Stovetop Popcorn (with Ghee!)
by Sommer Collier — on Jul 7, 2025 This amazing 3-ingredient stovetop popcorn recipe with clarified butter makes the easiest, cleanest, and overall best buttery popcorn right at home! Ghee popcorn is simple to make on the stove top with a standard pot, and tastes way better than even your favorite movie theatre butter popcorn.
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
We love going to big screen theaters to watch those can’t-miss movies. The action, the drama, the laughs… the popcorn! Although I’m, of course, excited to see the latest blockbusters, really it’s those big tubs of warm, buttery popcorn that get me super jazzed for movie night.
But, as it turns out, you don’t actually have to go to the theater to get that incredible snack you crave. In fact, you can make the good stuff even better right at home without unhealthy seed oils or a melted buttery mess poured on top. This perfect Stovetop Popcorn recipe requires only popcorn kernels, ghee, and good-quality salt. Then the most difficult part of your at-home movie night is deciding what to watch!
Why You’ll Love Stovetop Popcorn
- Popcorn without a special machine – No special contraption is required here. Just a large pot with a lid that has a small steam valve will do!
- Tastier and better for you – If you buy high-quality organic popcorn kernels and a good salt rich in minerals, you actually have a pretty healthy snack here… Especially compared to traditional movie theatre popcorn that’s drowned in fake melted butter.
- No extra butter needed – That’s right, the homemade popcorn cooks in the ghee, a.k.a. clarified butter, so it is perfectly buttered the moment it pops! No extra cooking oil is required; put away the vegetable oils, such as canola oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil.
Pop up a batch in under 10 minutes, sprinkle on a little salt, and you’re all set!
Ingredients and Tips
- Popcorn kernels – Choose your favorite brand of popping corn kernels.
- Ghee – Ghee is considered a healthy cooking fat because the milk proteins are removed, it’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and is good for high-heat cooking! Ghee is often stocked in the International section of grocery stores or can be found in the dairy aisle alongside other types of butter.
- Salt – Mineral-rich sea salt is best for popcorn, since it has large-but-not-too-large granules and a deep flavor.
Protein Pointer – If you’re trying to balance this carb-heavy snack with protein, sprinkle the popcorn with nutritional yeast before serving.
How to Make Popcorn on the Stovetop with Ghee
Tip for Success – We make this recipe without a popcorn machine by using a large pot with a steam valve built into the lid. If you don’t have a lid with a steam valve, you’ll just need to ensure the lid is slightly offset, allowing steam to escape without releasing the popcorn kernels.
Find the full Stovetop Popcorn recipe with detailed instructions, storage tips, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Storage Notes
- Storing Leftovers – Truly, there’s nothing better than warm, freshly popped popcorn. Not only do I suggest enjoying it right away, but I don’t see how you’d wind up with leftovers. That being said, you can store it in an airtight container and keep it at room temperature in a bowl for a few days. Just note that the taste and texture won’t be quite as crisp and amazing.
Serving Suggestions
Once the corn is all popped, remove the lid, and sprinkle generously with salt. Shake the pot vigorously to get the salt evenly distributed throughout the popcorn.
For extra flavor, consider also sprinkling on nutritional yeast for a cheddar cheesy taste, grated parmesan cheese, ranch seasoning, garlic powder seasoning, black pepper, or crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. And yes, you can, of course, also drizzle on melted butter if you just can’t get enough!
You can use this stovetop method to make all kinds of other tasty popcorn snacks. Try our amazing Buffalo Blue Cheese Popcorn recipe, homemade Copycat Garrets Cheese & Caramel Popcorn, and this Halloween Popcorn Mix – it’s scary delicious!
How to Make Popcorn on the Stovetop
Video
Instructions
- Set a large 6-8 quart pot over medium heat. Ensure your pot has a good lid with a steam valve. *If you don't have a lid with a steam valve, you'll just need to ensure the lid is slightly offset, so the steam can escape but not the popcorn kernels!
- Place the popcorn kernels and ghee in the pot. Cover with the lid and shake the pot a little.
- Once the popcorn starts popping pay close attention. Allow the popcorn to pop until the last few pops are 3-5 seconds apart.
- Remove the pot from the heat source. Remove the lid. Sprinkle with salt and shake the popcorn vigorously. Serve warm!
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
The amount of fat and calories in ghee and traditional butter is about the same. However, the process of clarifying butter to make ghee removes lactose (which is known to cause digestive issues for those sensitive to dairy) and increases the smoke point, allowing you to safely cook with ghee at a higher temperature. Additionally, ghee is considered a cleaner fat source than processed cooking oil.
If your popcorn isn’t crisp, it’s likely either because you used too much ghee or the pot wasn’t vented enough. Too much clarified butter or steam can cause the popcorn to become soggy, so be sure to follow the easy recipe steps for perfectly popped corn every time!
Perfectly popped and full of flavor – this recipe is a keeper. The ghee makes a huge difference, and it’s so much better than microwave popcorn!
This is my new go-to snack! It’s so fast, super satisfying, and the ghee makes it taste gourmet. Even my kids ask for it on repeat!
I never thought popcorn could taste this rich with so few ingredients. The ghee adds such a smooth, buttery flavor without any grease. Love it!