This healthy popcorn made with coconut oil is not just a good-for-you snack, it's also filling and nutritious…
Many of you may not realize what a simple, yummy and healthy snack popcorn is, especially this healthy popcorn made with coconut oil!
Not convinced? Check out this post: Is Popcorn Good for You?
Kids love it, and of course it's great for movie night–this is even better than movie theater popcorn. Still using the chemical-laden microwave popcorn? This blows that stuff away, try it and see!
4 tips for making this healthy popcorn made with coconut oil extra nutritious!
1. Use a good coconut oil. This one is my favorite. And if you're trying to get more coconut into your diet for these health benefits, but you're like me and don't like the flavor in certain recipes, here's a recipe for people like us. Everyone loves this and it reminds me of how old-fashioned movie theater popcorn used to taste before they stopped using coconut oil–because it was more expensive than the cheap heart-killer fake oils they use now. Don't worry, the flavor isn't overpowering. It also keeps very well in freezer baggies for many days without becoming stale. I don't know exactly how long because it doesn't last long around here! I've even sent it to our friend, Nick, in Iraq and it travels quite well! By the way, some have trouble digesting popcorn, or they can only have a little, so keep that in mind just in case it doesn't set right with you. Note that you could use avocado oil instead (but never the heart-killer nasty oils like canola or soy), and it's still good, just not quite as good.
If you still don't think you'd like the flavor, you could use this no-flavor coconut oil instead.
2. Use this yummy heirloom popcorn. It's not organic but it is no-gmo, and it doesn't stick to your teeth or have a tough chewiness to it, it is JUST right! (At that link you can read in the Q&A's about how it's grown. If anyone finds an organic brand that is not tough to chew, please let me know.) I did just find THIS organic heirloom popcorn, I'll let you know when I try it!
3. Use a good popcorn popper like this one: Stainless Steel Popcorn Popper. I've been through many popcorn poppers since we began eating healthier and finally found one I love! This one has no nasty Teflon, no dangerous aluminum next to your food (make sure you get the one with stainless steel throughout), and it tastes much better than when it's cooked in an air popper–those make popcorn taste dry and blah.
4. Don't be afraid to add melted butter and sea salt liberally, and see this post for more fun flavoring ideas! (With nutritional yeast for B vitamins and yummy flavor!)
Kelly's Popcorn Recipe with Coconut Oil
Ingredients
- 2-3 Tablespoons organic coconut oil -- the coconut flavor is very mild, but for zero coconut flavor, use this no-flavor coconut oil instead. (You could also use avocado oil if you don't have coconut oil.)
- 3/4 cup heirloom popcorn
- 1/2 cup butter (or more!) melted — pastured butter is best
- 1/2 teaspoon or more real sea salt
Instructions
- Scoop coconut oil into your heated stove-top popper. Add popcorn and keep stirring until the popping stops. Pour popcorn into a bowl, and stir in the melted butter and sea salt. Shake or stir it around good then test to see if it needs more salt or butter. Enjoy!
- Comment below if you have coconut tips or more recipes with coconut – the more we can get into our diets, the better! Or check out this post for new ways to use coconut oil. Don't forget to check out the popcorn flavor ideas below!
More you might like:
- Wonder how in the world popcorn can be good for us? Or if it's gmo-free? Shouldn't popcorn be soaked since it's a whole grain? Click here to find out all of that and more.
- Read here about the many benefits of getting more coconut into our diets!
- Kettle Corn made with coconut oil – much easier than caramel corn and gives you that nice sweet WITH salty flavor.
- Don't forget to try these recipes next: Chicago Style Popcorn & Dorito Popcorn! (With nutritional yeast for B vitamins and yummy flavor!)
William Kubat says
I used to pop in a kettle back in the 50s. No more. Which is a safe microwave popcorn?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I wouldn’t buy microwave popcorn at the store, they all have weird chemicals. My recipe above tastes the best and is the best for you, but if you have to use a microwave then pop the corn in a paper sack (closed tightly) then add plenty of sea salt and butter on top!
Cathy Finnesgard says
Microwave and air popped movie popcorn don’t hold a candle to old fashioned homemade, made right. I made some the other night and it took me back to my childhood, when Mom made it in a soup pot and served it up in paper bags covered in butter and salt. Yum!
Shannon Shaffer Kruger says
<3 POPCORN.
Marianne Barnes says
Refined coconut oil …then different seasonings. My fav is salt and chili powder.
