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
• 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 (the bacon adds plenty — go easy)

Bacon Popcorn Directions

Step 1: Cook Bacon

Cook the chopped bacon in a skillet over medium-low heat until crispy. Remove the bacon bits and set aside. Reserve 2 to 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

Pour the reserved bacon grease into the Popper and allow it to heat up.

Step 4: Add Kernels

Drop 3 kernels into the pot. When the first one pops, add the remaining 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 pour the popcorn into a big bowl.

Step 7: Make Bacon Popcorn Seasoning 

Whisk together the melted butter, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper in a small bowl.

Step 8: Combine

Drizzle the butter mixture over the popcorn and toss well. Add the crispy bacon bits and toss again. Taste before adding any salt — the bacon is usually enough.

Step 9: Serve

Enjoy your bacon popcorn while it's still warm.

More Bacon Popcorn Tips

• Cook the bacon low and slow. Medium-low heat renders out more fat without burning it, and gives you crispier bits for topping.
  
  
• Want more bacon flavor? Drizzle a little extra bacon fat directly over the popcorn before the butter seasoning, or swap regular salt for bacon salt.
  
  
• Make it bacon cheddar. Add half a cup of freshly shredded sharp cheddar right after the butter drizzle, before the bacon bits go on. The heat from the popcorn melts it just enough to coat.
  
  
• Try maple bacon popcorn. Combine maple syrup, butter, and bacon fat in a small saucepan, drizzle over the popcorn, then finish with the bacon bits. We've got a full maple bacon popcorn recipe if you want the details.
  
  
• Storage. Bacon popcorn is best fresh. If you have any leftover popcorn, store it in an airtight container and eat everything within 2 days.

Let’s Get Bacon 

If you've never popped corn in bacon fat before, today's the day. It's not something you should be making all the time, but as an occasional treat, nothing else quite compares. It's the move for game day, a backyard party, or any weekend that calls for an extra special snack.

Pick up your Popper now if you don't have one yet, and check out our popcorn recipes for more flavors to work through.