These 3 Popcorn Seasonings Add a Boost of Flavor and Are Easy to Make in 1 Minute

I used to be indifferent towards popcorn. I enjoyed it every now and then when I was craving the salty, buttery flavor — but it wasn’t a go-to snack. My aha moment came when I began experimenting with adding other seasonings to the popcorn aside from salt. This boosted the popcorn’s taste and allowed me to make it savory or sweet. Plus, homemade popcorn seasoning only needs five ingredients or less. Keep reading for three delicious seasonings that will flavor up any plain bowl of popcorn!

The flavor perks of making your own popcorn seasonings

A bowl of freshly popped popcorn in all of its rich and crunchy glory is fine for many. But, if you’re like me and always need to add extra oomph to dishes, sprinkling it with your own seasoning mix is the way to go. Making popcorn seasoning is easy as you use pantry staples to create a flavor blend that suits your taste buds.

Use smoked paprika, red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for a spiciness; opt for cinnamon or sugar for sweetness; or garlic powder and onion powder for a pungent flavor. It’s clear that your options for herbs and spices to use in the seasoning blend are seemingly endless.

Easy trick to ensure the seasoning sticks to the popcorn

If you’re worried that the seasoning won’t cling to the popcorn, the answer is simple: melted butter. Covering the popped kernels in this fat gives the seasoning something to stick to. This way you’ll get a burst of flavor in each bite. Aim to coat a big bowl of popcorn with about ¼ cup of melted unsalted butter. You can eyeball this amount and even use a spray bottle to lightly mist the butter onto the popcorn. If you’re trying to limit your butter intake, healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil work fine too.

3 DIY popcorn seasonings that boost the snack’s flavor

Now it’s time for the fun part: dressing up that bowl of popcorn! Below, chef Dennis Littley shares 3 easy seasoning blends that all follow the same directions. Simply combine the ingredients in a small bowl, sprinkle it over the coated popcorn and toss well. Feel free to also adjust the measurements to your liking if you want a spicier, sweeter or sharper result. (Bonus: We love popping Cheerie Lane’s Butter-Flavored Pods to produce airy and crunchy popcorn that works well with any seasoning blend!)

Cheesy Garlic Parmesan

This mix infuses popcorn with the flavors of your favorite cheesy garlic bread. The combination of ingredients gives the blend a sharp, pungent and slightly nutty flavor. It’s so delicious that you may even want to make an extra amount to shake over the popcorn.

• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• ½ tsp. onion powder
• ½ tsp. dried parsley
• Pinch of salt

Cinnamon Sugar

Indulge your sweet tooth with this cinnamon sugar popcorn seasoning. All you need is two ingredients before this fragrant and sweet mix is ready to use. Give the blend a seasonal twist by adding pumpkin spice to taste.

• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

Spicy Sriracha

If you love popcorn with a kick, this spicy sriracha coating will do the trick! It uses sriracha (a Thai hot sauce), smoked paprika and salt to form a paste that covers the popcorn in a layer of peppery spice. You can use any hot sauce you have on hand and regular paprika if needed.

• 2 Tbs. sriracha
• ½ tsp. smoked paprika
• Pinch of salt

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