If you’ve ever spent more than 20 minutes in a car with me, I’ve probably asked you something along the lines of “If you were a flavor of popcorn, which flavor would you be?” My answer: Taco Popcorn.
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This taco popcorn:
- Is zippy but not too spicy.
- Is healthy but leaves you room to add a little butter.
- Would pair beautifully with a Skinny Margarita.
All are qualities to which I aspire (as much as one can aspire to relate to a flavor of popcorn, anyway!)
If you love foods with a Tex-Mex twist, I know you’ll love this lightly spicy taco popcorn too.
The popcorn is flavored with a mix of classic taco spices such as chili powder, cumin, and cayenne.
In lieu of a store-bought taco seasoning packet, I mixed the spices together myself so that I could control the amounts and avoid the excess sodium you’ll find in many premade packets.
For a touch of brightness, I added fresh lime zest, which ended up being one of my favorite parts.
Finally, to give the taco cheese popcorn its “cheesy” taste, I topped it with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast, which sounds weird and scary but is actually delicious and high in B vitamins and other nutrients.
Combine its benefits with the fact that popcorn is naturally low calorie and 100% whole grain, and you have one seriously satisfying, healthy munchie.
5 Star Review
“Thanks for this easy and delicious recipe. My foodie and picky eater friends both enjoyed this one!!”
— Jordan —
How to Make Taco Popcorn
If you’ve never popped your own fresh popcorn, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is.
One tablespoon of oil and a few minutes on the stove are all you need for perfect, fluffy popcorn that you can flavor any which way.
The Ingredients
- Popcorn Kernels. Once you’ve made these taco seasoned popcorn kernels at home, you’ll never want the store-bought kind again. Popcorn is rich in fiber, making it a filling and relatively healthy snack option.
- Spices. A mix of chili powder, salt, cumin, dried oregano, and cayenne are what gives this popcorn its taco-like flavor. It’s a little spicy, a little smoky, and a lot delicious!
- Coconut Oil. For cooking the popcorn kernels.
- Butter. A drizzle of melted butter adds scrumptious flavor and helps the spices stick to the popcorn.
- Lime Zest. Adds zip and citrusy flavor that pairs wonderfully with the spices.
- Nutritional Yeast. The perfect way to add nutty, cheesy flavor without adding actual cheese.
The Directions
- Stir the spices together in a bowl.
- Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the kernels.
- Cook for about 3 minutes.
- Transfer the popcorn to a serving bowl, drizzle the melted butter on top, and add the spice mixture, zest, and nutritional yeast. Toss to coat the popcorn. ENJOY!
Storage Tips
- To Store. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Storage Tips
For easy grab-and-go snacks, store portion-sized amounts of popcorn in small ziptop bags.
What to Serve with Taco Popcorn
Stick with the theme and enjoy taco popcorn and salsa, or try it with one of these tasty snack recipes.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Citrus Zester. An easy way to zest the lime for this chili popcorn.
- Measuring Spoons. These double-sided spoons are great for measuring the Mexican popcorn seasoning ingredients.
- Skillet. Ideal for making this Mexican popcorn recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you prefer to use an air popper for your healthy popcorn recipes, you can certainly still use the same stovetop popcorn seasoning.
If you’re looking to branch out from the taco-inspired seasoning mixture, you can use a different combination. I think Parmesan garlic popcorn, curry popcorn, and ranch popcorn (use the seasonings from my Ranch Crackers) would be delicious.
Typically, a serving of popcorn is about 2.5 cups. So, this recipe will serve about 4 people.
Taco Popcorn
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon ground chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or canola oil
- ½ cup popcorn kernels
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted (to make vegan, use a nondairy buttery spread)
- Zest of 1 small lime
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast* optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together the chili powder, salt, cumin, oregano, and cayenne. Set aside.
- Heat the oil in a medium skillet over high heat. Once hot and shimmering, add the popcorn kernels. Shake and shift the pan so that the kernels are in a flat, even layer.
- Cover the pan and let the kernels cook until the time between pops is 3 to 4 seconds, shaking the pan every 20 seconds or so to keep the kernels from burning. The popcorn should cook in about 3 minutes.
- Uncover the popcorn and pour into a serving bowl. Immediately drizzle with the melted butter, then sprinkle with the spice mixture, lime zest, and nutritional yeast. Toss to combine. Taste and add additional salt as desired.
Notes
- *Nutritional yeast can be found in the health food section of many grocery stores or online. In addition to offering a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and protein, nutritional yeast adds a lightly salty, “cheesy” flavor to dishes. If you prefer not to purchase it, you can simply omit it or swap finely grated Parmesan cheese.
- TO STORE: Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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Saltiness but I want to try your taco recipe!!!
Ha! I would be chocolate-peanut butter popcorn. If you have some of that, send it to me!
Ooh, that sounds delicious too, Liz!
Savory (Buffalo Ranch) – I knew this would happen. Savory is my flavor profile of choice alllll the time.
Nice! Thanks for reporting back, Kathryn!
The spicy curry one sounds amazing too, Susan! Thanks for taking the quiz and sharing your results!
I think that’s the only logical thing to do, Jana! ;)
This popcorn is REALLY speaking to me!!
Thanks so much Gaby!!
You had me at “pairs perfectly with a margarita”. YUMMMMMM!!!!
Cheers Skye!
I need a big bowl of this taco popcorn, curled up on the couch, and watching a movie! hehe
I love that idea Lindsay!
Oh, sounds yummy! I came out “Sweet” – no surprise there! But your Taco Popcorn sounds superb!
Thanks for taking the quiz Laurie (and I like sweet popcorn too :) )
Fabulous!! I added extra nutritional yeast because, in my opinion, popcorn isn’t popcorn without yeast. We loved it!
I am so happy to hear you loved it DJ! Thanks for trying the recipe and leaving this wonderful review!
Years ago a housemate introduced me to nutritional yeast and it’s truly delicious on popcorn. I encourage everyone to try it. I have no idea why it tastes so good but it does. He would sprinkle it straight onto his popcorn all the time. Im definitely trying this taco popcorn as soon as I get some kernels. Love the fact that making your own popcorn in a pan w your own seasonings lets you control the salt and also minimizes waste (microwave bags). Thanks for the idea Erin!
Thank YOU Ana! I hope you love the recipe if you try it!
Give me a bowl!
Passing it your way!
hey girl- this looks oh so good!
Thanks so much, Shawnna!
Thanks for this easy and delicious recipe. My foodie and picky eater friends both enjoyed this one!!
Thank YOU for taking the time to leave this awesome review, Jordan! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe.