35+ Perfect Popcorn Recipes

You’ll never want to buy a tin of pre-made popcorn again with today’s collection of Scrumptious Popcorn Recipes – covering everything from candied popcorn, homemade caramel popcorn and trendy popcorn balls.

Unique Popcorn Recipes

Popcorn is the ultimate versatile snack.

Perfect for movie nights (whether at home or if you’re lucky enough to still have a drive-in), a party snack or gifting to friends, homemade popcorn is one of those often overlooked treats that is undeniably indulgent and better than anything that can be popped in the microwave.

While I will never snub my nose at a classic butter popcorn, today’s collection of popcorn recipes takes you from backyard campfires to the streets of Chicago, from Valentine’s Day straight through to Christmas. We’ve got you covered with spicy snacks or crunchy, sweet treats and everything in between when it comes to crunchy, filling popcorn recipes.

Pin this collection of homemade popcorn recipes for later.

35 Popcorn Recipes

Jello Rainbow Popcorn (with Video) From Sugar Spice And Glitter

Jello Rainbow Popcorn is a colorful and delicious treat that transforms ordinary popcorn into a candy-coated magical snack. 

With a rainbow of flavors to choose from, this addictive, crunchy snack is perfect for parties, movie nights, or any occasion that calls for a fun and tasty treat. 

Peppermint Bark Popcorn From Sugar Spice And Glitter

This festive and addictive treat combines the crunch of popcorn with the delightful flavors of peppermint bark.

Each kernel is coated in a creamy white and dark chocolate, then sprinkled with crushed candy canes for a burst of refreshing mint. The perfect balance of sweet and minty, this popcorn is an irresistible holiday indulgence.

How to Make Campfire Popcorn From Sugar Spice And Glitter

This classic outdoor treat is simple to make and a delightful campfire companion. Enjoy the smoky flavor and the satisfaction of creating your own snack in the great outdoors.

This method of making Popcorn over a Bonfire is simple and quick – and a healthier alternative to roasting marshmallows all weekend.

Cinnamon Heart Popcorn From Sugar Spice And Glitter

This Cinnamon Heart Popcorn is a delightful treat that combines the classic crunch of popcorn with the irresistible flavor of cinnamon hearts. 

Each kernel is perfectly coated in a tantalizing blend of sweet and spicy cinnamon candies, creating a burst of flavor in every bite. 

Cinnamon Bun Popcorn From Sugar Spice And Glitter

Cinnamon Bun Popcorn is a delightful blend of fluffy popcorn coated in a sweet and tangy cinnamon-flavored candy coating.

Perfect for sharing or savoring on your own, this popcorn is a classic favorite that brings a touch of childhood magic to every bite.   

Homemade Caramel Popcorn (with Video) From Sugar Spice And Glitter

This delightful treat features fluffy popcorn generously coated in a rich, buttery caramel sauce.

Crafted with love and care, each piece is a perfect balance of sweet and salty. 

Enjoy the homemade goodness of this classic snack, perfect for movie nights, parties, or a simple afternoon treat.   

Cookies & Cream Popcorn From Sugar Spice And Glitter

This Cookies & Cream Popcorn is a delightful treat that combines the crunchy texture of popcorn with the irresistible taste of cookies and cream.

Every bite is a burst of creamy vanilla and rich chocolate flavor, coated in a delicious white chocolate drizzle. It’s the ultimate guilty pleasure for popcorn lovers!   

Popcorn Trail Mix From Sugar Spice And Glitter

Perfect for on-the-go adventures or cozy movie nights, this treat offers a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and crunchy textures. Customize it with your favorite ingredients for a truly personalized snacking experience.

This is a great idea for a party, or just for an easy afternoon snack – whether you’re serving toddlers or school-aged kids.

Popcorn Snowballs From Sugar Spice And Glitter

Popcorn Snowballs are a delightful treat that combines the crunch of popcorn with the sweetness and chewy texture of marshmallows.

These festive snacks are shaped into balls and can be coated in a sugary or chocolatey mixture, resembling miniature snowballs. They’re perfect for winter holidays or any occasion craving a sweet and salty indulgence.   

Birthday Popcorn Balls From Sugar Spice And Glitter

These Birthday Popcorn Balls are a delightful combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy. These colorful treats feature a perfect blend of fluffy popcorn, gooey marshmallows, and a burst of crunchy birthday-themed sprinkles. 

