This movie theater popcorn recipe is the answer to that question we all ask ourselves at the movies..."Is it possible to make popcorn this good at home?" YES IT IS! My recipe is easy to follow, fast, and foolproof.
What's not to love about movie theater popcorn?
The rich buttery flavor...the saltiness...how it's still a bit warm from just coming out of the cooker.
I can think of one thing we don't love, though: THE COST!
Paying $10 for something I can make at home for under 50 cents is outrageous.
Well, not anymore!
My movie theater popcorn recipe is the real deal. It will have you saying "good-bye" to the movie theaters and "hello" to your big screen TV.
Just like at the movies, you'll have the option to add butter flavoring. But trust me, you won't need it!
For those of you that are into nutrition, I have a section that details the calories, fiber, protein and fat for each serving.
You'll be surprised what a low calorie snack this is when you make it at home!
This stuff is so good that it's become a weekly treat at our house.
Want another recipe that will shock you on how good it comes out? Check out my Cold Fermented Pizza Dough recipe. Your basic home oven will deliver a Neapolitan type crust that is airy and light and simply amazing.
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Ingredients for movie theater popcorn
Making basic popcorn is as simple as popping kernels in oil. But we aren't making basic popcorn: we want movie theater popcorn!
This requires some special ingredients. They aren't expensive, especially when you price them per serving, but they are necessary.
Popcorn
When shopping for popcorn you may see a choice between yellow and white kernels. Choose YELLOW.
This is what the theaters use because it puffs larger, which means that more buttery seasoning can stick to it.
Also, make sure to buy a quality brand. It does make a difference, and the average cost per serving will be only pennies more than the cheap stuff.
Oil
To make buttery flavored movie theater popcorn, you need to use butter flavored coconut oil. The brand I buy from Amazon is Golden Barrel.
Although coconut oil is solid at room temperature, it doesn't have any more calories than typical vegetable oils. Both have 120 calories per tablespoon.
Salt
Movie theaters use a special seasoning salt called Flavacol.
Flavacol is made by Gold Medal Products and they own about 90% of the movie theater popcorn market.
So yeah, you need to get this.
Butter flavoring (optional)
Saying this is optional may seem a bit strange but you will see that this popcorn has great buttery flavor without adding any.
(Let's not kid ourselves though, adding this butter flavoring will take this popcorn to another level of nirvana.)
Concerned about buying these ingredients? Don't be. This popcorn is so good that you'll blow through these ingredients in no time.
Choose your popcorn pan wisely
There's no need to buy a dedicated stovetop popcorn popper as long as you have a pan with these four characteristics:
- It has a lid.
- It has ample room when the popping begins.
- It has a wide enough base to allow for a single layer of kernels.
- It has to be a good conductor of heat.
I find my non-stick dutch oven works best for making popcorn.
Enough talking, let’s get to popping!
How to make movie theater popcorn
This recipe yields a total of two 4-cup servings (8-cups total). Feel free to double this recipe if you want more—as long as you keep a single layer on the bottom with some space so the kernels can move around as you shake the pan.
Start by heating the oil
Add the coconut oil to your pan and turn the burner to just past medium.
For example, my stovetop has a heat range from levels 1 to 7. I set my burner to level 4.
All stovetops vary in temperature. After your first cook, you may need to increase or decrease this temperature.
As the oil heats up, swirl it around so the bottom is fully covered.
Then drop in just one kernel and place it near the edge of your pan and cover.
We want this kernel farthest from the heat source. When it pops after a couple of minutes, we will know the entire base of the pan is properly heated.
Next, add the Flavacol salt and popcorn
Now dump in both the salt and popcorn.
Using a flexible rubber spatula, mix the kernels and salt with the oil. After mixing for about 15 seconds, spread the kernels so they're in a single layer across the base of your pan.
Then lid the pan and watch the mixture until another kernel pops.
If after making the popcorn you feel it needs a bit more salt, fill this dredge shaker with Flavacol and add a bit more at the end.
Shake, shake, shake
Once a kernel pops, it's telling us that a popping frenzy is about to begin.
While holding both the lid and the handle of your pan, gently shake (or slide) the pan back and forth.
The pan should only be moving about 3-4 inches back and forth.
The purpose of the shaking is twofold: First, it allows the kernels to cook more evenly. Second, it jars free any unpopped kernels that may get lodged up into the popped kernels.
Every 10 seconds or so, during the vigorous popping phase, crack the lid for a second or two.
This releases the steam inside the pan and will keep your popcorn crisp and light.
When is the popcorn done?
Your popcorn is done when you notice that the popping has slowed way down and the kernels are popping about two or more seconds apart.
Once the popcorn is done, immediately remove the pan from the heat and dump that glorious popcorn into a large bowl.
