How To Make Vegan Popcorn at Home (Theatre-Style, Sweet & Savory)

Popcorn is one of the oldest snack foods—humans have been popping kernels for centuries—but with modern diets, a big question arises: is popcorn vegan? The short answer: yes, popcorn kernels themselves are vegan. What matters is what you coat them with. Traditional theatre popcorn drenched in butter may not be, but with vegan popcorn seasoning and plant-based oils, you can recreate that nostalgic crunch without any animal products.

In this recipe, we show you how to get that theatre-style crisp using butter-flavored coconut oil, develop flavor with nutritional yeast and garlic for savory lovers, or go sweet with a vegan caramel sauce. Whether you love crunchy vegan popcorn or crave something sweet and sticky, this homemade version brings both.

Below are two main methods—classic salted & butter-flavored vegan popcorn, and vegan caramel popcorn—so you can enjoy your snack, brace yourself for popcorn calories questions, and know exactly how to reheat popcorn when the crunch softens. Let’s dive in.

Classic Movie-Style Vegan Popcorn

Recipe Details

Yield: 2 to 3 servings
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter flavored coconut oil
• ¼ cup popcorn kernels
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon salt (for seasoning mix)
• 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper

Vegan Caramel Popcorn

For the caramel sauce:

• 1½ tablespoons butter-flavored coconut oil
• ¼ cup coconut sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped (for topping)

Recipe Instructions

1. Heat the butter-flavored coconut oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 3-4 popcorn kernels and cover. Once they pop, add the rest of the kernels, cover, and shake the pot gently to distribute the heat.
2. Reduce heat to medium and shake the pot back and forth over the burner occasionally to prevent burning. When popping slows (about 2-4 minutes), remove from heat and pour popcorn into a large bowl.
3. For the classic vegan seasoning: in a small bowl, whisk together nutritional yeast, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle over popcorn and toss to coat evenly.
4. For vegan caramel popcorn: in a small saucepan over medium heat, melt coconut oil, add coconut sugar, and whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract and salt. Pour caramel sauce over popcorn (on a sheet pan or bowl), sprinkle with chopped peanuts, and gently mix to coat.
5. Serve immediately for best texture. If needed, *how to reheat popcorn*: Preheat oven to 300°F, spread popcorn on a baking sheet, heat for 3-5 minutes to regain crunch (avoid microwave for caramel varieties to preserve texture).

Recipe Variations & Tips for Vegan Popcorn

• Sweet Vegan Caramel Popcorn: Use coconut sugar-based caramel as above; for extra flair, drizzle a bit of dark vegan chocolate or sprinkle cinnamon.
• Spicy Vegan Flavor Option: Add a pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika to the savory seasoning mix for *vegan popcorn flavors* with heat.
• No-Fat Version: Skip the flavored oil and use air-popped popcorn (if you have an air popper), then spray lightly or use a mist of water + seasoning.
• Low-calorie Texture Tip: Heat popcorn in a preheated oven or air fryer briefly to dry any moisture before adding sauce or seasoning—helps keep crispy.
• Alternative Vegan Popcorn Seasoning Ideas: Try ranch-style powder (vegan version), nutritional yeast + smoked salt, cocoa & cinnamon sweet mix, or maple + turmeric for golden, sweet spice.
• Vegan Caramel Sauce Swap: If you don’t have coconut sugar, date syrup or maple syrup can work, though colour and flavor vary.

Recipes by Angela Gaines