Homemade Vegan Popcorn Seasoning
Vegan popcorn seasoning is a delicious seasoning blend with endless variations. Customize this cheesy, savory seasoning to be spicy or even sweet. Everyone will love this flavorful popcorn seasoning.
Looking for more healthy snack recipes? Try my chocolate peanut butter cup smoothie, sun-dried tomato pate (vegan spread), or cinnamon granola with vanilla.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this cheesy vegan popcorn:
- Nutritional yeast – gives the popcorn an umami flavor.
- Smoked paprika
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Brown sugar or coconut sugar – helps balance out the savory flavors in the popcorn
- Ground cumin
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Avocado oil spray – An oil spray creates an easier oil distribution onto the popped popcorn, but it isn’t essential if you don’t have it.
How to Make Vegan Popcorn Seasoning: Step By Step
Here are some quick visual instructions. The full instructions and ingredient list will be in the printable recipe card below!
- Mix. Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk together until well combined.
- Pop. Pop popcorn using an air popper or stovetop popcorn method with a little olive oil or avocado oil. The stovetop method is included in the recipe card.
- Spray. While the popcorn is still warm, spray it with avocado oil to help the seasoning stick.
- Season. Sprinkle the vegan popcorn seasonings over the popcorn. Spraying more oil on the popcorn as needed. Toss thoroughly to coat evenly and enjoy!
Helpful Tips
- Using coconut oil? Use refined coconut instead of unrefined coconut oil. Refined is odorless whereas unrefined has a coconut flavor.
- Have burnt popcorn? – Toss it out and start fresh. No amount of seasoning will change the bitter flavor of the popcorn.
- If using a sweetener, use granulated sugar instead of a liquid sweetener like maple syrup. A liquid sweetener can make your popcorn soggy.
Quick Tip: For even distribution, shake the popcorn in a covered large bowl or bag to ensure the seasoning is distributed evenly.
Storage
Store any leftover seasoning in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to one month.
Make It Your Way: Substitutions & Variations
Please remember that recipes are just a starting point.
How can you make this vegan popcorn recipe using what you already have? Here are some ideas…
- No avocado oil? – use another type of oil such as olive oil, refined coconut oil, sunflower oil, or grapeseed oil.
- Make it more indulgent – use melted vegan butter.
- No nutritional yeast? – use vegan parmesan cheese for a different cheesy popcorn flavor.
- Add-ins – cayenne pepper or ancho chili powder for a spicy kick.
Variations
- Chili-lime popcorn seasoning – chili powder, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and lime zest.
- Cinnamon sugar popcorn seasoning – brown sugar or coconut sugar, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Either microwave popcorn or a bag of air-popped popcorn will also work. Just choose an unflavored, dairy free version.
Make sure the popcorn has an even coating of oil or dairy free butter on the surface. This will help the seasoning adhere to it.
Absolutely. Homemade popcorn is a blank canvas. Use whatever seasoning mixes you have on hand or create your own such as taco seasoning or Jamaican jerk.
More Homemade Condiments
- Vegan Oyster Sauce
- Spicy Cashew Dressing (Copycat Recipe)
- Dairy Free Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Egg Free Mayo
I hope you love this Vegan Popcorn Seasoning! If you make this recipe, please leave a comment & a star rating below. Thank you!
Homemade Vegan Popcorn Seasoning
Ingredients
Savory Seasoning Mix
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons diamond crystal kosher salt reduce to 1 teaspoon if using anything else
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Stovetop Popcorn
- ⅓ cup popcorn kernels
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- avocado oil spray
Instructions
Seasoning
- Add all the seasoning ingredients to a small bowl and whisk together until well combined.
Stovetop Popcorn
- Heat a medium-sized pot over medium heat with 1 tablespoon of oil. Swirl the pot around so that the oil coats the bottom of the pan.
- Add the popcorn kernels into a somewhat even layer on the bottom of the pot then cover with a lid. In a minute or two, you'll hear popping.
- Once the popping slows way down, only hearing one or two pops left, remove the pot from the heat, remove the lid, and transfer the popped popcorn to a large bowl.
- While the popcorn is still warm, spray it with avocado oil.
- Sprinkle the vegan popcorn seasoning over the popcorn. Spray more oil on the popcorn as needed then more seasoning, to taste. Toss thoroughly to coat evenly and enjoy!
- Store leftover seasoning in an airtight container or jar.