Air Fryer Popcorn pops up wonderfully light and fluffy popcorn with a tasty slightly roasted flavor that everyone will love! It's sure to be your new favorite popcorn and it's super easy to make which makes it a winner all the way around!
Perfectly Popped Popcorn in Your Air Fryer
When I first heard that it was possible to make popcorn in an air fryer, I was super excited! I have a full-blown love affair going with my air fryer, so I was looking forward to giving it a try!
But then all I could think about were those air poppers from the ’80s (check out Youtube for vintage videos!). They were all the rage at that time, and you had better believe that one sat on the counter of every home in my neighborhood! *Including my home way back then, which I have a newer but 'retro' version of now!
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The selling point was, you could eat as MUCH as you wanted, for a fraction of the calories of regular popcorn. Of course, the air-popped popcorn was only good when you absolutely drowned it in butter. Once you did, it was definitely no longer 'healthy'!
Using the air fryer creates flavorful, fluffy popcorn. It takes a bit longer than the stovetop version, but there is much less chance of burning the popcorn – and you use less oil! Or leave it out entirely, the popcorn is still tasty!
What You'll Need
Other than your air fryer and some aluminum foil, you'll only need 3 ingredients! Two of which are optional because I'm sure you're going to love the slightly roasted taste of this air fryer popcorn!
- Popcorn Kernels - Use your favorite kind! I like the organic, non-GMO brands. And I can never decide if I like the white or yellow corn better!
- Cooking Oil (optional) – Any cooking oil will do, and you can omit the oil. However, I love using coconut oil because I think it results in fluffier, more flavorful popcorn. 🙂
- Salt (optional) - Sprinkled, to taste. Or try some other flavorings, like nutritional yeast, garlic salt, or my own favorite, sweet maple sugar salt - which makes it like kettle corn! We're also big fans of Kernel Season's brand popcorn flavors too, yummy!
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How to Pop Popcorn in an Air Fryer
This is an awesome way to make your popcorn! To air fry your popcorn in a Ninja Foodie, select the 'air crisp' function and follow along with the instructions below!
- Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF (205ºC) and use aluminum foil to line the bottom of the basket of your air fryer basket. Leave the sides as free of aluminum foil as possible to allow the air to circulate.
- Measure out ¼ cup of your favorite popcorn kernels.
- Lightly coat the popcorn kernels with your cooking oil of choice.
- Place the popcorn into the lined air fryer basket. Try to make sure the kernels aren’t on top of each other – a flat palette of single kernels is best.
- Place the basket into your air fryer and cook at 400ºF (205ºC) for 5 minutes. Cook until you no longer hear kernels popping. Make sure you don’t open the basket too soon, because rogue kernels may come flying out!
- Remove the basket and transfer any popped popcorn to a bowl. If there are still un-popped kernels, replace the basket into the air fryer and continue popping for another 3 minutes.
- Transfer remaining popped popcorn to your bowl with the already popped popcorn.
- Add salt and any additional toppings desired (melted butter, butter substitute spray, popcorn flavorings) and serve immediately.
You may have to do a few trial runs to get this air fryer popcorn just right. Experiment with small batches until you have your perfect popcorn.
Do you know what else is PERFECT when cooked in your air fryers? Grilled cheese! Especially my childhood favorite grilled ham and cheese. Yum!
Check out both my air fryer grilled cheese sandwich and air fryer grilled ham and cheese sandwich. Then you can pop some popcorn! Or try my air fryer cinnamon rolls for a sweet treat!
Also, be aware that kernels may get stuck in the heating element of the air fryer and clean it accordingly. Only the basket model of air fryers work best for popcorn, but it’s not exactly easy on this appliance to use it for popcorn. So I don’t suggest using this method every night.
Save your air fryer popcorn for family movie night - when you need delicious, movie theater popcorn!
📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Popcorn
Ingredients
- ¼ cup popcorn kernels
- ½ teaspoon cooking oil (optional)
- salt (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
- Line the bottom of the inner basket of your air fryer basket with a sheet of aluminum foil.
- Lightly coat the popcorn kernels with your cooking oil (optional), then transfer them into the lined air fryer basket. *This should be in a single layer with plenty of space between the kernels.
- Place the basket into your air fryer and cook at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 5 minutes. Remove the basket and transfer any popped popcorn to a bowl. Return the basket to your air fryer and continue popping for another 3 minutes.
- Remove the air fryer basket and transfer popped popcorn to your bowl with the already popped popcorn.
- Add salt and any additional toppings desired (melted butter, butter substitute spray, popcorn flavorings) and serve immediately.
Equipment You May Need
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
Anonymous says
Made a batch twice. No action first time. Second time I did not use aluminum foil and it worked
Louise says
What size air fryer works for this procedure? I have a two quart model since I live alone. Is 1/4 cup of corn kernels too much?
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
I would use half the amount (2 tablespoons) of popcorn kernels as the 1/4 cup amount makes a very large serving anyway. Enjoy!