Don't have a movie theater date night in your near future? That doesn’t mean you have to forgo your vegan popcorn while watching Netflix at home—in fact, we encourage all the vegan snacking . Though you can always make your own popcorn if you feel so inclined (just don’t forget the nooch), numerous companies are now making ready-to-eat popcorn in various vegan flavors you can’t easily replicate at home.
We're sharing eight of our favorite brands. Jump to our favorites Is popcorn vegan? More often than not, popcorn is vegan-friendly. When buying popcorn at your local convenience store, check the ingredient label to ensure animal ingredients haven't snuck their way inside your snack of choice.
Dairy is the ingredient to look out for, as butter and cheese are common ingredients in bagged popcorn. If you're purchasing microwavable popcorn bags, this same rule applies. Getty But what about movie theater popcorn? Best known for its buttery taste, movie theater popcorn doesn't always contain butter.
In fact, most major movie theater chains achieve this buttery taste using plant oils , not butter. As always, double check with the concessions stand before purchasing. Is popcorn healthy? Popcorn is a whole grain, which means it contains vitamins, including B vitamins; minerals, including iron and magnesium; and fiber, which supports gut and digestive health.
In fact, popcorn is very high in fiber —just 100 grams contains around 15 grams. Popcorn is also a source of an antioxidant called polyphenols. These powerful plant compounds may help to neutralize harmful free radicals in the body and potentially lower the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
"When it's air-popped and lightly seasoned, popcorn is an efficiently healthy snack," the American Heart Association advises . Unsplash This all sounds pretty positive, but there are a few things you need to know before you stock up. Some popcorn products can contain artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, as well as added salt and unhealthy fats.
Some microwavable varieties are also packaged with a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). This helps to prevent oil from leaking through the paper, but it’s also a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS). You can read more about the potential risks associated with consuming PFAs here .
Vegan popcorn snacks If you want all the best bits of popcorn, without the questionable chemicals, there are many delicious products on the market to choose from. Below, we’ve rounded up a few of our go-to vegan bagged popcorn picks (listed in no particular order). Skinny Pop 1 SkinnyPop You can’t have a “best of'' popcorn list without including SkinnyPop.
Not all of its flavors are vegan, so check the package to be sure, but the vegan options among the current lineup include Original, Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn, Sea Salt & Pepper, and Avocado Lime. Shop Amazon Angie's Boomchickapop 2 Angie’s Boomchickapop Another brand that keeps it simple and delicious when it comes to popcorn is Angie’s Boomchickapop. It’s not an entirely vegan brand, but its tasty Sea Salt offering is made with just a handful of ingredients, including sunflower oil, and none of them come from animals.
Its other vegan flavors include Lightly Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn and Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn. Shop Amazon Lesser Evil 3 LesserEvil Avocado is a go-to plant ingredient for many. It’s delicious on toast, you can’t beat guacamole, and it takes sandwiches to the next level. But it’s also a great popcorn flavor, according to the organic popcorn brand LesserEvil.
If that doesn’t sound like your jam, though, you can also try one of the brand’s many other tasty vegan flavors, including Himalayan Pink Salt and dairy-free White Cheddar. Shop Amazon Pip's Snacks 4 Pip's Snacks Sink your teeth into Pip's Snacks' Truffle popcorn and your taste buds will explode with gratitude. This luxurious, umami-rich flavor is a scrumptious splurge guaranteed to win anyone over—after, all it's approved by Oprah Winfrey herself.
And “pip” is appropriate when describing the kernels, as the mini heirloom kernels are half the size of regular popcorn. Enjoy with a glass of wine for the ultimate luxe night-in. For a more classic flavor, don't miss the Sea Salt and Kettle Corn varieties. Shop Amazon BjornQorn 5 BjornQorn Get your nooch on with these deliciously flavored all-vegan kernels.
Choose from Classic, Spicy, Cloudy (salty), Earth (truffle), or Ruby (hibiscus), all of which are topped with nutritional yeast instead of cheese. And when your sweet tooth comes calling, reach for Maple, which swaps out the nooch for maple sugar. The fun part about the brand? This artisan popcorn is solar popped, meaning you can thank the sun for making the kernels so crispy and airy.
Shop Amazon The Safe + Fair Food Company 6 The Safe + Fair Food Company Never tried drizzled popcorn? You’ll wonder what took you so long when you dig into a bag of Safe + Fair’s popcorn. The vegan flavors are among the most unique you’ll find in commercially available popcorn and include fun versions such as Strawberry Shortcake, Birthday Cake, and Dark Chocolaty.
Shop Amazon Party of 7 Party of Founded by four sisters, Party of popcorn delivers bold Asian flavors. Currently, the brand offers two flavors inspired by the founders' upbringing: Pad Thai and Thai Chili Lime. Reach for these brightly hued bags for a flavor explosion. Shop Amazon 8 Trader Joe's Trader Joe's is perhaps best known for their wide array of creative vegan snacks—and when it comes to popcorn, the cult-favorite grocer delivers.
Options rotate seasonally, but right now, customers can find Trader Joe's Synergistically Seasoned Popcorn on store shelves. This vegan-friendly snack is salty, spicy, tangy, and smoky—and utterly delicious.
