Follow Ina Garten's Lead And Dress Up Your Microwave Popcorn

Why settle for boring when your microwave popcorn could be a flavor bombshell? We've all defaulted to plain popcorn for movie nights, but let's face it — your taste buds deserve better. Enter Ina Garten, cookbook author and former host of the Food Network show "Barefoot Contessa," who's here to rescue your snack game. Known for turning simple ingredients into something spectacular, Garten's show brought viewers into her cozy East Hampton kitchen, where she shared her love for effortless, elegant cooking. Her popcorn makeover is no exception — a revelation in simplicity and flavor.

By drenching hot popcorn in melted butter, adding a generous sprinkle of Parmesan, and finishing with a dash of chili powder and salt, she creates a snack that's a perfect balance of rich, savory, and just the right amount of heat. The butter helps the flavors cling to each kernel, the Parmesan adds a salty, umami punch, and the chili powder gives it that addictive kick. It's like movie night, but with a gourmet twist that's fit for a swanky theater. Give it a try and see for yourself!

On top of this winning recipe, we think all of your movie nights at home should be paired with delicious popcorn flavors you never knew existed. Prepare for some unexpected sweet and savory combinations that will forever change the way you eat microwave popcorn!

We often grab plain microwave popcorn without a second thought, but there are so many flavor combinations that can take it from basic to brilliant with minimal effort. Seasonings are the key with savory popcorn options; the buttery, plain flavor of popcorn acts as the perfect canvas, soaking up flavors beautifully.

For breakfast lovers, everything bagel popcorn brings the savory goodness of garlic, onion, and sesame seeds right to your bowl. If you're after something cheesy and also vegan, nutritional yeast with spices like cumin, paprika, and chili powder delivers a Doritos-like flavor. For a tangy, herbaceous taste reminiscent of ranch dressing, try using dried dill, garlic, and onion powders. 

You can also swap butter for coconut oil and add warm spices like turmeric and curry powder for an especially aromatic option. Then, toss in roasted cashews for added crunch. For those looking to get really creative, pad thai popcorn, featuring fish sauce, lime, Sriracha, and peanuts makes a complex and satisfying snack. Now, let's turn our attention to some sweet popcorn combinations that are just as easy to create.

Popcorn and candy are the go-to movie night duo when you're craving something sweet, but why not give your snack a glow-up? Instead of sticking to the usual Reese's Pieces and Sour Patch routine, let's explore some sweet popcorn combinations you can whip up at home that are next-level delicious.

For a simple yet irresistible treat, try honey sea salt popcorn. Feeling decadent? Maple bacon popcorn is a must-try. Sauté bacon in maple syrup and pour it over your popcorn, letting the syrup seep in for that crunchy stickiness when it hardens. For matcha lovers, matcha and white chocolate popcorn is the snack you never knew you needed — earthy and slightly bitter matcha is perfectly balanced by the creamy sweetness of white chocolate. If you're in the mood for something classic, caramel popcorn is always a hit. Mix brown sugar, baking soda, corn syrup, and butter, then coat your popcorn for a timeless flavor. For a cinnamon fix, go for churro popcorn or the lighter cinnamon sugar popcorn. 

Around Halloween, mix popcorn with Halloween Oreo cookies, orange sprinkles, and candy corn for a spooky treat. At Christmas, create a festive blend with red and green M&M's, white chocolate bark, sprinkles, and pretzels. These holidays options are sure to impress your friends on Instagram or bring some joy to the kids. Next time you go to microwave that plain bag, get creative and remember that your popcorn can be so much more!