This Salt and Vinegar Popcorn looks unassuming at first glance, almost like it has no seasoning on it at all. But, if you’re a salt and vinegar chip fan (like me) one bite of this stuff and you will be hoarding the whole bowl. Everyone else can get their own.

I had this idea in my head for a few weeks and tried a few different versions. First, I tried using actual malt vinegar on the popcorn with butter and salt. This had good flavor but the popcorn wasn’t consistently good. It was either nicely seasoned, but soggy, or not seasoned enough. Not great.

Next, I found some of the basic malt vinegar powder that I believe is exactly what they use on Salt and vinegar chips. Who knew you can just order stuff like this?!

What I didn’t plan for was how strong the raw seasoning powder would be. I tried just sprinkling it on… too strong. I tried mixing it with salt, too strong!

But, the flavor was right so after experimenting some I found the perfect way to add this delicious seasoning combo to popcorn!

Salt and Vinegar Popcorn

4.06 from 18 votes
Author: Nick Evans
Servings: 4 Servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Salt and vinegar chips are my absolute favorite snack. I wanted to adapt the flavors for a popcorn seasoning. It took some work and a special seasoning, but I finally nailed it. This Salt and Vinegar Popcorn is such a delicious, addictive snack!

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • cup popcorn, air-popped
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon malt vinegar powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Add kernels to air popper and pop.
  • In a small pot over low heat, add butter and melt. Once butter is melted stir in malt vinegar powder.
  • Drizzle seasoned butter over the popcorn and season with salt.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 336mg | Potassium: 5mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 177IU | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.04mg
Course: Snack Time
Cuisine: American

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Tag @crunchtimekitchen

Malt Vinegar Powder

This seasoning is really strong and it’s also really fine. It mixes nicely with other things, but is a bit too strong on its own. If you want to add an extra vinegar kick to your popcorn, mix this with salt in about a 1-4 ratio (4 teaspoons salt – 1 teaspoon powder) and use that as a seasoning boost. I tried it in a 1-1 ratio and it was crazy strong.

Vinegar Powder - Salt and Vinegar Popcorn
This stuff is strong!

How to Make Salt and Vinegar Popcorn

Ultimately, I found the best way to get the flavor without overpowering the popcorn with the straight powder or making my popcorn soggy with liquid malt vinegar was to add the powder to my melted butter! If you don’t want melted butter on your popcorn, melted coconut oil works well too!

Seasoned butter - Salt and Vinegar Popcorn
In the butter!

That distributes the seasoning nicely and then you can drizzle it on your popcorn.

I like to use an air popper for my popcorn so it needs a lot of flavors as it has no fats or seasonings when it comes out of the air popper.

Seasoning popcorn - Salt and Vinegar Popcorn
Drizzle drizzle.

Once you have drizzled the popcorn with the malted vinegar butter, sprinkle some salt of your choice on the popcorn and you are ready to go!

It doesn’t look like much, but this stuff is GOOD.

Handful of popcorn - Salt and Vinegar Popcorn

Serve the Salt and Vinegar Popcorn with a cold beer. I think it’s a pretty unique popcorn seasoning and one people will love.

Salt and Vinegar Popcorn

Here are a few other great snacks!