The Best Homemade Popcorn Seasoning (Easy Savory Spice Blend)
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If you’re looking for a simple way to make popcorn taste amazing without weird additives, this homemade popcorn seasoning is a must-try.
Almost every time we make this and bring it somewhere, someone asks, “What’s on this popcorn?!”—and then goes back for more. It’s that good.
The best part? It’s made with simple herbs and spices you likely already have on hand (or can easily mix up ahead of time). It’s actually based on my homemade vegetable broth seasoning, but it works incredibly well as a savory, crave-worthy topping for popcorn.
So, we have a popcorn problem.
Healthy Stovetop Popcorn, Healthy Peanut Butter Popcorn, and Healthy Kettle Corn, we love basically every which way to enjoy popcorn including this Dorito Popcorn.
But as a whole foodie family, we do not love the icky chemical fake stuff that most popcorn seasonings are made of.
Well, great things often come as the result of mistakes and that includes this homemade popcorn seasoning recipe. It seriously might be the best popcorn seasoning you have ever tasted.
How this Homemade Popcorn Seasoning Recipe Came to Be
Pretty much we take this popcorn (and we take it EVERYWHERE), people ask us for the recipe. It's even been called “seriously delicious” by some.
This great popcorn seasoning originated one day when we were preparing popcorn to take to an outing.
We'd been avoiding gluten (so pretzels are out of the question [except for the gluten-free ones that cost a small fortune!]) and we avoid MSG type stuff and artificial cheezy flavor that is on simply every variety of Doritos and such snack foods. Not to mention the GMO corn.
We often would take this Herb Popcorn with us, but we'd run out of the topping blend. So, I decided to try topping the popcorn with this Homemade Vegetable Broth Mix instead.
And it was surprisingly delicious.
Oh, and in my opinion, the best way to pop popcorn is in a handy dandy crank handle stainless steel popper.
Recipe Notes and Substitutions
- Blending: While this recipe is basically just my Homemade Vegetable Broth seasoning on top of popcorn, you definitely want to blend the seasoning before using it on popcorn so that the homemade popcorn seasoning will adhere well. Otherwise, you will have large flakes of rosemary and parsley on your popcorn. Not fun!
- Organic: I highly recommend using only organic popcorn. Almost all corn in the US is GMO, which creates all kinds of problems for your health, so please choose organic. Popcorn is such a reasonable snack, it's not a big deal to spend a little extra on buying organic!
- Avocado Oil: Although you can make the popcorn with either butter or organic coconut oil, I recommend using avocado oil since it has such a high smoke point!
- Thyme: You can try subbing organic thyme for the summer savory, but it will be a tad stronger.
- Oil Topping: Popcorn must be popped with some oil or have a healthy oil spray on it for the seasoning mix to stick. Alternatively, sprinkling with some water works as well but it's a little tough to get the water to work without ending up with soggy popcorn.
How to Get Seasoning to Stick to Popcorn
Dry seasonings won’t stick well to plain air-popped popcorn unless there’s a little moisture on the popcorn first, in the form of fat or even water.
To help this homemade popcorn seasoning stick, try one of these options:
- Melted butter or ghee – classic and very flavorful
- Olive oil or avocado oil spray – a lighter option. A refillable oil sprayer works really well for this.
- A light mist of water – works in a pinch if you want to avoid added fat (I used to avoid fat, but now I eat a lot of it.)
After lightly coating the popcorn, sprinkle the seasoning over the top and toss well.
Where to Buy Quality Spices
And if you are looking for a good place to get spices, try Frontier. I love their quality and mission. Starwest Botanicals has great products too.
How to Make Homemade Popcorn Seasoning
- Combine the spices.
- Blend until the mixture becomes a fine powder.
- Sprinkle over freshly popped popcorn.
The Best Homemade Popcorn Seasoning Ever!
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons celery salt (see my Homemade Celery Salt)
- 4 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 2 tablespoons ground summer savory
- 2 teaspoons dried marjoram
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
Instructions
- Combine all in a small bowl.
- Store in glass or plastic container with a tight fitting lid.
- Stir or shake occasionally before use to redistribute ingredients.
- Simply sprinkle on top of freshly popped popcorn and enjoy!
Notes
- Blending: For best results, blend the seasoning mix before using so it sticks evenly to the popcorn. This prevents large herb flakes (like rosemary or parsley) from separating.
- Organic Popcorn: I recommend using organic popcorn whenever possible, since most conventional corn is genetically modified. It’s an easy upgrade for a healthier snack.
- Best Oil for Popping: You can use butter or coconut oil, but avocado oil is ideal due to its high smoke point.
- Herb Substitution: If you don’t have summer savory, you can substitute thyme, but the flavor will be slightly stronger.
- Helping Seasoning Stick: Popcorn needs a bit of oil (or a light oil spray) for the seasoning to adhere. A light mist of water can work, but too much may make the popcorn soggy.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and preparation methods. Optional ingredients are not included. Net carbs are typically calculated by subtracting fiber and sugar alcohols (such as erythritol) from total carbohydrates. This information should not be relied upon for medical or nutritional purposes.
More Homemade Popcorn Recipes
Try these other delicious ways to flavor popcorn:
- Healthy Stovetop Popcorn – the best method for perfectly popped popcorn every time
- Dorito Popcorn – a bold, cheesy-flavored popcorn made with nutritional yeast and spices
- Garlic Herb Popcorn – a savory herb popcorn with garlic and herbs
So, the next time you are hankering for some yummy organic popcorn, try topping it this way!
I'd love to hear your thoughts after you make this homemade popcorn seasoning!
We love nutritional yeast on our buttered popcorn!
Us too!!! Did you see this recipe? https://wholenewmom.com/recipes/dorito-flavored-popcorn-dairy-free/
This recipe iiis delicious. The only thing I did different the 2nd time around was after mixing it all, I put it in the small coffee grinder. It sticks better that way. I love popcorn, now it’s even better. Grassfed butter, organic non gmo popcorn(even better when the FM has some) and your own seasoning. Doesn’t get much better than that!
Yum!!!
Have you ever tried this seasoning mix on Kale chips? I’m just wondering if it would go well.
Haven’t but I think it would be great!
I use a hot air popper, now I know why. What do you think of spraying olive oil on it?
I used to do that :).
How do you get your spices to stick to the popcorn? When I make it , it falls to the bottom of the bowl.
If you put the spices on right after popping, while it’s still hot, the warmed oil will help it to stick. If you don’t use oil it won’t stick. Hope that helps!
I know this is not healthy, but we love our popcorn with butter and parmesan cheese.
I think it’s fine!!! Especially if you use high quality butter!!!
Try topping popcorn with nutritional yeast (small flake) — it makes it taste cheesy – that’s our favorite way around here!
I love it but am wondering about if it’s an excitotoxin. I would love to hear from some folks about that. Thanks!!
Totally making this! Thanks for your endless supply of healthy, wholesome ideas for just about everything!
Hi Ann! You’ll love it! Hope you are well & thanks for the kind words!
Our grandsons love the WirlyPop corn maker too! It works great!
By the way, have you ever seen Unique brand Sprouted Wheat Pretzels?
They can be somewhat pricey also, but they are delicious. I am able to get them at one of the stalls in our Amish Farmers Market and they are cheaper thnt our two local health food stores
Haven’t seen those. I don’t typically buy anything pricey and processed. Can’t make myself – oh and we’re GF right now. My popper isn’t Whirley Pop b/c I found out it’s made of aluminum – I bought a stainless steel one instead. I love it! Thanks for sharing!
Hmm, looks yummy! I’ll have to give it a try, thanks for the recipe!