How To Make Healthy Popcorn in the Microwave
Picture this: It’s family movie night, and the air smells of fresh DIY microwave popcorn. Instead of using store-bought bags with maybe sketchy ingredients, you and your kids are measuring out kernels and choosing toppings. As the popcorn pops, everyone eagerly decides—classic butter, cinnamon sugar, or Parmesan cheese?
The popping sound is exciting, and soon you’ll be enjoying hot, fresh popcorn made together. Not only is it healthier and tastier, but it’s also a fun, cost-effective tradition.
Popping your own popcorn is simple and satisfying. Keep reading for topping ideas and tips for getting every last kernel popped!
Ingredients and Supplies You Need to Make Healthy DIY Microwave Popcorn:
Ingredients
- Popcorn Kernels
- Favorite Toppings Ideas
- Butter
- Salt
- Popcorn Seasoning
- Cinnamon sugar
- Parmesan cheese
- Caramel
- Chocolate
Supplies
- Microwave at 1000 watts
- 1½-2½ quart microwave-safe bowl
- Ceramic or glass plate large enough to cover the bowl
How to pop popcorn in the microwave without a bag:
Step 1: Heat the bowl and plate
Use a 1½-2½ quart bowl to microwave a ¼ cup of popcorn kernels. Pyrex is one of my favorite brands, and it works great for making popcorn. Use a ceramic or stoneware dinner plate that is larger than the bowl.
Place your empty bowl and plate in the microwave for 1 minute. Heating the bowl and plate before adding the kernels will ensure they are HOT to pop all the kernels. A common problem with microwave popcorn is that not all the kernels pop. Using a hot bowl will ensure that almost if not all, the kernels pop.
Step 2: Microwave the popcorn
Place a ¼ cup of popcorn kernels in your hot bowl, and place the plate on top of the bowl.
Microwave for 3-4 minutes for a ¼ cup of popcorn kernels and at a 1000-watt microwave. Your time will vary depending on how many popcorn kernels you have and how powerful your microwave is. The key is to check on your popcorn and listen for popping. More kernels, a larger bowl, and a microwave at a lower wattage will need more time.
Quick tip: Add butter on top of the plate during the last 30 seconds of cooking so it is ready for drizzling!
Step 3: Add your toppings
After your popcorn has finished popping, it’s time for the best part: Drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle on salt. Give the popcorn a quick stir to ensure it is all coated in buttery goodness.
There are so many fun ways to enjoy popcorn. Get creative here and mix it up! Eat it plain, with melted butter and salt, or a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. To satisfy your sweet tooth, try some of our favorite homemade popcorn toppings:
In just minutes, you can have fresh, light, homemade popcorn! It is so fast and easy, perfect for movie nights or an afternoon snack. We love it so each person can customize their own bowl. But my favorite part is still that this healthy snack only costs me a few cents per bowl.
Happy snacking!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why aren’t all of my kernels popping?
You love making your own popcorn in the microwave. However, after microwaving the popcorn, there is still a collection of unpopped kernels at the bottom of the bowl. Popcorn kernels essentially need 3 things to pop:
- Heat: Use a HOT bowl. Heat the bowl and plate in the microwave for 1 minute so they are hot before adding the kernels. Use a good quality bowl that will conduct heat well. Plastic is not good in the microwave.
-
Space: Use the right bowl size for heat and airflow to circulate. Stick to a bowl that is 1½-2½ quarts. A too big bowl will take a long time to heat up and cook the kernels. And a too-small bowl won’t give the kernels room to pop. Don’t add too many kernels to the bowl, making them take longer to heat and not enough space to pop.
- Steam: Use quality and fresh kernels. Kernels that are dried up won’t pop as well. Fresh kernels create steam to pop.
Can I microwave more than 1/4 cup of popcorn at a time?
To give the kernels enough space and airflow to pop, I don’t recommend popping more than a ½ cup at a time.
How do I know when microwave popcorn is done?
Microwaves vary, so listen closely for the popping sound to slow to 2-3 seconds between pops. Overcooking can burn the popcorn, so stop it when the popping spaces out.
Can I add oil and seasonings to the kernels before popping them?
If you’d like, you can add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil to the kernels. Oil is only a flavor addition (not essential for popping) and adds a delicious movie popcorn taste.
Because salt adheres to water, it may alter how the steam forms in the bowl, which is necessary for popping. I recommend adding salt once the popcorn is ready to eat.
