Microwave popcorn is so quick and easy to make at home with kernels and pops up fresh and perfect every time. Make in a bowl or a paper bag and add your favorite toppings!

We eat A LOT of popcorn in my house.

It’s roughly a weekly go-to with our kiddos for movie nights. They love the stuff.

I’m happy to oblige because it is so quick and easy to make in the microwave.

I get the popcorn going while everyone’s getting ready for the movie, then we all sit down with a bowl or cup of it (and a paper towel for greasy hands) and happily dig in.

There’s something really cozy and warm feeling about it. Not to mention it's so tasty!

So sometimes we have it for a mid-week snack, too.

Homemade granola bars, raw brownie bites and 5-ingredient granola are also favorite weekly snacks in our house.

Bonus: Popcorn is a whole grain, so all on its own, it’s technically a really healthy snack.

And depending on what you add to it, it can stay that way.

(Yeah, I know, we like ours with plenty of salt and butter, too, but still...)

Regardless of what you add, making it at home is a much healthier version than the store-bought popcorn that has all kinds of extra additives. 

We are traditionalists with butter and salt, but that’s still just three ingredients: popcorn, butter and salt. I recognize all of those ingredients, which is more than I can say for some ingredient labels on bags you’ll buy at the store.

Plus, it’s SO much cheaper to make it yourself.

And once you know how to make it, you can have popcorn at the ready anytime. All the time! And that's a good thing.

Plus, we’ve got two different ways you can make yours:

1. Microwave popcorn in a glass bowl
2. Microwave popcorn in a paper bag

I’ve done both ways many times and they each work great. It’s a matter of what materials you have on hand and what your preference is.

Below are detailed instructions and tips on both, so you can see what sounds good to you.

(I’ve also got some fun topping and mix-in ideas too, if you want to jazz up the flavor of your popcorn.)

Cause more popcorn fun and more popcorn flavors can only be a good thing, right?

Movie nights, here we come! 🎥 🎞 🍿

Now, I’ve got some notes and tips coming up on how to make microwave popcorn, as well as ideas for toppings. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is at the end of the post, just above the comment section.

Recipe Notes:

• As a general rule, 3 tablespoons of popcorn kernels equals about 7.5 cups of popped popcorn, give or take.
• You should stop the cooking time in the microwave when you hear 2 to 3 seconds of pause between pops at the end.
• Some kernels may not pop. That’s OK. Don’t keep adding time because that can cause some of the popcorn to burn and that doesn’t taste good at all.
• Be careful of the steam when you open the bowl or bag. Also, use oven mitts to remove your container carefully from the microwave.

Most grocery stores sell popcorn kernels; either in a bag or a plastic container. It’s usually near the nuts and other popcorn products.

You can also buy popcorn kernels online. (Here’s one large container, but there’s all kinds of different sizes and brands to choose from.)

OK, let’s get down to the specifics for each method. You may find you prefer one over the other, or you may bounce back and forth between the two methods, like I do.

How to make microwave popcorn in a bowl:

- You’ll need a very large microwave-safe glass bowl with a tight fitting lid. I use my largest Pyrex bowl from a nested set; it’s 4 quarts. (This one, in fact.)

- I recommend no more than ⅓ cup of kernels; otherwise, you may end up with tons that do not pop. If you need to make a huge batch of popcorn, do it in two rounds in the microwave.

- Cover and set the microwave on high for 6 minutes, but listen carefully after about 4 ½ minutes. The popcorn should be stopped when you hear 2-3 seconds between pops.

Sometimes, though, you don’t have a big bowl with a lid that you can put in the microwave. (This is especially true for us when traveling or on vacation.)

So the paper bag trick can come in handy. (It’s also easy clean-up!)

How to make microwave popcorn in a paper bag:

- Add your popcorn kernels to the bottom of a large paper bag.

- Many recipes call for coating the kernels in a teaspoon or so of canola oil or vegetable oil. I’ve made it that way but have also skipped that step and it was fine, so I don’t think it’s necessary.

- Add up to ½ cup of kernels to a large size brown paper bag. (Such as a roughly 12x6x4 inch size with a flat bottom.) If your bag is on the smaller size, add up to ⅓ cup kernels.

- Fold the paper bag down twice and place directly on the microwave plate.

- Microwave on high, set for 3 ½ minutes, but listen carefully after the 2 minute mark. The popcorn should be stopped when you hear 2-3 seconds between pops.

- Remove the bag, open carefully and transfer the popcorn to a serving bowl. Mix with butter and salt - or any desired toppings - in the bowl and toss to combine.

