Bond

4.8 from 30 votes

INGREDIENTS

Pick a Seasoning

• Ranch: ½ tsp dried dill, ½ tsp dried chives, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepperRanch: ½ tsp dried dill, ½ tsp dried chives, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper
• Cinnamon Sugar: 2 Tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp saltCinnamon Sugar: 2 Tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp salt
• Gingerbread: 1 ½ Tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground ginger, ¼ tsp ground clovesGingerbread: 1 ½ Tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground ginger, ¼ tsp ground cloves
• Coconut Curry: 1 Tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut, ½ tsp curry powder, ¼ tsp saltCoconut Curry: 1 Tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut, ½ tsp curry powder, ¼ tsp salt
• Dorito: 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp cumin, ¼ tsp paprika, ¼ tsp chili powder, ¼ tsp saltDorito: 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp cumin, ¼ tsp paprika, ¼ tsp chili powder, ¼ tsp salt
• Mexican Chocolate: 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder,1 Tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp salt, pinch of cayenne pepperMexican Chocolate: 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder,1 Tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp salt, pinch of cayenne pepper
• Taco: 1 Tbsp taco seasoning, 1 Tbsp nutritional yeastTaco: 1 Tbsp taco seasoning, 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

Base

• 4 cups popped popcorn4 cups popped popcorn
• 1 tsp oil 5 mL1 tsp oil 5 mL

INSTRUCTIONS

• Mix: In a small bowl, combine the ingredients to your seasoning of choice.
• Pop: Prepare popcorn in either the microwave or traditionally on the stove. Spray or drizzle oil onto popcorn, tossing to evenly coat.
• Serve: Sprinkle seasoning over popcorn and toss to coat once more. Serve warm.

NOTES

These seasonings are also great on oven-baked or air fried kale chips!

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I first published this recipe over on Amanda’s Cookin’.