How to Make Popcorn Without Oil + 6 Vegan Popcorn Seasoning Recipes - (2024)

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I don't know about your house, but in my house, popcorn is a staple snack food. Unfortunately, because of the way our culture chooses to prepare it, with loads of salt, butter, or oil, popcorn often gets a bad reputation.

But popcorn can be a very delicious and healthy snack, hold the oil. Below are several tips for how to make popcorn without oil, plus 6 dairy-free, vegan popcorn seasoning recipes!

How to Make Popcorn Without Oil

If you're trying to cut back on using oils in your food (or eliminate them altogether), it's important to learn how to cook without. The good news is that oil-free cooking is easier than you might think.

In the case of popcorn, there are a few different ways to make popcorn without oil.

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Air Popper –Your first option is to purchase an air popper. You can buy one at a department store or online for about $20 to $40. The downside to an air popper is the amount of storage and/or counter space it uses.

Oil-Free Stovetop Popcorn –Some people have also had luck making “air-popped” popcorn right on the stove. See this post about healthy oil-free popcorn by Eating Vibrantly.

Silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper – This is my preferred method of making fast and easy oil-free popcorn. This silicone microwave popcorn popper folds flat for storage, is easy to clean and makes delicious, fresh popcorn without oil.

How to Make Seasoning Stick to Popcorn Without Oil

There's one problem with making popcorn without oil: it doesn't have much flavor. Before you go munching on bland and boring popcorn, there's one super easy trick to making the seasoning stick to popcorn without oil.

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You will need a small spray bottle (like this travel size spray bottle) and clean water. That's it!

I know what you're thinking: won't my popcorn get soggy if I spray water on it? No! Not if you use it sparingly. Just a little bit will make your popcorn seasoning stick like a charm.

Here's what to do: Give the popped popcorn a light mist of water, sprinkle on some seasoning, toss the popcorn in the bowl, and repeat until seasoned to your liking.

Tried and don't like it? You can always use a little coconut oil. But, I challenge you to give the water method a try.

Vegan Popcorn Seasoning Recipes

These are 6 of my favorite dairy-free, vegan popcorn seasoning recipes.

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I've had several people ask me if I have tried all of them (yes, I have!), and which is my favorite. Of the savory ones, the nacho popcorn seasoning is my most-used favorite. And of the sweet ones, the salted caramel popcorn seasoning is pretty much to die for. They're all pretty great, though.

You can make these seasonings last-minute, or make up a batch of your favorite and store it in a container. The container should fairly airtight to prevent the seasoning mix from caking.

(Scroll to the bottom for a printable version)

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Cool Ranch Popcorn Seasoning: 1/4 cup nutritional yeast, 2 tsp onion powder, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp dried parsley, 3 tsp dried chives, 1/2 tsp salt

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Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn Seasoning: 4 Tbsp light brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon

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Nacho Popcorn Seasoning: 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast, 3 tsp paprika, 2 tsp chili powder, 2 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt

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Italian Popcorn Seasoning:3 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

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Salted Caramel Popcorn Seasoning: 2 Tbsp powdered sugar, 1 Tbsp turbinado sugar, 1 tsp salt, 1 Tbsp dark brown sugar

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Ranch Popcorn Seasoning: 2 tsp dried dill, 2 tsp dried chives, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp onion powder, 2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper

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5 from 3 votes

Vegan Popcorn Seasoning

But popcorn can be a very delicious and healthy snack, hold the oil. Here are6 dairy-free, vegan popcorn seasoning recipes and a method for seasoning your popcorn without oil.

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine American, Italian, Mediterranean

Keyword oil free, vegan

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Calories 0.05kcal

Author Nerdy Millennial

Ingredients

Cool Ranch Popcorn Seasoning

  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp dried parsley
  • 3 tsp dried chives

Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn Seasoning

  • 4 Tbsp light brown sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon

Nacho Popcorn Seasoning

  • 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 3 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp salt

Italian Popcorn Seasoning 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

  • 3 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Salted Caramel Popcorn Seasoning

  • 2 Tbsp powdered sugar
  • 1 Tbsp turbinado sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp dark brown sugar

Ranch Popcorn Seasoning

  • 2 tsp dried dill
  • 2 tsp dried chives
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

  • Add the seasonings of your choice in a small bowl. Mix until well combined.

  • Give the popped popcorn a light mist of water, sprinkle on some seasoning, toss the popcorn in the bowl, and repeat until seasoned to your liking.

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Through her passion for cooking and recipe creation, Emily draws inspiration from treasured moments spent in her grandmother's kitchen and the vibrant cuisines she has encountered around the world. Join her on this flavorful adventure as she shares delightful recipes that embody the essence of her culinary experiences. Discover the secrets of her grandmother's kitchen, explore global flavors, and unleash your own creativity in the joy of cooking with Emily. Get ready to embark on a delicious journey that will leave your taste buds craving more.