Each bite is a nostalgic throwback to childhood parties, making them the perfect centerpiece for any celebration.

Apple Cinnamon Popcorn From In The Kid’s Kitchen

Crisp popcorn kernels are generously coated in a harmonious mix of warm cinnamon and juicy apple flavors. This irresistible treat offers a comforting and nostalgic taste experience, perfect for any fall occasion. 

Whether you’re cozying up on the couch or enjoying a movie night, Apple Cinnamon Popcorn is the ultimate indulgence.  

Unicorn Popcorn From In The Kid’s Kitchen

This delightful snack is a colorful blend of fluffy popcorn coated in a dreamy mix of pastel colors and adorned with sparkling sprinkles. It’s a sweet and crunchy explosion of flavor that’s sure to delight kids and adults alike. 

Whether you’re hosting a unicorn-themed party or simply craving a touch of magic in your day, Unicorn Popcorn is the perfect indulgence.

Candy Coated Jello Popcorn (with Video) From In The Kid’s Kitchen

Candy Coated Jello Popcorn is a delightful and colorful treat that combines the crunch of popcorn with the sweet, fruity flavor of Jello.

This addictive snack features popcorn coated in a hard candy shell infused with the vibrant taste of your favorite Jello flavor. It’s a perfect blend of sweet and salty, with a satisfyingly crunchy texture.

Christmas Popcorn From Simply Stacie

Christmas Popcorn is a quick and easy holiday treat that is super delicious and addictive. Perfect for Christmas movie nights with the kids and takes only minutes to make.

It’s popcorn…with a festive twist! If you’re watching any holiday movies this Christmas season, why not make some Christmas popcorn to snack on? Get the kids involved in making it. Let them help by adding the colorful candies to the mix.

Caramel PopcornFrom Dinner At The Zoo

This homemade caramel popcorn is lightly salted popcorn tossed in a homemade caramel sauce, then baked to perfection. The best caramel corn you’ll ever eat, and it’s perfect for parties and gift giving!

This caramel corn is sweet, salty, crunchy and buttery all in one, and it’s the ultimate snack or dessert option. This popcorn is also great for gift giving around the holidays or to feed a crowd at a picnic or potluck. 

Valentine’s Day Popcorn From The Soccer Mom Blog

It’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty and so easy to make! This candy-coated Valentine Popcorn Mix is a fun snack for the kids, or for a romantic movie night with your sweetheart. 

It’s easy to make with just a handful of ingredients, in less than 30 minutes! If you like rice krispie treats or popcorn balls, this sweet and savory snack has a similar flavor, but with some extra special yummy mix-ins!

Instant Pot Popcorn From The Soccer Mom Blog

Learn how to make popcorn in an Instant Pot — the best, easiest, fastest way to make buttery, fluffy popcorn. It’s perfect! This Instant Pot Popcorn is easy, delicious, and ready in no time!

Skip the stove and whip up a quick bowl of popcorn in minutes, using your instant pot! Easy, less messy, and easier to contain than a pot. Delicious and perfect popcorn every time.

Homemade Seasoned Jalapeño Popcorn From Xoxo Bella

Seasoned popcorn is an easy movie night snack and this homemade jalapeño popcorn is especially good. Made with cilantro, cheese powder, butter, and pickled jalapeños, it’s a truly full-flavored snack. 

The savory, spicy flavor and crunch are so satisfying and this is an easy popcorn recipe to make too.

Apple Cinnamon Popcorn From Into Kids Kitchen

The whole family will love this sweet and fragrant Apple Cinnamon Popcorn. It’s a light and delicious fall treat! This is a super easy recipe that doesn’t require any special equipment and you can start by using microwave popcorn!

Kids and grown-ups will both love this light and flavorful fall treat! It’s perfect for movie night, school lunchboxes, or an after-school snack.

Valentine’s Popcorn Recipe From Busy Little Chefs

This Valentine’s Popcorn Recipe is a delightful treat perfect for the season. The recipe features freshly popped crunchy popcorn drizzled with milk chocolate and red, pink, and white candy melts, topped with mini heart candy sprinkles. 

It’s an easy, fun, and slightly messy activity, making it great for gifts, party treats, or just for snacking.

