Popcorn is a beloved snack that you can eat sweet or savory, in any dessert, or even on a salad! It is a very popular low-calorie snack and can be eaten on any occasion.
Popcorn is the perfect snack to have at sleepovers, at the cinema, at parties, with lunch, or for even just keeping a big bag in the cupboard for when you want to treat yourself.
We are very familiar with these classic popcorn flavors of either sweet, salty, or sweet and salty. But how can we change it up? If you are looking to spice up your popcorn palette, we have a range of popcorn seasonings for you to try.
Whether you are looking for sweet, salty, or even spicy seasoning, there is a seasoning out there for you! Many of the seasoning flavors you may not think taste great on popcorn, such as ranch or cheese, but they make a healthier alternative to chips and you will definitely surprise yourself with how good the popcorn tastes.
Here are the best popcorn seasonings for you to try at home and find new favorite flavors for your favorite snack and even try out some different flavors.
If you are more of a sweet or salty popcorn person, try changing it up! There’s a whole world of popcorn seasoning just waiting to be tried by you!
Best Popcorn Seasonings
OUR TOP PICK
These popcorn seasonings from Kernal Season’s are great savory options for your popcorn that are more interesting flavor combinations than just salty popcorn.
The seasoning comes in 4 flavors which are nacho cheese, butter, white cheddar, and garlic parmesan for you to add some of your favorite cheeses to your popcorn.
The seasoning is designed for popcorn but you can also use them to flavor potatoes, pasta, or salads if you are looking for seasoning that will flavor a range of your favorite dishes.
This is a low-calorie solution to adding savory flavors to your popcorn and includes less preparation time than making your own seasoning.
The seasoning works best when the popcorn has butter or butter spray evenly coated on the kernels so that the seasoning is able to stick to the kernels.
Without butter or butter spray, the seasoning will fall off the popcorn to the bottom of your bowl. You can also add the seasoning to the oil and popcorn and mix before the kernels have popped.
Pros
- Comes in a bundle of 4 seasonings
- A variety of savory seasonings for your popcorn
- You can use the seasonings on a variety of dishes
- Low-calorie
Cons
- Made with real cheese so is unsuitable for vegans
- No sweet seasonings in the bundle
EDITORS CHOICE
The popcorn seasoning from Urban Accents comes in 5 different flavors and has a combination of sweet and savory flavorings.
The popcorn is made from natural flavorings so there are no artificial tastes and they are all zero-calories so help add flavors to low-calorie diets.
The seasoning comes in sweet and salty, sriracha, caramel, pepper, dill, and white cheddar flavorings so there is the perfect balance of sweet and salty, and a good balance of mild and spicy.
Urban Accents have catered to all taste buds in one variety pack. The seasonings are gluten-free and MSG-free too.
As the seasoning is powdery, the popcorn needs to be buttered first otherwise the seasoning will not stick to the kernels and you are able to enjoy the seasoning on sweet treats, meals, or french fries for either a cheesy flavor or a sweet taste!
Pros
- 5 different flavors in the variety pack
- Zero-calories
- Sweet and savory flavors
- You can add the flavoring to other food such as potatoes or cupcakes
- Gluten-free
- MSG-free
Cons
- Unspecified if the seasonings are vegan
BEST VALUE
There is a good balance of sweet and savory seasonings so there is a flavor to suit everyone.
The sweet seasonings are apple cinnamon and smores, and the savory seasonings are pizza, blue buffalo cheese, jalapeño popper, and truffle parmesan. The sweet seasonings are vegan but all of the savory include dairy in order to create authentic flavoring.
The seasonings can be added onto anything including pastries, desserts, pretzels, or bagels, and they all include natural flavoring that authentically tastes like the beloved snacks and desserts they are modeled on.
Spiceology has created authentic flavoring in one small pot that just takes a sprinkling to enjoy.
Pros
- Chemical symbol style packaging
- Sweet and savory flavors
- Flavors modeled on well-known desserts and snacks
- You can add seasonings onto lots of other meals, snacks, and desserts
- Natural flavoring
Cons
- Smaller tubes of seasoning as they only weigh 1.1lbs
RUNNER UP
This seasoning from Ass Kickin’ is perfect to season popcorn with if you are a spice lover and are looking to add a fiery taste to your popcorn.
