Move over, microwave popcorn! Instant Pot Popcorn is easy, healthy, and delicious.
Is it movie night, or do you just need a bingeable snack that’s simple and satisfying? Homemade popcorn is a no-brainer, but choose wisely among the available options. Store-bought microwave popcorn packs often come with a dauntingly long list of ingredients and many can be high in fat and sodium—plus the price can be pretty astounding. Air-popped corn can taste lackluster and dry and requires buying yet another single-use appliance. And old-fashioned stovetop popcorn is a favorite, but you need to constantly tend the pan, and even with the most conscientious shaking, you might end up with singed kernels.
Welcome to Instant Pot popcorn! It’s yet another reason you might never take your multi-cooker off the counter. This appliance constantly amazes, but fluffy, delicious popcorn is a new one on me. It takes just three simple ingredients and almost zero effort. Just gather popcorn kernels, some coconut oil or other oil, and salt, then power on the Instant Pot. It’s that simple and takes just a few minutes. And you can keep popping as many batches as your crowd needs for fresh, aromatic snacking.
While this recipe only uses 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels, enough for about 5 cups of popped corn, you can easily double it—but don’t use more than 1/2 cup of kernels in the pot or the popcorn may clump and lose that fluffy, light texture. And if you’re wondering what kind of kernels to use, you’ll find that yellow popcorn pops up with the biggest “flakes” as they’re known in the industry. White corn kernels produce slightly smaller flakes, but ones that are still very tasty. Other artisanal popcorns like blue or red are fine too but may not yield the kind of big, airy handfuls yellow corn does.
From plain to popcorn party
Hot, freshly popped popcorn by itself is a treat. But if you’re looking to shake up your movie routine, or if you’re just the type that needs to play around in the kitchen a bit (who isn’t!), you’ve got easy options. You can start by switching up your salt. We recommend sea salt for the basic version of this recipe, but you can try black salt, smoked salt, butter-flavored salt, truffle salt, or just about any other flavored salt; just make sure you sprinkle flavored salts on after the corn has popped, not right in with the kernels. You can also try topping the popped corn with a mix of finely grated Parmesan and a little garlic powder. Or toss it with a chili-lime seasoning like Tajín, or make your own seasoning from scratch with lime zest, chili powder, and a touch of cayenne. And a real crowd-pleaser: A shake of all-natural cheddar cheese powder—look for it in the spice aisle or online.
How do I store leftovers?
Homemade popcorn is most delicious when eaten fresh and hot. But if you do have leftovers, you can cool them and store them in a resealable zip-close bag or airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day.
Serving suggestions
While popcorn alone is amazingly delicious, it can also be the base for some spectacular sweet recipes. Try The Best Homemade Caramel Corn for a classic, or Sesame-Caramel Popcorn for a nuttier twist. And if you’re a fan of holiday bark, you shouldn’t miss Peppermint Bark Popcorn, packed with crushed candy canes and dark chocolate.
Instant Pot Popcorn
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/4 cup popcorn kernels
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Power on your 6- or 8-quart Instant Pot and select the 'Sauté' function. Adjust the settings to a higher sauté temperature and wait for 2 to 3 minutes until the pot reaches the desired heat level. Have a popcorn bowl ready on the side.
- Add the coconut oil and wait until it melts. Add 2 to 3 popcorn kernels to the pot. Once they pop, add the rest of the kernels and stir with a wooden spoon to ensure the popcorn is coated with oil.
- Cover the pot with a glass lid, leaving the lid slightly ajar. You can use the Instant Pot glass lid (sold as an accessory) or one from another pot. Cook until the popping of the popcorn has begun to slow, with several seconds between each pop. Press the 'Cancel' button to turn off the heat and allow the remaining kernels to pop with the residual heat. Once all kernels have popped, transfer the popcorn to a bowl and sprinkle it with sea salt.
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