Movie Theater Popcorn Recipe From Food Folks And Fun

Use this simplified recipe to make Movie Theater Popcorn with real butter. You will think you are eating popcorn from the concession stand after making this recipe. You can make Movie Theater popcorn with just four ingredients and ten minutes of your time. 

You’ll never want to buy movie theater popcorn again after making this copycat recipe. Your movie nights just got a whole lot better with this movie theater popcorn recipe!

Chili Cheese Popcorn From Chocolate Moosey

If you love chili cheese fries, then you’ll love Chili Cheese Popcorn, a healthier afternoon popcorn snack that still satisfies your craving for spice and cheese. 

It’s healthier than most snacks and is certainly healthier than eating authentic chili cheese fries, that’s for sure.

You can sneak it into the movies or pack it in your lunch when you’re stuck at your desk all day. 

Chocolate Covered Popcorn From Chocolate Moosey

Chocolate Covered Popcorn (aka Hot Chocolate Popcorn) is popcorn drizzled with chocolate then tossed with mini marshmallows and sprinkles. It’s one of the easiest recipes you can make with 4 ingredients. Snack on it while watching tv or wrap inside a coffee mug as a thoughtful homemade gift.

Patriotic Popcorn for 4th of JulyFrom Yum In The Kitchen

This Patriotic Popcorn is a delightful blend of crunchy popcorn, sweet candy melts, and festive sprinkles. Perfect for celebrating Independence Day, 4th of July or any patriotic occasion, this treat is a visual and flavorful explosion of red, white, and blue.

This patriotic popcorn is a fun and festive treat that’s perfect for any celebration where red, white, and blue take center stage. 

Rainbow Kettle Corn Popcorn Balls From Blackberry Babe

Amazingly easy 4-ingredient popcorn balls made with kettle corn and skittles! Kids will love these Rainbow Kettle Corn Popcorn Balls. 

You can definitely customize this mix to your favorite team’s colors or to match the holiday you are celebrating! Or, just make it EXTRA festive with rainbow colors.

Peanut Butter Popcorn Recipe From Noshing With The Nolands

This Peanut Butter Popcorn is a sweet and salty peanut butter lover’s dream come true! It’s a soft and chewy caramel popcorn texture with the most delicious peanut butter flavor. If you love peanut butter, this popcorn is going to be a guaranteed hit!

With only five ingredients, you can whip up a batch of this in no time. It’s a delicious buttery treat that you can serve as a dessert or a snack. Definitely make a batch for your next movie night! 

Olive Oil Popcorn (Garlic and Rosemary) From Noshing With The Nolands

Once you’ve tried this stovetop Olive Oil Popcorn, you’ll never want to go back to air-popped or microwave popcorn again! Flavored with Garlic and Rosemary, this is the perfect savory snack and takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish. 

Best of all, the popcorn is cooked in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, making this a deliciously healthy snack. A savory snack made on the stovetop in minutes! 

Halloween Monster Munch Popcorn Mix From Persnickety Plates

Halloween Monster Munch Popcorn Mix is a super easy party treat made with popcorn, pretzels, and Halloween candy that is drizzled with colorful vanilla candy melts. It’s a perfect blend of salty, sweet, and delicious for a fun Halloween snack.

It takes just minutes to prepare, serves a crowd, and is so versatile. Full of salty and sweet flavors, you can use your favorite mix-ins to customize it.

Maple Almond Popcorn From Simply Stacie

Maple Almond Popcorn is a real treat! Real maple syrup, slivered almonds and a slight hint of salt makes this a true crowd-pleaser! This popcorn will be  such a huge hit. It is perfect for movie nights or just whenever you need a salty and sweet treat. 

It is so easy to make and the ingredients are simple to find and to use. So grab your favorite movie, make this popcorn and get ready to fall in love with a treat the entire family will enjoy.

Coconut Oil Popcorn – just two ingredients! From Persnickety Plates

Healthy coconut oil popcorn makes the perfect snack! Full of buttery flavor without any of the butter. Made with just two ingredients and then topped with your favorite seasonings.

It’s a low-calorie, gluten-free, and tasty way to indulge in a healthy version of theater-style popcorn during Friday night movie nights!

