Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Popcorn

I’m that person who (as much as I’m ashamed to admit it) brings that fake powdered cheese in her purse into the movie theater to add to the movie theater popcorn. It might be crazy but sometime s you have to do what you can to add some flavor to things. More recently I have started making this version of cheese popcorn as a snack at home.

It’s a much healthier version because well, it uses real cheese, as well as the addition of nutritional yeast – to add a nutty flavor. Many vegans use nutritional yeast in place of cheese where as here I use it in this recipe for its savory qualities to enhance the cheese. In this recipe I make the popcorn on the stovetop – just make sure you have a large, heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid first. Or you can make this recipe in the microwave using a popcorn maker.

Homemade Garlic Parmesan Popcorn

Key Ingredients in This Recipe

• Pecorino Romano – Pecorino Romano is a hard, salty Italian cheese made from sheep’s milk. It’s aged for less time than Parmesan, resulting in a tangier flavor.
• Parmesan – Parmesan-Reggiano is definitely one of my favorite cheeses. It’s a hard cow’s milk cheese aged for different lengths of time. I’d recommend buying a roughly cut piece of wrapped cheese from the grocery store – it’s typically a higher quality cheese.
• Nutritional Yeast – Nutritional yeast is often used in vegan recipes in place of cheese though I love it for the unique, slightly nutty flavor it adds. Also referred to as “nooch”, the deactivated yeast has become much more popular in cooking within recent years.

How to Make Cheesy Garlic Popcorn

1. Add kernels to the pot. Heat a large heavy bottom pot over low heat, add the oil and heat through. Drop one popcorn kernel into the pot and when it pops, add the remaining kernels and cover the pot.
2. Pop the popcorn. Shake the pan and continue shaking the pan every minute or so that by the end of the cooking process, all the kernels hit the heat evenly and pop, about 5 minutes total.
3. Add butter and garlic. Remove from the heat and add the popcorn to a large bowl. Evenly pour the melted butter and garlic powder over the top and toss to coat.
4. Alternate cheese and yeast. Next, add the half of the Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, nutritional yeast and rosemary and toss to coat. Sprinkle the remaining cheese, nutritional yeast and rosemary over the top. Top with the parsley to garnish, if using.

Other Recipes to Try

If you enjoy this recipe, I recommend checking out some of these:

• Parmesan Ranch Party Mix
• Honey Almond Granola
• Homemade Pop Tarts

Homemade Garlic Parmesan Popcorn

Print Pin

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Serves 4

US Customary – Metric

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup popcorn kernels
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan, divided
• 2 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano, divided
• ¼ cup nutritional yeast, divided
• ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, divided
• 1 teaspoon chopped flat-leaf parsley, optional

Instructions:

• Heat a large heavy bottom pot over low heat, add the oil and heat through. Drop one popcorn kernel into the pot and when it pops, add the remaining kernels and cover the pot.
• Shake the pan and continue shaking the pan every minute or so that by the end of the cooking process, all the kernels hit the heat evenly and pop, about 5 minutes total.
• Remove from the heat and add the popcorn to a large bowl. Evenly pour the melted butter and garlic powder over the top and toss to coat.
• Next, add the half of the Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, nutritional yeast and rosemary and toss to coat. Sprinkle the remaining cheese, nutritional yeast and rosemary over the top. Top with the parsley to garnish, if using.

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