The Only Popcorn Recipe for Movie Night

Calling all popcorn lovers – a nutritional popcorn recipe everyone will love

Pop, pop pop this is a little popcorn recipe love (queue New Edition).

I know we all have those childhood snacks that still spark nostalgia. For me, it’s popcorn but with a special popcorn recipe twist of course.  

As a kid, for movie night, my dad would pull out the popcorn popper it was one of my favorite memories. I loved watching him pull out all the ingredients then get to work like a mad scientist.

The sound, the smell, the excitement set the tone for movie night. Most times I fell asleep on said movie (some things never change), but not before enjoying a giant bowl of popcorn. 

I know most people enjoy a bag of microwave popcorn at home, but let me tell you, there is no popcorn like hot freshly popped popcorn from a popper. 

Most people add a little salt or a premade season like parmesan or cheddar, but for me, those just don’t do it. 

My dad was a bit of a health nut, and ever since I can remember and he always found some way to sneak healthy foods and snacks into the mix. I didn’t take a liking to most of them, especially not the tofu burgers, but that’s a traumatic experience for another day. 

If you’re wondering how he managed to make movie night popcorn healthy and tasty, hold on to your kernels, you’re in for a treat. 

Two words – Nutritional Yeast. 

While you’re screwing up your face and trying to figure out exactly what it is, let me help you. 

Nutritional Yeast and its nutritional value

Not to be confused with the yeast used for baking, although some may say it’s a close cousin, nutritional yeast is dairy and gluten-free. Making it a great supplement for those with food allergies or restrictive diets. It’s also a great source of B-12 among others. As far as taste, it has a light cheesy flavor that makes popcorn ahhh-mazing!

Now, I’m not gonna lie, anytime I told my friends or anyone about this popcorn they gave me the screwface. You have to remember this healthy eating trend was nowhere near commonplace in Harlem back then. But every time anyone got the balls to actually try it, they LOVED it. I can’t tell you how many people we’ve hooked on popcorn laced with nutritional yeast.  

In my home, we loved it so much that we even took it to the movie theater with us. Let’s just say, once you eat popcorn with nutritional yeast, you’ll never eat it again without it. 

Breaking the anticipation with the popcorn recipe

So I know you’re waiting for the most important part and wondering, sis, where’s the recipe?! (please forgive me for following the lead of so many recipes, but I needed to share the back story) So… like to hear it, here it go.

You’ll need:

1. Popcorn kernels – we love Orville Redenbacher popcorn kernels but any brand will do. 
2. Oil – Olive, coconut, or good ole fashioned vegetable will do.
3. A popcorn popper, preferably one that uses oil (it helps the yeast stick to the popcorn) We love our Nostalgia Popcorn Maker.
4. Salt – (use your discretion)
5. Nutritional Yeast – We’ve been using Braggs Nutritional Yeast. Since COVID reared its ugly head, most health food stores don’t use the bins anymore, but you can typically find it bottled at most grocery stores or get it on amazon.  

Optional flavoring

Garlic powder – for a little extra flavor (to taste)

Cayenne pepper – if you like a little spice in your life (to taste)

If you love popcorn, you’ll love this extra special way to spice it up (lol isn’t that punny?!). The beauty of my love for popcorn is that I now share this recipe with my kids and they LOVE it too.  And that’s a win in my book.

If you try this popcorn recipe, let me know what you think and if you’re adventurous and add your own spin on it let me know that too. I’d love to try it. 

Got questions or your own spin on this recipe, Comment below.

Oh and happy National Popcorn Day!