Low Calorie Air Popped Popcorn

Name: Low Calorie Air Popped Popcorn
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1/4 Cup Popcorn Kernels; Sea Salt to Taste; Olive Oil Cooking Spray (or spray of choice) (3-6 quick sprays)

This low-calorie popcorn air-popped popcorn is truly an amazing healthy snack between meals that’s low in calories and will help keep you satisfied between meals. Popcorn is an underrated snack and can often be considered unhealthy by some. The truth is popcorn is low-calorie, a good source of fiber, and has enough volume to curb your appetite between meals, just don’t smother your perfect air popped popcorn in butter and oil.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Popcorn

The main ingredient to make air popped popcorn is…well popcorn kernels. There are different brands and varieties of popcorn kernels but as long as the popcorn kernels don’t have anything added to them before popping you should be fine.

Seasoning

As for the seasoning, I am using sea salt and cooking oil spray. The cooking oil spray allows you to have more control over how many calories you are adding as opposed to drizzling 200 or 300 calories on your popcorn without knowing it.

You can use regular table salt if you don’t have sea salt but I would highly recommend sea salt as it’s not as fine as table salt and tends to add a better, more consistent flavor.

I would recommend olive oil or coconut oil spray but truly any spray can work for this. Just be careful when using the oil and add a little at a time as the more you add the more calories your popcorn will be.

Air Popped Popcorn

Servings

Prep Time

5 Minutes

Calories

Cook Time

5 Minutes

Total Time 10 Minutes

*Please note that the nutritional information provided is an estimate only and may vary depending on the ingredients used. Calories listed are per serving.*

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Popcorn Kernels

Cooking Spray Oil
Sea Salt

*Disclosure, below are affiliate links to products we recommend. We do not include links to products we have not used or honestly recommend*

What You will Need:

Air Popcorn Maker
Large Bowl

Find All Our Favorite Kitchen Tools In The Kitchunlimited Shop

Directions:

Step 1

Prepare the popcorn in your popcorn machine as instructed by your product guide. Use a large bowl to catch your popcorn.

Step 2

Once you have finished making your popcorn lightly spray it with the cooking oil.

Step 3

Add salt and shake the freshly popped popcorn to coat it evenly. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the popcorn is done to your liking.

Step 4

Serve and Enjoy!

Notes:

Be careful when using the cooking spray. Most will say 0 calories but that is normally for a fraction of a second. The more you spray the more calories are being added to your popcorn.
Experiment with different seasonings to make more varieties such as lightly sprinkling some parmesan cheese on top of your popcorn.

FAQ

What Is Air Popped Popcorn?

Air Popped Popcorn is simply the method in which your popcorn is made. This method uses hot air to pop your popcorn instead of using oil or in some cases the microwave.

Can I make Air Popped Popcorn without a popcorn machine?

Yes, there are other ways to make air-popped popcorn without buying a dedicated machine.

You can make air-popped popcorn by placing your kernels in a pan with a couple of drops of water. Cover the pan and gently move the pan back and forth until all the kernels have popped.

The easier way to make air-popped popcorn would be to use a microwave popcorn maker. This is a cheaper option than buying a machine and works well.

What Popcorn Has The Lowest Calories?

Air-popped popcorn is a great choice for those looking for a low-calorie snack. One cup of air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories, making it a great option for those on a weight loss journey. air-popped popcorn is also a good source of fiber, with one cup containing over three grams. Fiber helps to keep you feeling full and can help with weight loss.

Is Air Popped Popcorn Healthier than microwave popcorn?

The short answer is yes. Air-popped popcorn by itself comes in at 31 calories per cup and you can easily add some low-calorie seasonings to make this a great option for a healthy snack. Most microwave popcorns are far higher than that because of the oils and butter that are in them, making them a less healthy popcorn option. There are some microwave popcorn options out there that are good healthy popcorn options but you kind of have to search for them.

Why is my popcorn Chewy?

Chewy popcorn is a result of moisture being trapped during the cooking process. Popcorn needs to be well ventilated when being prepared in order to allow any steam to escape and avoid chewy popcorn.

Movie Theater Popcorn vs Homemade Popcorn

Everyone loves buttery popcorn from the movie theater but if your trying to watch your calories then homemade popcorn is the best option. Making your own popcorn at home gives you the power to know exactly what you’re putting on your popcorn instead of all the salt, oil, and melted butter that most movie theaters add to theirs.

Air Popper Popcorn VS Paper Bag Microwave Popcorn?

Air-popped popcorn is the healthiest option and tastes amazing using fresh popcorn kernels, but it can be a bit more time-consuming than microwave popcorn. If you are short on time, paper-bag microwave popcorn is a good second choice. Just be sure to choose a brand that uses healthy ingredients and avoid any that are coated in unhealthy fats or chemicals.

What are some low-calorie flavor ideas?

You have your fresh popcorn and now you’re wondering how you can change up the flavor from the regular sea salt flavor. Try a few options from below.

Cayenne Pepper
Garlic Salt

Smoked Paprika
Artificial flavorings (Found in most grocery stores next to the popcorn)
Swerve Sugar Substitute (kettle corn)

What Popcorn Toppings Should I Avoid?

While air-popped popcorn is a healthy snack option, there are some toppings that you should avoid. Melted butter and Oils are two of the most common toppings, but they can add a lot of calories to your popcorn. That being said on occasion if the mood for butter popcorn strikes, try using a little butter cooking spray or melted butter but use it with caution.

Can I Make Popcorn In an Air fryer?

Yes, you can make popcorn in an air fryer but there are some things to know in advance. Air fryers have heating elements and fans to circulate hot air and as popcorn kernels pop they tend to shoot everywhere. This can become a problem in air fryers as they can shoot up into the fan or heating element causing potential damage to the unit. If you do use an air fryer these tips below will help you do so while minimizing the risk of damage.

Don’t use more than 2-3 tablespoons of kernels at a time to avoid overfilling your fryer.

Lay a loose piece of foil on the bottom of the air fryer basket and over the top of the kernels to help prevent them from shooting into your heating element or fan.

Leftover Popcorn?

You can store your leftover popcorn in an airtight container and have a healthy snack for later. You can also make extra and store it in a container for a quick and easily accessible low-calorie snack snack when you need it.