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How to Make Popcorn Without Oil + 6 Vegan Popcorn Seasoning Recipes - (2024)

FAQs

How do you make popcorn seasoning stick without oil? ›

If you use oil for popping your popcorn, the seasoning will stick to it easily. However, to get flavor and stick to air-popped popcorn without fat, you can mist your popped popcorn with a bit of water or some other liquid. Sprinkle your popcorn as you move it to the bowl with a little liquid spray bottle.

What can you use instead of oil for popcorn? ›

Clarified butter is another great choice for buttery popcorn. Regular butter will burn and smoke if used, so make sure it is clarified butter. Ghee may be a substitute to try as well.

What is a vegan substitute for butter on popcorn? ›

Nutritional yeast - Find it in health food stores and many supermarkets. Coconut oil or vegan butter - I use coconut oil, but vegan butter works really well too and gives the popcorn extra creaminess.

How can I flavor popcorn without oil or butter? ›

Spray your plain popcorn lightly with tamari, Braggs aminos or coconut aminos. This will add a salty flavour and also help your other seasonings to stick. You can make salt and vinegar popcorn by dissolving some salt into your favourite vinegar, and spraying or sprinkling this over the popcorn.

Can you make popcorn with butter instead of oil? ›

A: Yes. I put 2 tablespoons of butter and 1/4 cup of popcorn in the bottom of the popper and pop until the popping slows down. It does nothing to harm the popper and as long as you don't overpop, the popcorn will not burn.

What is the healthiest way to make popcorn at home? ›

Air popped popcorn uses no oil, meaning it has the fewest calories. “Popping it in oil, however, is a great way to consume a healthy portion of fat to control hunger,” Jeffers says. Not only can you manage serving size, but you can also make it in under 10 minutes in most cases.

How to season popcorn at home? ›

For savory popcorn: Olive oil, kosher salt, and nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast is the perfect seasoning if you want cheesy flavor but also want vegan popcorn seasoning. For sweet popcorn: Olive oil, cinnamon, and a dash of brown sugar. This will satisfy your sweet cravings without making your teeth hurt!

What is the healthiest way to make popcorn? ›

Popcorn is a whole grain and a good source of fiber. And 3 cups of plain, air-popped popcorn weighs in at only about 95 calories. For the healthiest results, pop your corn in an air popper or in the microwave.

How to make popcorn without oil or salt? ›

Preheat a 2-quart nonstick pot with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Open the lid, and add a few drops of water to the pot. If they immediately sizzle, reduce the heat to slightly above low. Add the popcorn kernels, and immediately replace the lid.

How to make popcorn with water? ›

directions
  1. In a microwave OK bowl or dish, place a paper towel at the bottom.
  2. Place popcorn in bottom.
  3. Add water.
  4. Cover with another paper towel and plate, leaving a small gap for steam to escape.
  5. Microwave on high 5-7 minutes, depending on strength of microwave.
  6. Keep your nose alert for possible burning.

What oil do movie theaters use for popcorn? ›

It's a personal preference—and there are certainly people who eat both and wouldn't even notice the difference.” AMC, Regal, and Marcus theaters use coconut oil, while Cinemark opts for canola, and other regional chains use a blend.

What is vegan popcorn made of? ›

Because popcorn is just corn kernels, it is naturally vegan. However, if you're grabbing a bag from the store, make sure to check the ingredients list first. Sometimes, cheese, butter, or milk chocolate are added to liven up the simple snack, for example.

Can you get vegan popcorn? ›

Sweet & Salty Popcorn (Pack of 24) - Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Allergen Free, Low Calorie Healthy Popcorn Snack.

What is the best vegan oil for popcorn? ›

Coconut Oil

Our number one best oil for popping popcorn is coconut oil. With a 350°F smoke point, coconut oil heats just enough to make crunchy popcorn. It's vegan, gluten-free, and rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).

Can you make popcorn with water instead of oil? ›

The Original Tip. Both recipes have you warm a heavy pan over medium-high heat for two minutes, add 1 tablespoon water and 1/2 cup popcorn kernels, cover and shake frequently until the first few kernels pop, then continue shaking until the popping slows.

What is the healthiest way to pop popcorn? ›

Popcorn is a whole grain and a good source of fiber. And 3 cups of plain, air-popped popcorn weighs in at only about 95 calories. For the healthiest results, pop your corn in an air popper or in the microwave.

Can you make popcorn in the microwave without oil? ›

You can make microwave popcorn without any additional oil. But I'll be honest, I think it tastes better and pops better with just a smidge of oil. I typically use 1/2 teaspoon of oil per 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels.

Is air-popped popcorn good for you? ›

When it's air-popped and lightly seasoned, popcorn is an efficiently healthy snack. That's because it is a whole grain, and high-fiber whole grains have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and other health problems.

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