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Taco Popcorn

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Taco Popcorn | gimmesomeoven.com

What goes well with popcorn? Especially this taco popcorn?

Movies!!

Make that, movies galore. I’m writing to you today from sunny and snowy Park City, where Sarah and I are covering the Sundance Film Festival for the first time. As you can see from our Instagram pics (follow us at #gimmesomesundance), we are pretty darn excited. Sarah has created an amazing calendar for us full of back-to-back movies galore, and I’m helping scope out some good eats and connect with good friends to make the experience all the more delicious. So be sure to follow along with us on social media (@gimmesomeoven and @smags1 on Instagram), and check out Gimme Some Film for daily updates on our adventure, as well as more in-depth reviews to come.

And of course, no movie marathon is complete without some good popcorn! So today I’m sharing one of my favorite healthy snacking recipes — taco popcorn! As much as I love traditional popcorn, I really love adding in various seasonings when I make it for myself. I love the extra flavor, and have also found that extra seasonings tends to cut out the need for butter, making the popcorn even healthier. Some of my favorites are Spicy Italian, Cajun, Moroccan, and Greek seasoning blends. But without a doubt, taco seasoning wins the award for most-used in mi casa. So today, I thought I’d share with you my recipe for quick and easy (and light!) taco popcorn.

Taco Popcorn | gimmesomeoven.com

Of course, you can buy taco seasoning mix at the grocery store. But yesterday on the blog, I shared my recipe for homemade taco seasoning, and highly recommend it. It’s preservative-free, gluten-free, super easy to make, and very tasty.

Taco Popcorn | gimmesomeoven.com

But that said, grab whatever taco seasoning you like best, and let’s go!

Taco Popcorn | gimmesomeoven.com

All you need are three basic ingredients to make this taco popcorn recipe:

  1. popcorn kernels (I’ve been hooked on the “jumbo” popping corn lately)
  2. coconut oil (love the tiny hint of sweetness it gives the popcorn)
  3. taco seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
  4. oh, and you’ll need some salt

If you really want to add in some melted butter (or the vegan alternative, nutritional yeast), go for it. But if you want a lighter version, I find the taco seasoning and salt to be plenty flavorful.

Taco Popcorn | gimmesomeoven.com

To make the popcorn on the stove, just melt some coconut oil in the bottom of a medium saucepan. (There should be enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan.)  Add in the popcorn kernels, and give the pan a shake so that they form an even layer. Cover and let the popcorn pop until it’s all cooked. (See tips below to avoid burning.)

Oh, and don’t try and photograph popcorn while it’s still popping on the stove. As you can see in this pic, there are a few kernels flying. When I snapped my second pic a few seconds later, there was popcorn everywhere!!! ;)

Taco Popcorn | gimmesomeoven.com

As soon as the popcorn is cooked, transfer it to a large bowl. Then immediately sprinkle on the taco seasoning and salt, and toss to combine.

Please totally adjust the seasonings and salt to taste. I tend to add on even more seasoning, since I like my popcorn really flavorful. But less can be more, too, if you like it a bit more subtle.

Taco Popcorn | gimmesomeoven.com

All in all, a very flavorful and tasty snack. Plus it only takes less than 10 minutes. And, since we’re in the middle of our healthy eating month on the blog, I’m happy to say that it’s also pretty darn healthy and preservative-free.

Perfect for snacking, especially during a good movie marathon. Enjoy, friends!

Taco Popcorn | gimmesomeoven.com

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Taco Popcorn

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  • Prep Time: 1 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 6 minutes
  • Yield: About 6 cups 1x

Description

Taco seasoning is the perfect topping for this taco popcorn. It’s flavorful, healthy, and even has a bit of a kick!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
  • 2 Tbsp. taco seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
  • 1 tsp. salt (more/less to taste)
  • (*optional: melted butter for drizzling or nutritional yeast)

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over high heat until melted. Add popcorn kernels, and give the pan a shake so that they level out. Cover with a lid and wait until kernels have popped. (**See tips below to prevent burning).
  2. Once the popcorn is popped, pour it out into a serving bowl. Immediately sprinkle with taco seasoning and salt, and toss to combine. Season to taste with additional seasoning or salt if desired.

Notes

*The “skinny” version of this recipe does not call for extra butter, but if you’d like to toss the popcorn with some melted butter, go for it. A healthier (and vegan) alternative is also to toss the popcorn with nutritional yeast — my favorite.

