Homemade Chicago Style Popcorn (Dorito Popcorn Recipe too!)

We weren't trying to come up with a homemade Chicago style popcorn recipe.  

Our daughter, who has plans of going to culinary school someday, was just making a couple batches of flavored popcorn on Super Bowl night.  She's like me and loves experimenting in the kitchen and playing around with recipes.  This morning I saw the two bowls sitting there on the counter with what was left of her creations, and both had spilled onto the counter when our son was packing some for his snack today.  He hasn't quite learned what it means to clean up after himself, and for once I was glad.  I ate both kinds of popcorn together and said, “This is so good and tastes just like the stuff from the store–I have to post this!”  (When we shop at Costco and I'm having a weak moment, I may or may not let the kids talk me into buying some of the Chicago style popcorn there that has a not-too-bad ingredient label.)  So I grilled her to find out exactly what she did…

And don't worry, unlike most recipes for Chicago style popcorn that you'll find online, there's no corn syrup or nasty msg seasoning mixes in this one!

Print Recipe

Chicago Style Popcorn — Real Foodie Version

Servings: 16 cups

Author: Kelly the Kitchen Kop

Ingredients

• 2 batches of this popcorn made with coconut oil
• 1/2-3/4 cup pastured butter
• Sea salt to taste
• 1/8 to 1/4 cup maple sugar (or organic brown sugar), just make sure the only ingredient is maple syrup
• 1/8 to 1/4 cup nutritional yeast — you can use powder or the flakes. If you're not familiar with this stuff-- it's not like other yeasts you've heard of, it's just a good-for-you, nutrient-rich ingredient that many use for recipes just like this when you want a cheesy-like flavor on your food! It's a good source of B vitamins and other nutrients too. (The brand I linked to here has no synthetic folic acid.)

Instructions

• Pop the popcorn and keep the two batches in separate bowls. Butter and salt them both. In one bowl, sprinkle the maple sugar all over and toss. Taste-test and add more sugar if needed. In the other bowl, sprinkle on the nutritional yeast and toss. Taste-test and add more for a more cheesy taste. When you get the tastes on both how you want them, toss together and enjoy!

Want to try some “Dorito Popcorn?”

This is super easy, I got the idea from Adrienne's recipe over at WholeNewMom.com–go there if you want exact amounts, but all I do is eyeball it.  

Make a batch of popcorn, butter and salt it, and sprinkle on the following, however much you'd like:

• Some of this nutritional yeast (this gives it that powdered cheesiness that Doritoes have)

Next add any or all of the following–start with a little and add more as needed:  

• Paprika
• Garlic powder
• Cumin
• Chili powder
• Cayenne powder if you want a little heat

Taste-test and see what it needs more of–good luck staying out of this!

More you might like:

• Here's more about why coconut oil is so good for you (which is why I always cook our popcorn in it!):  Why Kent takes a spoonful of coconut oil daily.

• Healing Auto-Immune Disease IS Possible — Part 2 “There's No Need for a False Sense of Doom”

• Is popcorn good for you?  Is popcorn GMO-free?

• Are you living in the “middle ground” when it comes to real food?  We often are!

• Have you seen our kitchen remodel video?