This Jalapeno Cheddar Popcorn recipe uses real cheddar and dehydrated jalapeños to create a slightly spicy and irresistible snack, perfect for movie night or a game day app!
I love a good popcorn recipe. It's such an easy snack to make - either on the stove or in an air popper. It's super healthy and there are loads of ways to customize it - from adding cheese and deli meats, chocolate, or even making a batch of Spicy Caramel Corn. I was craving something with a spicy cheddar kick and came up with this delicious combo for a new treat.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Unique and delicious flavors. Jalapeño Cheddar Popcorn takes the classic movie night snack to a whole new level by introducing exciting new flavors. The combination of zesty jalapeno peppers, real cheddar cheese, and a hint of butter creates an irresistible snack that you won't be able to stop eating!
- Great for spice lovers. The jalapeño powder adds a kick without overpowering the palate, making it a perfect snack for those who love a little heat in their popcorn.
- Uses REAL ingredients. When I first set out to make this dish, I of course had the option to just buy the pre-flavored cheddar cheese powders and jalapeño popcorn seasonings from the store. But those are filled with extra ingredients that I didn't want and powders don't really add to the texture of the dish. For this recipe, I wanted to use natural flavors so I opted to use dehydrated jalapeños to get that spicy kick and used real shredded cheddar cheese (a favorite tip I learned from my Grandpa!) to add that delicious cheese popcorn taste.
- Easy. This is an easy snack to make. Making the popcorn is simple, whether you use an air popper, make it on the stove, or even make it in the microwave. And using an air fryer to make the dehydrated jalapeños gets the job done in less than 5 minutes.
- Healthy. Popcorn is such a great healthy snack - it's low in calories (at least on its own!) and has a good amount of fiber, making it great for when you're trying to keep things low-calorie. And, making it at home (especially when it's air-popped) lets you control what goes on it (the toppings are usually the culprits to making this snack unhealthy.)
Ingredients
You only need 5 ingredients to make this delicious gourmet popcorn.
- Popcorn. As I said, I used an air popper to make my popcorn, but if you don't have one, don't fret! You can easily use microwave popcorn or make a batch on the stovetop in a large pot with some vegetable oil (see my instructions for making stovetop popcorn here.)
- Dehydrated Jalapeño Peppers. Prepared effortlessly in an air fryer, these dehydrated jalapeño slices bring a subtle crunch and intense flavor to the popcorn.
- Real Cheddar Cheese. Say goodbye to artificial cheese powders – this recipe uses authentic cheddar cheese for a rich and genuine taste.
- Butter. A little bit of melted butter adds a touch of indulgence, ensuring that each popcorn kernel is coated with deliciousness.
- Salt. Just a pinch of salt brings out the sharp flavors of this delicious popcorn snack.
How To Make Jalapeno Cheddar Popcorn
- Pop the corn. Make 3 cups of popcorn using your preferred method – using an air popper, stovetop, or microwave.
- Dehydrate the jalapeño peppers. Typically, dehydrating a jalapeno takes hours. But I figured out a way to do it in the air fryer in just minutes. Slice and seed fresh jalapeños, then dehydrate them in an air fryer. Set the heat to the lowest setting (around 250 degrees F) and air fry until the peppers are dried out and crack when bent. This process takes about 5-10 minutes, so keep an eye on them to prevent burning. (Don't have an air fryer? Try this same process in the oven at a low temperature. The key is slicing the peppers thin so they don't take too long to dry out. For more ways to dehydrate peppers, check out this helpful guide.)
- Prepare the butter and toppings. Melt a tablespoon of butter in a microwave-safe bowl, then toss it with the popcorn. Add salt, shredded cheddar cheese, and the dehydrated jalapeño slices. Toss well to ensure an even coating.
- Serve and enjoy. Serve the Jalapeño Cheddar Popcorn in individual cups, garnished with extra cheddar cheese and jalapeño slices on top.
Variations and Substitutions
- Try a different cheese. I love the sharp cheddar taste mixed with the spicy jalapeno peppers but you could try something different for a different taste. White cheddar would be a good option, or pepper jack cheese would give this popcorn an extra kick!
- Experiment with the oils. If you're making this over the stovetop, you'll need an oil to heat the corn kernels in. Instead of using the standard vegetable oil, try a flavored oil like olive or sunflower oil for a different taste. Or, sub in just a splash of oil for the butter if you're looking for a healthier alternative.
- Add some different seasonings. Try adding some garlic powder or other dried spices to the mix to give this popcorn some extra flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! While we love the freshness of homemade popcorn, pre-packaged varieties work just as well.
Sure! Just keep in mind that microwave popcorn may already have some butter flavoring so pay attention to your packaging and adjust accordingly.
You could, but they will be quite a bit hotter and won’t have the same crunch factor as the dehydrated jalapeño peppers.
Popcorn is naturally gluten-free, but you need to be careful when buying at the store to ensure that it is certified gluten-free on the packaging. Some popcorns have this certification, but some do not, since they may be processed in a plant that also contains gluten, and there is a chance for cross-contamination.
You can, although I think it's best served fresh when the popcorn is warm and the toppings have just been added.
This Homemade Jalapeno Cheddar Popcorn Recipe is the perfect combination of heat, cheese, and delicious crunchy popped corn. If you try this easy snack, let me know what you think in the comments below. And don't forget to tag me @frontrangefed on Instagram - I love to see your masterpieces!
More Delicious Popcorn Snacks
Recipe
Homemade Jalapeño Cheddar Popcorn Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups popped popcorn
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup dehydrated jalapeno peppers
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Make the popcorn with your preferred method (an air popper, stovetop popcorn, or even microwave popcorn will all work).
- Make the dehydrated jalapeno peppers. You can do this several ways, but I used an air fryer to speed up the process. To dehydrate the peppers, slice them and remove the seeds. Place the slices in the bottom of an air fryer in a single layer and set your heat to the lowest setting it can go (usually about 250 degrees F, but that will depend on your air fryer.) Then simply air fry the peppers until they are dried out and crack when you try to bend them. Because I sliced the peppers, vs. drying them whole, they only took about 5-10 minutes. Check the peppers in 3-5 minute intervals to make sure they aren’t burning.
- Place the butter in a microwave safe bowl and cover with a paper towel to prevent any splatters. Heat on low heat for about 20 seconds until melted.
- Toss the melted butter with the popcorn. Add the salt, cheese and jalapeno peppers and toss well to combine.
- Serve popcorn in individual cups, with extra cheddar cheese and jalapeno slices on the top.
Notes
- I used air-popped popcorn but you can make this with popcorn cooked on the stove, or microwave popcorn too.
- Slicing the jalapenos thin makes dehydrating them much faster - whether you do it in an air fryer or an oven.
Cindy says
Yes! I love this flavor combo but hate to buy processed food. The dehydrated jalapenos are genius. Perfect fix for my spicy popcorn craving.
Sarah Jenkins says
Thanks Cindy! So glad you enjoyed it!