Pro tip: Melt your butter in the microwave before you start the popcorn, so it’s ready to drizzle as soon as the popcorn is finished.

And who would I be if I didn’t give you some ideas for fun toppings?

Butter and salt, of course, are traditional and amazing. They are our go-to week in and week out and nothing wrong with that.

But if you want to get a little creative, branch out a bit, here’s some new toppers to consider.

Topping Ideas for Popcorn:

• Butter, salt and chili powder - add a pinch of cayenne for a spicy kick
• Cinnamon and sugar
• Melted chocolate and sea salt
• Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast
• Chili lime seasoning
• Toasted coconut
• Browned butter, rosemary and lemon peel
• Bacon grease and crumbled bacon
• Pumpkin spice
• Apple pie spice
• Ranch seasoning
• Peanut butter (melt with honey and sugar until pourable)
• Caramel or salted caramel
• Salt and vinegar
• Buffalo sauce and butter
• Old Bay seasoning

Or get creative and come up with your own favorite flavors and toppings for your popcorn.

You can also add some fun mix-ins to homemade popcorn, such as mini chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, dried fruit (such as raisins or dried cranberries) or small candies.

(Popcorn is one of the ingredients in my loaded and festive Valentine’s Day snack mix.)

The options are endless. And oh so delicious.

Movie night never looked so good. Pop up some popcorn today and settle in for a cozy evening. 🍿

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. I won’t have a new recipe Monday due to Memorial Day, but I’ll be back next Thursday with a new dinner recipe.

You can sign up for free e-newsletter to get all of my new recipes delivered straight to your inbox so you never miss a thing. I’ll even send you my free e-cookbook, Healthy Weeknight Dinners, as a thank you!

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Yield: About 14 cups popped

Easy Microwave Popcorn

Microwave popcorn is so quick and easy to make at home with kernels and pops up fresh and perfect every time. Make in a bowl or a paper bag and add your favorite toppings!

Prep Time

3 minutes

Cook Time

5 minutes

Total Time

8 minutes

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup popcorn kernels
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• Kosher or sea salt, to taste

Instructions

For microwave popcorn in a glass bowl:

1. Add the popcorn kernels to a large microwave-safe glass bowl with a tight fitting lid. (Such as a large Pyrex bowl.)
2. Cover the bowl, place in the microwave and microwave on high for 5-6 minutes. Listen carefully and stop the popcorn when you hear 2 seconds between pops at the end.
3. Carefully remove the bowl using oven mitts and open, being careful to avoid the steam that will escape the bowl.
4. Add the melted butter and salt, to taste. Mix well and serve immediately.

For microwave popcorn in a paper bag:

1. Add the popcorn kernels to a large paper bag. Fold the bag down twice at the top to seal it.
2. Place in the microwave and microwave on high for 3 ½ minutes. Listen carefully and stop the popcorn when you hear 2 seconds between pops at the end.
3. Carefully remove the bag and open, being careful to avoid the steam that will escape the bowl.
4. Transfer the popcorn to a serving bowl and add the melted butter and salt, to taste. Mix well and serve immediately.

Notes

Pro tip: Melt your butter in the microwave before you start the popcorn, so it’s ready to drizzle as soon as the popcorn is finished.

Quantity: As a general rule, 3 tablespoons of popcorn kernels equals about 7.5 cups of popped popcorn, give or take.

Timing: You should stop the cooking time in the microwave when you hear 2 to 3 seconds of pause between pops at the end.

Some kernels may not pop. That’s OK. Don’t keep adding time because that can cause some of the popcorn to burn and that doesn’t taste good at all.

Be careful of the steam when you open the bowl or bag. Also, use oven mitts to remove your container carefully from the microwave.

Creative topping ideas for popcorn:

• Butter, salt and chili powder - add a pinch of cayenne for a spicy kick
• Cinnamon and sugar
• Melted chocolate and sea salt
• Parmesan cheese or nutritional Yeast
• Chili lime seasoning
• Toasted coconut
• Browned butter, rosemary and lemon peel
• Bacon grease and crumbled bacon
• Pumpkin spice
• Apple pie spice
• Ranch seasoning
• Peanut butter (melt with honey and sugar until pourable) 
• Caramel or salted caramel
• Salt and vinegar
• Buffalo sauce and butter
• Old Bay seasoning

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

2-2 ½ cups

Amount Per Serving:

Calories:

70

Total Fat:

8g

Saturated Fat:

5g

Trans Fat:

0g

Unsaturated Fat:

3g

Cholesterol:

20mg

Sodium:

101mg

Carbohydrates:

0g

Fiber:

0g

Sugar:

0g

Protein:

0g