Today is National Popcorn Day, and what better way to celebrate than with some unusual and delicious flavors! While seasoning popcorn with butter and salt is always a tasty classic, there are so many other ways to dress up your kernels and the chefs over at Food Network have come up with some genius combinations.
Whether you're microwaving a bag or freshly popping some yourself, you can turn a plain snack into something extra-special with these creative seasoning ideas. Here are what we think are the Food Network's best popcorn flavor combinations to celebrate National Popcorn day the right way!
Food Network Magazine suggests using 12 to 16 cups of freshly popped popcorn for each of these recipes.
1. Peanut Butter
Savory meets ooey-gooey sweet. Heat one cup of honey and 3/4 cup of sugar over medium heat and stir for about five minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved. Then add in one hefty cup of your favorite peanut butter and one teaspoon each of vanilla extract and kosher salt until smooth. Pour over hot popcorn and add in two cups of peanuts. Spread onto baking sheets until it cools completely for the messiest and yummiest combination of salty and sweet ever.
Turn this awesome recipe into Peanut Butter Banana Popcorn by adding in one cup of dried banana chips and half a cup of chocolate chips.
2. Frito Pie
This recipe requires some baking, but the melted cheese makes it oh-so-worth it in the end. Toss the hot popcorn with 6 tablespoons of melted butter, four cups of Fritos and two tablespoons of chili powder. Spread this popcorn mixture on baking sheets and top with two hefty cups of shredded cheddar cheese and two chopped scallions. Baked at 350º F for about three minutes or until the cheese is completely melted and gooey.