What kind of bowl is safe for making popcorn in the microwave?
Bowl: A glass or a microwave-safe bowl is best for cooking popcorn in the microwave. Glass is safe in the microwave and will get hot enough to pop popcorn. The bowl also needs to be large enough for air to circulate and give the kernels room to expand. But if it’s too large, it will take longer to heat up and cook the popcorn.
Plate: We prefer to use a ceramic or stoneware plate because it is a good heat conductor, allowing hot air to circulate in the bowl so kernels can pop. Choose a lid larger than the bowl because you want the bowl to be covered completely.
We don’t recommend using a plastic plate, plastic wrap, or the lid that fits on the bowl. Plastic will not heat up enough for all the popcorn to pop.
Is homemade microwave popcorn healthy?
Popcorn has so many health benefits! It is a delicious healthy snack because:
- It is a whole grain and high in fiber. Fiber is heart-healthy and lowers cholesterol. It also regulates blood sugar levels and supports healthy digestion, which promotes the feeling of fulness.
- It is low in calories—one cup of plain popcorn contains about 30 calories—but be watchful of what you add to it, as butter, oil, and sweet toppings can make this a higher-calorie snack.
- Popcorn is rich in antioxidants. Polyphenols, which are linked to reduced inflammation and the risk of certain chronic diseases, are also present.
Popcorn can become unhealthy depending on what you add to it. Bagged popcorn from the grocery store or what you buy at the movie theater often has added hydrogenated oils, artificial butter, and excess salt.
Looking for more healthy snacks? You’ll want to try some of these favorites:
- Healthy Zucchini Corn Fritters
- Crunch Avocado Fries in the Air Fryer
- 3 Ingredient Banana Muffins in the Air Fryer
- Low Carb and Keto Sausage Balls
- Simple and Delicious Lasagna Cups
- Keto Taco Bites
- Healthy Granola Yogurt Parfait
How To Make The Best Popcorn In The Microwave
Equipment
- Microwave
- 2.5 qt Bowl
Ingredients
- ¼ Cup Popcorn Kernels
- 2 tablespoons Butter optional
- Popcorn Seasoning or Popcorn Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat a 1.5- 2.5 quart glass bowl and ceramic plate in the microwave for 1 minute.
- Place 1/4 cup popcorn kernels in the glass bowl.
- Cover with the ceramic plate.
- Microwave 2:45 to 3 minutes
- Top with melted butter, seasonings, or leave plain! There are so many delicious varieties!
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I have a presto microwave popper, I had it for years and I love it. I never liked bagged microwaves popcorn. Now I have an alternate way to make popcorn if it ever breaks. Thanks Becky
No problem!!
How can I make my popcorn that I make in my Tasty microwave popcorn popper taste like it was popped on the stove? Putting oil on it after popping makes it too oily.
I can’t wait to try this. Save money on purchasing the big tub of kernals and on top of it no need for oil. On top of that a super healthy snack.
We LOVE it! It’s so much healthier, and it’s super fast too! We love not having to get the big popper out! Just put the kernels in a bowl, put a plate on top, and microwave! WOOT!
if you put 2 tablespoons of butter on top of a plate in a microwave it will make a huge mess. Please do not post things if you really do not use them
I did do this, in fact, I even posted a picture about it. You can look at the picture taken in my microwave, and see that it didn’t make a mess 🙂 I’m so very sorry if it did for you, but it didn’t make a mess for me, and I posted what I knew. 🙂 In the dozens of times we’ve done this, it’s never made a mess. But again, I’m sorry if it did for you!
But I did update the post with an alternative idea 🙂
Edna, maybe your microwave is stronger than her 1000 watt. Now you know🤷.
We just use a plain brown lunch bag. Fold over the top and Presto! Eat it out of the bag, and you don’t have to wash a bowl… 😀
Great idea!
How much popcorn kernels do you use for that sz bag?
I did a quick google search and found this recipe: https://allrecipes.com/recipe/microwave-popcorn/ maybe it’ll help? it seems like a LOT of popcorn for a small bag, considering how much smaller it is than a 2.5 qt. bowl, so you might have to experiement.
A 1/4 cup of popcorn enjoy.
if you put butter on top of the plate, won’t it splatter everywhere??
Yes, I would think it would. Personally I would melt it for 30 seconds separately in a small bowl covered.
