5 (More) Crazy Popcorn Recipes You Hadn't Thought Of

Do you love popcorn but are sick of the same old flavors? How about trying five crazy popcorn recipes you hadn’t thought of before?

You’ll experience the salty, tangy bite of margarita flavors, the crunch of corn chips, plenty of chocolate, marshmallows, caramel, peanut butter, and even ice cream (yes, ice cream!). It’s a brave new world of popcorn flavors, and you’re invited, so feel free to dive in deep.

Popcorn Recipe Ideas

Recipe #1: Frito Pie Baked Popcorn

This recipe via The Food Network is beyond amazing if you enjoy the taste and crunch of Fritos. Plus, it’s simple to make.

Here’s what you need:

12 cups popcorn
6 tablespoons butter, melted
4 cups Fritos
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
2 scallions (green onions), chopped
Salt to taste

And here’s how to do it:

Preheat the oven to 350F.
Toss the popcorn, butter, Fritos, and chili powder to coat evenly. Spread on a parchment-lined (or multiple) baking sheet(s) in an even layer.
Top with cheese and scallions.
Bake until cheese is melted, about three minutes.
Sprinkle with salt to taste.

Recipe #2: Margarita Popcorn

Another installment from The Food Network, this recipe is like your favorite sweet drink, but in crunchy popcorn form.

Here’s what you need:

6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons tequila
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoon lime zest
12 cups popcorn
4 cups lime-flavored tortilla chips

And here’s how to do it:

Melt everything except popcorn and tortilla chips in a skillet or saucepan over medium heat.
Drizzle over popcorn (can spread on a sheet tray or use a large mixing bowl) and toss to coat evenly.
Mix in the tortilla chips.
Enjoy!

Check out our popcorn valentine’s day ideas.

Recipe #3: Dill Pickle Popcorn

This recipe from Delish is a fluffy, tangy version of a delicious dill pickle. It may sound a little weird, but the flavors work so well together to create a seriously crave-worthy snack.

Here’s what you need:

1 tablespoon coriander seeds (or ground coriander)
1 tablespoon salt
½ teaspoon mustard seeds (or ground mustard)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon dill seed (or dried dill)
½ teaspoon citric acid
1 teaspoon dried dill
5 quarts of buttered popcorn

And here’s how to do it:

Grind all ingredients except popcorn together in a spice grinder. Or, you can skip this step by using the pre-ground form of all the spices.
Toss with buttered popcorn (preferably when still warm) until evenly coated.

Check our Halloween popcorn recipes for some spoopy recipe ideas.

Recipe #4: Buttered Popcorn Ice Cream

Think about it: the rich flavor of buttered popcorn in a creamy, cold ice cream form. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

Here’s what you need:

2 cups of popped popcorn
1 ½ tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
2 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
¼ cup light corn syrup
5 tablespoons sugar, divided
8 large egg yolks

And here’s how to do it:

Mix popcorn, butter, and ½ teaspoon salt in a large mixing bowl; toss to coat evenly.
Add milk and cream, stir to coat the popcorn, and allow to steep for 10 minutes.
Add corn syrup and one tablespoon of sugar.
Puree until smooth (use a standing or immersion blender).
Add the pureed popcorn mixture to a large saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat.
Mix the egg yolks, remaining sugar (four tablespoons), and salt (½ teaspoon) in a separate mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until thick ribbons form.
Whisk in the popcorn mixture (while hot) until thoroughly combined.
Add the mixture back to the saucepan and lower heat to medium-low. Cook, constantly stirring, until slightly thickened.
Pour through a strainer, cover, and chill overnight (if overnight isn’t feasible, at least refrigerate for a few hours to chill it thoroughly).
Once thoroughly chilled, process the mixture in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Transfer finished ice cream to a freezer-safe container with a lid and freeze.

If you want to be extra about it, you could add a few steps and make this decadent buttered-popcorn ice cream sundae from Bon Appetit, which adds a peanut butter-chocolate halvah (think: chocolate) and caramel sauce into the mix.

Check out this article if you’re looking for some fun popcorn recipes ideas to make with kids.

Recipe #5: Caramel Corn Bars

Caramel corn is terrific, but when you add peanut butter, chocolate, and marshmallows? It’s out-of-this-world delicious.

Here’s what you need:

1 roll of refrigerated chocolate chip cookies
3 ½ cups mini marshmallows
1 bag microwave popcorn (buttered), popped (or made from scratch & buttered)
⅔ cup light corn syrup
¼ cup butter
1 bag of peanut butter chips
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

And here’s how to do it:

Preheat the oven to 350F.
Press cookie dough into a baking pan to form an even layer covering the bottom. It’s best to use a square pan (8×8 or 9×9), but a round pan will work fine if that’s what you’ve got.
Bake until beginning to turn golden brown and dry, about 15 minutes. When finished, set aside.
Add corn syrup, butter, and peanut butter chips to a saucepan over medium heat. Allow to melt, then remove from heat.
Add marshmallows on top of the cookie layer. Bake in the oven until puffy, about 5 minutes.
Add popcorn to the peanut butter mixture and stir/toss to coat the kernels completely.
Add the peanut butter popcorn on top of the marshmallow layer, pressing down, so it’s not too loose (you want the bars to hold together when finished).
Melt the chocolate chips (you can use the microwave, but stir every 30 seconds to avoid burning). Drizzle on top of the popcorn layer once melted.

We made a list of your favorite popcorn recipes here.

Allow cooling thoroughly before cutting. Chocolate should be hard and set, marshmallows should be firm, and the cookie layer should be thoroughly cooled.

Crazy Popcorn Flavors

Out of these crazy popcorn recipes, it’s tough to choose a favorite. The great thing is that sweet, tangy, and savory flavors are represented so that you can adjust based on your mood or setting. You can also pivot based on varying degrees of difficulty and effort.

Whenever you’re looking for a little something different, try one of these crazy popcorn recipes to amp things up a notch.

Check this article for some more crazy popcorn recipes.