"Nooch" popcorn is not only the best popcorn ever, it's the healthiest, thanks to nutritional yeast! It's also really easy to make. Pop the kernals and toss with olive oil, your favorite seasoned salt, and nutritional yeast.
This post also compares the different types of poppers with advantages, drawbacks and recommendations.
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My dad wasn't a cook. He didn't even grill. To this day, I can't remember a single thing he ever cooked. Mom and I used to joke that he could tear apart a toaster and rebuild it, but couldn't toast his own English muffins.
Except popcorn. He made a lot of popcorn through the years. He researched the best popcorn kernels to buy and experimented with every new popper that hit the market. And mom and I were his happy guinea pigs.
🍿 Popcorn as a Healthy Snack
The good news: Air-popped popcorn is actually a nutritional winner. It's a whole grain packed with fiber, low in calories (just 30 per cup!), and loaded with antioxidants.
The catch: It all depends on what you do to it. Plain popcorn? Great snack. Drenched in movie theater butter? Not so much.
The smart move: Air-pop it at home, add a light drizzle of olive oil, and season with herbs and spices, especially nutritional yeast. You get all the crunch and satisfaction without the guilt.
Bottom line: Popcorn isn't the problem—it's the toppings. Keep it simple, and you've got one of the best snacks around.
👩⚕️ Introduction to Nutritional Yeast
If you haven't yet met nutritional yeast, also called "nooch", prepare to fall in love with the cheesy, savory flakes that vegans have been raving about for years.
This deactivated yeast has a nutty, umami-rich flavor that tastes surprisingly like parmesan cheese—minus the dairy. Sprinkle it on popcorn, stir it into pasta, or blend it into sauces and soups for an instant flavor boost that also happens to be a great source of B vitamins and protein.
For bonus points, nutritional yeast is a complete protein as it contains all 9 essential amino acids our bodies need.
Once you start keeping a jar in your pantry, you'll find yourself reaching for this superfood constantly. Trust me.
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Less than 5 ingredients all in!
- When made in the microwave oven or countertop air popper, it's ready in only a few minutes.
- High fiber snack.
- Healthy snack thanks to the nutritional yeast.
🧅 Nutritional Yeast Popcorn Ingredients + Notes
- White popcorn kernels - there are a lot of popcorn kernels available today, and I've tried a LOT of them. My favorite is Bob's Red Mill. They pop up much bigger than any of the other ones I tried. If you prefer, feel free to use yellow popcorn kernels.
- Extra virgin olive oil - Many olive oil producers cut their olive oil with other oils to improve their profit margins. I always buy California Olive Ranch olive oil. I've met their folks and am confident their product is 100% olive oil of the highest quality.
- Nutritional yeast - it's often available in the bulk bins in markets, or in the spices section of the store. If you don't see it, it's also available on-line.
- Seasoned salt - use your personal favorite, but mine is Jane's Crazy Mixed-Up Salt Blend
🛍️ Choosing the Best Popcorn Popper
Want to buy a popcorn popper? Here are the options with benefits, drawbacks, and a top-rated recommendation for each type:
Air poppers
Along with many microwave poppers, this is the healthiest option since no oil is needed to pop the kernels. This type of popper whips up a bowl of popcorn in only a few minutes and is easy to clean.
- Drawback: They generally produce a drier popcorn.
- Top-rated stovetop popper: Presto 04820 Poplite Hot Air Popcorn Popper.
Stovetop poppers
These give you more control and create theater-style popcorn. They typically consist of a pot with a crank handle that you turn manually to keep kernels moving and prevent burning.
- Drawbacks: Can be expensive and they require active involvement to ensure the kernels and popcorn don't burn and takes practice to perfect. Additionally, some or all of the parts need to be hand washed.
- Top-rated stovetop popper: Original Whirley Pop Popcorn Maker.
Microwave poppers
They win the gold medal for convenience, are affordable, usually completely dishwasher-friendly, and make healthy popcorn. As a bonus, some are collapsible, requiring very little storage space. Tip: always check the dimensions of the popper to ensure it fits in your microwave.
- Drawback: They may pop less evenly, depending on your microwave.
- Top-rated stovetop popper (and the one I use): Ecolution Patented Micro-Pop Microwave Popcorn Popper.
Electric oil poppers (kettle-style)
This type of popper makes delicious, movie-theater popcorn. Their advantage over stovetop poppers is that everything is automated. Just add all of the ingredients and turn it on.
- Drawbacks: They use more oil and can take up significant counter and pantry storage space. Additionally, some or all parts typically need to be hand washed. Can be expensive.
- Top-rated stovetop popper: Yubano Popcorn Machine
💡Ideas for Possible Variations
Want to customize your nooch popcorn? Here are some ideas for additional ingredients:
- Everything bagel seasoning: Always delicious.
- Cayenne, ancho chile pepper, or smoky paprika: Add a generous pinch of any of these with the nooch for a kick of heat and of smoke.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated is best, and to keep it vegan, use a plant-based Parmesan-style cheese.
