Popcorn Seasoning

People who know me well—and people who’ve been reading Rachel Cooks for a while—know that popcorn is my Achilles heel. I could eat it all day, every day, and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it. Over the years, I’ve posted everything from peanut butter popcorn to Cinnamon Toast Crunch popcorn, but this homemade popcorn seasoning is definitely the easiest!

All you do is pop your popcorn, whether it’s in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in a popcorn popper. Toss the popcorn with butter or oil so the seasoning sticks, then sprinkle with your seasoning of choice. Who needs fancy store-bought popcorn seasoning? Not you!

Sensational (Easy) Popcorn Seasoning

Cheaper (and better-tasting) than store-bought. Gourmet stores are full of pricy popcorn seasoning blends but you probably have everything you need to make most of these seasonings in your pantry already. (This is why I love making my own seasonings! Try my homemade everything bagel seasoning and Cajun seasoning too.)

Easy to make and use. These popcorn seasonings are just a matter of mixing together spices, sugar, and/or salt. Sprinkle them onto the popcorn and your work is done!

Tasty options for every palate. These popcorn seasonings are delicious and there’s something here to satisfy every craving, whether you want your popcorn to taste like tacos or dessert.

Great for gifting. Scale up these seasonings, put them in cute jars, and you’ve got a fantastic homemade gift for the holidays.

Ingredient Notes

For Popcorn

• Popped popcorn: Pop it your favorite way! If you use microwave popcorn, make sure it’s plain or lightly salted.
• Oil or melted butter: Again, choose your favorite. Without this, the seasonings will just shake off to the bottom of the bowl. You can also use oil spray to mist your popcorn.

For Seasoning Mixes

• Taco: Chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and cayenne.
• Cinnamon sugar: Powdered sugar, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt.
• Gingerbread: Powdered sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground allspice, and kosher salt.
• Italian garlic: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, kosher salt, and Parmesan cheese (if desired).
• Ranch: Dried dill, dried chives, dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and kosher salt.
• Chocolate: Cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and kosher salt.

How to Make Popcorn Seasoning

Mix the seasoning. Choose the seasoning you want to use; grab all the ingredients, then mix them together in a small bowl.

Oil or butter the popcorn. Transfer the popped popcorn to a large bowl. Make sure there’s ample room to toss and stir. Add the oil or melted butter and toss to coat, or use an oil mister to spray the popcorn. (I tested this and I love how the oil spray coats the popcorn evenly without making it soggy.)

Season. Sprinkle the seasonings onto the popcorn. To make sure it’s evenly distributed, I sprinkle some on, then stir, then sprinkle on some more, stir again, etc., rather than dumping it all in the bowl and then stirring. Serve immediately.

Make Ahead

If you make popcorn often, you might as well keep some popcorn seasoning on hand! It will last several months in an airtight container stored at room temperature. (For the Italian herb seasoning, leave the Parmesan out and add it to the popcorn when you’re tossing everything together.)

Popcorn Storage

Once seasoned, your popcorn will last a day or two before it starts getting stale and soggy. Of course, popcorn is best enjoyed while it’s still warm right after popping, so that’s always your best bet!