Top 16 Popcorn Flavors You Need to Try Today

Fact: everyone loves popcorn. Who wouldn't? It's such a yummy treat. Plus, it's really easy to make at home. You can enjoy popcorn any time of the year and on any occasion — not just movie night.

Now the thing we love most about popcorn is how versatile it is. There are tons of different popcorn recipes out there just waiting for you to try. You won't have a problem finding one to satisfy a specific craving.

Just check out these 16 best sweet and savory gourmet popcorn flavors! These flavors of popcorn are going to open up a whole new world of yummy snacks for you. 

Must-Try Savory Popcorn Flavors

Love cheesy or salty snacks? You might want to try the savory popcorn flavors we're about to share. But fair warning: these will make you drool!

1. Movie Theater Popcorn

2. Nacho Cheese Popcorn

Cheese popcorn is already incredible but this one is just on another level. It's one of the most popular flavors of gourmet popcorn for a reason (and it's also incredibly easy to make). Just check out this nacho cheese popcorn recipe.

3. White Cheddar Popcorn

White cheddar popcorn is a super common popcorn flavor. You can find pre-popped bags in almost every grocery store across the country. That's because the cheesy, tangy taste is so irresistible. 

While you can simply buy white cheddar popcorn, you can also make your own at home. All you need for the seasoning is white cheddar cheese powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.

Read more: How to Make White Cheddar Popcorn

4. Spicy Jalapeño Popcorn

Anyone who loves a little kick to their food is gonna go crazy for spicy jalapeño popcorn. It takes the traditional salty taste of popcorn and really turns it up a notch. Jalapeño popcorn is also pretty unique so it's sure to surprise your taste buds (in a good way, we promise).

To make it, you can either use diced pickled jalapeños or look for jalapeño seasoning in your grocery store. Then you toss the pickled jalapeños or the seasoning with some popped popcorn and, voila, your delicious new snack is ready. You can also customize how spicy you want your popcorn by simply adding more jalapeño or less.

5. Dill Pickle Popcorn

Dill pickle popcorn may sound a little strange at first but, once you give it a try, prepare to get hooked. Dill pickles and popcorn actually make a great combo. The crunchy popcorn is a little savory, a little sour, and completely addictive. 

To get that dill pickle flavor on your popcorn, simply add some salt, pepper, and dried dill weed to the popped popcorn and toss everything together. If you want a stronger pickle taste, drizzle a little vinegar over the popped popcorn and eat it right away. You really will be surprised by how delicious this flavor combo is. 

6. Cajun Popcorn

Cajun popcorn is a perfect blend of creole seasoning and crunchy popcorn. It's a little spicy so it will give your snack some heat. 

You can make cajun popcorn by sprinkling cajun seasoning over freshly popped popcorn. You can also make your own cajun seasoning by combining paprika, black pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. It's so, so tasty. 

7. Parmesan Cheese Popcorn

You're probably used to cheddar or white cheddar cheese with popcorn but parmesan? It's delicious, we promise. It's a savory, cheesy snack that's also bursting with umami flavor. 

Parmesan cheese popcorn is a little lighter than white cheddar popcorn and is actually pretty low in calories. You just need to sprinkle your popped popcorn with a little salt, pepper, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. 

8. Ranch Popcorn

You may be surprised to learn that the ranch popcorn flavor is one of the most popular types of popcorn out there. Ranch seasoning has a tangy, savory taste that goes really well with salty popcorn. And the best part is that it's really easy to whip up, as you'll find out when you check out our ranch popcorn recipe.

Most grocery stores will have pre-made packets of ranch mix but we encourage you to try making your own!                       

Sweet Gourmet Popcorn Flavors

We thought about the best, classic sweet popcorn flavors and then came up with a list that will satisfy any sweet tooth. These popcorn flavors are more like desserts — and we bet you won't get enough of them! 

1. Kettle Corn

Kettle corn may be the most common sweet popcorn flavor. It can be found at carnivals and fairs across the country. It's both sweet and salty, making it one special treat.

With our Popper and pre-measured Classic Kettle Popcorn kits, making kettle corn at home has never been easier.

You just need to add the oil and kernels first, then add in the sugar 'n salt mix right before popping starts to prevent burning your popcorn. The Popper's spinning mechanism and multi-clad metal bottom help prevent burning and ensure the flavoring is well distributed.

