The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This Instant Pot Popcorn recipe is easy to make and tastes very similar to movie theater popcorn! Three ingredients and about 20 minutes are all you need to make it!
Our budget-friendly popcorn costs about $2.87 to make. It makes eight servings for around $0.35 per serving.
Recipes in the Instant Pot are our favorite because of how easy and convenient they are. A few of our favorites include our Mac and Cheese, Meatloaf and Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, and Healthy Refried Beans.
Stop buying those microwaveable popcorn bags! You can make fresh popcorn from scratch at home that tastes so much better. Besides, it will cost you more to drive to the store and buy the popcorn than it will to make it fresh at home!
Making popcorn in the Instant Pot is beyond easy! And the good news is that it comes out crispy and not soft like it does when you make it in the microwave. Soft popcorn is the worst!
This recipe is also great because you can flavor it how you like it. We like to get different flavored toppings for our kids to choose how they want to flavor it for a movie night, an after-school snack, or just a mid-day snack. The best part is it only takes twenty minutes to have a big batch of freshly popped popcorn everyone can enjoy.
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
- 1 teaspoon salt – $0.01
- 4 Tablespoons refined coconut oil – $2.19
- 1 cup popcorn kernels – $0.67
The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. The pricing for this recipe was updated in January 2023.
Instructions
***For complete recipe instructions and a recipe video, see the recipe card below.
First, set the Instant Pot to the “saute” setting and then press the “Adjust” button until it reads “More.”
Once the display reads “Hot,” add two tablespoons of coconut oil and let it melt. Put a clear glass lid on the pot, and let the pot preheat for 1-2 minutes.
Next, add 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels. Stir the kernels to coat them with oil.
Cover the Instant Pot with a clear glass lid and cook for 5-6 minutes or until 2/3 of the kernels are popped. Leave the lid on and let it sit until almost all kernels are popped for about 1-2 minutes.
When it is done popping, transfer the popcorn to a large bowl and sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon salt over the popcorn.
Finally, repeat the steps above with the remaining coconut oil, popcorn kernels, and salt.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Feel free to add melted butter and/or popcorn flavorings.
- If you don’t have coconut oil, you can use vegetable oil, but it won’t taste as good.
Storage Tips
Serve and Store: It’s best to eat this popcorn right after it’s popped. If you need to store it, you can keep it in an airtight container for 24 hours.
Freeze: This recipe does not freeze well; therefore, we do not recommend freezing it.Recipe FAQs
We prefer to use refined coconut oil to make popcorn as it has a higher smoke point. However, you can substitute vegetable oil in a pinch.
To keep the popcorn fresh and crispy, store it in an airtight container.
We have found that most of the time, when the kernels do not pop in the Instant Pot, it is because they are not fresh. So be sure to use fresh kernels.
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Let your little one measure the popcorn kernels and pour them into the Instant Pot. They will love hearing the kernels pop!
Ages 4-5: Your child can help you put the coconut oil in the Instant Pot and melt it to prepare the kernels. He/she can also help salt the popcorn after it has been transferred to a bowl.
Ages 6-8: Let your child try this one on his/her own. Teach them how to set the Instant Pot to “saute,” and watch them make this easy snack.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe unsupervised while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Budget Tips
Making popcorn at home is less expensive than buying it at the store or at the movie theater! This is one easy way to cut some corners on your grocery budget.
More Snacks recipes:
- Check Party Mix
- Nacho Fries
- Crockpot Chile Con Queso
- Cake Mix Banana Bread
- Homemade Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
- Corn Muffins
- Banana Blueberry Muffins
- Dry Roasted Chickpeas
- Easy Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
More from Easy Budget Recipes
Instant Pot Popcorn
Recipe Cost 2.87 Serving Cost 0.35Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Measuring spoons
- Wooden mixing spoon
- measuring cup
- large bowl
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons refined coconut oil divided
- 1 cup unpopped popcorn kernels divided
- 1 teaspoon salt divided
TOPPINGS:
- butter
- seasonings
Instructions
COOK POPCORN:
- First, set the Instant Pot to the "saute" setting and then press the "Adjust" button until it reads "More".
- Once the display reads "Hot," add two tablespoons of coconut oil and let it melt. Put a clear glass lid on the pot, and let the pot preheat for 1-2 minutes.
- Add in ½ cup popcorn kernels and stir them to coat with oil.
- Cover the Instant Pot with a clear glass lid and cook for 5-6 minutes or until ⅔ of the kernels are popped. Leave the lid on and let it sit until almost all of the kernels are popped about 1-2 minutes.
- When it is done popping, transfer the popcorn to a large bowl and sprinkle ½ teaspoon salt over the popcorn.
- Repeat the above steps with the remaining coconut oil, popcorn kernels, and salt.
ADD TOPPINGS AND SERVE:
- Add your favorite toppings like butter and seasonings. Serve.
Katie Beck says
This is a great idea to customize popcorn flavors. And I love the tips for getting the kids involved! I have five kids and need all the tips to get them in the kitchen with me.
Jess Jankowski says
Oh yes, get those kids in the kitchen!
Beth says
This looks so delicious and tasty! My daughter and son are going to love this recipe! Can’t wait to give this a go!
Jess Jankowski says
Excited for you to try it!
Lauren says
I. had no idea you could make popcorn in the Instant Pot! This thing never fails to amaze me. I am totally doing this with my popcorn-loving soon as soon as he gets his braces off in a few months.
Jess Jankowski says
Isn’t the Instant Pot just amazing!?!
Jenn says
I love the idea of making popcorn in my IP! I’m going to try this recipe on movie night this weekend – pass the popcorn! Yum!
Jess Jankowski says
Enjoy!
Katherine says
Such a great idea to make popcorn in the instant pot. Those micro bags have some questionable things in them (i believe) so this is perfect!
Jess Jankowski says
Agreed!
Johnie Meder says
what can you use in place of the coconut oil
Jess Jankowski says
Hi Johnie. Taste-wise, we prefer coconut oil, but you can substitute vegetable oil instead.
Richard says
How about olive oil
Jess Jankowski says
Hi Richard, olive oil would burn in the Instant Pot, so we do not recommend using it with this recipe.
Jason says
Thanks for the idea – I would substitute peanut oil as long as no one has a peanut allergy. It has a high flash point and doesn’t flavor the food.
Jess Jankowski says
Enjoy!
Claudette says
What particular brand of coconut oil do you prefer? Refined/unrefined? Virgin? Thank you.
Jess Jankowski says
We prefer refined coconut oil because it has a higher smoke point. Enjoy!
Sarah says
Do you turn the pot off when it says to leave it for an additional one to two minutes with the lid on?
Jess Jankowski says
No, just leave as is.
Patricia says
Followed the recipe to a T. After nine minutes, I only had 5 popped kernels. That’s it. Nothing else happened. The kernels turned darker but never popped. Wasted my popcorn.
Jess Jankowski says
Patricia, we are sorry to hear that. Is it possible that the kernels were expired? We have had a similar experience when using expired kernels.