If you are a pickle lover, you have to try this homemade Stovetop Dill Pickle Popcorn Recipe! Your taste buds will be jumping for joy at the combination of savory popcorn seasoned with dill weed, garlic powder, salt, and a spritz of pickle juice (yes, I said pickle juice) for the perfect pickle flavor.
This easy snack has no artificial flavors, is low in calories and high in fiber. Plus, it’s so much fun to make and ready in 10 minutes! All you need is a few ingredients and a heavy bottomed pot.
Dill Pickle Popcorn is a fun snack and the best popcorn for movie night. Plus, it’s healthier and less expensive than microwave popcorn. It's also gluten-free for those looking for that. You don't even need butter with all the flavors from the oil and herbs/spices. But go on and add some butter if you want...I won't judge!
This was inspired by Trader Joe's Popcorn in a Pickle. I wanted a similar flavor at home, but didn't want all the added ingredients. I went on a mission to make the perfect Stovetop Dill Pickle Popcorn and it was a recipe I knew I HAD to share with yall once I mastered it!
If you want another homemade snack made with whole foods, try Mediterranean Roasted Chickpeas.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love Dill Pickle Popcorn
EASY - when it comes to learning how to make popcorn at home, it can seem intimidating if you’ve never done it before. But it is so much easier than you may think! Just follow the directions in the recipe card below and be sure to check out my expert tips that I’ve learned from my own experience and reading other popcorn recipes.
NUTRITION - as a dietitian, I love having a gourmet popcorn option that is delicious and nourishing! Popcorn is a low calorie, low carb snack and is a source of fiber and other nutrients including folate and iron.
TASTE - Real talk. Popping popcorn on the stovetop tastes so much better than microwave popcorn or popcorn out of the bag! And the dill seasoning on this popcorn has all the savory vibes of pickles mixed with the classic salty popcorn taste in every single bite!
BUDGET FRIENDLY - making popcorn on the stovetop is worth it for the money you save alone. It costs so much less than buying a bag of popcorn or microwave popcorn.
KID-FRIENDLY - this one is definitely a crowd-pleaser that the whole family can enjoy. Plus, it’s so fun to hear and see the popcorn popping in front of your eyes. I hope stovetop popcorn becomes your new family tradition!
Ingredients
*Be sure to check the recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and full recipe.
Base Ingredients for Stovetop Popcorn
Popcorn Kernels - popcorn is a whole grain maize product and you can use either yellow or white popcorn kernels. I use Bob’s Red Mill White Popping Corn.
Oil - I use extra virgin olive oil for my stovetop popcorn because it contains oleic acids which are great for brain health and heart health. You could also use refined coconut oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil.
Dill Pickle Seasoning
Make your own dill pickle seasoning using natural flavors with no additives.
Dried Dill Weed - this gives it the perfect dill component and packs a punch in just a small amount.
Garlic Powder - for more flavor. Garlic powder also contains compounds that may reduce inflammation in the body.
Onion Powder - perfect paired with the garlic powder to enhance the dill weed.
Salt - to tie all the flavors together and satisfy your salt cravings.
Pickle Juice (optional) - this is totally optional, but if you are a pickle lover and have a jar of dill pickles around, don’t throw away the juice! Use it to spray over this dill pickle popcorn for the best flavor.
Instructions
*Below are the instructions for how to make Dill Pickle Popcorn with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
Step 1: Heat a large heavy-bottomed pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add oil and 2-3 kernels of the popcorn kernels to the pan and cover with the lid. Let it heat until the kernels pop. This is how you will know the oil is hot enough to pop the popcorn.
Step 2: While waiting for the oil to heat, make the dill pickle seasoning by mixing the dill weed, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt in a small bowl.
Step 3: When the 2-3 kernels pop, add the rest of the popcorn kernels to the pot, cover, and remove the pot from the heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute while gently shaking the pot to distribute the popcorn kernels.
Step 4: Place the pot back on the burner (still over medium heat). You will hear the popcorn start to pop. When about half of the popcorn has popped, loosen the lid of the pan to let some of the steam out (as pictured above) and continue to let the popcorn pop. Gently shake the pot as needed to make sure all the kernels get to the bottom of the pot to pop.
Step 5: Listen! The popcorn is done popping when there is about 2-3 seconds between pops. When popcorn is done popping, transfer it immediately to large bowl or popcorn tin to avoid burning it. Sprinkle the homemade dill pickle seasoning on top of the popcorn.
Step 6, Optional: for added dill pickle flavor, I love to add some pickle juice at the end right before eating the popcorn! The easiest way to evenly distribute the pickle juice on the popcorn is to use a spray bottle like this one. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can use a spoon to pour the pickle juice over the popcorn. Mix well and enjoy!
Hint: To make sure all the kernels pop, gently shimmy the pot while the popcorn is over the heat.
Variations
Want to make stovetop popcorn but don't love the dill pickle flavor? No problem! You can mix up the seasoning for your taste buds. Below are a couple of ideas.
- Cheese Popcorn - prefer the flavor of cheese instead of dill pickle? Use some Better Cheddar seasoning or Nutritional Yeast to season your fresh homemade popcorn.
- Salt & Pepper - if you like your popcorn plain, add some simple salt and pepper and a bit of extra olive oil or butter on top.