The set comes with 9 different seasonings that include a variety of different chilies all with different strengths of spiciness.
The seasonings include habanero pepper, jalapeño pepper, scorpion pepper, ghost pepper, and Carolina reaper so there is a range of spice levels.
The seasoning can be used to flavor popcorn as a healthier alternative to chips where you can try different flavorings and see how tolerant your spice level is! Despite being very spicy, the seasonings are all tasty, authentic flavors.
All of the seasonings are vegan and you can use them to flavor meats, vegan meats, and add spice to any sauces or soups. The set is a great gift for any occasion and you can add heat and great tasting flavors to your popcorn so you are never bored again!
Pros
- 9 different flavors in the set
- Different strengths of spiciness
- You are able to flavor more than just popcorn
- Authentic flavoring
- Vegan
- You can give it as a gift set
Cons
- If you don’t like spice, even the mildest seasoning may be too spicy
- A variety of spiciness so you may not like all of the seasonings if you dislike spice
RUNNER UP
This homemade apple pie flavored seasoning from Lane’s BBQ is warm, comforting, and is perfect for sprinkling over popcorn for a low-calorie snack that tastes just as good as apple pie.
The seasoning is natural and is gluten and preservative-free and is vegan. The seasoning also comes in a 4oz shaker, a 16oz shaker, and a 2lb bag.
You are able to sprinkle it on top of desserts and it is recommended that you try this on pork or vegan pork. Add this seasoning on top of the popcorn for a sweet, authentic apple pie flavor.
You can also flavor the popcorn and add the kernels to cupcakes, brownies, or even onto ice cream for extra flavoring and textures. Apple pie won’t taste nearly as good after you season your popcorn with this.
Pros
- Low-calorie
- Comes in a range of sizes
- Natural flavoring
- Gluten-free
- No artificial preservatives
- Sprinkle on desserts or season meats
Cons
- Might be too sweet for some, otherwise no faults!
RUNNER UP
This seasoning from Amish Country Popcorn is an original butter salt seasoning for you to enjoy classic salty and buttery popcorn. This seasoning is gluten-free and is non-GMO so it can be enjoyed by people with no worries about dangerous ingredients.
The seasoning is low-calorie and also comes with a recipe book so that you can get some ideas on how to use the seasoning on a variety of different recipes instead of just one. It doesn’t contain nuts so it is safe for people with nut allergies to consume.
You sprinkle the seasoning over the popcorn but it is best to add oil and butter first so that the seasoning sticks to the kernels.
The bottle is glass and has a little handle to hold so that you can easily pour seasoning out of it. There are no holes in the top of the bottle so use a spoon so you don’t waste any seasoning.
Pros
- Gluten-free
- Non-GMO
- Low-calorie
- Comes with a recipe book
- Doesn’t contain nuts
- Glass bottle with handle
Cons
- Contains dairy so isn’t suitable for vegans
- No holes in the top of the bottle to shake seasoning out of, you need to use a spoon for accurate measurements
RUNNER UP
These versatile seasonings from Flavor God come in a pack of six and have zero calories in each jar. They are gluten-free and MSG-free, and these seasonings can be used on everything, including popcorn! The ingredients and nutrition are clearly labeled on the jars.
The five savory seasonings are Pizza, Italian Zest, Garlic Lover’s, Ranch, and Everything Seasoning, along with an indulgent sweet seasoning of Chocolate Donut Topper.
All of the seasonings are vegan except the Ranch and the Chocolate Donut Topper, but the rest are all suitable for vegans.
The lids are different colors so that you can easily tell the flavors apart and they all make a healthier alternative to chips or sweet snacks when sprinkled on popcorn.
You can add as much seasoning to your popcorn as you like but if you aren’t sure, there are serving suggestions on the bottles.
Pros
- Pack of six
- Gluten-free
- MSG-free
- Both savory and sweet seasonings included in the pack
- All suitable for vegans except for two
- Different color lids
- Suitable to use on a variety of dishes
Cons
- Not all suitable for vegans
- Only one sweet seasoning out of six
RUNNER UP
This popcorn seasoning from Popcorn Powder is Cinnamon Bun flavored and is specially designed to be used as a popcorn seasoning. It is made with natural ingredients and is gluten-free.
