Air fryer popcorn comes together in minutes and creates perfectly seasoned popcorn kernels with a movie theater-like flavor!
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Popcorn is a guilt-free and easy snack. It’s a healthier alternative to chips and full of fiber, vitamins, and nutrients! There are also various ways to prepare it, depending on the equipment you have at home.
Some of the most popular methods include stovetop, air popper, instant pot, and microwave. My stovetop vegan popcorn uses the traditional way on the stovetop.
But have you ever thought about making popcorn in the air fryer? Goodness knows I love my air fryer! I use it to make roasted squash, tortilla chips, tater tots, French Fries, and so much more!
Recently, a reader asked if it was possible to make air fryer popcorn. So, I decided to give it a try, and see how it worked!
Note: Before we get into the ins and outs of making this air fryer popcorn recipe, I must warn you that it’s not the best method, nor is it the easiest. While I love using my air fryer for just about anything, this method is not foolproof and can potentially damage your air fryer and cause a fire hazard!
⚠️ Can You Make Popcorn In the Air Fryer?
Yes, you can make popcorn in the air fryer. While using the air fryer can be a great alternative to the stovetop, an air popper, or microwave popcorn, I must warn you that it comes with a few warnings! This is not an easy recipe to master! It takes a lot of trial and error!
Popcorn kernels are small and light. When the air circulates in the air fryer it will lift the kernels and blow them around your basket. As a result, this can cause kernels to get lodged in the heating element of your air fryer. This can not only ruin your air fryer, but it can also cause a fire hazard.
For these reasons, I recommend you use a different method to pop your popcorn if possible!
But if you’d like to know how to make air fryer popcorn, and you’re not afraid of the consequences, here it goes!
👩🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Uses less oil than most methods.
- Low calorie. Only 43 calories per serving!
- A family favorite recipe!
- Movie theatre popcorn taste!
- The perfect recipe for your family movie night!
- Delicious Snack!
- Healthy Snack
🍿 Ingredients and Notes
Popcorn Kernels: Buying plain popcorn kernels and making popcorn at home is a huge money saver! Those bags of pre-popped popcorn cost WAY more! You can get 45 ounces of popcorn kernels for $2.49, which will pop 43 servings. Compare that to bagged popcorn, where you pay at least $3 and get 6.7 ounces of popped popcorn and 6.5 servings! For this recipe, you only need a quarter cup of kernels.
Avocado Oil: You only need a little oil, but it is essential not to leave this ingredient out! I prefer to use oil with a high smoke point. Olive oil is excellent for cooking, but its smoke point is 375-405° Fahrenheit. Whereas avocado oil has a smoke point of 520° Fahrenheit. Choosing an oil with a high smoke point means that you won’t burn the kernels before they have a chance to pop. Avocado oil is my favorite because it has a naturally buttery flavor.
Salt: Season with salt to taste. I like to use about ¼ of a teaspoon or less.
Lemon Pepper Seasoning and Melted Butter (optional): If you’d like to give your popcorn some added flavor, I want to add a touch of lemon pepper seasoning and melted butter. It brings a bright flavor to the popcorn!
📖 Substitutions
Different Types of Oil: Use a high smoke point oil for better results. You could use grapeseed or safflower oil if you don’t have avocado oil. You can also use olive oil or coconut oil if you don’t have any of the other types of oil.
🌿 Seasoning Variations
Kettle Corn: Add a teaspoon of organic cane or coconut sugar with the melted butter. Toss to combine.
Spicy Cayenne: Sprinkle a ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper on top. Toss to combine. Add more or less cayenne, depending on how spicy you like it!
Smoky Paprika: I love a good smoky flavor on my snacks! Add a ¼ teaspoon of smoky paprika and toss to combine. You could also add a ¼ teaspoon of cayenne for a smoky and spicy combination!
Onion Powder and Garlic Powder: Add a ¼ teaspoon of onion powder and or garlic powder for a zesty flavor!
Cheesy: My kids are crazy about cheesy popcorn! Sprinkle with a tablespoon of nutritional yeast for an umami, cheesy-like flavor.
📋 How to Make Air Fryer Popcorn
- Measure the corn kernels. This is a super important first step! Make sure only to use ¼ cup of corn kernels. I recommend a ¼ cup because whether you have a small 2-quart air fryer or a larger 8-quart air fryer, you will not end up with more popped popcorn than can fit in the basket. Too many kernels can mean you won’t have enough room in the basket for all the kernels to pop!
- Line Air Fryer Basket with Aluminum Foil: Another critically important step. Be sure to line your air fryer basket with aluminum foil in a bowl shape to surround the basket on the bottom and sides. This will help keep the kernels from getting lodged into the heating element and make less of a mess to clean up!
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Allow the air fryer to preheat for 5 minutes at 400° Fahrenheit.
- Add Kernels and Oil: Toss the kernels in the avocado oil and place them in the lined basket in a single layer.
- Pop the Kernels: Place the basket in the air fryer. Cook for 5 minutes. Remove the basket from the air fryer, and remove any popped kernels. Please place them in a large bowl. Return the basket to the air fryer with unpopped kernels. Cook for an additional 3 minutes. Remove the popped kernels, and discard any kernels that haven’t popped.
