10 Best Popcorn Toppings to Snack On for Your Next Movie Night

Popcorn is one of the best snacks out there. It's delicious, versatile, and easy to make. It’s perfect for any occasion.

But do you know what will make your favorite popcorn even better? Throwing in delicious popcorn toppings.

There are countless of sweet, savory, and even healthy popcorn toppings waiting for you to explore. We go over 10 of the best in this post. 

Let's get right to it:

Unique Popcorn Seasonings & Toppings to Snack On

Popcorn is amazing as is, but adding toppings makes it twice as good. Since it has a fairly neutral flavor, it goes well with all kinds of flavors. It’s like a clean slate, letting you top it with almost anything you can imagine.

Check out these popcorn seasoning and toppings for inspiration:

1. Chili Powder

The first popcorn topping on our list is chili powder, and it's something you probably already have at home. Its smokey, spicy taste perfectly complements the saltiness of popcorn.

After making a batch of popcorn on your Popsmith Popper, simply sprinkle a bit of chili powder over the top, and ta-da! You instantly upgrade your snack.

It’s amazing how just one ingredient can transform your popcorn. It may be basic but the flavor chili powder adds to popcorn is pretty darn good. You'll love it if you enjoy spicy food!

2. Kettle Corn Seasoning 

Homemade kettle corn can be tricky to nail. The thick melted sugar can get sticky inside a pot and it can be tough to toss your popped popcorn in the messy kettle corn mix. 

Luckily, there’s a better way to make kettle corn at home: our Classic Kettle Popcorn kits. Each pre-measured packet has all the ingredients you need to make kettle corn that tastes just like the one at your local county fair — kernels, coconut oil, and our special sugar 'n salt mix.

Related: How to Make Kettle Corn at Home

3. Everything Bagel Seasoning

Everything bagel seasoning is an amazing blend of spices. It's gained popularity over the past years so you shouldn't have trouble finding a jar at your local grocery store. 

The funny thing is, with so many brands selling their own version of everything bagel seasoning, you might find it difficult to narrow down your choice. Any will do, though, and you can always make your own.

So what is the “everything” in this seasoning?

Well, there’s dried onion powder, garlic powder, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. Salt is often added and some brands may also include caraway seeds. All of these spices work together to give you an incredible-tasting popcorn. 

4. Black Pepper & Sea Salt

This popcorn topping may sound simple but don't underestimate it. It’s a true classic. And classic flavors stick around for a reason — they simply work!

The black pepper makes the popcorn a bit spicy while the sea salt enhances its salty flavor profile. Sounds yum, right? You have to try it.

5. Chili Lime

We’re crazy about chili lime popcorn. It’s one of the best popcorn topping on the list. That's because it’s a spicy, tangy topping that goes so well with the saltiness and crunch of popcorn. You don’t need to wait for any occasion to enjoy it — you can make this combo your everyday snack if you want.

It's super easy. Just squeeze some fresh lime juice over your popcorn and then sprinkle it with some chili seasoning. The lime juice helps the spices stick to the popcorn, giving you the perfect amount of flavor in every bite.

6. Olive Oil & Parmesan

If you enjoy Italian cuisine, this is going to be one of your favorite popcorn flavors!

Olive oil adds a rich taste to popcorn and helps the grated parmesan cheese stick to each popped kernel. Meanwhile, parmesan cheese has an umami flavor that pairs well with salty popcorn.

To bring out that Italian flavor even more, try sprinkling a little dried oregano over your olive oil popcorn. 

7. Cayenne Pepper & Cumin 

Sprinkle some cayenne pepper and cumin over your popcorn for a taco-inspired snack. The spices give the popcorn just the right amount of heat.

When you make cayenne pepper and cumin popcorn, one thing that's bound to happen is that you won't be able to stop eating it. It’s just that irresistible!

You can drizzle a little hot sauce over the popcorn to make it even more taco-y. This adds more kick and a whole lot of flavor. Just be sure to add your hot sauce right before you’re about to eat so the popcorn doesn’t get too soggy.

8. Garlic Powder & Paprika

You can never go wrong with garlic! And garlic paprika popcorn is definitely a winning snack. Its smokey, savory taste is incredible and we guarantee you’ll crave it at random times of the day.

Sprinkle some garlic powder and smoked paprika over your warm popcorn. Adding these dry spices while the popcorn is warm will help them stick better. You want to toss in as much of this combo as possible as it will really elevate your snack.

9. Peanut Butter

There's nothing quite like peanut butter popcorn. It may be an unconventional popcorn topping but it’s a good pick-me-up. It's pretty easy to make too, which always gets a plus in our books. 

First, make some popcorn. Then, melt butter in a small saucepan, add peanut butter and honey (for sweetness), and stir until it turns smooth. After that, you'll want to pour the mixture over the popcorn and mix until it's totally coated.

10. Crushed Pretzels & Chocolate

The combination of pretzels, chocolate, and popcorn is unbelievable. It's a little bit salty and a little bit sweet, plus you get extra crunch with every bite. This popcorn mix is something everyone’s going to love!

To make this drool-worthy combo, simply toss some pretzel twists and a handful of milk chocolate chips into your warm, freshly popped popcorn. The warmth will make the chocolate soft and melty, letting it coat the popcorn and pretzels for a super decadent treat.

How to Get Seasonings to Stick to Your Popcorn

Once you decide which popcorn topping to try, be sure to get every bit of seasoning and spice to stick to your popcorn. You can use oil or melted ghee or butter for this. Just keep in mind that your popcorn might turn soggy if you pick butter. 

By getting a little bit of grease on the kernels, the popcorn toppings will stick and you'll be able to enjoy every bite of your snack. 

Let's say you want to coat your popcorn in peanut butter. Before tossing it in your plain popcorn, mix it with a little melted butter first. This will thin out the peanut butter and make it easier for you to coat the popcorn. 

You can prepare an amazing snack in just minutes when you follow these tips. You can create anything from caramel popcorn to Italian-seasoned popcorn and everything in between!

Get More Snacking Inspiration for Your Next Movie Night

Don’t all of these popcorn toppings sound incredible? Boy, are you going to have trouble choosing which topping to try first!

Luckily, popcorn is a great snack for any time of the day and any day of the year. You have plenty of opportunities to try all of these popcorn toppings for your next party, movie night, or game night. 

If you ever need more popcorn inspiration, be sure to check back as we have endless recipe ideas you can make with your Popsmith Popper.