Make your own Microwave Popcorn a little healthier without all of the added chemicals found in those bags with a few simple ingredients.
Popcorn is my go-to snack of choice. It's salty, crunchy and satisfying all at the same time. When I was younger, sometimes I'd pop a bag of that popcorn into the microwave and eat it for lunch or dinner too.
Then as I got older, the added ingredients they put into those store bought bags wreaked havoc on my stomach. Instead, I switched to making it on top of the stove in an old pot with oil. Again, not ideal but it still satisfied my cravings.
As a kid I remember my parent making Jiffy Pop while we all sat down to watch the weekly movie from Disney on Sunday nights. It was a ritual, always fun and something to look forward to every week.
Now, I usually eat popcorn 1-2 times per week as an evening snack and wanted to make it even healthier. At home, it's not a problem because I have this amazing microwave popcorn popper from Pampered Chef.
However, when we travel I wanted to find another alternative method to make my favorite snack and you can't get any easier than this!
All you need are two ingredients, a paper bag and your tasty snack is ready in under 5 minutes. This gluten free recipe makes a single serving; which is 4 ½ cups of popcorn.
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients Needed
Popcorn Kernels: My favorite kernels are the yellow ones as they pop extra fluffy; whereas the white kernels tend to stay smaller with more of crunchy kernel when popped. Either is fine.
Melted Butter: Again, you can opt to leave out the butter or use a butter substitute in this recipe. I added a bit of melted salted butter to mine and it was just enough to give it a little added buttery flavor.
Seasonings(optional): I prefer plain old salt, but you can use any popcorn seasonings you'd like to add like cheddar, ranch, garlic, lemon pepper, etc. You get the idea!
How to make Popcorn in the microwave
Add the popcorn kernels to the brown bag along with the melted butter. Fold the bag down twice to seal; then place in the microwave upright.
Cook on HIGH for 1 ½-2 minutes or until the popping slows down. Be careful not to keep it in there too long or the popcorn will burn. Remove immediately, season as desired; then enjoy!
Ingredients in microwave popcorn
If you want to see what is inside of that bagged popcorn, just look at the comparison between our homemade version vs. one of the popular butter flavor bags.
Ingredients: Popcorn Kernels
- Whole Grain Popping Corn
- Butter
Ingredients: Microwave Popcorn
- Popping Corn
- Palm Oil
- Salt
- Annatto: An orange-red food coloring used to give a yellow or orange color to foods
- Natural Flavors: ?
- TBHQ: A synthetic organic compound which is a type of phenol used as a synthetic food antioxidant to prevent oils and fats from deterioration and rancidity. According to the National Library of Medicine, cases of vision disturbances have been reported when humans consume TBHQ. This organization also cites studies that have found TBHQ to cause liver enlargement, neurotoxic effects, convulsions, and paralysis in laboratory animals. 😳
- Citric Acid
VISIT THE RECIPE INDEX TO SEARCH FOR MORE RECIPES BY CATEGORY.
More Snack Ideas
- Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Pretzels
- Blueberry Pistachio Energy Bites (No Bake)
- Salted Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn Treats
- Buttery Beer Pretzel Nuggets
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Microwave Popcorn
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons popcorn kernels
- 2 teaspoons butter (melted; optional)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (or optional seasonings as desired)
Instructions
- Add the popcorn kernels to the brown bag along with the melted butter. Fold the bag down twice to seal; then place in the microwave upright.
- Cook on HIGH for 1 ½-2 minutes or until the popping slows down. Be careful not to keep it in there too long or the popcorn will burn. Remove immediately, season as desired; then enjoy!
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