This Bacon Popcorn Recipe Will Be Bacon You Crazy

Haven’t tried cooking popcorn in bacon fat before? You’re missing out on a mind-blowing snack! Popcorn and bacon make a great combination — think salty, smoky, and irresistibly crunchy.

And as you’ll see below, making bacon popcorn is pretty easy! All you need are your Popper, your favorite kernels, a few slices of bacon, and other ingredients you use regularly.

Bacon Popcorn Ingredients

• ½ cup popcorn kernels
• 2-3 tablespoons bacon fat (reserved from cooking bacon)
• 4 slices bacon, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Salt, to taste (be careful as the bacon is already salty)

Bacon Popcorn Directions

Step 1: Cook Bacon

Cook chopped bacon in a medium saucepan until crispy. Remove the bacon bits and set aside. Save about 2-3 tablespoons of the bacon fat.  

Step 2: Preheat Popper

Set your stove to medium heat and let the Popper preheat for 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 3: Add Bacon Fat

Add the bacon grease to the Popper and wait for it to melt and sizzle.

Step 4: Add Kernels

Toss 2-3 kernels into the pot. When the first one pops, add the remainder and cover the Popper.

Step 5: Turn 

Turn the Popper’s crank clockwise as the kernels pop. This will coat the kernels in the bacon fat and prevent them from sticking to one place and burning. 

Step 6: Remove

When popping slows to about 1-2 seconds between pops, take the Popper off the heat and remove the lid.  

Step 7: Make Bacon Popcorn Seasoning 

In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper. 

Step 8: Combine

Drizzle the bacon popcorn seasoning over the popcorn and sprinkle the bacon bits. Then put the Popper’s lid back on and give the pot a good shake or a few extra cranks to distribute the bacon and seasoning. 

PRO TIP: If you’re adding salt, this is when to do so. Just do a taste test first — the popcorn may already be salty enough from the bacon. 

Step 9: Serve

Pour your bacon grease popcorn into a huge bowl and enjoy! 

More Bacon Popcorn Tips

• Cook your bacon slowly over medium-low heat to render out as much fat as possible without burning it. 

• For extra bacon flavor, try drizzling bacon grease over the freshly popped popcorn. You can also use bacon salt. 

• Want your popcorn cheesy? Cheddar pairs well with bacon because of its sharpness. Just shred half a cup of the cheese, add it after drizzling the bacon popcorn seasoning, then sprinkle the bacon bits and toss. Voila, you have bacon cheddar popcorn. 

• Another variation is maple bacon popcorn. To make it, combine maple syrup, butter, and some bacon grease in a small saucepan over medium heat, drizzle the mixture over the popcorn, then add the bacon bits and toss. We’ll explain more in another post! 

• Consider adding mix-ins like chopped nuts to give your popcorn more crunch. Pecans and almonds would be perfect!

• This bacon grease popcorn tastes best fresh, but if you make an extra batch for later, store it in an airtight container and eat it within 2 days. 

Let’s Get Bacon 

This bacon popcorn may not be the healthiest snack out there, but sometimes we all just need to indulge our cravings and enjoy a mouthwatering treat!