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Stovetop Garlic Parmesan Popcorn

Popcorn cooks in a covered pot, then gets tossed with garlic butter and grated Parmesan. It is a savory bowl snack ready in minutes on the stove.

Prep
5 min
Cook
8 min
Total
13 min
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
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Bowl of garlic Parmesan popcorn

Photo: Fuzzy Gerdes (CC BY). Source

Why you’ll love it

  • Costs less than bagged flavored popcorn.
  • Garlic butter clings better when tossed hot.
  • One pot handles popping and seasoning.
  • Scales easily for movie night portions.

Ingredients

Servings4

Ingredient amounts scale. Oven temperature and cook time do not. Salt, spices, and leaveners are a starting point after you scale. Taste and adjust.

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Instructions

  1. 1

    Pour oil and kernels into a large heavy pot and cover.

  2. 2

    Cook over medium heat, shaking often, until popping slows to 2 seconds apart, about 4 to 5 minutes.

  3. 3

    Remove from heat and keep covered 30 seconds.

  4. 4

    Melt butter in a small pan and stir in minced garlic for 30 seconds.

  5. 5

    Drizzle garlic butter over the popcorn and toss.

  6. 6

    Add Parmesan, salt, and pepper and toss again until coated.

  7. 7

    Serve right away while warm.

Pro tips

  • Use a pot tall enough for kernels to expand fully.
  • Shake the pot so bottom kernels do not scorch.
  • Grate Parmesan fine so it sticks to the hot corn.

Easy substitutions

Parmesan
pecorino or nutritional yeast
butter
olive oil
garlic cloves
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Storage and reheating

Storage

Best fresh. Store cooled leftovers in a paper bag up to 1 day.

Reheating

Warm in a 300°F oven 3 to 4 minutes; avoid the microwave which softens it.

Nutrition

Estimates per serving, using standard ingredient averages and rounded to the nearest gram. This is not a lab analysis, and it shifts if you change brands or add sides.

Calories
180
Protein
5 g
Carbs
14 g
Fat
12 g
Fiber
3 g

Budget friendly · Stovetop · Vegetarian

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  • A heavy 12-inch skillet

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  • An air fryer with a real basket

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  • A half-sheet pan

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  • A sharp chef’s knife

    These recipes do not need a specialty blade. A sharp 8-inch knife is faster and safer than a dull one.

  • A large cutting board

    Big enough that the onion and the raw chicken are not sharing the same puddle.

  • Dry cups and a liquid cup

    Desserts in particular expect level dry measures and a separate cup for milk.

  • An instant-read thermometer

    Use it for poultry, pork chops, and meatloaf. Color is a weak guide.

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Ingredients