Stovetop Coconut Oil Popcorn
Made with simple ingredients, this Coconut Oil Popcorn recipe is sure to satisfy your healthy snack cravings. Making fresh popcorn for movie night has never been easier.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- You can make this basic recipe right on the stovetop in a saucepan, and in less than five minutes, you are happily munching away on a bowl of healthy, whole-food goodness.
- It will quickly become one of your favorite snacks as this freshly made popcorn in coconut oil is light, crunchy, and super easy to customize with your favorite toppings!
- This is a naturally vegan and gluten-free recipe. Bonus!
Ingredients
- popcorn kernels – if you want to avoid GMOs choose organic popcorn kernels.
- coconut oil – my research indicates that refined coconut oil is the best oil for popcorn. It has the same high smoke point as canola oil and also has a neutral taste. Healthy substitutions for coconut oil are olive oil and avocado oil. Both have a higher smoke point. Avoid oils that shouldn’t be heated like flax or walnut.
Equipment
- saucepan with a tight-fitting lid – you will need a wide, heavy bottom pot with lots of room for a big batch of popcorn.
Instructions
Making homemade popcorn popped in coconut oil couldn’t be easier!
Step 1
First, start by heating the oil in a pot.
Once the oil is liquid, toss in a single kernel – once the oil sizzles around it, you are ready to go!
Step 2
Next, pour the rest of the popcorn kernels into the pot and stir well to coat them.
Cover with the lid and wait for the kernels to start popping.
Step 3
Then, once the popcorn pops slow to 2-3 seconds between them, remove it from the heat, and start to shake the pan back and forth until the rest of the kernels pop.
The key to not burning your stove top popcorn is really listening to the pops and not stopping shaking the pan.
Step 4
Finally, pour the popcorn into a large bowl and add your toppings.
Expert tips
- Use a saucepan with a wide bottom so the kernels can spread out and pop evenly.
- Buy popcorn kernels in bulk and store them in your pantry in a glass jar. It is a good way to save money on your grocery bill!
Recipe Variations
Try this chili popcorn for a spicy twist to your movie night snack. It is savory, spicy, and addictive.
- For movie theater popcorn, pour on some melted butter (use vegan plant-based butter if you don’t want dairy).
- Sprinkle with sea salt and citric acid for a salt and vinegar taste. This is a delicious snack. It tastes like what they offer in the shakers at the movie theaters.
- How about a “white cheddar” flavor? Add a few tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese, a couple of pinches of garlic powder, and two or three turns of pink Himalayan sea salt and toss it with the popcorn.
- Top it with nutritional yeast! It has a great cheesy flavor – perfect for vegans to sprinkle on their stovetop popcorn. Plus, it’s one of the few plant-based sources of vitamin B12.
- Try a bit of cinnamon sugar for something sweet and spicy. In a separate bowl, mix together one tablespoon of coconut sugar, and one teaspoon of ground cinnamon and shake it over the hot popcorn.
Serving Suggestions
- Pour the popcorn into a large bowl for sharing on movie night.
- Set up a popcorn bar with various toppings and seasonings. Create mix-and-match popcorn tins with divided sections. Fill each section with a different flavor or seasoning.
- Retro Style – Feeling nostalgic? Want a retro movie party? These retro popcorn boxes will send you back in time for old-school fun!
- Environment Friendly – Be green and stop using disposable products. These containers are made of durable plastic designed to be reusable.
Storage
- Popcorn is best served right away while it is hot and fresh.
- You can store it in a covered container for up to 2 days, but it will lose its crispness and may become soft.
FAQS
Not really. Using refined coconut oil means a more neutral taste. Unrefined coconut oil may have a stronger coconut flavor.
Yes! Place popcorn kernels and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl, cover it with a microwave-safe plate or microwave popcorn cover, and microwave on high until the popping slows down to a few seconds between pops.
More healthy recipes with coconut oil
**This recipe was originally posted on January 2, 2019, and updated on March 27, 2020, and again on June 27, 2022, and again on June 7, 2023, with recipe notes, writing, and new photos.**
If you’ve tried making popcorn with coconut oil, please rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!
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Coconut Oil Popcorn – Stovetop Instructions
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp refined coconut oil
- ½ cup popcorn kernels
Instructions
- In a 3 quart saucepan, heat the coconut oil over medium heat until it has liquefied.
- Toss in a single kernel of corn. Once the oil sizzles around it, you are ready to go.
- Add the rest of the popcorn kernels to the hot oil and stir with a wooden spoon, coating the kernels with the oil. Spread the kernels evenly across the bottom of the pan and cover with the lid.
- The kernels will begin to pop. Once they slow to 2-3 seconds apart remove from the heat and give the pan a good shake to keep any kernels from burning. Keep shaking the pan back and forth until the popping stops completely.
- Remove the lid and pour the popcorn into a large bowl.Top with desired toppings.
Video
Notes
Popcorn toppings include:
- For movie theater popcorn add melted butter (use a vegan brand if you don’t want dairy).
- Sprinkle with sea salt and citric acid for a salt and vinegar taste.
- Nutritional yeast has a great cheesy flavor for vegans to sprinkle on their stovetop popcorn.
- Try a bit of cinnamon and coconut sugar for something sweet and spicy.
