Jalapeño Popcorn at a Glance
Imagine all the things you love about jalapeno poppers — the crunch, the heat, the tanginess — packed into your favorite snack. That’s exactly what the combination of popcorn and jalapeños brings to the table.
The only difference? Jalapeno popcorn is much faster to prepare, especially when you have a stainless steel popcorn popper to help you. It’s gonna be a sure hit at game night (or any gathering, really)!
Jalapeño Cheddar Popcorn Ingredients
- ½ cup popcorn kernels
- 2 tablespoons butter flavored coconut oil
- 1-2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and finely chopped (adjust to your desired level of heat)
- ¼ cup finely grated cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt, to taste
- 2 tablespoons melted ghee
How to Make Jalapeño Popcorn
Step 1: Make the Seasoning
Mix the grated cheese, jalapeño peppers, garlic powder, and salt in a small bowl.
Step 2: Heat
Put your stove on medium heat. Let the Popper preheat for 1-2 minutes.
Step 3: Add Oil
Pour the oil and let it sizzle.
Step 4: Drop Kernels
Toss 2-3 kernels into the pot. Add in the rest when the first one pops, then cover your Popper.
Step 5: Pop
Turn the crank clockwise while the kernels pop to evenly distribute the oil and keep them from staying in one place.
Step 6: Remove
When popping slows, remove the Popper from the heat and transfer your popcorn to a large bowl.
Step 7: Drizzle
Drizzle the melted ghee over the popcorn and toss the bowl gently to coat the popcorn in it.
DID YOU KNOW? The melted ghee acts as a glue, keeping the dry ingredients from falling to the bottom of the bowl.
Step 8: Sprinkle
Sprinkle on the cheese and jalapeño mixture and toss again until it's evenly distributed.
Step 9: Serve
Dig in right away, while the cheese is still warm and a little melty.
More Jalapeño Popcorn Tips
- Mix things up by swapping the cheddar for different cheeses like Monterey Jack or a Mexican cheese blend. Or use nutritional yeast instead to make the popcorn vegan.
- You can use oil or butter as an alternative to the ghee, but you’ll need to eat the cheddar jalapeño popcorn ASAP if it’s the latter since butter will make the kernels soggy.
- Want a more spicy popcorn? Leave the jalapeño seeds in (or add even more peppers and red chili flakes to the mix). You can also try charring the jalapeños before chopping them — this adds a nice smokiness.
- To make the jalapeño popcorn more refreshing, sprinkle parsley or lime zest over it.
Keep Popping Off
We're not saying skip the jalapeño poppers forever. But between the crunch and the heat, this jalapeño popcorn isn't leaving your snack rotation anytime soon.
For more spicy popcorn recipes and inspiration, be sure to explore the rest of our blog!