Popcorn Powder recommends seasoning the popcorn before and after popping so that you can enjoy the flavors of an authentic cinnamon bun and recommend mixing the cinnamon bun powder with butter before tossing so the flavor sticks to the kernels better.
After popping, toss again with butter for a creamier and saltier taste that enhances the flavor of the cinnamon bun.
The seasoning comes in a 4.8oz bottle and you are able to use it on a variety of desserts just by either sprinkling over the top of the desserts or inside the mixture for extra flavoring. The seasoning isn’t suitable for vegans but is suitable for vegetarians.
Pros
- Made with natural ingredients
- Gluten-free
- Instructions on how to season the popcorn
- 4.8oz bottle
- You can use the seasoning on a lot of different desserts
- Suitable for vegetarians
Cons
- Unsuitable for vegans
- You can only buy the different flavor seasonings from Popcorn Powder individually
Best Popcorn Seasonings Buying Guide
There are lots of different types of popcorn seasonings, but there are definitely some things to look out for when purchasing your seasoning.
Sweet, Spicy, and Salty!
Make sure that you are purchasing seasoning that you will like the taste of. This may sound like a ridiculous suggestion, but you need to make sure that the seasoning won’t be too spicy or sweet for your tastebuds.
If you are looking to buy a set for yourself, make sure the sweet and salty flavored seasonings are balanced.
Some of the variety packs contain more sweet seasonings than savory or the other way round so just make sure that you are happy with the flavors before purchasing.
Vegan and Gluten-Free
Most of the seasonings are vegan and gluten-free but you will need to double-check before buying.
The cheesy seasonings contain dairy but some may not contain actual dairy so it is worth checking before thinking you won’t be able to have it. The bottles are usually clearly labeled vegan and gluten-free but check the ingredients if not.
Natural Flavoring
It is important to look for natural flavoring in seasoning so that you are able to experience the most authentic flavor of your popcorn. Artificial flavoring won’t taste as nice as natural flavoring and natural flavoring will be a healthier option for your popcorn.
Using the Seasoning Bottle
The seasoning bottles come in different shapes and sizes but it is important to make sure you are happy with how the seasoning sprinkles onto your popcorn.
Different bottles have different sized holes to shake the seasoning out of so it’s a good idea to check what sort of bottle is best for you to use.
Variety Packs
You can buy seasoning individually which is great if there is a particular seasoning you want to get. However, there is the option to buy a variety pack of seasoning which means that you can get more in your order that can make great gift sets.
Variety packs are helpful for families and friends if you have different flavor preferences or if there is more than one flavor you’d like to purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to season popcorn without sinking to the bottom?
It is a good idea to lightly toss your popcorn in oil, butter, or butter spray so that the kernels are evenly coated. After you sprinkle the seasoning onto the kernels, the seasoning will stick better due to the oil or butter as the kernels will be sticky enough for the seasoning to cling onto.
If you are making sweet seasonings to top your popcorn, there is the option to swap granulate sugar for powdered sugar as the powdered sugar will coat the kernels as it is lighter than granulated sugar. Granulated sugar tends to sink to the bottom as it is heavier.
Can you season popcorn before or after you pop it?
You are able to season popcorn before and after it is popped. If you lightly toss the unpopped kernels in olive oil or butter and then sprinkle the seasoning over the kernels, this can help add some more flavor to your popcorn before popping. You can add more seasoning to the popped popcorn too for a stronger flavor.
By seasoning the popcorn before and after popping, you are able to coat all sides of the kernels.
How much oil do you put on popcorn kernels?
You don’t need a lot of oil for your popcorn as if you are using half a cup of popcorn kernels, you only need a teaspoon of oil as you don’t want the popcorn to be too oily and become soggy.
The teaspoon of oil is to help the seasoning stick to the popcorn and to make the kernels crispy and flavorsome.
Is popcorn seasoning vegan?
Most popcorn seasonings are vegan as they mainly contain a variety of herbs, spices, and sugars, but there are some seasonings that aren’t suitable for vegans.
Cheese, dessert, and ranch popcorn seasonings often contain dairy products but it is always worth checking the ingredients before buying. You are able to buy dairy-free seasonings in these flavors you just need to check the ingredients.
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