If you’re craving something irresistible that hits all the best snack notes—sweet, salty, spicy, and crunchy—this Hot Honey Popcorn is your new obsession. It’s as easy as making classic popcorn, but dialed up with buttery honey, a touch of sriracha heat, and a sprinkle of salt that keeps you coming back for handful after handful.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Sweet & Spicy Magic: Hot Honey Popcorn combines mellow honey and fiery sriracha, making each bite an adventure for your taste buds.
- Ridiculously Easy: All it takes is 10 minutes from pantry to bowl—no fancy equipment or special skills required!
- Perfect for Sharing: Make a big batch and watch it disappear at parties, movie nights, or game day gatherings.
- Totally Customizable: You can easily adjust the heat, the sweetness, or the salt to make this snack truly yours.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Hot Honey Popcorn recipe is all about a handful of simple, honest ingredients that work together to create popcorn bliss. Each one is selected for its flavor and the magic it brings to every crunchy, craveable kernel.
- Butter (melted): Rich and decadent, it helps the honey and sriracha coat every nook and cranny of the popcorn.
- Honey: For all the lovely golden sweetness and sticky gloss that makes this popcorn shine.
- Sriracha: Adds a gentle, tongue-tingling heat that balances beautifully with the honey.
- Oil (for popping): A neutral oil like canola or vegetable ensures the kernels pop up light and crispy.
- Popcorn kernels: The heart of the whole operation—a third of a cup pops up into a party’s worth of fluffy popcorn.
- Salt: The essential finishing touch that makes all the flavors sing.
Variations
One of the absolute joys of Hot Honey Popcorn is how flexible it can be. Whether you want less heat, more sweetness, or need to make it dairy-free or vegan, this recipe is endlessly adaptable—so feel free to put your own spin on snack time!
- Vegan Hot Honey Popcorn: Substitute the butter with vegan buttery spread and swap in maple syrup or agave for the honey.
- Extra Heat: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of chili flakes for those who really love spice!
- Lime Zest Popcorn: Grate a little fresh lime zest over the finished popcorn for a citrusy hit that brightens everything up.
- Smoky Variation: Use smoked paprika in the honey mixture for a subtle BBQ-style twist.
How to Make Hot Honey Popcorn
Step 1: Make the Hot Honey Butter
In a small bowl, whisk together your melted butter, honey, and sriracha until silky-smooth. This is your ticket to Hot Honey Popcorn glory—the mixture will be glossy, luscious, and smell irresistible. Set it aside for just a few moments while you pop the kernels.
Step 2: Pop Your Popcorn Kernels
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat your oil over medium-high. Toss in two kernels first—when they pop, you know your oil’s hot and ready. (If it smokes, turn the heat down!) Add the rest of your kernels in a single layer, cover almost fully (leave a tiny crack for steam), and gently shake the pot now and then so nothing scorches. When the popping slows to a gentle patter, remove the pan from heat.
Step 3: Dress and Finish Your Popcorn
Immediately transfer your freshly popped kernels to a big bowl. Drizzle over the hot honey butter mixture, season generously with salt, and gently toss to coat. Every bit of popcorn should get a glossy, sticky, spicy-sweet coating that will light up your snack cravings.
Pro Tips for Making Hot Honey Popcorn
- Steam Release: Keep the pot’s lid slightly ajar while popping—this keeps your popcorn crisp instead of chewy by letting the steam escape.
- Watch the Oil Temperature: Test with two kernels first—if they don’t pop quickly, your oil isn’t ready; if smoke appears, reduce the heat right away.
- Even Coating: Drizzle the hot honey butter slowly and toss continuously so every piece gets coated for maximum sticky-sweet-spicy goodness.
- Serve Immediately: Hot Honey Popcorn is at its best when fresh—make it right before serving for the very best crunch and flavor.
How to Serve Hot Honey Popcorn
Garnishes
Give your Hot Honey Popcorn a final flourish with an extra drizzle of honey, a pinch of flaky sea salt, or even a dusting of chili powder if you’re feeling adventurous. A little sprinkle of sesame seeds also adds a fun, toasty crunch.
Side Dishes
Serve alongside fresh fruit skewers, a cheese platter, or crisp veggies and hummus for the ultimate snack spread. This popcorn is equally at home with movie night classics or as a spicy-sweet party starter.
Creative Ways to Present
Try scooping your Hot Honey Popcorn into colorful paper cones for grab-and-go fun, or fill festive bowls and top with cute labels for a party buffet. For gifts, tuck portions into cellophane bags tied with ribbon—everyone will beg for the recipe!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover Hot Honey Popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature. It’ll stay tasty and crunchy for up to 2 days—though let’s be honest, it rarely lasts that long!
Freezing
While freezing is possible, it can make the popcorn lose its delightful crunch. For best results, enjoy Hot Honey Popcorn fresh or within a day or two of making it.
Reheating
If your popcorn softens a bit, spread it on a baking sheet and pop it in a 250°F (120°C) oven for about 5 minutes. This brings back some of that beloved crispness—just be careful not to overdo it so the honey doesn’t burn!
FAQs
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Can I use microwave popcorn for this recipe?
Yes! Microwave plain popcorn works perfectly; just skip the step where you pop kernels in oil. Once your popcorn is done, drizzle with the hot honey butter and toss as directed.
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Is Hot Honey Popcorn very spicy?
With the amount of sriracha in the recipe, it’s more warming and zippy than zingy. Love extra heat? Add more sriracha or a pinch of cayenne! Keep it gentler by reducing the sriracha or adding more honey.
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How do I keep the popcorn from getting soggy?
Propping the pot lid slightly during popping helps; so does adding the hot honey butter right before serving, and giving everything a really good toss so the popcorn stays crisp and coated—not soggy.
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Can I make Hot Honey Popcorn ahead of time for a party?
Absolutely! You can pop the popcorn and mix the hot honey butter a few hours in advance—just wait to drizzle and coat the popcorn until right before serving for the best crunch factor.
Final Thoughts
This Hot Honey Popcorn recipe is the kind of snack that brings joy to any occasion—so quick, so addictive, and so full of personality. Grab your ingredients, pop a batch, and share with someone you love (or keep it all to yourself—no one’s judging!). Enjoy every sweet, spicy, salty bite!
Print
Hot Honey Popcorn Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Hot Honey Popcorn is a sweet and spicy twist on a classic snack. The combination of buttery popcorn drizzled with a mix of honey and sriracha creates a flavor explosion that will keep you coming back for more.
Ingredients
For the Butter Mixture:
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp sriracha
For the Popcorn:
- 3 tbsp oil
- 1/3 cup popcorn kernels
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Butter Mixture: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, honey, and sriracha. Whisk until well mixed. Set aside.
- Pop the Popcorn: Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 popcorn kernels; once they pop, the oil is ready. Add the rest of the popcorn kernels, cover with a lid slightly ajar, and shake occasionally until popping slows.
- Coat the Popcorn: Remove from heat, transfer the popcorn to a bowl. Drizzle with the butter mixture, sprinkle with salt, and toss to coat evenly.
- Serve: Enjoy your hot honey popcorn!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