Mary Ann Berning says
We use an air popper and either drench it in real butter or coconut oil after its popped.
Lacey Lace says
I popped mine with coconut oil a few times but found it upset my stomach. I use organic palm oil now, from a good source that doesn’t harm the critters. I think I might have a problem with coconut oil as it also caused a rash when I tried using it as a deodorant. Can a person be allergic to coconut oil?
Amy Travis says
Yes, they can!
Jacquie Troupe says
Bacon grease & butter while it pops then as soon as it’s done, let pads of butter melt down the side of the pot as you toss it!
Rochelle Ledbetter Robinson says
I don’t like the flavor of coconut oil for popcorn, so I use half lard and half butter (even though it’s storebought lard, I’d rather use that than canola)
Kelly Smith Lockeman says
I like to use ghee. It gives it a nice buttery/nutty flavor while it pops!
Karen says
This maybe a silly questions, I looked thru all the comments and didn’t see anything that mentioned whether to melt the coconut oil first before you put it in the old fashion theater popper. My coconut oil is like lard. Anyone know?
KitchenKop says
Hi Karen, just glop it into the pan and it’ll melt quickly, then drop the popcorn in. 🙂
Kel
Cynthia Hill via Facebook says
I love it this way but always have an allergic reaction to nutritional yeast. Anyone else have a reaction to yeast & anyone know why? Always wondered… Have no other allergies!
Jacquelyn Lindsey Hoag via Facebook says
I learned about. brewers yeast, often labeled as nutritional yeast from La Leche League, the support group for nursing mothers. a spoon full in glass of orange juice good for relaxation….so my kids grew up with brewers yeast on their popcorn. other favorites with brewers yeast are stephen gaskins gravy (the farm cookbook)’ basmatti rice with brewers yeast, butter and tamari. , on salads, on steamed veggies with melted cheese….protein and B vitmins aplenty
Kris Bell Slager via Facebook says
Hubby can’t have dairy so when I make (organic!) popcorn for him, I drizzle it with melted coconut oil and then sprinkle it with nutritional yeast. He LOVES it!
JohnandRobin Van Norman via Facebook says
We do, with Real Salt & organic butter mixed with coconut oil
Em Roehrman via Facebook says
Yes! With garlic powder and salt.
Lorie says
Can I use coconut oil in a nostalgia old fashion pop corn machine ? My daughter got one for Christmas and this is her second the first was used loving for five years but we cleaned after each use and still it was hard to keep up with I’m thinking coconut oil is less fat
KitchenKop says
Hi Lorie,
Yes, you could for sure, and it’s much better for you than whatever nasty vegetable oil they probably recommended.
It’s better not because it’s *less* fat – it’s the TYPE of fat that matters. Healthy fats are traditional fats like coconut oil, butter, lard or tallow from pastured pigs or cows, olive oil, etc. These healthy fats are protective in our body against inflammation. We use them liberally around here! 🙂
Kelly
lisa van tuyl says
I love popcorn with coconut oil – I do it differently. I pop regular popcorn in a brown lunch bag…just cover the bottom of the bag with corn, roll the top closed, and microwave for 2 minutes…perfecto with no fat or mess then I melt a tablespoon of coconut oil in the microwave, and add it to the popcorn with a little salt. or add cinnamon sugar and a bit of salt.
KitchenKop says
But the thing is, I *want* to get more of this healthy fat in our diets. Plus we try to avoid the microwave as much as possible.
That does sound easy, though.
Kelly
Cari says
Hi Kelly. I absolutely love all the wonderful information I’ve found here on your blog. I tell my ‘real food’ conscious friends all about it (and try to convert my other friends – lol).
This is my first time posting and I just have a couple of questions about popcorn. Where can you find organic popcorn? And the ‘Back to Basics’ brand is about $200, but I found a brand that seems exactly like it called Lindy’s that is under $45 (https://www.amazon.com/Lindys-Stainless-Steel-Popcorn-Popper/dp/B0034D5BIQ/ref=pd_sbs_k_4). Is this a case of ‘you get what you pay for’, or do you think the Lindy brand is ok?
KitchenKop says
Youza! I’ll have to go check that link, the Back to Basics one I got was $30!
If you can find one that is for sure made with stainless steel and not aluminum, then yes, that’s just fine! 🙂
KitchenKop says
OK, I just put a new link in and it’s only $30 with free shipping! 🙂
Amy @ REALizing Food says
Hi Kelly!