Ghost Popcorn Balls From The First Year Blog

Ghost Popcorn Balls are a spooky and fun Halloween treat made from popcorn mixed with a sticky, sweet marshmallow or syrup mixture, shaped into balls, and decorated to look like ghosts. It is a 5 ingredient GHOST popcorn ball!  

These treats are often adorned with edible eyes and other ghostly features to create a festive and delicious snack perfect for Halloween parties or trick-or-treating. 

Turtle Popcorn Balls From The First Year Blog

Turtle popcorn balls start with a marshmallow base, then melt in caramel bits and chocolate chips! The best part is rolling the outside of the balls in extra caramel pieces, chocolate chips and pecans. 

These holiday popcorn balls are easy to make and a great no-bake Christmas dessert. Perfect for parties, gifts, or a sweet snack, Turtle Popcorn Balls are a satisfying blend of sweet and salty.

Instant Pot Popcorn From Food N Service 

Make delicious and healthy popcorn in minutes with the Instant Pot! This recipe uses minimal oil and produces perfect, fluffy kernels every time. Simply add kernels and a small amount of oil to the Instant Pot, close the lid, and let the pressure do the work.

You’ll have freshly popped popcorn ready to enjoy in no time, perfect for movie nights, snacking, or as a fun and easy treat for the whole family.

Red Hot Cinnamon Popcorn From I Heart Eating

Make your own red hot cinnamon popcorn with this easy recipe! This recipe makes popcorn that’s coated with a red hot candy coating. This popcorn has a good, strong cinnamon flavor, but it isn’t too spicy. 

Thankfully, this cinnamon popcorn is really easy to make, and it keeps well. It’s a great snack, dessert, or movie-watching treat.

Halloween Popcorn From I Heart Eating

Halloween popcorn is an easy Halloween dessert or treat that takes just minutes to make. This quick recipe is sure to become a Halloween favorite! 

This quick treat is made with a few ingredients, and the recipe can easily be changed up to suit your tastes. This popcorn recipe makes a fun Halloween treat, and it’s perfect for Halloween parties. 

Christmas Popcorn Balls From Crayons And Cravings

Christmas popcorn balls made with marshmallows, popcorn, butter, M&Ms, and sprinkles make a fun and festive no-bake holiday treat.

While many popcorn balls recipes call for corn syrup, these marshmallow popcorn balls are made without corn syrup. The marshmallows are what hold them together.

Unicorn Popcorn From Crayons And Cravings

Unicorn popcorn is an easy to make and colorful treat that is perfect for your unicorn themed birthday party or unicorn sleepover!

If your little ones love unicorns as much as you do, they are going to love this unicorn themed popcorn recipe. Not only is this unicorn popcorn delicious, but it’s so colorful too.

Curry Popcorn From The Foodolic

Butter Curry Popcorn is a fantastic way to add an exotic twist to your next home cinema night. 

This unique snack blends the rich, creamy flavor of butter with the warm, aromatic spices of curry, creating a delightful fusion that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. 

Pin this collection of homemade popcorn recipes for later.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know when my popcorn is fully popped? 

To determine if your popcorn is fully popped, listen for a steady popping sound. Once the popping slows down significantly, it’s a good indication that most of the kernels have popped. Remove the pot from the heat at this point to prevent any remaining kernels from burning.

What should I do if my popcorn is burning? 

If your popcorn starts to burn, remove the pot from the heat immediately. This can happen if the heat is too high or if the pot is not shaken frequently enough. 

Burnt popcorn can have a bitter taste and can be unpleasant to eat. Once you remove the pot from the heat, quickly pour the popcorn into a bowl to prevent further burning. 

Can I reuse old popcorn kernels? 

It’s generally not recommended to reuse old popcorn kernels. While they might still pop, the popping rate and quality will likely be lower. Older kernels may be more prone to burning or producing incompletely popped kernels. Additionally, reused kernels can introduce contaminants, potentially affecting the taste and safety of your popcorn.

Popcorn recipes are a simple and beloved snack, that is light and has neutral flavor. 

In this roundup post, we have shared some simple popcorn recipes like jello rainbow popcorn, unicorn popcorn, cinnamon heart popcorn, peppermint bark popcorn, ghost popcorn balls among other delicious ones. 

For more decadent no-bake desserts, check out our full no-bake dessert recipe collection here:

For more decadent desserts, check out our full dessert recipe collection here: