Finding the perfect snack for movie nights or afternoon cravings can feel impossible. You want something that’s interesting enough to keep you reaching for more, but not so complicated that you need a dozen ingredients or hours in the kitchen. And let’s be honest, plain popcorn gets boring pretty fast, especially when you’re looking for something with a little more personality.
That’s where this dill pickle popcorn comes in: it’s tangy and addictive, takes just minutes to make, and uses ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Plus, it’s the kind of snack that gets people talking at parties.
Why You’ll Love This Dill Pickle Popcorn
- Quick and easy snack – Ready in just 15-25 minutes, this popcorn is perfect when you need a tasty treat without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Unique flavor combination – The tangy dill pickle taste mixed with buttery popcorn creates a snack that’s way more interesting than plain popcorn, and it’s seriously addictive.
- Simple pantry ingredients – You probably already have most of these items at home, and the dill pickle juice is something you’d normally throw away anyway.
- Crowd-pleasing party snack – This popcorn always gets people talking at gatherings, and pickle lovers will be asking for the recipe all night long.
- Customizable saltiness – You can adjust the pickle juice and salt to make it as tangy or mild as you like, so it works for different taste preferences.
What Kind of Popcorn Should I Use?
For this dill pickle popcorn, you’ll want to use plain popcorn kernels rather than pre-popped or microwave varieties. Yellow and white popcorn kernels both work great, though yellow kernels tend to pop up a bit larger and have a slightly nuttier flavor. You can find popcorn kernels in the snack aisle of most grocery stores, and buying them in bulk is usually more economical if you’re planning to make popcorn regularly. Make sure your kernels are fresh – older kernels won’t pop as well and can leave you with more unpopped “old maids” at the bottom of your bowl.
Options for Substitutions
This fun snack recipe is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps:
- Dried dill weed: Fresh dill works great too – just use about 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill instead of the dried version. You can also try dried parsley or even dried ranch seasoning for a different flavor twist.
- Refined coconut oil: Any neutral oil will work here – vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil are all good choices. Just avoid olive oil since it can smoke at high heat when popping corn.
- Dill pickle juice: This is really the star of the show, so I wouldn’t skip it! But if you’re out, try using a mix of white vinegar and a pinch of salt to mimic that tangy pickle flavor.
- Unsalted butter: Salted butter works fine – just reduce the added salt by half. You can also use melted ghee or even more of your cooking oil if you want to keep it dairy-free.
- Popcorn kernels: Any popcorn kernels will work, but avoid pre-popped popcorn since you need the fresh, hot kernels to help the seasonings stick properly.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest mistake when making dill pickle popcorn is adding the pickle juice too early, which can make your popcorn soggy – always drizzle it on after the popcorn is fully popped and while it’s still warm so it absorbs the flavor without losing its crunch.
Another common error is using too much oil, which can leave your popcorn greasy instead of crispy, so stick to the recommended 3 tablespoons and make sure your oil is hot enough before adding the kernels.
Don’t forget to season in layers – sprinkle half the dill and salt mixture right after popping, then add the butter and pickle juice, and finish with the remaining seasonings to ensure every kernel gets coated.
For the best flavor, use fresh dill if you can find it and taste as you go, since pickle juice saltiness can vary between brands and you might need to adjust your seasoning accordingly.
What to Serve With Dill Pickle Popcorn?
This tangy, salty popcorn is perfect for movie nights, but it also makes a great appetizer when you’re having friends over for drinks. I love serving it alongside other snacky foods like cheese and crackers, or even as a fun topping for a casual soup and salad dinner. The pickle flavor pairs really well with cold beer or lemonade, and it’s also amazing when you’re craving something crunchy to go with sandwiches. You can even sprinkle some on top of a Caesar salad for an extra burst of flavor and crunch!
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Store your dill pickle popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. The key is making sure it’s completely cooled before sealing it up, otherwise it might get a bit chewy from trapped moisture.
Revive: If your popcorn loses its crunch after a day or two, spread it on a baking sheet and pop it in a 250°F oven for about 5 minutes. This will crisp it right back up and make it taste fresh again!
Make Ahead: You can mix up the dill seasoning blend ahead of time and store it in a small jar for whenever you want to make this popcorn. The seasoning mix will keep for months, so you can have dill pickle popcorn ready to go anytime the craving hits.
| Preparation Time | 5-10 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Total Time | 15-25 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 520-600
- Protein: 6-8 g
- Fat: 38-44 g
- Carbohydrates: 48-54 g
Ingredients
- 2 tsp dried dill or 1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp fine sea salt, plus extra if needed
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 tbsp neutral oil (such as refined coconut oil)
- 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp dill pickle brine
Step 1: Make the Dill Pickle Seasoning
- 2 tsp dried dill or 1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp fine sea salt, plus extra if needed
- ground black pepper, to taste
In a small bowl, combine the dried dill (or chopped fresh dill), garlic powder, sea salt, and ground black pepper.
Stir well to mix evenly and set aside for later use.
Step 2: Heat the Oil and Prepare the Popcorn
- 3 tbsp neutral oil (such as refined coconut oil)
- 3 popcorn kernels (from the 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels)
In a large heavy-bottomed stockpot or Dutch oven, add the neutral oil and three popcorn kernels.
Cover the pan and heat over high heat.
These three ‘test kernels’ will let you know when the oil is hot enough for popping.
While waiting, measure out the rest of your popcorn kernels for the next step.
Step 3: Melt the Butter and Add Pickle Brine
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp dill pickle brine
While the oil heats, melt the unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl or on the stovetop, heating gently in 20-second intervals if using the microwave to avoid splatters.
Once melted, stir in the dill pickle brine and set the butter mixture aside until you’re ready to toss the popcorn.
I always feel like a splash of pickle brine really amps up the flavor and makes it pop!
Step 4: Pop the Popcorn
- Remaining popcorn kernels (from the 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels, minus 3 kernels used in Step 2)
Once the test kernels have popped, quickly add the remaining unpopped popcorn kernels to the hot oil.
Cover and immediately remove the pan from heat, gently swirling side to side for about 20 seconds.
Return the pan to the heat, and the popcorn will begin popping.
When the pot is about halfway full or after 30 seconds to a minute of popping, slightly crack the lid to let steam escape.
Gently shake the pot side to side if needed so any unpopped kernels settle on the bottom.
When popping slows or stops, pour all the popcorn into a large serving bowl right away.
Step 5: Season and Serve the Dill Pickle Popcorn
- melted butter and pickle brine mixture (from Step 3)
- dill pickle seasoning (from Step 1)
- freshly popped popcorn (from Step 4)
- extra fine sea salt, if needed
Drizzle the melted butter and pickle brine mixture (from Step 3) over the freshly popped popcorn (from Step 4), tossing well to ensure even coating.
Sprinkle the dill pickle seasoning (from Step 1) evenly over the buttered popcorn, tossing or shaking in a large bowl (or paper bag) until the popcorn is fully coated.
Taste and add more salt if necessary.
Enjoy right away for best flavor and crispness!