- Melt Butter and Add Seasoning: Melt the butter in the microwave in a small bowl. This should only take about 10 seconds. Pour melted butter over the popcorn. Add salt and lemon pepper seasoning (if using). Place a lid over the bowl, and toss to combine seasoning evenly. Enjoy!
❓ FAQS
Yes! The Ninja Foodi has the air crisp function that you can use to make Ninja Foodi popcorn. Follow the recipe instructions as noted, but simply use the air crisp function on your Ninja Foodi. Cook time may also vary depending on your model.
Yes! You can put aluminum foil in the air fryer. Aluminum foil is beneficial to use when air frying to create better flavor when using certain types of seasoning. It also helps to evenly distribute the heat, and keeps food from sticking to the sides, and makes clean-up a breeze!
💭 Expert Tips
The first few times you give it a try, you might not end up with the best result. Here are some tips to help you get it right the first time!
- Preheat the air fryer! This will help ensure the kernels get popping as quickly as possible and will prevent you from having too many leftover un-popped kernels.
- Remove the popped kernels from the basket. More than likely, not all the kernels will pop at the same time, so remove the ones that have already popped to prevent them from getting burning.
- Shake the basket frequently for best results. This will help create an even pop for those kernels at the bottom of the basket. Just be careful when you open the basket because the popcorn will want to fly out! Open it just a bit, give it a shake, and put it back in!
- You may need more or less cooking time depending on the model of your air fryer. This is not a recipe you want to walk away from, or do something else while it’s popping. Keep a close eye on the process the entire time. While the timing I recommended for the popcorn is what I found worked best for my appliance, you may find that you need more or less time for your kernels to pop. The best rule of thumb is to stay close and listen for the corn to pop. When it begins to slow, remove the basket, and take out any kernels that have already popped, then return for a second time, and listen again. When the popping starts to slow, remove the basket.
- Remove un-popped kernels. After returning the basket to the air fryer twice, remove any un-popped kernels. It is inevitable that you will end up with some kernels that don’t pop!
- Don’t skip the oil! While I love a good oil-free recipe, you need the oil to get the kernels heated and popping. If you skip the oil you will have very few popped kernels.
🫙 How to Store Leftovers
Freshly popped corn is best enjoyed immediately! However, if you have leftovers, place them in a zip-lock bag with all air pushed out! Keep at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Recipe
Air Fryer Popcorn
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup popcorn kernels
- ½ tsp avocado oil or other high smoke point oil
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning optional
- 2 tablespoon melted butter optional (Earth Balance recommended)
Instructions
- Make sure to only use ¼ cup of corn kernels. Too many kernels can mean you won't have enough room in the basket for all the kernels to pop!
- Make a bowl like shape with aluminum foil so that it surrounds the entire basket on the bottom and up the sides.
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 F.
- Toss the kernels in avocado oil so that they are evenly coated in oil. Place them in the lined basket in a single layer.
- Place the basket in the preheated air fryer. Cook for 5 minutes. Remove the basket from the air fryer, and take out any kernels that have popped. Place in a large serving bowl. Return the basket to the air fryer with the un-popped kernels. Cook for an additional 3 minutes. Remove the popped kernels, and discard any kernels that haven't popped.
- While kernels are popping, melt the butter in a small microwave safe bowl in the microwave for 10 seconds.
- Pour the melted butter over the popcorn. Add salt, and lemon pepper seasoning (if using). Place a lid over the bowl, and toss to evenly combine seasoning and butter. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Warning! Making popcorn in the air fryer could potentially damage your machine, and cause a fire hazard. For this reason, I recommend using a different method such as stovetop popcorn or air popper if possible!
- This recipe takes quite a bit of trial and error! The first few times you give it a try, you might not end up with the best result.
- Preheat the air fryer! This will help ensure the kernels get popping as quickly as possible and will prevent you from having too many leftover un-popped kernels.
- Remove the popped kernels from the basket. More than likely, not all the kernels will pop at the same time, so remove the ones that have already popped to prevent them from getting a burnt flavor.
- Shake the basket frequently. This will help create an even pop for those kernels at the bottom of the basket. Just be careful when you open the basket because the popcorn will want to fly out! Open it just a bit, give it a shake, and put it back in!
- You may need more or less cooking time depending on the model of your air fryer. This is not a recipe you want to walk away from, or do something else while it’s popping. Keep a close eye on the process the entire time. While the timing for the popcorn is what I found worked best for my appliance, you may find that you need more or less time for your kernels to pop. The best rule of thumb is to stay close and listen for the corn to pop. When it begins to slow, remove the basket, and take out any kernels that have already popped, then return for a second time, and listen again. When the popping starts to slow, remove the basket.
- Remove un-popped kernels. After returning the basket to the air fryer twice, remove any un-popped kernels. It is inevitable that you will end up with some kernels that don’t pop!
- Don’t skip the oil! While I love a good oil free recipe, you need the oil to get the kernels heated and popping. If you skip the oil you will have very few popped kernels.
Annissa
Love this detailed and informative recipe. Thanks for the helpful tips in using air fryer.
Mairead
Everyday I learn a new way to use my air fryer. I never before thought of using it to make popcorn. Thank you for adding so many tips for popcorn popping success in the air fryer.
Rachel
This recipe is brilliant! I love my air fryer and am always impressed by all the things I can make with it! This air fried pop corn will definitely on repeat for movie nights!