Homemade Kettle Corn

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This Homemade Kettle Corn is delicious and so easy to make on the stove top! You’ll love how much better homemade popcorn tastes. So fresh and lightly sweet!

bowl of Homemade Kettle Corn

Old Fashioned Kettle Corn

Once you try Homemade Kettle Corn on the stovetop, you’ll never want to buy packaged kettle corn from the store again. There is just nothing like fresh, homemade popcorn. And you’ll love this easy recipe. Perfect for family movie night in or just a light, sweet afternoon snack.

handful of Homemade Kettle Corn snack

The basic recipe is easy and you can always add mix-ins or toppings. We suggest mixing sweet and savory by adding pretzels or nuts after you cook the popcorn. Or go all-in on the sweet stuff and drizzle the cooked popcorn with chocolate or caramel syrup. Yum!

Looking for more fun popcorn recipes? We got you! Check out Chocolate Covered Popcorn Recipe, Christmas Popcorn With M&Ms And Marshmallows, and Homemade Caramel Popcorn Recipe.

handful of Homemade Kettle Corn

How To Make Homemade Kettle Corn

Pour a 1/4 cup of vegetable oil into a large pot. Heat to medium.

Add a couple of popcorn kernels and wait until they pop. This may take up to 5 minutes or so. Once they do, the pot is ready for the rest of the kernels.

Pour in 1/2 cup of unpopped popcorn kernels. Add the sugar and stir up the mixture. Cover the pot.

pot of Homemade Kettle Corn

Cook until most of the kernels pop, pausing every 15-30 seconds to lift the pot off the heat and shake it. Keep an eye on the popcorn, as all stoves are different.

Once the popping slows, carefully remove the lid. Turn off the heat. Stir up the popcorn and then remove from the hot burner. Pour into a serving bowl and enjoy!

sugar, vegetable oil, and popcorn kernels

Cooking Tips

  • Use a pot with handles or use pot holders to make it easier to shake the popcorn throughout the cooking time
  • If the popcorn doesn’t seem to be popping, turn up the heat to medium high, just be careful that the sugar doesn’t burn
  • The best way to know if the popcorn is done is to listen… when the popping slows down significantly, the popcorn is done

freshly popped Homemade Kettle Corn

What Makes Kettle Corn Taste The Best?

Kettle corn is typically cooked in a well-oiled, large kettle, which helps the sugar to stick to the popcorn kernels. The sugar topping is what gives kettle corn its distinctly sweet flavor.

pot of freshly popped Homemade Kettle Corn

What To Serve With Homemade Kettle Corn

How about some savory snacks to compliment the kettle corn? Try Frozen Cheese Curds In Air Fryer, Air Fryer Frozen Mini Tacos, or Frozen Fried Pickles In Air Fryer.

lightly sweet Homemade Kettle Corn

And to drink? Let’s make a pitcher of a refreshing beverage that the whole family can enjoy! Check out Simple Watermelon Smoothie Recipe, Instant Pot Peach Lemonade Recipe With Fresh Peaches, or Best Ever Homemade Freshly Squeezed Lemonade Recipe.

bowl of easy snack Homemade Kettle Corn

More Easy Snacks To Feed The Whole Family

S’mores In The Microwave

Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples

Air Fryer Donuts From Pillsbury Grands Biscuits

Air Fryer Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Apple Slices Cooked In The Air Fryer

More Popcorn Recipes

Popcorn In Air Fryer

Chocolate Popcorn

Christmas Popcorn

Caramel Popcorn

Cheese Popcorn

Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn

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Homemade Kettle Corn

This Homemade Kettle Corn is delicious and so easy to make on the stove top! You'll love how much better homemade popcorn tastes. So fresh and lightly sweet!
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time7 minutes
Total Time9 minutes
Course: Snack
Keyword: Homemade Kettle Corn
Cooking Method: Stovetop
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 245kcal

Recipe Video

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup popcorn kernels unpopped
  • 1/4 cup sugar

Instructions

  • Pour a 1/4 cup of vegetable oil into a large pot. Heat to medium.
  • Add a couple of popcorn kernels and wait until they pop. This may take up to 5 minutes or so. Once they do, the pot is ready for the rest of the kernels.
  • Pour in 1/2 cup of unpopped popcorn kernels.
  • Add the sugar and stir up the mixture. Cover the pot.
  • Cook until most of the kernels pop, pausing every 15-30 seconds to lift the pot off the heat and shake it. Keep an eye on the popcorn, as all stoves are different.
  • Once the popping slows, carefully remove the lid. Turn off the heat. Stir up the popcorn and then remove from the hot burner.
  • Pour into a serving bowl and enjoy!

Notes

  • Use a pot with handles or use pot holders to make it easier to shake the popcorn throughout the cooking time
  • If the popcorn doesn't seem to be popping, turn up the heat to medium high, just be careful that the sugar doesn't burn
  • The best way to know if the popcorn is done is to listen... when the popping slows down significantly, the popcorn is done
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Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 13g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
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