Amid the nonstop holiday chaos, James and I laid low this weekend – that meant movie marathons. No movie marathon on our couch is complete without our favorite stovetop popcorn recipe!
Believe me when I tell you that stovetop popcorn blows microwave popcorn out of the water. The comparison isn’t even close! It’s been a few years since I made the switch and haven’t looked back. I love how easy it is to change up the flavors based on the combinations. Sea salt and freshly squeezed lime juice is one of my favorites.
When James and I have a movie night, we love using this zippy, stovetop popcorn recipe that gets its flavors from high-quality butter and the best Cajun seasoning – Slap Ya Mama.
A little bit goes a long way when it comes to popcorn kernels, just 1/2 cup of kernels provides enough popcorn for both of us to enjoy. I’m working my way through a bag of Trader Joe’s Organic Popping Corn (you can find it next to their chips, pretzels, and bagged popcorn) right now that’s been great. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby, Snappy Popcorn Kernels are available on Amazon.
Pop the Kernels
Use a large skillet that has a snug-fitting lid. Heat up the skillet over medium heat. Once the skillet is hot, pour about 1-2 tbsp, depending on the size, of olive oil, and cover the bottom of the pan. Place about 3-4 kernels in the skillet, these will let you know once the skillet is hot enough for the rest.
As soon as the test kernels start bursting, add 1/2 cup of kernels to the skillet, and cover with a lid. I then start shaking the skillet back and forth as it hovers over the stove by a hair to completely coat the kernels in oil. This is where you have to play it by ear (somewhat literally!) and I will usually alternate between medium-low heat. The biggest thing is to keep the skillet moving and hovering so that the kernels keep moving and don’t burn.
Once the popping slows down significantly, the popcorn is ready for the next steps!
Melt the Butter
Pour into a large bowl, avoiding any unpopped kernels at the bottom of the skillet, and let’s start on the butter.
Kerrygold is, pardon the pun, the gold standard for butter you can get in the grocery store. When I’m getting everything ready to start the popcorn, I bring the Kerrygold out to let it come to room temperature. Once the popcorn is in the bowl, melt the butter in the microwave in 30 second intervals. Now is not the moment to be shy about butter, you’ll definitely use more than you anticipate.
Drizzle the first batch of melted butter over the popcorn and toss to coat. Add the second batch and toss again to maximize the buttery goodness.
The Finishing Touch
Lastly, shake the Slap Ya Mama Cajun seasoning over the popcorn and give it a final toss. We love how flavorful Slap Ya Mama is! James and I put it on everything, from chili to queso and seafood. One day we had the genius idea to put it on popcorn and that’s been our go-to popcorn seasoning ever since. Enjoy!
