We all love popcorn. It is one of the best snacks out there. Popcorn is inexpensive, versatile and delicious. It really is good for any occasion.
But do you want to know what will make your favorite popcorn even better? Adding a delicious popcorn topping. You can make homemade popcorn then season it any way you want.
Melted butter isn’t the only popcorn topping out there any more. There are so many great sweet and savory popcorn toppings that we want to tell you all about. So, go grab a bag of popped popcorn and get ready to add some amazing popcorn toppings that you will go crazy for.
Unique Popcorn Seasonings & Toppings to Snack On
Popcorn really is a versatile snack that is made even more appealing when you start adding toppings. Since popcorn has a fairly neutral flavor, it goes well with so many different flavors. Salty popcorn is like a clean slate, letting you top the snack with almost anything you can think of.
Sure, butter popcorn recipes are great but we want to be a little more creative than that. There are dozens of ways you can shake up your favorite snack and make it unique, exciting and even more addictive. So are you ready to learn all about the best popcorn toppings out there? Then let’s dive in!
1. Chili Powder
Simple chili powder is the number one popcorn topping on our list. It is such an easy popcorn topping that many of us already have in our pantry. The smokey, spicy taste of chili powder is such a great addition to salty popcorn.
Once you make your stovetop popcorn or microwave popcorn, you can just sprinkle a little bit of chili powder over the top of your popcorn and, poof! A whole new snack. It is amazing how much you can upgrade your popcorn with just one little ingredient. It may be simple but the flavor that chili powder adds to popcorn is pretty big. You are going to love it.
2. Everything Bagel Seasoning
Everything bagel seasoning is an amazing blend of spices. It has become pretty popular in the last few years so you should be able to find a jar of everything bagel seasoning in almost every grocery store. There are actually quite a few different brands but they will all be delicious when sprinkled over popcorn.
So what exactly is in everything bagel seasoning? First, there is dried onion powder, garlic powder, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Salt is often added to everything bagel seasoning and you may also find caraway seeds in some bottles. All of these spices are incredible along with salty, crunchy popcorn.
3. Kettle Corn Seasoning
Real kettle corn can be very hard to make at home. The thick melted sugar can get pretty stick inside a pot and it can be tricky to toss the popped popcorn in the messy kettle corn mix. Luckily, there is a better way to make kettle corn at home. The answer is kettle corn seasoning.
Kettle corn seasoning is a dry seasoning that you can just sprinkle over your popped popcorn. It has the same great, sweet taste of kettle corn but without the sticky caramel mess. Just sprinkle a little kettle corn seasoning over your popcorn and you have a perfect sweet and salty snack.
4. Crushed Pretzels & Chocolate
The combination of pretzels, chocolate and popcorn is unbelievable. The flavors are a little bit salty and a little bit sweet, creating the ultimate combination. Everyone is going to love this popcorn mix!
So, how do you make this delicious combo? Simply toss some pretzel twists and a handful of milk chocolate chips to your warm popped popcorn. The warm popcorn will make the chocolate soft and melty, letting it coat the popcorn and pretzels to make a super decadent treat.
5. Cayenne Pepper & Cumin
Sprinkle some cayenne pepper and cumin over your popcorn to create a taco inspired snack. The spices give the popcorn a smokey flavor that is also a bit spicy. One thing that is bound to happen when you make cayenne pepper and cumin popcorn is that you won’t be able to stop eating it. It is just too good!
If you want to make your popcorn even more taco-y, you can drizzle a little hot sauce over the snack. This adds a little extra heat and a whole lot more flavor. Just be sure to add your hot sauce right before you are ready to eat so the popcorn doesn’t get too soggy.
6. Chili Lime
We are crazy about chili lime popcorn. It may just be one of the best popcorn topping on the list! That is because it is a spicy, tangy topping that goes so well with the salty, crunchy popcorn. This combo is just the perfect everyday snack.
To make chili lime popcorn topping, you can just squeeze a little fresh lime juice over your popcorn then sprinkle it with some chili seasoning. The lime juice will actually help the spices stick to the popcorn so you get the perfect amount of flavor in every bite.
7. Black Pepper & Sea Salt
This popcorn topping may sound simple but we assure you that it isn’t. It is just a true classic! And classic flavors stick around for a reason- they are good! Topping your popcorn with ground black pepper and sea salt is definitely a good idea.
The ground black pepper adds a little bit of spice to the popcorn while sea salt enhances the salty flavor profile of popcorn. You can make black pepper and sea salt popcorn at home but you can also find it pre-bagged in the grocery store. That is perfect for those times you need a quick, convenient snack!
8. Olive Oil & Parmesan
This Italian inspired popcorn flavor is going to be one of your favorites. The olive oil adds a rich taste to the popcorn and helps the grated parmesan cheese stick to each popped kernel. Parmesan cheese has a tasty umami flavor that is perfect alongside the neutral oil and salty popcorn.
You can also try sprinkling a little dried oregano over the olive oil popcorn. This brings out that Italian taste even more!
9. Garlic Powder & Paprika
You can never go wrong with garlic! And garlic paprika popcorn is definitely a winning flavor. The smokey, savory taste is incredible and something you will crave.
Sprinkle some garlic powder and smoked paprika over your warm popcorn. Adding the dry spices while the popcorn is warm will help them stick better. You want as much spice on every piece of popcorn as the tasty combo will really elevate your snack.
10. Peanut Butter
There is nothing quite like peanut butter popcorn. It may be a non-conventional popcorn topping but it is one of the best. It is also pretty easy to make.
Heat some peanut butter in a large bowl so that it is runny and thin. Then, toss your popped popcorn in the warm peanut butter and mix until the snack is totally coated. You can also try mixing a little corn syrup into the peanut butter to make this a sweet and savory popcorn topping. This combo will turn your every-day popcorn into a mouthwatering dessert.
How to Get Your Seasonings to Stick to Your Popcorn
Once you decide which popcorn topping to try, you want to be sure to get every bit of spice and seasoning to stick to your popcorn. We have a little trick that will help you. The answer is….butter!
Once your popcorn is popped, you should toss it in some melted butter or coconut oil. Getting a little bit of wet grease on the kernels will make the popcorn toppings stick. The dry seasonings will immediately adhere to the melted butter and stick to every single piece of popcorn. Every bite will be amazing!
Melted butter will also help some thicker, stickier popcorn toppings adhere to your popcorn. For example, if you want to coat your popcorn in peanut butter or melted white chocolate, you should mix the peanut butter or chocolate with a little melted butter before tossing in your plain popcorn. This will help make your topping thinner and help it easily coat the popcorn.
Making DIY gourmet popcorn is actually very easy to make. You can prepare an amazing snack in just minutes when you follow these tips. You can create everything from caramel corn to Italian seasoned popcorn and everything in between! Just remember to make that popcorn nice and buttery before adding your toppings so you get even flavor in every bite.
Get More Snacking Inspiration For Your Next Movie Night
Don’t all of these popcorn toppings sound incredible? It can’t be hard to choose which topping to try first! Luckily, popcorn is a great snack for anytime of day, anytime of year. That means you have plenty of opportunities to try all of these popcorn toppings.
If you ever need more popcorn inspiration, be sure to check back as we at Popsmith have endless ideas. We can not only teach you about popcorn but help you discover so many different ways to transform your favorite snack into something truly unique. Check back soon as we are always making new popcorn creations!
