Making air fryer popcorn is a simple and easy popcorn recipe that uses less oil and is an easy way to have healthy snacks for movie nights!
The hot air in the air fryer helps those unpopped kernels crisp right up to make homemade popcorn in a jiffy! It's a simple recipe that the whole family will love and a great alternative to the options that are served at movie theatres.
If you're a fan of fluffy popcorn, you're not going to want to miss out on this tasty treat. In as little as 8-10 minutes of prep and cooking time, this delicious popcorn is ready and waiting.
To add more flavor, add some sea salt, top with melted butter, or even add some parmesan cheese! There are so many ways that you can enjoy this easy air fryer popcorn recipe - so don't stop trying until you get through them all!
Forget about the stovetop method because that just leaves a large amount of kernels unpopped! This healthier option really does a great job in the air fryer so that there aren't a huge number of kernels at the end being wasted!
Ingredients:
- Popcorn kernels - Like Orville Redenbacher- choose your favorite kind of popcorn kernels!
- Olive oil extra virgin - You can also add coconut oil or even avocado oil as well.
How to make Air Fryer Popcorn:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once preheated, cover the basket of the air fryer with a layer of foil. Do not cover the sides of the basket.
- Add the olive oil and the popcorn to the foil. Spread the kernels into an even layer, and coat them with the oil.
- Air fry the popcorn at 400 degrees F for 5-7 minutes. Listen for the kernels popping and remove the basket once the kernels have all popped.
I make this recipe in my Cosori 5.8 qt. air fryer or 6.8 quart air fryer. Depending on your air fryer, size and wattages, cooking time may need to be adjusted 1-2 minutes.
Pro Tip: Before using the Air Fryer again, make sure you’ve found all of the wayward kernels that may have blown around in the basket.
Variations
garlic salt - This is the best way to combine that salty flavor with some garlic flavor as well!
extra butter - If you want to get this recipe as close to movie theater popcorn as you can, then adding more butter is the best option!
fun popcorn toppings - Just because this air fry popcorn recipe is healthy doesn't mean that you can't add some fun toppings. The perfect popcorn recipe is whatever you want it to be. Add some sprinkles, or go crazy and pair them with your favorite dipping sauce. (I really like dipping my popcorn kernels in peanut butter!)
How to Serve
All you really need is a small bowl for this easy snack. It can be a healthy snack, or you can add some extra goodness and make it a little naughty as well. Once you pop the popcorn, all that's really left is to change up the flavor in different ways by adding toppings.
Because you can make the popcorn in small batches, each person can make their tasty snack taste however they like it.
How to Store
If you love popcorn, then have you ever tried day-old popcorn? It's actually a thing - and I think it's pretty good! All you have to do is store your leftover popcorn in an airtight container, and then you can snack on it again the next day. Storing it at room temperature is just fine.
You can also store it in a paper bag, but it might get a bit stale that way.
FAQs
Depending on the brand and flavors you like, this is a personal preference. I'm a huge fan of white popcorn kernels because they pop smaller popcorn bites. You can use yellow for a little bit bigger popcorn bites.
Because popcorn is high in fiber, it's actually good for the body. The next time that you want to munch on something, have this be the first thing that you eat. You don't have to use a lot of oil, and this is what keeps it healthier.
Because it's so versatile, it's especially fun to make and eat during the holiday times to share with all your family and friends! Forget about the traditional method of popping popcorn and use the air fryer this year!
MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES:
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Air Fryer Popcorn
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- ½ cup popcorn kernels
- 1 tsp olive oil
Optiona toppings
- salt
- butter
- popcorn seasonings
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once preheated, cover the basket of the air fryer with a layer of foil. Do not cover the sides of the basket.
- Add the olive oil and the popcorn to the foil. Spread the kernels into an even layer, and coat with the oil.
- Air fry popcorn at 400 degrees F for 5-7 minutes. Listen for the kernels popping and remove the basket once the kernels have all popped.
Notes
Top Tips
Make sure to keep the kernels in a single layer over the foil. If you add too many kernels, they will not pop evenly, and the popcorn can brown or burn. This is important for the overall cooking process, so don't skip it! Preheat the air fryer before cooking the popcorn. Listen for the kernels to stop popping. Remove the cooked popcorn if needed and cook the remaining kernels in 1-minute increments or until popcorn is cooked. This will help you not have too crunchy popcorn! Season the cooked popcorn with salt, butter, and your favorite seasonings. Have fun and go crazy!Nutrition
*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.
©AirFryingFoodie 2023
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