Homemade stovetop popcorn not only tastes so much better than store-bought, it’s also free of additives and is so much cheaper! Plus, this version is dairy-free. Even if you don’t need a dairy-free popcorn, I’m telling you, it surpasses buttered popcorn in flavor any day!
Say goodbye to overpriced and unhealthy microwave popcorn bags!
You can make your own popcorn at home, on the stove, for much less. And it takes a whole 3 ingredients!
We’ve been making popcorn at home for at least 7 years now, and we have not gone back.
When I first started popping our own popcorn, I wanted it to be hands-off so I used the brown paper bag method to pop it. That worked really well…until it didn’t.
The microwave we’ve had for the last 4 years just won’t pop the popcorn the way our last one did. I would put the popcorn kernels in a brown paper sack, put it in the microwave, and 4 or 5 minutes later more than half of them would still be un-popped! So I ditched that method and started making it on the stove. Now it works every time. Not that the brown paper bag method doesn’t work, it just stopped working for our particular microwave.
Most people would use butter and salt as their go-to popcorn topping. But this recipe is dairy-free and you’re going to love it whether you need to eat dairy-free or not.
Okay, admittedly there is a subset of the population that probably won’t like it. If you are averse to the secret ingredient (see below) you may not like this particular recipe. Sorry!
And the secret ingredient is…
When my daughter and I were on a dairy-free diet several years ago, I started putting coconut oil on our popcorn instead of butter. I immediately loved it and so did my daughter.
My husband, on the other hand, not so much. He wasn’t a fan of the coconut flavor, so I kept making two separate batches for a year or so. Then I got tired of making two separate batches and he would eat the coconut oil popcorn more and more. Fast-forward to today, and he has joined Team Coconut Oil Popcorn.
How to Make Dairy-Free Stovetop Popcorn
Did you know that movie theater popcorn, the kind you actually get when you go see a movie in the theaters, has coconut oil in it?? I swear I’m not making it up, find out more about that here.
I know it’s probably a bit controversial, but I have to say coconut oil popcorn is so much better tasting than buttered popcorn!
Dairy-Free Stovetop Popcorn
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp coconut oil divided
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
- 1/4 tsp sea salt or popcorn salt, more to taste
Instructions
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Put 2 Tbsp coconut oil and 3 popcorn kernels in a large pot on the stove. Turn on the heat to medium high.
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Once the 3 kernels have all popped, turn off the heat, remove the pot from the heat, and take the popcorn out of the pot with a spoon.
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Now add the 1/2 cup popcorn kernels and shake the pot to coat them evenly in the oil. Put the lid on and wait 30 seconds.
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Put the pot back on the burner over medium heat. Keep the lid slightly ajar to allow steam to escape. Give the pot a shake once or twice and let the popcorn pop until there is a 5 second break between pops.
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Top with coconut oil (2-4 Tbsp) and sea salt (1/4-1/2 tsp).
Recipe Notes
Adapted from Cup of Zest
Picture Instructions for Dairy-Free Stovetop Popcorn
Get out a 6 quart pot, coconut oil, and popcorn kernels.
Put 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil and 3 popcorn kernels in the pot on the stove. It should still be cold when you do this. Now you can turn on the burner to medium high and allow the coconut oil to melt.
Once the 3 kernels pop, turn off the heat, remove the pot from the heat, and take the popcorn out of the pot with a spoon.
While the pot is still off the heat, add 1/2 cup popcorn kernels and carefully shake the pot to coat them evenly in the oil. Put the lid on and wait 30 seconds.
Put the pot back on the burner over medium heat. Keep the lid slightly ajar to allow steam to escape. Give the pot a shake every once in a while (careful not to let the lid fall off); once or twice while it’s popping is good enough. Let the popcorn pop until there is a 3-5 second break between pops.
Take the pot off the stove and remove the lid. Pour melted coconut oil over the popcorn along with the salt. Give it a good stir with a spoon or put the lid back on and shake the pot to distribute the topping evenly.
Divide the popcorn into bowls and enjoy!
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