2. Birthday Cake Popcorn

Looking for an unforgettable birthday treat? Why not make birthday cake popcorn? It's fun, colorful, and a definite showstopper.

Of course, you don't have to wait for a real birthday to enjoy this treat — you can make it for date night, Christmas, or just because. 

You'll need a few things to bring your birthday popcorn to life. 

First, mix together some melted marshmallows, then mix in some vanilla cake mix, a splash of vanilla extract, and a tiny bit of milk. Add some popped popcorn to the bowl and mix it all up. Add rainbow sprinkles to make the birthday cake popcorn even more eye-catching. 

This gourmet popcorn creation will impress kids and kids at heart.

3. Caramel Corn

Caramel corn is another classic sweet popcorn flavor you've likely tried. But while you can buy it in tins or bags, you should try to make your own. 

Start by popping a fresh batch of popcorn. Then add some brown sugar and corn syrup to a small pot and bring it to a boil over medium heat.

When the mix starts to thicken, remove the pot from the heat, let it cool slightly, then pour it over your popcorn. Toss the popcorn quickly in the caramel and then enjoy. You won’t believe how amazing fresh caramel corn can be.

4. S’mores Popcorn

Who doesn't enjoy making s'mores by the campfire?

Well, you can get that chocolate, marshmallow-y flavor any time you want when you turn your s’mores into popcorn. S’mores popcorn is a little more unique than the other sweet popcorn flavors on this list but that's just another reason why we love it. 

To make it, you just need to add melted milk chocolate, mini marshmallows, and graham cracker pieces to your popcorn. It may be a little messy to eat, but it's so worth it. 

5. Sea Salt Caramel Popcorn

This is your classic caramel corn with a twist. Salted caramel is a decadent flavor that really stands out. It's especially good when paired with popcorn which is also buttery and salty. 

To make sea salt caramel popcorn flavor, you can follow the same method for traditional caramel corn. Once the caramel sauce is boiling, just add a little bit of flakey sea salt. Toss the salted caramel with your popped popcorn, and congratulations — you have a sweet and salty treat waiting for you to enjoy. 

6. Peanut Butter Popcorn

Another unexpected but amazing flavor combo is peanut butter and popcorn. It's sweet, savory, and absolutely delicious. The best part is how quick it is to make. You can make it in your own kitchen in mere minutes. 

Read More: We're Nuts for This Peanut Butter Popcorn

7. Peppermint Bark Mocha Popcorn

This popcorn flavor is great for the holiday season. It's a combination of crunchy popcorn with the classic chocolate-peppermint flavor that's always popular around the later part of the year. 

To make peppermint bark mocha popcorn, you start by melting peppermint candies and tossing some popped popcorn into the melted peppermint syrup.

Then you can melt some dark chocolate chips and drizzle the chocolate over the peppermint popcorn. Sprinkle some crushed peppermint candies on top of the chocolate popcorn to make it look as appealing as it tastes. Eat it right away or pack the gourmet popcorn into bags and give it as a gift.

8. Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn

Cinnamon sugar tastes good on just about anything, so it only makes sense that cinnamon popcorn would be an instant hit. 

And like many of the popcorn recipes on this list, it's really simple. Just pop your popcorn and then mix it with a little melted butter. The butter will help the cinnamon sugar stick to the popcorn. Sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar mix over the buttered popcorn and toss well. 

How to Season Your Freshly Popped Popcorn

To make the best bowl of gourmet popcorn, you need to know how to season popcorn the right way. There are a few tricks to getting the seasoning just right. 

The first thing to do before seasoning popcorn is to toss the popcorn in a little melted butter. Melted butter will help dry seasonings stick to the popcorn better. 

If you're adding sauces or melted syrups to your popped popcorn, stir them quickly while the sauce and popcorn are both still hot.

This will help the sauces coat the popcorn evenly and get flavor into every single bite. Just be sure to let the popcorn sit for a few minutes before eating — you don’t want it to be so hot that it burns your mouth. 

PRO TIP: Besides butter, you can also use oil to get your seasoning to stick. Just put some in a spray bottle and spray a light layer over the popcorn.

Get More Snack Break Inspiration

There's a perfect popcorn flavor for everyone. Sweet, salty, spicy, healthy — the possibilities are as endless as your imagination. Now grab your Popsmith and try these flavors one by one! You might just discover your new favorite snack.

Want more snack inspiration? Check out our blog for all kinds of yummy popcorn recipes!