The total popping time averages about 3 minutes.
This time is from when the popcorn and salt is added until you dump it into your bowl.
Top with butter flavoring (optional)
If you want the authentic movie theater experience, you'll want to top your popcorn with this butter flavoring.
It's best to mix the popcorn halfway through the drizzle to get better coverage.
Only thing left to do now is to dig in and ENJOY!
Prefer a sweeter popcorn? You have to check out my Homemade Kettle Corn recipe. It's so much better than anything you would buy.
Will there be unpopped kernels?
YES.
I always have 5-15 unpopped kernels each time I make popcorn. This is to be expected.
Personally, I prefer to remove the popcorn from the heat a bit early rather than risk burning it.
Obviously, watch out for unpopped kernels to avoid chomping down on one!
Movie theater popcorn nutrition
Below is a nutritional breakdown of calories (Cal), fiber (Fib), protein (Pro) and fat (Fat).
While this recipe yields a total of 8 cups popped, the numbers below are for one serving, or 4 cups popped.
| Ingredient | Cal | Fib | Pro | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Popcorn (2 Tbsp) | 87 | 3 g | 3 g | 1 g |
| Coconut Oil (¾ Tbsp) | 90 | 10 g | ||
| Flavacol Salt | 0 | |||
| Totals | 177* | 3 g | 3 g | 11 g |
These numbers may vary slightly depending on the brands you use.
Want even lower calories?
Reduce the oil (recommended)
Reducing the coconut oil from ¾ to ½ tablespoon per serving saves another 30 calories. Now we're at 147 calories per serving.
I make it this way all the time and it still comes out awesome.
How to store movie theater popcorn
You’ll be happy to know that popcorn stores really well.
Just add it to a Ziploc bag or Tupperware container with a good lid. It should stay fresh for up to a week in your pantry.
Other treats & party appetizers
If you're looking for more great party ideas, check out some of our favorites:
- Easy Spicy Hummus
- Chicago Style Hot Dog
- Monster Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Deviled Eggs with Relish
- Michelle's Sweet & Zingy Asian Meatballs
- Perfect Loaded Nachos
- Cutting-Board Guacamole
I hope you enjoy this popcorn as much as we do!
Now get popping!
Phil out.
Movie Theater Popcorn
This movie theater popcorn recipe is your answer to that age old question "Is it possible to make popcorn this good at home?" YES IT IS! My recipe is easy to follow, fast and foolproof.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large pot, add the oil and turn your burner to just past medium (see Recipe Note #2).
- As the oil is heating up, place one popcorn kernel in the pan, near the edge of the pan and cover.
- After this kernel pops (~2 min) add the salt and popcorn and stir for 15 seconds to mix thoroughly. Make sure the kernels are in a single layer along the base of pan and cover again.
- Once another kernel pops, gently shake or slide the lidded pan back and forth to keep the kernels moving so as not to burn. Continue this shaking throughout the cook.
- Once the popcorn is popping vigorously, crack the lid every 10 seconds or so to allow the steam to escape. This will help keep your popcorn light and crispy.
- Continue shaking the pan until the vigorous popping slows down to the point where a pop occurs every 2 or more seconds. Then immediately remove the pan from the burner and pour the popcorn into a large bowl.
- Add the buttery topping, if desired, and serve.
Notes
- Reduce oil to 1 tablespoon if you are trying to reduce calories. This substitution will still produce great tasting kettle corn.
- Stovetop temperatures always vary. After your first cook, you may need to increase or decrease the recommended temperature.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 4 cups popped popcornAmount Per Serving: Calories: 177Total Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gSodium: 635mgCarbohydrates: 15gNet Carbohydrates: 0gFiber: 3gSugar: 0gProtein: 3g
Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate: if you are tracking this information for medical purposes, please consult a trusted external source. Thanks!
steve says
while all these ingredients make for great popcorn, I feel like flavacol is the only true MUST HAVE. I regularly use vegetable oil to both pop and top and as long as you have the flavacol it still comes out great. I bought my container March of 2020, as I was an avid cinephile pre-covid and needed to be able to recreate the experience at home, and I still have about half of it left. a worthwhile purchase for sure.
Tiffany says
Would it turn out as good using just butter instead of butter flavored coconut oil?
Phil F says
I would not use butter in the pan to pop your kernels due to its low smoke point but rather use regular vegetable oil. Then top with melted butter after the kernels have all popped. But to answer your question, it would be better and more like 'movie theater popcorn' if you use the butter flavored coconut oil.
Amy Horton says
I had the flavacol, missing the oil and butter flavoring. Movie night is going to be epic! Bought through your website hope you get a nice kickback.
Phil F says
Thanks. You should have a great night.