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    Home » Vegan Recipes

    Stovetop Cheesy Vegan Popcorn

    Published Feb 22, 2019 · Updated Feb 22, 2019 · Leave a Comment

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    This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission. See my disclosure policy.

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    Flavored with nutritional yeast, this cheesy vegan popcorn is a must have snack for snuggling on the couch and watching a movie!

    Homemade vegan popcorn in a white bowl seasoned with butter and nutritional yeast

    Cheesy Vegan Popcorn

    Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks - it's inexpensive, just the right amount of indulgent, and super easy to make. I keep a jar full of popcorn kernels on hand at all times.

    I was buying like 3 bags of White Cheddar Skinny Pop popcorn a week for a while (no lie). Which is super delicious - and the flavor is vegan, of course! But already-popped store-bought popcorn is pretty pricey compared to just making it yourself at home.

    You could totally buy a popcorn maker like this one - but if you're like me, you already have way too many appliances and absolutely no room in your kitchen cupboards. I recommend just using a big pot you already own and follow what I call the Pioneer Woman method.

    popcorn kernels in a large mason jar on a white background

    How to Make Vegan Stovetop Popcorn

    If you aren't familiar with the Pioneer Woman's method of making popcorn, check out her post here. It may not have completely originated from her, but that's where I initally found it. My adapted version is pretty similar, just using less oil and vegan flavors. It is the perfect method if you want to avoid burnt popcorn.

    First, grab a large pot. I use my cast iron dutch oven. Add in 2 teaspoon of oil and 3 popcorn kernels. Heat it on medium-high heat until all 3 kernels have popped. Remove the popped kernels and pour in ½ cup of kernels.

    Cover the pot and remove it from the heat for 1 minute. This will help all of the kernels heat up at a similar rate and reduce the chance of burning. Put the pot back on the heat. Make sure you're giving the pot a shake pretty frequently, every 20 seconds or so.

    It'll take 2-3 minutes for the kernels to start popping. Keep shaking! Once the popping starts to slow, remove the pot from the heat but keep it covered. When the popping stops completely, it's finished, woot!

    Time to add in the seasoning. For this cheesy vegan popcorn, we'll be using nutritional yeast, salt, and melted vegan butter. Feel free to experiment with other seasonings and let me know what you come up with!

    Overhead shot of vegan popcorn in a large white bowl

    Stovetop Vegan Popcorn FAQ

    How do I make oil-free vegan popcorn? For the stovetop method, oil is necessary. It's also crucial to help any kind of seasoning stick to the popcorn. But you can use an air popper to make oil-free popcorn.

    Which oil is best? Choose an oil with a high smoke point because that pot is gonna get hot. Olive oil is not a good choice. Oils with a high smoke point include avocado oil, grapeseed oil, and canola oil. My choice is usually grapeseed oil.

    What are some other seasonings ideas for homemade popcorn? I have a few ideas! Some are simple, some are crazy. Hang in there.

    • Dill and onion powder
    • Garlic parmesan (using vegan parmesan)
    • Cracked pepper and salt
    • Peanut butter (melt it and drizzle!)
    • Chocolate chips (throw some in while the popcorn is still warm so they get a little melty)
    • Cashew bacon bits and nutritional yeast
    Close-up shot of cheesy vegan popcorn made with nutritional yeast in a white bowl.
    Close-up shot of cheesy vegan popcorn made with nutritional yeast in a white bowl ready to snack on!

    Cheesy Vegan Popcorn

    Karissa Besaw
    Looking for an easy snack? Enter cheesy vegan popcorn!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Snack
    Cuisine Vegan
    Servings 10 cups

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 teaspoon cooking oil
    • ½ cup popcorn kernels
    • 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
    • 2-4 tablespoon vegan butter
    • salt to taste

    Instructions
     

    • In a large pot, add in the oil and 3 popcorn kernels. Turn the heat to medium-high.
    • Once the 3 kernels have popped, remove them from the pot and add in the remaining popcorn kernels. 
    • Cover the pot and remove from the heat for 1 minute. Shake the pot a few times.
    • Put the pot back on the heat. Shake frequently (every 15-20 seconds or so).
    • After a couple of minutes, you'll hear the popcorn start popping. Keep shaking. Remove from heat when the popping slows down. Keep the lid on!
    • Once the popcorn stops popping, it's ready to get cheesy!
    • Add in the nutritional yeast, salt, and vegan butter. Give it a good toss to coat the popcorn. Alternatively, you can season the popcorn with dill, garlic, vegan parmesan, etc.

    Notes

    This recipe has been adapted from The Pioneer Woman. The popcorn cooking method is essentially the same but this recipe uses less oil and different seasonings to get that cheesy vegan flavor.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About Karissa

    Hey! I’m happy you’re here! My name is Karissa and I’ve been cooking up delicious vegan food since going vegan in 2016. Not vegan and just want to eat more plants? We don't judge - everyone is welcome in our kitchen. Read more...

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    Welcome to Karissa's Vegan Kitchen! I’m happy you’re here! My name is Karissa and I’ve been cooking up delicious vegan food since going vegan in 2016. Not vegan and just want to eat more plants? We don't judge - everyone is welcome in our kitchen.

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