stovetop popcorn
stovetop popcorn

Perfect Stove Top Popcorn

5/5
Popcorn is so delicious made fresh with real ingredients, and it only takes 5 minutes on the stove top! Go wild and experiment with the toppings. I like lemon juice, parmesan, and different types of chile spices. I also love making my own caramel for kettle corn. The possibilities are limitless.

Prep Time: 1 minute

Cook Time: 4 minutes
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Recipe Rundown

Perfect Stovetop Popcorn
If you like extra butter, melt it for 30 seconds in the microwave and pour.

I have the perfect stove top popcorn recipe for you guys that I’ve made about a hundred times. Don’t think this is out of your league if you’re used to bagged popcorn.

If you have 5 minutes and a pot with a lid, you can do this! Somebody cue Netflix and give me my own bowl!

Popcorn is so delicious made fresh with real ingredients, and it only takes 5 minutes on the stove top! Go wild and experiment with the toppings. I like lemon juice, parmesan, and different types of chile spices. I also love the flavor of this salted maple kettle corn. The possibilities are limitless.

One of my favorite forms of pampering myself is vegging out in front of a thriller with a bowl of popcorn. Depending on my mood, I generally stick with kettle corn for something salty ‘n sweet or I go for savory ‘n sour with a little heat.

Perfect Stove Top Popcorn
Mexican style popcorn is unreal.

Homemade = Choice

I dare you to try to find a bagged popcorn that tastes like my Mexican popcorn or kettle corn. When you buy pre-popped, you get squeaky styrofoam that’s as stale as a piece of cardboard. And if you buy the bags, your mouth gets coated with hydrogenated oil that lasts for hours. So I vehemently suggest making your own perfect popcorn every time on the stove top.

Lately, I’ve been all about this Mexican popcorn. It’s everything you guys. It has tajin, which is a spice blend with chile powder and citric acid. Tajin is spicy and sour and gives this popcorn a quality that makes you keep grabbing for it.

If you want to see another recipe with tajin, check out these mangonada smoothies.

Tip: I use ghee to cook the corn kernals because it’s butter without the lactose. Lactose contains milk solids that burn when over-heated, and nobody likes burnt popcorn.

Perfect Stovetop Popcorn
Salted caramel over freshly popped corn made with equal parts maple syrup and butter.

salted caramel kettle corn

You don’t have to go to the fair to get fresh kettle corn. It’s easy to make that caramel drizzle we all love about kettle corn. The trick is to heat the syrup (I like maple syrup) in the pot until it’s completely covered with bubbles (about 1 minute). Then, add your butter and melt (another minute). Voila. Caramel drizzle.

No need to stir while making caramel. Just swish the pot a bit. Then, let it go a little longer because the magic is happening and you will be rewarded with a deeper caramel flavor. Pour that amber liquid while it’s piping hot and foamy over the popcorn. When you really get it right, it slightly hardens as it cools. If your caramel remains wet after pouring, then it will still taste amazing, just experiment with how long you heat it on the stove in the future or try a simple syrup instead of maple.

Perfect Stovetop Popcorn

Perfect Stove Top Popcorn

Popcorn is so delicious made fresh with real ingredients, and it only takes 5 minutes on the stove top! Go wild and experiment with the toppings. I like lemon juice, parmesan, and different types of chile spices. I also love making my own caramel for kettle corn. The possibilities are limitless.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: gluten free, popcorn
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 233kcal
Author: Chef Sara Furcini

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup popcorn kernels
  • 2 T ghee or 1 T coconut oil

Instructions

  • Pour the corn kernels into a medium pot along with the ghee or coconut oil. Cover with a lid and warm over medium heat.
  • Shake pot frequently while heating. When popping slows, approximately 4 minutes, remove from heat.
  • Remove lid promptly so steam can escape and transfer to a large bowl. Season with salt to taste or see notes for variations.

Notes

Kettle Corn: After removing popped corn, rinse pot and return to stove top. Add 2 T maple syrup + 1/2 tsp salt. Bring to boil-do not stir-for 1 minute. Add 2 T butter and swirl the pot around for 1 minute until butter is melted. Drizzle bubbling hot, foamy caramel over popcorn.
Mexican Popcorn: Generously season popcorn with extra melted butter (about 2 T) and sprinkle with tajin spice blend. Taste and add more tajin or salt based on your preferences.

Nutrition

Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 3g | Iron: 0.8mg

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Jillian
Jillian
5 years ago

We love popcorn around my home so I am really excited to try this method so we can make Kettle Corn!! Our Friday night movie night just got a whole lot tastier!!

Taylor
Taylor
2 years ago

Had to double the recipe but really good

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