Storage
Store your popcorn in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days if unseasoned. After seasoning is added, it can be stored for 1-2 days. Store in a cool, dark place.
Expert tips
- Don't skip step 3! When the 2-3 "test" kernels have popped to signal that the oil is hot enough, add the rest of the kernels and remove the pot from the heat for about 30 seconds before putting is back on the burner. This will help keep the oil from getting too hot and burning the popcorn.
- Be sure to loosen the lid a crack to let some steam out after you hear the popcorn start popping.
- To make sure all the kernels pop, gently shimmy the pot while the popcorn is over the heat.
FAQ
As far as snacks go, popcorn is a healthy option! While healthy means something different to everyone, popcorn is a whole grain, naturally gluten free, and when made like this at home it doesn’t contain any additives. Popcorn contains fiber which is important for gut health. It also contains many other nutrients including folate, thiamine, and iron.
A cup of popcorn contains about 30-45 calories depending on how much oil is added. You can have around 4 whole cups of popcorn for the same amount of calories as about 12 tortilla chips. Popcorn is cholesterol free and has almost no fat.
Many brands of bagged dill pickle popcorn and dill pickle seasonings contain added ingredients like citric acid, silicon dioxide, monosodium glutamate, buttermilk solids, malic acid and sodium diacetate. This homemade dill pickle popcorn doesn't contain any of those and gets its flavor from extra-virgin olive oil and spices that contain tons of flavor AND nutrition.
Find popcorn kernels in the snack aisle at most grocery stores.
You can use either yellow or white! Some people think that yellow has a bit more buttery flavor, but I actually prefer the taste of white popcorn.
Do you know the Mexican myth about how popcorn was discovered? According to Shumway Popcorn, there was a farmer with acres upon acres of corn. He decided to dry some of the corn and feed it to his chickens. But it was so hot outside that the corn popped! Intrigued, the farmer decided to taste it and was pleasantly surprised to discover it was so delicious he had to share it with the world.
It wasn’t until the 1930s that popcorn grew in popularity during the Great Depression as a cost-effective way to get a tasty snack. Fast forward, and there’s nearly a whole aisle of the grocery store dedicated to popcorn!
Related
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Looking for Nutrition Education?
Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram....I LOVE knowing there’s people out there trying out my recipes! 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian.
📖 Recipe
Homemade Dill Pickle Popcorn Recipe (Healthy Snack)
Equipment
- dutch oven or heavy bottomed pan
Ingredients
- ½ cup popcorn kernels (I use Bob's Red Mills Whole White Popcorn)
- 3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (or oil of choice; refined coconut oil, canola oil, and sunflower oil work, too)
For Dill Pickle Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon dried dill weed (Spice Islands Brand is a great option)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
- spritz pickle juice (I use the juice from my jar of dill pickles)
Instructions
- Heat a large heavy-bottomed pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add extra virgin olive oil and 2-3 kernels of the popcorn kernels to the pan and cover with the lid. Let it heat until the kernels pop. This is how you will know the oil is hot enough to pop the popcorn.
- While waiting for the oil to heat, make the dill pickle seasoning by mixing the 1 tablespoon dill weed, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and ½ teaspoon salt in a small bowl.
- When the 2-3 "test" kernels pop, add the rest of the popcorn kernels to the pot, cover, and remove the pot from the heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute while gently shaking the pot to distribute the popcorn kernels.
- Place the pot back on the burner (still over medium heat). You will hear the popcorn start to pop. When about half of the popcorn has popped, loosen the lid of the pan to let some of the steam out and continue to let it pop. Gently shake the pot as needed to make sure all the kernels get to the bottom of the pot to pop.
- Listen! The popcorn is done popping when there is about 2-3 seconds between pops. When popcorn is done popping, transfer it immediately to large bowl or popcorn tin to avoid burning it. Sprinkle the homemade dill pickle seasoning on top of the popcorn.
- Optional: for added extra dill pickle flavor, I love to add some pickle juice at the end right before eating the popcorn. The easiest way to evenly distribute the pickle juice on the popcorn is to use a spray bottle like this one. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can use a spoon to pour the pickle juice over the popcorn. Mix well and enjoy!
Notes
- Don't skip step 3! When the 2-3 "test" kernels have popped to signal that the oil is hot enough, add the rest of the kernels and remove the pot from the heat for about 30 seconds. This will help keep the oil from getting too hot and burning the popcorn.
- Be sure to loosen the lid a crack to let some steam out after you hear the popcorn start popping.
- To make sure all the kernels pop, gently shimmy the pot while the popcorn is over the heat.
- You can use either Yellow or White Popcorn Kernels for this recipe.
Nutrition
References: Popcorn.org, Shumway Popcorn
Mary
Ok honestly I was super skeptical cause I like pickles and I like popcorn but I never thought of putting the two together. But this turned out soooooo good and the kids loved making popcorn on the stovetop and spraying them with the pickle juice at the end!
Mallory
Hi Mary!! Thank you so much for taking time to leave a review. 🙂 I'm so happy to hear that you love the popcorn and especially that your kids got in on the fun!! So happy you are enjoying the blog and please let me know if there are any recipe ideas you want me to post.