I started reading your blog recently when it was recommended by a friend. This is the first time I’ve posted here :o) As a baby real foodie, I just wanted to tell you I LOVE this popcorn recipe! I made it with a regular stainless steel pan and moved it around a bunch and none of it burnt! I was so proud of myself-last time I tried popcorn in that pan it burnt really bad and we all know that’s an awful smell…
KitchenKop says
Hi Amy,
I’m so glad you said hello and that you loved the recipe!! 🙂
Kelly
Heather says
Ghee works great! Omg, I made kettle corn with ghee and some grated palm sugar and it was the BEST EVER!
Cheryl Greenwald says
The palm oil shortening from Tropical Traditions works very well for popcorn too – especially if you don’t want the coconut flavor. You can always add butter after it’s popped.
Heather says
I know with olive oil heating the extra-virgin that way turns all the antioxidants into free radicals. Not good.
Elisabeth says
We LOVE popcorn made this way.
However, I’ve been thinking. . . My jar of unrefined coconut oil says that it is made for cooking at medium heat (280F). I’m sure that the oil gets hotter than that when I make popcorn. Should I use the refined oil (labeled for medium high heat) instead. I wonder if I’m essentially refining the oil myself by subjecting it to high heat? If so, does this oxidize the fats or do anything else evil?
I could really use some input on this one.
KitchenKop says
Good question, hmmmmm, I have it that the unrefined smoke point is 350*, so I just keep it at medium heat and don’t scorch it. Maybe I should check and see how hot I’m actually getting it, though, and possibly use the refined coc. oil instead (that smoke point is higher). But I love the flavor of coc. oil in there!
If anyone has time to check the temps that it takes for popcorn to pop and could let us know here, that would be great as I’m gone all weekend and buried in “catch up” next week.
Elisabeth says
Wikipedia says that the corn pops at 356F, close enough to 350 to make me happy. I’ll try lowering the heat to medium next time; I’m generally an impatient cook and turn everything up as high as possible.
Heather says
Great facts about coconut oil! Never knew so much. Love your info.
Heather says
Coconut Oil? I guess… but with vitamin D deficiency in the news and all… I’m proud to say that I pop my corn in BACON GREASE!
KitchenKop says
Reeeally? Hmmm, I’ll have to try that! Everything’s better with bacon grease! 🙂
Dana says
I pop mine in bacon grease too. It’s fabulous
Joy says
This is REALLY good with nutritional yeast sprinkled over it. Adds a cheesy flavor and gives you those great B vitamins! We’ve gone through 2 of those popcorn poppers in our life time! 🙂
christina says
We started making popcorn with coconut oil a few months ago. The first time I made it everyone came in the kitchen and we all agreed that it smelled like a movie theater! It is our favorite way to make popcorn. So yummy! I just use a big stainless steel pot with a lid and shake. The pot is all dented from making popcorn so it is now officially our popcorn pot! I’ll have to look into the popper. It looks fun too. Thanks for posting about it!
KitchenKop says
Carey, I’m so glad you liked it, thanks for the feedback! 🙂
Carey says
YUM! My son got his braces off and I’d promised him homemade popcorn. I’m so glad I found your blog with the link for this popcorn maker. I ordered it online and just had to drive to my local WalMart to pick it up. No burnt kernels and virtually no “old maids” at the bottom! Can’t wait to try the caramel corn!
Kelly says
No, I’ve never tried that, because I love my popper so much, and also I remember as a kid how terrible it was cleaning out those pans after popcorn!
My Boys' Teacher says
I made your popcorn recipe last night! It was delicious thank you! I made it in a plain old heavy stainless steel saucepan with the lid on and I think it turned out perfect…Have you compared making your popcorn in a regular pan versus the popcorn popper? Is there a noticeable difference?
My Boys’ Teacher
Renee says
Try adding nutritional yeast. I make mine like your recipe (coconut, butter, salt) after adding the butter, sprinkle nutritional yeast before serving. Adds a depth and saltiness plus the bonus of b vitamins.
Best
Renee
Kelly says
NO! That one is made with aluminum, which we try to avoid.
Take care!
Kelly
anon says
Is this the popper?
“Wabash Valley Farms Whirley Popcorn Popper ”
https://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=739689
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Just wanted to let you know that I haven’t heard back yet with an answer to this question. My guess, though, is that unless you go through it very slowly, not refrigerating should be fine. Sorry I don’t have more definitive info for you.