I’ve never had it splatter everywhere, but I almost always am doing it with a frozen cube a butter. If you find it’s splattering, Kearna’s suggestion of melting it separately is great! Just do it first, because you want to add it right when the popcorn comes out of the microwave 🙂 Of course, you don’t have to add any butter at all, and it’s still good (although, I’m a fan of the butter, myself!) 😀
Does the butter not fly all over the microwave when you are popping and melting? That would be messy…
You can always melt it separately before hand, but it’s not an issue I’ve encountered. However, all microwaves have different wattages, it depends on how cold the butter is, etc.
Just to let you know if you freeze your popcorn bags and pull them out to put in the glass bowl you wont have any unpopped kernels. This was shared with me and I just haven’t made popcorn of late to test the theory – thought I would share 🙂
I love this idea! Thanks so much, I’ll have to try it next time! 🙂
Man people can sure spout off. You responded with such grace. It makes sense that the butter would not spatter. Of course a high wattage microwave will make butter spat like crazy. But microwaves heat high density foods faster. The popcorn is denser than the butter so the butter gets a less “intense” heating. Please be polite when responding so you don’t end up looking like a fool. Edna, did you try it and make a mess before posting?
I agree, her comment was SO unnecessary! I’ll be doing this tomorrow, thanks Becky!!
Thanks guys! Have fun Melissa, and thanks Becky for explaining the way the microwave heats… 🙂 I didn’t know the science behind it, I just knew I had never gotten a mess 🙂 The microwave is my 2nd least favorite place to clean (after the toilet) so of course I’m not going to share an awesome way to make everyone clean 😀
What a great idea!! Have you tried it with plastic bowls?
I have actually… it didn’t work out well… I’m guessing because they don’t retain enough heat, but I could be wrong, because it wasn’t the same size bowl. You can try it, and if it works for you, I’d love to have you share your success details (size of bowl, time spent in microwave, etc!)
Omg! I moved and gave away my popper. This is so much better. I go into crazy popcorn addictions every now and then. This is great thanks so much!
Enjoy! I hope you love it!
just tried this and it cracked my plate right in half 🙁 I set microwave to 3 min and about a min and a half it cracked 🙁
if you put 1-2 tbsp of oil in with the popcorn kernels you will get that great flavor but won’t end up with soggy popcorn like you do when you pour melted butter over popped popcorn.
Thanks for the tip!
thanks for this wonderful tip! Worked perfectly in my Pyrex bowl and I even didn’t have any problems with my butter making a mess! Now I am enjoying some delicious organic popcorn that is even better than the bagged ones and much healthier!
Yay! I’m glad you love it!!
Another idea… when you salt (or instead) add nutritional yeast. You will get that cheesy popcorn effect…
P.S. – Thank you for this… I looooove popcorn…
I’m going to have to try that!! I’ve never heard of it. 😀
I love it! This is my kind of recipe. It will save me money instead of buying pre-prepared microwave popcorn. Period I love Pyrex bowls and correlleware plates too because they last forever and are microwave safe. Thank you for the easy recipe!
Just tried this for the first time and it worked ok! It def satisfied my craving… my micro is a bit weaker, so it took ~4mins to pop 3/4 of the kernels in the bowl. WARNING: the glass bowl will stay very hot for a long time. I might try next time w a smaller bowl or maybe by not covering it (it seemed steamy upon opening). Also I saw a tip of freezing the kernels, sounds promising! Anyways, thanks to you Becky! I hate pre bagged popcorn and micro options, too much chemical. Great start to my new snack fix!
Awesome Extee! Thank you for sharing your results! I’m glad you enjoyed it, despite the HOT glass bowl! 🙂
My butter never splattered, so maybe it was the brand of butter. I make my own butter, but use store bought for this. Couldn’t find the pyrex bowls in my area, but my step-mom had some. (The Tupperware bowls just don’t work well.) Thanks for the wonderful idea.
You are welcome!
This is the recipe I have been looking for!! I have tried it in a brown bag in the microwave but it made a mess. Thank you!!
Love making popcorn this way, but no matter how many kernels I use or what size bowl I use, more than 1/2 the kernels don’t pop. Happens every time! Is that to be expected or do I need to do something differently. We have a beautiful, brand new GE Advantium All-In-One that’s got a pretty powerful microwave option, but it still doesn’t pop all the kernels. Thoughts?
Jen, we found that heating up the bowl and plate BEFORE adding the kernels makes more of them pop. Give it a try, and let us know how it goes!