**A good rule of thumb is to wait until there are at least 3 seconds between pops, so as not to burn the popcorn. I also like to give the pan a shake ever 15 seconds or so, in order to let the kernels fall to the bottom and the popped popcorn rise to the top, which also helps prevent burning.

Taco Popcorn | gimmesomeoven.com

Homemade Taco Seasoning 3

Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

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60 comments on “Taco Popcorn”

  1. Looks delicious! I’m going to make this with my kids for movie night, I think they’ll get a real kick out of popping it on the stove.

  2. I have been eating popcorn with taco seasoning out the wazoo lately. With nutritional yeast in the mix it tastes like doritos!

  3. Confession: Sometimes…I eat popcorn for dinner. True store…but it is JUST so good!
    I had never thought of putting taco seasoning on it…but it would make it even more dinner-esque and acceptable.
    Love this idea!

  4. This sounds awesome! Have a blast covering the festival, and keep us updated :)

  5. What a fun idea for popcorn!! Love the coconut oil too :)

  6. Hey! I have a tip for sundance: WALK! I love here year round and well, walking everywhere is the easiest way to go, especially with this traffic! I hope you’re having tons of fun(:
    Also, this popcorn looks AH MAZING.

  7. I can’t believe I haven’t made popcorn with coconut oil!! I need to make this stat!

  8. How did I not know that popcorn could be popped on the stove? I feel like my life just changed.

    Thanks for sharing!

  9. We just had taco seasoning and now taco popcorn. This makes me happy! I want tacos for dinner now!

  10. I will have to try this recipe. I LOVE popcorn, hence my email address, so always looking for good recipes. A tip from Alton Brown’s show on popcorn – add the salt with the unpopped kernels to distribute it throughout the batch. Not sure if this will work with the taco seasoning but will give it a try!

  11. Well now all I want to do is make a big bowl of this popcorn and sit and watch movies all weekend! I love trying new popcorn seasonings, and this sounds awesome!

  12. I’ve never tried adding anything other than salt or caramel to my popcorn. This looks amazing! Can def eat this for dinner :D

  13. I’m probably the biggest popcorn fan. I can’t wait to make this!

  14. This is what I need for our next movie night! My spice loving Hubby will appreciate! Pinned!

  15. I love popcorn recipes! This will be perfect for a game day snack! Great recipe Ali!

  16. Thanks so much for the popcorn recioe! My kids love it and I hate buying microwavable but had no idea howto make it on the stovetop. They’re gonna love this!

  17. Do you have nutritional values for your recipes? I’m trying to track calorie counts on “my fitness pal” and it would be so much easier if I didn’t have to figure it out in the recipe calculator- which isn’t the greatest! Thanks

    Robbyn

  18. I would never have thought to use taco flavors on popcorn but I love it. I am all about movie marathons, hot chocolate, fires and popcorn right now.

  19. I love the idea of taco seasoning on popcorn! I have made my own seasoning for years, but never thought of this! I enjoy following you on Pinterest, btw!

  20. I can’t wait to give this unique recipe a try. I’ve been looking for a good home made seasoning, and using my home made taco seasoning is unique and delicious!!

    Thank you so much for posting this.
    Dainiel

  21. Taco popcorn?!Oh wow, I need this asap!

  22. This was delicious! Love healthy and cheap snacks. Thanks for sharing!

  23. How long would this keep for

  24. Have you tried the brown bag trick for popcorn? You take popcorn kernels about 1/4 cup, put them in a brown bag, fold the top of the bag over 2-3 times, and put it in the microwave for around a minute and thirty seconds (listen for the popping to slow)–delicious popcorn, no oil, and single servings! I love it :) I love homemade popcorn but I got sick of burning it on the stove!

  25. This recipe has been a long time favorite of mine (I first got the recipe from the back of a teenybopper magazine, shh), and my family thinks its just another of my quirks, I’m really glad to see this recipe elsewhere here! I drizzle mine with olive oil and heat in the oven until the seasoning is slightly darkened (it brings out the flavor), but that’s a personal preference. I’ll definitely be trying this with the homemade seasoning!!

  26. Wow!  Would never have thot of seasoning popcorn w/taco powder.  Your page tempted me.  Did it on a whim and had left over taco seasoning that prob would have tossed out (envelope) and it was awesome.  Will pick up coconut oil to make it next time. Your site and I just found it….just saying!   thank you