Kelly
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I’ve never refrigerated mine. I go through it pretty fast in the kitchen, but even the coconut oil that I keep in the bathroom (as a moisturizer), has never gone bad for me – never an off smell or anything. I’ve actually never heard of any going bad, but I wonder if keeping it cool retains more nutrients? Maybe I’ll post it to a coconut forum I belong to and see if anyone knows. I’ll get back to you!
Extraordinary Ordinary Life says
Question about coconut oil – I purchased some, but it says “freshest when refrigerated”. I did that and now it is hard and not easy to use. Do you refrigerate your’s?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Diana says
Hi Kelly,
You are assuming that I follow exact recipes. 🙂
Spread plain popcorn on buttered cookie sheet. Stir together over medium heat until melted: A couple of tablespoons of brown sugar, a couple of tablespoons of water, tablespoon or so of butter, big pinch of organic sea salt, and big fistful of marshmallows (I’ll have to investigate a healthier version). Remove from heat and add vanilla. Drizzle mixture over popcorn and mix up with a spoon (or your hands if you let it cool slightly). When it cools somewhat (not completely), form into balls with buttered hands. Let cool and enjoy!
-Diana
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hi Diana,
So how did you get your popcorn into popcorn balls?
Thanks,
Kelly
Diana says
I wanted to let you know that we used this recipe to make some yummy popcorn balls for our weekend treat. Very tasty with just a hint of coconut. Thanks!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hello,
Yes, it comes from Walmart, and that’s the right one. See the comment above about the stainless steel & aluminum. 🙂
Kelly
Anonymous says
About the popcorn popper~~~does it come from Wal-Mart? I keep getting the Wal-Mart site and it says it is a Steel-clad with aluminum plate. Is that the one I want to order?
Thanks.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hi Meredith,
I’m glad you liked it! I’m not sure if you got the oil too hot, but mine also bubbles right before it pops the corn. (Medium heat should probably be fine.) Mine also tastes coconutty, which I love along with all the sea salt and butter I put on, too!
I love feedback, thanks for commenting!
Kelly
Meredith says
Kelly,
I agree! This popcorn is delicious! However, I’m wondering how to heat the oil. Unfortunately, I have a cheap aluminum pot, and am hoping to purchase the stainless steel version. Today I made this recipe, and when I heated the oil on medium over the stovetop, the oil started to bubble. I am nervous that I heated it too much, and am never sure if I’ve ruined it. It didn’t smell burnt, just very coconutty. Do you have any advice? Thanks so much!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hi Natalie,
This brand of popper also comes in an all aluminum version (less expensive), but this one has stainless steel around the aluminum on the bottom, so there’s no aluminum by the food.
And trust me, the popcorn is SO delicious! 🙂
Kelly
Natalie says
Is there aluminum in this popper? The description states it has “a steel-clad aluminum plate for optimal heat dispersion”.
Jenn says
A note about coconut oil: if you want to use it as moisturizer, just use the plain organic unrefined coconut oil. Buying the stuff that’s labeled ‘moisturizer’ just means there are other things in it and you’ll pay a ton more. It’s a little oily when you first put it on but it absorbs relatively quickly. I’ve been using it for nearly a year and it’s been great for me.
Sonia says
As someone who doesn’t love popcorn, I must admit I really love Kelly’s recipe! It doesn’t have the artificial and overwhleming flavor that you get from microwave popcorn. It takes delicious _and_ natural!
Kelly says
Holly,
Thanks again for your comments, and I can’t wait to hear what you think of the popcorn – don’t forget plenty of real butter and sea salt!
By the way, since you love coconut, you’d love the book about all its benefits called, “Eat Fat Lose Fat” – there’s a link in the “About my favorite books” post.
God bless!
Holly says
I have a popper like that one. I will have to try it again. As for coconut, the only way I have ever had it is in yummy baked goods and stuff, so if I try the oil, it will be interesting to taste. 🙂
Kelly says
Holly, this oil does have a coconut flavor, but there are others (more about that in a future post) that do not have the flavor or smell. In the popcorn I think it tastes great though, and I normally can’t stand the taste of coconut. You’re lucky that you love it, it is SO good for you! Check back in a few minutes and I’ll fix the link – thank you for letting me know! I was going to double check those after I got the kids to bed!
Holly says
Kelly, I can’t get the popper link to work. I am curious what you use. I never thought of popping corn in coconut oil! I love the flavor of coconut. Does the oil taste like that?