Butter Popcorn Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Feb 20, 2024

5 from 1 vote

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This Butter popcorn recipe is easy to make in 5 minutes with 4 ingredients (including real butter) & is even more delicious than movie theater popcorn!

Butter Popcorn Recipe (2)

Butter popcorn is one of my favorite savory snacks, and this recipe is truly the best. It’s a must-have on our family movie nights (along with this homemade kettle corn).

My husband perfected this buttered popcorn recipe – and let me tell you it’s addictingly delicious. Using real, high quality ingredients makes it so good you can’t just take one handful.

Plus, it only takes 5 minutes to make butter popcorn that tastes significantly better than the movie theater popcorn. My 2 year old son loves helping. As soon as a movie starts, he clammers around the kitchen collecting all the supplies and ingredients needed to make this recipe – it’s adorable.

Butter Popcorn Recipe (3)

Butter Popcorn: Ingredients & Substitutions

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  • Popcorn kernels. Choose your favorite brand/variety.
  • Coconut oil. This is used to pop the popcorn kernels. I have tried canola oil, butter, and olive oil (which all work) and nothing pops corn as well as coconut oil. It does not impart a coconut flavor to the recipe either.
  • Salted butter. Unsalted butter works well, you may just need to slightly increase the popcorn salt.
  • Popcorn salt. This Redmond popcorn salt is the only brand we buy. It’s delicious, full of minerals and is so fine that it sticks well to the kernels.
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How to Make Butter Popcorn

This recipe is easy to make in 5 minutes (or less). However, I’ll walk you through some tips and trips to ensure it turns our perfectly every time.

Begin by melting the butter in the microwave, then set it aside.

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Then, put 1 Tablespoon coconut oil and 3 kernels of popcorn into a stovetop popcorn maker (we use a Whirley Pop).

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Next, heat the popcorn maker over medium heat and stir to combine the oil and 3 kernels of popcorn.

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Then, cook the 3 kernels and coconut oil over medium heat until the kernels pop (this indicates that the oil is hot enough to cook the rest of the popcorn).

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Once the three kernels pop, add the rest of the popcorn kernels and stir vigorously to combine with the lid on.

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Stir continuously as the popcorn begins to pop.

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When the popping slows down, turn off the heat and continue stirring over the warm burner until the popping stops.

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Immediately pour the popcorn into a large bowl (preferably one with a lid, although you can use a large bowl and then use a baking sheet as a “lid” for stirring.

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Next, evenly drizzle the melted butter over the popcorn.

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Then sprinkle with popcorn salt.

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Then, secure the lid, invert the bowl, and shake vigorously (the goal is to coat the popcorn with both butter and salt). Taste and add more salt as desired.

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Serve

Serve immediately – it’s best when it’s warm and fresh from the stovetop.

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Store

Store leftover buttered popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days – although we never have leftovers.

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Buttered Popcorn Recipe FAQS

Can you use butter instead of oil to pop popcorn?

Technically you can, but butter burns faster than coconut oil so I don’t really recommend it.

Can you just melt butter and put it on popcorn?

Yes absolutely – it makes the best buttered popcorn if you do it this way. Be sure to shake it so the butter is evenly distributed throughout the kernels.

How do you add butter to popcorn?

Follow the instructions in this recipe (melt the butter, pour over popped kernels then shake to coat).

Do you add butter to popcorn before or after popping?

Add the butter to the popcorn after the kernels are popped.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, you can. However if you have a regular Whirley Pop, you will need to pop the kernels in two batches.

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Butter Popcorn Recipe (20)

Butter Popcorn Recipe (21)

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Homemade Butter Popcorn Recipe

Laura

This Butter popcorn recipe is easy to make in 5 minutes with4 ingredients (including real butter) & is even more delicious than movie theater popcorn!

5 from 1 vote

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 8 Servings

Calories 128

Prep Time1 minute minute

Cook Time4 minutes minutes

Total Time5 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in the microwave. Set aside.

  • Place 1 Tablespoon coconut oil and 3 kernels of popcorn into a stovetop popcorn maker.

  • Heat the popcorn maker over medium heat and stir to combine the oil and 3 kernels of popcorn.

  • Cook over medium heat until the 3 kernels in the oil pop (this indicates that the oil is hot enough to cook the rest of the popcorn).

  • Once the three kernels pop, add the rest of the popcorn kernels and stir vigorously to combine with the lid on.

  • Stir continuously as the popcorn begins to pop.

  • When the popping slows down, turn off the heat and continue stirring over the warm burner until you do not hear any more popping.

  • Immediately pour the popcorn into a large bowl (preferably one with a lid, although you can use a large bowl and then use a baking sheet as a “lid” for stirring.

  • Evenly drizzle the melted butter over the popcorn. Then sprinkle with popcorn salt.

  • Secure the lid, invert the bowl, and shake vigorously (the goal is to coat the popcorn). Taste and adjust salt as desired.

  • Serve immediately.

  • Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

  • Coconut oil. This is used to pop the popcorn kernels. I have tried canola oil, butter, and olive oil (which all work) and nothing pops corn as well as coconut oil. It does not impart a coconut flavor to the recipe either.
  • Salted butter. Unsalted butter works well, you may just need to slightly increase the popcorn salt.
  • Popcorn salt. This Redmond popcorn salt is the only brand we buy. It’s delicious, full of minerals and is so fine that it sticks well to the kernels.

How to Store Butter Popcorn

Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 128kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 214mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 262IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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Kettle Corn Recipe

Puppy Chow Recipe (Muddy Buddies)

Crispy Roasted Chickpeas

Homemade Soft Pretzel Recipe

Candied Almonds (Cinnamon Roasted Almonds)

Easy Guacamole Recipe (5 Minutes)

Butter Popcorn Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I just melt butter for popcorn? ›

Can you just melt butter and put it on popcorn? Yes absolutely – it makes the best buttered popcorn if you do it this way. Be sure to shake it so the butter is evenly distributed throughout the kernels.

How do you make butter popcorn more buttery? ›

Microwave the butter until it melts; about 30 seconds if whipped and 1 minute if cold. Place the popcorn you just popped into a bowl. Take out butter and pour over the microwave popcorn. Toss the popcorn to allow the butter to coat it evenly.

Can you use regular butter to make popcorn? ›

Once the water is evaporated, the melted butter is now pure butter fat. This has two benefits for butter popcorn: Use to pop the popcorn – because it has a higher smoke point than normal butter. You CANNOT pop popcorn with normal butter, it just burns; and.

Can you pop popcorn in 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.

How do you add butter to popcorn without making it soggy? ›

I melt the butter in a glass measuring cup (using the microwave oven on low power and cover the cup with a paper towel). Pour the popped popcorn into a large paper grocery bag. Quickly drizzle the melted butter over the popcorn and then roll the top of the bag shut.

What do movie theaters use for butter? ›

Movie theaters use butter-flavored oil, which has a lower water content than butter so it makes popcorn less soggy. Real clarified butter has the same effect. To make it, melt 2 sticks butter in a glass measuring cup in the microwave. Let sit for a few minutes; the butter will separate into 3 layers.

What is the best liquid butter for popcorn? ›

Clarified butter is an easy, quick way to get that theater-butter flavor without getting soggy popcorn.

Why does movie theater popcorn taste better? ›

The flavor all comes down to one ingredient: Flavacol. You've likely never heard of Flavacol because, really, only movie theaters use it. Essentially, it's butter-flavored salt. It's a really fine, bright orange powder that adds that buttery flavor you crave and the signature yellow color.

What is flavacol? ›

FLAVACOL is a very fine seasoned salt that sticks to the popcorn, whereas a ground salt will tend to fall off. Adding it to the oil as you pop improves the coverage without any fear of burning. This is the tried - and - true original popcorn salt! FLAVACOL is the worlds most popular seasoning salt.

Can dogs eat popcorn? ›

Dogs can eat popcorn as long as it's plain and air-popped popcorn, and only eaten in moderation. However, any added seasonings we love to slather on top which can be bad for dogs, and you shouldn't feed them this type of popcorn.

Is there a good butter substitute for popcorn? ›

Coconut oil is the most versatile butter substitute. You can spread it on your toast, pour it over popcorn, and use it when cooking and baking.

How much butter to add to a popcorn machine? ›

Ingredients
  1. ½ cup popcorn kernels.
  2. 1 tbsp butter.
  3. salt (to taste)
Jun 9, 2021

How to make popcorn taste like the movies? ›

Flavor with butter and salt.

Pour half of the butter or ghee over the popcorn, cover, and shake the pot to coat. Pour the remaining butter or ghee over the popcorn and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon finely ground kosher salt, table salt, or popcorn salt. Cover again and shake. Serve immediately.

Is buttery popcorn healthy? ›

It's also rich in fiber and antioxidants. Popcorn is smart for those looking to lose or maintain a healthy weight. Avoid adding too much butter, sugar, or salt to your popcorn. Healthier seasonings include olive oil, herbs, spices, nut butter, and nutritional yeast.

Is melting butter for popcorn a physical change? ›

Melting butter in a pan is known as an example of a physical change. In this process, no new compound of different composition gets formed. Also, by melting butter, the butter gets converted from its solid to the liquid state, which includes the change in physical properties.

Can you use butter in a popcorn machine instead of oil? ›

It is generally recommended to use oil rather than butter in a popcorn machine. Oil has a higher smoke point than butter, meaning it can be heated to a higher temperature without burning. This makes it a better choice for making popcorn, as it can help to ensure that the kernels are evenly cooked and do not burn.

How to make butter sprayable? ›

Melt about 2 tablespoons unsalted butter and let cool until warm. Whisk in 2 teaspoons of any neutral flavored oil. I prefer grapeseed or avocado, but anything you have on hand will do. Pour it into a food-safe spritzer bottle and spritz away.

How to flavor air popped popcorn without oil? ›

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.

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