14 Popcorn Bar Toppings to Complete Your Next Get-Together

Every good party needs a popcorn bar and every good popcorn bar needs a mix of toppings (along with Popsmith’s Oh Sooo Buttery and Classic Kettle Popcorn, of course). You’ll want to offer a variety of sweet and savory toppings, as well as classic and unique, so that everybody has options. 

With this in mind, here are 14 popcorn bar toppings to consider for your future events:

Sea Salt

Sometimes, the simplest seasoning delivers the most impact. A sprinkle of sea salt enhances popcorn’s natural flavor without overpowering it. It’s perfect for folks who prefer a lighter snack or those who want to balance out the sweetness of other toppings.

Garlic Powder

Who can’t resist garlic? Vampires maybe, but for most of us, it’s something we can never get enough of. That’s why it’s one of the best popcorn bar toppings you can offer your guests. It can stand alone but it’s also versatile and goes well with parmesan cheese or herbs like rosemary and parsley.

Everything Bagel Seasoning

This is another popcorn bar topping worth offering. There’s just something about the blend of sesame seeds, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and poppy seeds that make popcorn taste gourmet. 

While you can make your version of this seasoning at home, you can always just buy a bottle at your favorite grocery store. 

Nuts

Nuts are versatile like popcorn — you have creamy cashews, earthy almonds, buttery pecans…and the list goes on. Any of these will be good additions to your popcorn bar, not just flavor-wise but also in terms of texture and nutritional value. 

Parmesan Cheese

Whether you choose the powdered kind or want to go all-in and use authentic parmigiana, you can’t go wrong topping popcorn with parmesan cheese. Its sharpness elevates the popcorn’s natural flavor.

Taco Seasoning

A little sprinkle of taco seasoning is all it takes to give popcorn a south-of-the-border twist. You can buy it premade or make your own by combining chili flakes, chili powder, cumin, paprika, and garlic powder.

Pretzels 

Pretzels are worth including in your lineup because they pack plenty of crunch and just the right amount of saltiness. Break them into smaller pieces so that your guests can enjoy diverse textures in each bite.  

Cinnamon  

Warm, comforting cinnamon pairs amazingly with popcorn. While you don’t have to wait for a specific occasion to include it in your popcorn topping bar, it’s particularly suited for fall or winter get-togethers.

Gummy Bears (or Worms, Your Choice)

You don’t have to reserve gummy bears for a kid’s birthday party! Anyone with a sweet tooth will love adding them to their popcorn, and because they’re so colorful, the gummies also make your event more festive. 

Peanut Butter Cups

Peanut butter-flavored popcorn is delicious and all, but adding actual peanut butter to your popcorn bar can be a little messy. That’s why we recommend peanut butter cups instead. Being nutty, chocolatey, and slightly crunchy, pairing these with popcorn creates an awesome contrast of flavors and textures.

Graham Crackers

Crush graham crackers or break them into smaller pieces. They’ll go nicely with other sweet popcorn bar toppings like M&M’s, gummy bears, and dried fruits.  

Chocolate Chips

Chocolate and popcorn go together like ketchup and mustard, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we added chocolate chips to our list of popcorn bar topping ideas. Like the rest of the toppings we’ve shared, you can enjoy them as is or combine them with other mix-ins.

You can also use M&M’s as an alternative. They have a nice crunch and also add a fun pop of color to your popcorn bar. 

Mini Marshmallows

Marshmallows are soft, pillowy, and sweet — making them the perfect complement to the crunchiness and saltiness of popcorn. Combine them with graham crackers and chocolate chips for a s’mores-like snack!

Dried Fruits

Besides offering a mix of sweet and savory toppings for popcorn bar, you might also want to include healthy toppings like dried cranberries, apricots, or blueberries. These are sweet but not overly processed like candy, so those looking for a guilt-free treat will appreciate it.

Guests can also pair the dried fruits with nuts and pretzels to make trail mix popcorn. 

Ready for a Pop-tacular Event?

We hope this gives you lots of ideas for your upcoming get-togethers! Just remember to offer a variety of choices, place each topping in separate containers with individual serving spoons, label everything, and encourage your guests to mix and match.  

Oh, and make sure you don’t forget the most important part — your popcorn. While it’s ultimately your choice to make microwave popcorn or to just buy the bagged stuff, if you have the time to make stovetop popcorn, go for that instead! You’ll have a blast making it with our premium Popper.

FAQs About Popcorn Bar Toppings

What goes with popcorn at a party?

Virtually anything! Sweet, salty, savory — you name it. We recommend offering a mix of flavors and textures to cater to everyone’s preferences, so your popcorn bar might have candy in one corner and nuts and dried fruits in another.

How do you set up a popcorn bar?

There are several steps involved in making a popcorn bar. You need to decide on a theme, choose where to set everything up, prepare your popcorn and toppings to prepare, and decorate the space. It takes effort to pull off, but it will definitely be one of the highlights of your event.