Canadian Popcorn Seasoning Recipes (2024)

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Ketchup, All Dressed, & Dill Pickle are some of the most popular popcorn seasoning flavours in Canada. Here's how you can make all 3 at home!

Canadian Popcorn Seasoning Recipes (1)

When I was still living in Minneapolis, a big part of any trip back home to Canada involved grocery shopping.

Not only would we stock up on favourite items for our own cupboards, we’d also be fulfilling shopping list requests for friends in Minneapolis.

One of the most common requests we’d have were for bags of chips. We’d gotten a bunch of our American friends hooked on All Dressed and Ketchup chips in particular.

Even after those flavours started being sold locally, we’d still bring back Canadian chips.

I have no idea why, but the American versions weren’t seasoned as heavily as those sold in Canada - even when produced by the same brand!

Canadian Popcorn Seasoning Recipes (2)

Canadian Popcorn Seasonings

Another item we’d bring back is popcorn seasoning - in flavours based on those chips. Generally speaking, I’d be bringing back All Dressed, Ketchup, and Dill Pickle seasoning.

Sure, you can buy dill pickle popcorn seasoning in the USA, but the Kernels brand (from Canada) had a lot better flavour than the stuff available in Minnesota.

Anyway.

When I was writing More Than Poutine, I decided to come up with recipes for popcorn seasonings in those flavours

You can use these on popcorn, chips, fries, baked potatoes, meats.. One friend loves the all-dressed on mac and cheese!

Canadian Popcorn Seasoning Recipes (3)

Popcorn Seasoning Ingredients

While some of the ingredients used to make these seasonings are pretty common - salt, garlic powder, etc - there are a few that you may not be familiar with. Here’s a bit of info, and some links to buy them!

Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional Yeast is a common type of yeast that has been deactivated - so you can’t use it to bake bread or make wine - and it’s becoming more and more common in cooking.

It can be used to add an “umami” flavour to your cooking, and is commonly used in vegetarian “meat” making - as I do in my Vegan Donair Meat, Boneless Vegan Ribs, and my Replica Trader Joe’s Tofu Edamame Nuggets recipes.

Also, you can find it used to add a “cheesy” flavour to food, without the dairy. Shaking it directly onto popcorn makes a shockingly accurate dairy-free “cheese” popcorn seasoning!

Smoked Paprika

Smoked Paprika is one of my absolute favourite spices.

It adds a smoky flavour - with a bit of red pepper - without adding a lot of heat. I actually hadn’t used much of it, before I started messing around with All Dressed seasoning. Paprika wasn’t cutting it, so I took a trip to Penzeys for some inspiration. I walked out with some smoked paprika, and that was IT - the missing piece of the puzzle.

I’ve loved it ever since!

Sour Cream Powder

Sour Cream Powder is a dried, powdered sour cream product.

In theory, you can mix the powder with water to make actual sour cream, but... well, I haven’t heard good things about that, and I haven’t been in a position where we’d need to.

However, sour cream powder is fantastic for making homemade seasoning blends. I use it in my All Dressed seasoning, and in making homemade Sour Cream & Onion seasoning.

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Tomato Powder

Tomato Powder is a powder made from dehydrated and pulverized tomatoes.

It has a very concentrated tomato flavour, so you can add some water to make tomato paste, it just add it directly to sauces, dressings, etc.

For popcorn, it supplies the base tomato flavour for both the ketchup and all dressed seasonings.

Vinegar Powder

Vinegar Powder is a powdered form of vinegar (obviously?), and a great way to add a bit of vinegar tang to a recipe, without adding liquid.

It’s a fun item to play with, and I use it primarily in seasoning mixes. In addition to these three popcorn seasoning recipes, it’s also great for making “salt and vinegar” seasoning - not only great for popcorn, but also on wings, fries, etc!

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How to Make Popcorn Seasoning

If you're ready, let's get into the most complicated recipe directions ever! I'll demonstrate with my Dill Pickle Popcorn Seasoning:

1. Measure the ingredients for the flavour you want to make into a small bowl

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2. Mix well to combine.

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3. Store in an airtight container.

Ok... maybe not that complicated, LOL!

Canadian Popcorn Seasoning Recipes (8)

This recipe is one of many fantastic Canadian recipes in my cookbook, "More Than Poutine: Favourite Foods from my Home and Native Land”. "More than Poutine" is a Canadian cookbook like no other - written by a Canadian living away, it includes both traditional home cooking recipes, as well as accurate homemade versions of many of the snacks, sauces, convenience foods, and other food items that are hard to come by outside of Canada! Order your copy here on this site, through Amazon, or through any major bookseller!

Canadian Popcorn Seasoning Recipes (9)

More Canadian Comfort Food!

Whether you’re a Canadian in the US or not, we could all use some comfort food these days. Here are some Canadian Favourites!

Back Bacon / Canadian Bacon
Beep
Clodhoppers
Confetti Bars
Dill Pickle Cream Cheese Dip
Doughnut Holes - Timbits!
French Canadian Pea Soup
Homemade Deep N Delicious Cake
Homemade Wunderbars
How to Make Peameal Bacon and Back Bacon
Maple Butter Tarts
Montreal Bagels
Persians Recipe
Poutine, My Way!
Puffed Wheat Squares
Replica Swiss Chalet Sauce
Tiger Tail Ice Cream

Looking for even more Canadian recipes? Check out our full Canadian Recipes list!

Share the Love!

Before you chow down, be sure to take some pics of your handiwork! If you Instagram it, be sure to tag me - @CelebrationGenerationCA - or post it to My Facebook Page - so I can cheer you on!

Also, be sure to subscribe to my free monthly email newsletter, so you never miss out on any of my nonsense.

