Homemade Microwave Popcorn Recipe: Easy How to Recipe

If you’re looking to make healthy homemade popcorn without the mystery ingredients found in store-bought microwave popcorn, you’re in the right place. This easy recipe will teach you to make your own popcorn at home with popcorn kernels and a brown paper bag, or microwave-safe bowl.

Why Make Your Own Homemade Microwave Popcorn?

Microwave popcorn is one of the most convenient healthy snacks, but store-bought packets often contain added oils, chemicals, and artificial flavors.

Making your own microwave popcorn at home, with simple ingredients, like olive oil or lard is a healthy way to enjoy movie night without the additives found in processed foods.

This easy method using a brown paper lunch bag or microwave safe bowl allows you to pop the kernels with less waste and less oil.

What You’ll Need to Make Homemade Microwave Popcorn

Ingredients

• Popcorn kernels
• Oil – olive oil works well in this recipe because the amount needed is so small that it doesn’t impart a strong flavor. Lard or melted coconut oil works as well.
• Salt (optional) – a fine salt like Celtic grey salt or pink Himalayan salt works well because of the fine texture.
• Optional toppings: melted butter, nutritional yeast, parmesan cheese, or even try caramel corn for a fun twist!

Equipment

• Microwave – to pop the popcorn
• Brown paper bag – I like to use brown paper lunch bags because of the ease of clean up. However, you can also use a glass bowl with a microwave safe lid, or plate to cover the top of the bowl.

How to Make Homemade Microwave Popcorn

Measure the Kernels: Measure about 1/3 cup of kernels and add them to the brown paper bag or microwave safe bowl.

Add Oil: Measure 1/2 teaspoon of your chosen oil (olive oil, melted lard, or coconut oil) and add it to the unpopped kernels. Be sure to stir or shake up the oil and popcorn kernels to evenly coat the kernels. You can add the salt during this stage if desired.

Prepare the Bag or Bowl: If you are using a paper bag, be sure to fold the top of the bag down once or twice to seal in the steam needed to pop the popcorn, and keep the popcorn contained to the bag. If you are using a microwave safe bowl, cover it with a microwave safe lid or plate.

Cook the Popcorn: Using full power on your microwave, set the timer for 2-3 minutes. (I recommend staying close to the microwave during this time, because most microwaves vary in power and size, and will require a different cooking time to pop.) When the time between pops slows to 1-2 seconds or more, the popcorn is done and should be taken out of the microwave to avoid burning. (Note: avoid using the popcorn setting on your microwave as exact times will vary as stated above)

Season the Popcorn: After the homemade popcorn is finished popping, season with your favorite topping like melted butter, salt, or topping of your choice.

Enjoy!

Topping Ideas for Homemade Microwave Popcorn

Once your bowl of popcorn is ready, transfer it to a serving bowl for the whole family to enjoy, and add your favorite toppings to taste!

Consider whipping up a batch of my favorite Bone Broth Hot Chocolate for your next movie night, too!

Homemade popcorn is extremely versatile, so it can be customized to your liking.

A few favorite topping ideas:

• Nutritional yeast
• Parmesan cheese
• Kosher salt & pepper
• Garlic powder
• Caramel sauce
• Chocolate chips
• Tajin seasoning
• Cumin and chili powder
• Powdered vinegar and salt

How to Store Leftover Popcorn

Using a glass storage container or storage bag, remove as much air as possible to keep the popcorn from going stale.

Homemade popcorn can last 3 or 4 days without affecting the flavor, but it’s hard to prevent it from starting to stale slightly even by the next day.

Slightly stale popcorn won’t hurt you, but there’s nothing better than fresh popcorn, so I just make enough for my family for one sitting every time.

It’s just such an easy way to make popcorn that I don’t even mind if I’m making it for another day in a row!

Why This Homemade Popcorn Recipe the Best Way to Enjoy Popcorn

This healthy homemade popcorn uses only whole food ingredients, and it is a healthy snack option that’s easy to make. This recipe truly requires very little effort.

Using natural popcorn kernels and real ingredients means you can skip the additives found in grocery store popcorn.

Most of the special bags of microwave popcorn that you can get at your local grocery store contain perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). 

There are numerous studies that explore the break down of these types of chemicals in packaging, leading to adverse reactions to our health.

Regardless of the proven or suspected effects, making homemade microwave popcorn yourself will eliminate any risk you previously would have experienced before!

Additionally, making popcorn at home will give you complete control of ingredients in your food.

If you want to avoid vegetable oil, opt for animal fats like lard or tallow to pop popcorn.

Use real butter from grass fed cows to season this recipe with.