You’ve seen the trend all over Instagram: everything bagel seasoning on just about, well, EVERYTHING. Everything seasoning on popcorn has exploded, but we wanted to see what other flavor combinations will rock our world. We’ve drawn inspiration from the five tastes to pull together our list. Here are five bold popcorn flavors you need to try:
1. Salty – Seaweed Salt Popcorn
For a twist on the classic salty flavor profile, look no further than the largest source of salt itself: the ocean! Seaweed is a great salty snack all on its own, but try out this new technique to boost your salt kick.
Add equal parts crushed toasted nori snacks and kosher salt to a food processor, blender, or mortar and pestle. Process until the nori and salt are equally sized and blended. Pop your popcorn as desired, and toss with a drizzle of toasted sesame oil and your nori-salt dust.
2. Sweet – Cinnamon Honey Butter Popcorn
If you’ve been to a certain Texas-themed steakhouse, you get the hype of this flavor combination. What really can be better than cinnamon, honey, and butter together? Try this sweet flavor bomb out for your friends or family and see the popcorn disappear.
Melt some unsalted butter in a small saucepan but do not let it boil. When melted, stir in honey, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt to taste until combined. Pop your popcorn as desired, then toss it together with the cinnamon honey butter.
3. Sour – Salt and Vinegar Popcorn
Salt and vinegar chips are a crowd favorite for a reason. If you can’t get enough lip-puckering sourness in your foods, give this popcorn flavor combination a try!
Melt together unsalted butter and a splash of your favorite light-colored vinegar. We recommend using white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or rice vinegar rather than plain white vinegar. Pop your popcorn how you like it, then toss together with the vinegar-butter mixture, a sprinkle of salt, and some chopped fresh or dried dill for an extra boost.
4. Spicy – Buffalo Popcorn
This flavor might be straightforward, but it sure does pack a punch! If you love buffalo wings, say hello to your new favorite movie snack. Choose your side and serve it with some blue cheese or ranch dressing for that classic pairing.
Melt together equal parts unsalted butter and hot sauce until glossy and combined. Pop your popcorn, and drizzle in your buffalo sauce. Toss until fully coated and enjoy. For some extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne to the buffalo sauce.
5. Umami – Cacio e Pepe Popcorn
Originally from the greater Rome area in Italy, Cacio e Pepe is a classic pasta dish made using simple, flavorful ingredients. Pecorino Romano, the traditional cheese used, is packed full of umami savory goodness, and the flavor profile works brilliantly with popcorn. You most likely already have the ingredients on hand, so go ahead and try out this cheesy sensation.
Grate some Pecorino Romano or similar hard sheep’s milk cheese, and combine it with a generous amount of black pepper. Pop your popcorn as desired, and toss it with your cheese and pepper until combined.