- Other winning seasonings: In place of Crazy Jane's Mixed Up Salt, use your favorite taco, cajun, Italian, or za'atar seasoning.
- Truffle oil: Finish the seasoned popcorn with a drizzle of truffle oil.
📇 More Healthy Snacks
I recently started to collect a trove of sugar-free healthy snacks that I could quickly and easily make. Roasted chickpeas and pepitas made the cut. And this nutritional yeast popcorn.
These Baked Curried Apple Rings are a great snack or appetizer to serve at a party with cheese and crackers. They're soaked, dusted with curry powder and dried in a low temperature oven for a healthy snack.
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"Nooch" Nutritional Yeast Popcorn (Best Popcorn Ever!!)
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup White popcorn kernels
- 2 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Seasoned salt mix
- 2 tablespoons Nutritional yeast or more, according to your own preferences
Instructions
- Measure the popcorn kernels in the top lid of the Micro-Pop Popcorn Popper, and spill them into the popper. Place it in a microwave oven, and pop for 3-4 minutes (depending on the strength of your microwave oven.
- Transfer the popped popcorn into a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil enough to lightly coat. It's best to start with a couple tablespoons and add more as desired. Sprinkle with the seasoned salt to your own tastes - again it's best to start with a smaller amount as it's easy to add more if you want.
- Generously sprinkle with nutritional yeast - this is magic stuff that really makes this popcorn addictive.
- Toss with your hands or a wooden spoon to coat the popcorn, and serve.
The Ninja Baker
Thank you for doing the inspired research, Susan. Interesting that a brand known for being healthy has the kernels to match your cheese-like nutritional yeast...Ps.For some reason popcorn is a popular snack in Japan right now =)
shelby
This is my FAVORITE way to eat popcorn! We did this all the time also. I even have Grumpy hooked on it - but for some strange reason he calls it "flux" lol
The Finer Cookie/Kim
Men can be so stubborn! Such a cute post. I had popcorn for dinner last night.
Nicole - Crazed Mom
Hey woman! I am dying to try this now! We have that same popcorn "maker". My son has it living next to the microwave, he makes popcorn so much! Definitely trying this!
Bestguidesforhealth
Thank you. I try make it.
TerriSue
Hi Susan, We discovered nutritional yeast 35 years ago when we became vegetarians. One of the first cookbooks I bought was THE FARM COOKBOOK. I can't even remember where we got the tip about putting nutritional yeast on popcorn but my husband has probably had it that way every Sunday night for the last 35 years with only a few missed weeks. An early present in our marriage for him from me was a shaker that could handle the size of the yeast and had a slide closure on it. It is sitting in our fridge right now. I never thought about using olive oil though. We cut out the butter long ago. Tonight I am going to bring out the EVOO and step up the flavor of a long standing Sunday dinner! It is so much better than Jiffy Pop. I never had that where it wasn't burn't and burn't popcorn has a horrible smell and taste. Entertainment wise, for a child anyways, was there ever anything better than Jiffy Pop?
Jennifer
Ooh! My family loves popcorn, and cheese popcorn...yes! I've heard a lot of good things about nutritional yeast, I'll have to try it!
Liz
I love popcorn and this sounds like a delicious way to get my fix. Thanks for the BRM recommendation, too!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
Love nooch for it's cheesy qualities!! So perfect on popcorn!
Cindy Kerschner
Now I need to get these ingredients and start popping!
Carlee
How funny that he'd rather suffer the headaches than make the coffee! I can appreciate a good stubborn streak! We also love popcorn and I have been interested in trying nutritional yeast. I think I need to just go for it!
Stacy
I've been waiting for this one since I saw your title in the forum, Susan! I bought a bag of nutritional yeast that I have only used to make one thing, a lovely chickpea veggie soup from Kathy Heston's Easy Vegan Cookbook - which I highly recommend, by the way. I'll be putting it on popcorn now too. Thank you!
monica
Your dad sounds so much like my husband. We have movie night with the kids and he has the big carnival popper on wheels - it's wayyyy to much popcorn but the Grandchildren love it. I've never tried Bob's red Mill for some reason though I love their products.
Wendy Klik
I have never tried nutritional yeast. I am going to rectify that with this popcorn recipe. Thanks
Sarah Reid, CNP (@jo_jo_ba)
How awesome! Lucky dad
Constance Smith
What a great idea!
Liz @ Books n' Cooks
I've never heard of adding nutritional yeast to popcorn, but after your wonderful post, I'm definitely going to try it!
Oui, Chef
I've heard of seasoning popcorn with nutritional yeast, but haven't gotten around to trying it yet. Now, with your rave review, I MUST!
best kitchen gadgets
You're dad's cool! At least, the whole family can count on him during movie night at home.
Jake
I'm totally agree with you : pop corn made with nutritional yeast is the best ever !
Jenni
Nutritional yeast on popcorn is the best! I pop mine in ghee/coconut oil and then go crazy with the nooch and some other toppings. Popcorn for dinner is my favorite!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Oh yes!!!! I love popcorn for dinner!!!