Well, the published nonsense, anyway!

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5 from 6 votes

Canadian Popcorn Seasonings

Ketchup, All Dressed, and Dill Pickle are some of the most popular popcorn seasoning flavours in Canada - and here's how you can make all 3 at home!

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Course: Condiment, Snack

Cuisine: Canadian

Servings: 40 Tbsp, total

Calories: 5kcal

Author: Marie Porter

Ingredients

All Dressed Seasoning - Makes about a cup

Dill Pickle Seasoning - Makes about ¾ cups

Ketchup Seasoning - Makes about ¾ cup

  • cup Tomato powder
  • 4 tablespoon Vinegar Powder
  • 2 tablespoon Salt
  • 1 tablespoon Granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon Paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon Allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon Garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Onion Powder
  • teaspoon Celery seed
  • teaspoon Ground Cloves

Instructions

  • Measure the ingredients for the flavour you want to make into a small bowl

  • Mix well to combine.

  • Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Due to software limitations, the nutritional facts provided are for the total volume of the 3 entire recipes, combined.

Yes, it's a lot of sodium... but it's also the amount for about 2.5 cups of flavored salt!

Nutrition

Calories: 5kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1406mg | Potassium: 10mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 57IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

Related posts:

Dill Pickle DipHoney Garlic SauceHoney Jeow Glazed CashewsDill Pickle Waffle Fries
Canadian Popcorn Seasoning Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What's the best seasoning to put on popcorn? ›

What is your FAVORITE seasoning for popcorn?
  • Tajin.
  • cinnamon sugar (but use powdered sugar so it sticks better)
  • Duck fat.
  • Blend of white cheddar powder, black garlic, truffle and parmesan (a little goes a LONG way)
  • Elote seasoning.
  • dark chocolate drizzle with sea salt and cashews.
  • old bay.
Apr 3, 2022

Do you add seasoning before or after popping popcorn? ›

You add seasoning after popping the popcorn. However, keep in mind to always add your seasoning while the popcorn is still hot. That way, moisture residue from popping steam will help your seasoning stick to the popcorn.

How do you get powdered flavor to stick to popcorn? ›

The way that we do this is to spray our popcorn with any of the following—-cooking oil spray in a variety of choices—-canola, corn or olive oil or butter spray. Otherwise, toss the popcorn with melted butter and then sprinkle your favorite seasoning on it. Butter/oil is the usual method.

How to make popcorn taste like cineplex popcorn? ›

Coconut oil: Some movie theaters use coconut oil for their popcorn, so this recipe does too. Clarified butter or ghee: Clarified butter or ghee gives the popcorn a clean, rich, buttery flavor. Salt: Finely ground salt sticks to the kernels best.

What seasoning do movie theaters use for popcorn? ›

The flavor all comes down to one ingredient: Flavacol. You've likely never heard of Flavacol because, really, only movie theaters use it. Essentially, it's butter-flavored salt. It's a really fine, bright orange powder that adds that buttery flavor you crave and the signature yellow color.

What makes popcorn taste better? ›

There are three things that make movie theater popcorn delicious: butter, salt, and COCONUT OIL. Bet you didn't expect that last one! Most movie theaters cook their popcorn in a coconut oil blend, which adds an interesting depth and sweetness to the popcorn.

What is the best oil for popcorn flavor? ›

Two popular choices are canola and vegetable oil (both with a smoke point of 400 degrees Fahrenheit), thanks to their generally neutral flavor. Refined peanut oil (with a smoke point of 450 degrees Fahrenheit) is also recommended, especially if you like to infuse your popcorn with some of its nuttiness.

Can you add butter to popcorn before popping? ›

Yes absolutely – it makes the best buttered popcorn if you do it this way. Be sure to shake it so the butter is evenly distributed throughout the kernels.

What can I add to popcorn for flavor? ›

Toppings
  1. Melted butter.
  2. Sea salt.
  3. Ranch seasoning.
  4. Tajín.
  5. Cheddar seasoning.
  6. Caramel sauce.
  7. Sprinkles.

How to make popcorn at home taste like movie popcorn? ›

Instead, these two key ingredients give movie theater popcorn its signature taste and smell: popcorn popping oil and popcorn seasoning. Yup, it's that simple. Popcorn popping oils come in a few varieties, including pure coconut oil or a blend of canola oil.

What makes movie theater popcorn so much better? ›

Other theaters cook their kernels in a mix of oil and real butter, helping to maximize that butter flavor and fine salt taste before the actual popcorn kernels are popped. However, many don't know that the main reason for the taste of that movie popcorn is a topping called Flavacol.

What is Flavacol? ›

FLAVACOL is a very fine seasoned salt that sticks to the popcorn, whereas a ground salt will tend to fall off. Adding it to the oil as you pop improves the coverage without any fear of burning. This is the tried - and - true original popcorn salt! FLAVACOL is the worlds most popular seasoning salt.

What should I sprinkle on my popcorn? ›

Okay here are all my fave popcorn topping combos:
  • Olive oil + truffle salt.
  • Melted coconut oil + shredded coconut + chocolate chips.
  • Chili oil + garlic powder + paprika + dried herbs (usually oregano)
  • Toasted sesame oil + furikake.
Jul 9, 2020

What tastes good on top of popcorn? ›

Go check them out:
  • Kettle Corn Seasoning. ...
  • Crushed Pretzels & Chocolate. ...
  • Cayenne Pepper & Cumin. ...
  • Black Pepper & Sea Salt. ...
  • Chili Lime. ...
  • Olive Oil & Parmesan. ...
  • Garlic Powder & Paprika. You can never go wrong with garlic! ...
  • Peanut Butter. There's nothing quite like peanut butter popcorn.
Jan 3, 2023

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