Learn how to quickly and easily make homemade popcorn with this Stovetop Popcorn Recipe.

Whether you are looking for a healthy snack for yourself, your kids, or your family game night, popcorn makes a perfect snack.
Homemade Popcorn that is!
Popcorn gets a bad rap for being super high in sodium and fat, but popcorn kernels themselves are high in fiber, naturally gluten-free, 100% whole grain, and low in fat.
Using this easy method for stovetop popcorn delivers all the benefits that popcorn has to offer and the taste you crave, without the abundance of salt and butter.
Notes on Ingredients and Equipment Needed
- Oil: I strongly suggest using coconut oil for making stovetop popcorn, as it has a high smoking point and it tastes like what you purchase at movie theaters. You can replace the coconut oil with canola oil, but never use olive oil to make stovetop popcorn, as the flavor of the oil is much too overpowering for the delicate flavor of the popcorn.
- Popcorn Kernels: Use yellow or white popcorn kernels for this recipe. As for what brand of popcorn kernels are best, I do have an opinion. My son once did a science fair project on which popcorn kernels are best. We tested every brand of popcorn we could get our hands on at least 10 times per brand of each popcorn. Orville Redenbacher Kernels pop up the fluffiest and leave the fewest unpopped kernels. However, if you consider the price per ounce, Wal-Mart store brand kernels were best. They left behind more kernels than Orville, but there was a cost-saving at the end of the day.
- Salt: The best salt to use for homemade popcorn is table salt, super-fine salt, or salt labeled Popcorn Salt. The finer the salt, the better it will stick to the popcorn. Do not use kosher salt to season your popcorn.
- Pan: Stainless steel pans work best for popping popcorn on the stovetop, and I recommend avoiding nonstick pans when making popcorn. Use a heavy-bottomed stainless steel pan with a well-fitting lid or a metal popcorn pan.
How to Make Stovetop Popcorn
- To make popcorn on the stovetop, place 1-2 tablespoons of oil into the bottom of a heavy 6-quart saucepan, or a
- Add 2-3 kernels of popcorn and cover the pan with a lid. Turn the heat to medium-high and listen for a kernel to pop. Once a single kernel pops, you will know the oil has heated to the right temperature.
- Remove the lid from the pan, and pour in enough popcorn kernels to cover the bottom of the pan in a single layer. This should be about ½ cup of popcorn kernels.
- Return the lid to the pan and every 30 seconds, pick up the pan using potholders to shake up the popcorn kernels. I strongly recommend picking up the pan to shake, so you don't scratch up your stove--especially crucial on an electric stovetop.
- Once you hear the kernels slow in popping, remove the pan from heat and remove the lid. It is essential to remove the lid immediately from the pan so that the condensation that has formed from the heat will not drip down into the pan, making your popcorn soggy.
- Season the popped popcorn with salt and serve immediately for best results.

Seasoning Options
The options for how you season your homemade popcorn are endless. You can keep it simple by just finishing with salt, or you can opt to get a bit more creative with your popcorn seasonings.
- Cinnamon Sugar: Combine 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar with ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and sprinkle over the popcorn after it has popped.
- Parmesan: Grate parmesan cheese over freshly popped popcorn. While you can use parmesan from a canister, grating a wedge of Parmesan directly over your freshly popped popcorn will yield an insanely delicious snack.
- Taco Seasoning: Add 2 teaspoons of homemade taco seasoning to the popped corn.
- Italian Seasoning: Add 1 ½ teaspoons of Italian seasoning and ½ teaspoon table salt to the popcorn and toss together before serving.
- Chocolate: Add mini chocolate chips to the popcorn after popping, and watch the chocolate melt into the popcorn, leaving you with a sweet and salty snack.
More Wholesome Snack Recipes
If you gave this stovetop popcorn a try, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

Homemade Stovetop Popcorn
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil or canola oil
- ½ cup popcorn kernels
Instructions
- To make popcorn on the stovetop, place 1-2 tablespoons of oil into the bottom of a heavy 6 quart saucepan, or a metal popcorn pan.
- Add 2-3 kernels of popcorn and cover the pan with a lid. Heat the oil over medium-high heat and shake occassionally.
- Once you hear a kernel pop, pour about ½ cup of kernels into the pan (enough to just cover the bottom of the pan.)
- Cover the pan and every 30 seconds, pick up the pan to shake up the popcorn kernels. I strongly recommend picking up the pan to shake, so you don't scratch up your stove.
- Once you hear the kernels stop popping, remove from heat and remove the lid.
- Salt with 1 teaspoon of salt, or to your liking.
Lynn
Love homemade popcorn - will definitely try your recipe.
Have you tried making it with cinnamon before? Heard that should be good but have yet to try.
Did you get the picture of the ceramic popcorn bucket online or is it yours? Have been looking for a cute bucket and can't seem to find one. If it is yours: please let me know where you got it!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Lynn! I think cinnamon would be delicious! As for the popcorn bowl, it is from Crate and Barrel. It is literally 20 years old, so I am not sure they still have it!
NGM
I ALWAYS use olive oil. Olive oil tastes great and enhances the flavor of pop corn for me.
Tara
We love making homemade popcorn! We make it in my Dutch oven.
Kristen Chidsey
Oh I love using my dutch oven as well--it fits more popcorn as well!!
Joanie
You just can't beat homemade popcorn - wonderful! Thank you for the tips.
Danielle
We used to have an air popper, but we couldn't figure out how to get it to taste good. Adding melted butter made it soggy, and i either had too much or too little salt. Also, I've never heard of an oil mister, but I'm definitely going to try these and hopefully make them part of our weekly snacks. Any suggestions for making it taste like white cheddar?
Kristen Chidsey
Hey Danielle! Yes an air mist will help so much! As for white cheddar--they sell white cheddar powder, that is an option. But Alton Brown has a great method: https://altonbrown.com/triple-cheese-popcorn-recipe/