Spicy Ranch Popcorn Recipe

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Quitter’s Circle, a collaboration between the American Lung Association and Pfizer. All thoughts and opinions presented in this post are purely my own.

This recipe for Spicy Ranch Popcorn is a helpful snack to keep on hand if you’re trying to quit smoking and an urge to smoke strikes! Stash some at work or in your purse to get you through a long afternoon!

Hi Friends!

It’s snack time! Remember last week when I introduced you to Quitter’s Circle and a new series of posts that would be coming up? I shared some tips for quitting smoking and one of them was to always be prepared when the urge to smoke strikes. This Spicy Ranch Popcorn is just the ticket!

Did you know popcorn is a whole grain?! When you air pop it yourself and are smart about your seasonings, it can actually make quite a healthy snack. Plus, it’s a volume snack meaning you can eat a lot of it without totally overdoing it on the calories. Snacks like this are great for keeping your hands (and mouth!) busy for a while without totally undoing the healthy lifestyle choices you’re trying to make.

Last year I shared this Sweet & Spicy Popcorn Snack Mix, which is another favorite of mine, but this time I wanted something a little more on the savory side. I made it extra spicy because spicy tends to mean you eat slower (because your mouth is on fire!).

While this is a helpful snack for those trying to quit smoking, it’s also great for anyone looking to add another healthy snack to their rotation. You can stash it in your cabinet, desk drawer or even your purse so you always have it on hand.

The funny thing is, I’m not even a huge ranch fan … I was just browsing for some savory spice combinations and the spices typically used in ranch dressing caught my attention.

Here’s how I made my version. Feel free to adjust the amount of each seasoning to your liking…and like I said, this is SPICY, so you can definitely cut back on the cayenne pepper if you want. You could also toss in a little parmesan cheese if you’re feeling fancy!

Here’s how you make it:

Spicy Ranch Popcorn

print shopping list

Preparation 5 min Serves serves 2     adjust servings

This recipe for Spicy Ranch Popcorn is the perfect snack to keep on hand when a craving strikes! Stash some at work or in your purse to get you through a long afternoon!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup popcorn kernals (5-6 cups popped)
• 1 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried chives

Instructions

1. Place popcorn kernals in a brown paper lunch sack. Fold over the top and use the popcorn button on your microwave to pop. (Alternatively, you can pop in a pot on the stove or using an airpopper machine).
2. In a small dish, combine melted butter and spice.
3. Transfer popcorn to a large bowl. Slowly pour spice mixture over popcorn while stirring. Continue stirring until most kernals are coated in spice mixture.

by Lindsay

Pretty easy, right?! Just be careful not to burn your popcorn like I did or you’ll be smelling it every time you microwave something for the next week!

Let’s chat:
What are your favorite popcorn seasonings?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–