Spicy, garlicky and loaded with flavor from several dried herbs, you'll hardly notice that this savory popcorn seasoning blend is salt-free.
Popcorn Seasoning
Updated on Oct. 13, 2024
When you love salty, buttery popcorn, but you need to limit your sodium it can be difficult to know how to season this favorite crunchy (and whole grain!) snack. Don’t despair! Open up your spice cabinet and mix up a batch of this savory popcorn seasoning. The blend relies on lots of different dried herbs, for aromatic complexity, as well as the punchy backbone flavor of garlic powder. A little heat from both black pepper and cayenne helps to replace the salt and you can customize the blend with any other additions you like.
Ingredients for Popcorn Seasoning
- Garlic powder: Adds a strong, savory flavor that complements the other herbs and spices.
- Dried parsley flakes: Provides a fresh, herbaceous aroma and a slightly bitter taste.
- Dried basil: Adds a sweet, slightly peppery flavor that works well with the other herbs.
- Dried marjoram: Offers a mild, slightly minty flavor that complements the savory notes of the other ingredients.
- Dried thyme: Provides a warm, earthy flavor with a hint of lemon.
- Cayenne pepper: Probably the strongest flavor in the mix besides garlic, cayenne provides a little heat to this popcorn seasoning blend. Increase or decrease this quantity to your taste.
- Popcorn: The base for the seasoned popcorn, providing a light and crispy texture.
- Melted butter: Adds richness and enhances the flavor of the seasoning, helping it to adhere to the popcorn.
Directions 
Step 1: Make the popcorn seasoning
Mix together the garlic powder, parsley flakes, dried basil, dried marjoram, dried thyme, pepper and cayenne pepper.
Combine the popped popcorn, melted butter and 1/2 teaspoon of the seasoning, then toss to coat.
Recipe Variations
- Grind it up: Use a mortar and pestle, spice mill or a clean coffee grinder to grind the seasoning into a fine powder. This will help the seasoning adhere to the popped kernels so you get better flavor distribution.
- Add some salt: Though this seasoning is salt-free as is, it would also be delicious with some added.
- Make it savory: Add a little onion powder to the blend to back up the flavor of the garlic and herbs with savory onion flavor.
- Use lemon pepper: Swap out the black pepper in the blend. The tangy flavor of lemon pepper goes well with all of the herbs in this savory popcorn seasoning blend.
How to Store Popcorn Seasoning
Once mixed, store popcorn seasoning in an airtight jar—ideally one affixed with a perforated shaker lid—in a closed cabinet. Storing it out of sunlight will help the dried herbs maintain their color and aromatic qualities.
How long does popcorn seasoning last?
As with most dried spice blends, popcorn seasoning will last several months in an airtight container. Close the lid tightly when not in use, as this will help slow the mixture from staling or the garlic powder from absorbing ambient mixture and hardening up into a mass.
Popcorn Seasoning Tips
How do you get spices to stick to popcorn?
An even coating of melted fat (butter or oil) is helpful, as it gives the spices something to adhere to. But if you’re using freshly popped popcorn and you add the spices immediately after popping, you don’t need to add extra fat. To get evenly seasoned popcorn, toss it with the spices in a large bowl or an airtight container.
What’s the best way to make popcorn?
It’s all about personal preference. Some people love the convenience of microwave popcorn, others prefer the health benefits of air popped popcorn and some popcorn fans swear by crispy stovetop popcorn. Our guide to how to make the best popcorn can help you find the best method for you.
What are good seasonings to put on popcorn?
Cheese, spice blends and flavored butter or oil are all delicious popcorn seasonings. Hot sauce is a popular one, too! For more inspiration, check out these flavored popcorn recipes.
Savory Popcorn Seasoning
Prep Time
10 min
Yield
24 batches (about 1/4 cup)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
- 1-1/2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1-1/2 teaspoons dried marjoram
- 1-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1-1/2 teaspoons pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS FOR POPCORN:
- 2 cups air-popped popcorn
- 1-1/2 teaspoons butter, melted
Directions
- Combine first 7 ingredients. Store in an airtight container up to 6 months.
- To prepare popcorn: Combine popcorn, butter and 1/2 teaspoon seasoning; toss to coat.
Nutrition Facts
2 cups seasoned popcorn: 114 calories, 6g fat (4g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 59mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 3g fiber), 2g protein.
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I love this popcorn seasoning recipe. Cayenne pepper adds a bit of heat to a late-night treat. —Janice Campbell, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
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