If you want a low-calorie, healthy snack, you’ll love this air-popped Ranch Popcorn with homemade ranch popcorn seasoning!
Ranch Popcorn
We are huge popcorn eaters in my house! Did you know you can pop popcorn on the stove with no oil? No fancy machines or equipment needed! And better news, popcorn is a whole grain loaded with fiber, making it the perfect light snack when watching a movie or craving something savory. While many flavored popcorn brands are loaded with butter or oil or worse—“natural flavorings”—you can make homemade popcorn that’s healthier (and cheaper!) than the store-bought stuff. More of my favorite savory snack recipes are these Everything Parmesan Crisps, Air Fryer Chickpeas, and Baked Wonton Chips.
Why You’ll Love this Seasoned Popcorn
- Fast and Easy: Enjoy freshly popped popcorn with savory, herby ranch seasoning in less than 10 minutes.
- Healthy: This stovetop popcorn without oil is a healthy snack that’s high in fiber.
- Clean Ingredients: There are no mystery “natural flavors” in this homemade ranch popcorn. By making it at home, you know exactly what’s in it.
Ranch Popcorn Ingredients
- Popcorn Kernels: You’ll need a quarter cup of kernels to make six cups of popcorn.
- Olive Oil Spray helps the ranch seasoning stick to the popcorn.
- Seasoning: Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper
- Herbs: Dried basil, parsley, and chive
- Buttermilk Powder is usually found in the baking aisle and gives the ranch seasoning a tangy, creamy flavor.
How to Make Ranch Popcorn
- Make the Ranch Popcorn Seasoning: Combine all the ranch popcorn seasoning ingredients in a small bowl.
- Microwave Popcorn: I love using this gadget to microwave kernels without oil. If you don’t have one, you can make the popcorn on the stove.
- How to Pop Popcorn on the Stove: Put the popcorn kernels in an even layer in the bottom of a large pot or Dutch oven. Don’t add too many, or there won’t be enough room for them after they pop. Turn the heat to medium and cover the pot.
- How to Know When Popcorn Is Done: Listen to the kernels as they pop. At first, they will pop vigorously, and the noise will be constant. After about six minutes, they will slow down. Remove the pot from the heat when you hear one or two seconds in between pops.
- How to Add Seasoning to Popcorn: When the popcorn is hot, spritz it with olive oil spray and sprinkle on the ranch seasoning.
More Popcorn Seasoning Variations
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Finely grated parmesan cheese
- King Arthur’s Better Cheddar Cheese Powder
- Nutritional yeast (Great dairy-free alternative to parmesan cheese)
- Taco seasoning
- Tajín (Chili/lime seasoning)
- Coconut oil spray with powdered sugar and cinnamon
Storage
For the freshest popcorn, eat this ranch popcorn right after it’s popped. You can also store leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week.
More Ranch Recipes You’ll Love
Yield: 3 servings
Serving Size: 2 cups
For Ranch popcorn seasoning:
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Combine the ranch popcorn seasoning ingredients in a small bowl.
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Air pop or microwave the popcorn. See above for my favorite microwave gadget for microwaving popcorn with no oil. If you don’t have an air popper, you can also make it on the stove as follows:
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Place popcorn kernels in the bottom of a large heavy bottomed pot or Dutch oven in an even layer (if you add more kernals, the saucepan will not have room for them once the pop!) over medium heat and cover.
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Stay close to the stove as you’ll need to listen to the kernels as they pop. Listen for the kernels to start popping, at first they will pop vigorously. When there is an interval of a second or two between the pop sounds remove from heat, about 6 to 7 minutes.
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While popcorn is still hot, spritz with olive oil and top with ranch seasoning and toss well.
Last Step:
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Serving: 2 cups, Calories: 81 kcal, Carbohydrates: 16 g, Protein: 2.5 g, Fat: 1 g, Saturated Fat: 0.5 g, Cholesterol: 0.5 mg, Sodium: 99.5 mg, Fiber: 2.5 g, Sugar: 0.5 g