6 Sweet & Savory Popcorn Recipes to Fuel Your Next Netflix Marathon

The snow has finally arrived and given us the perfect excuse to stay indoors and catch up on all our Netflix favorites. The only thing better than staying in bed watching TV all day is doing so with snacks. Popcorn is a movie necessity, but plain old butter and salt can get boring after awhile. So Valley rounded up some of the best popcorn recipes to feast on while you chill.

Each recipe below calls for one regular sized bag of popcorn. Start by popping the popcorn according to the package directions, then set aside. Then read on to see how we transformed each bag into something seriously tasty.  

Zesty Margarita Popcorn

Combine 6 tablespoons of butter with 2 tablespoons of lime juice in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave and stir until the butter has melted. Add 2 teaspoons each of sugar and salt. Stir until the sugar and salt has mostly dissolved. Pour this mixture over a large bowl of popcorn, then mix in 4 cups of lightly crushed lime-flavored tortilla chips. Serve with lime wedges and a Latin inspired movie like, Chef, or the Netflix series, Narcos.  

*Optional: add 2 tablespoons of tequila with the lime juice and butter.  

Buffalo Wing Pop

Nothing beats buffalo chicken dip on game day — except for this hot new popcorn adaptation. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter with ¼ cup Buffalo hot sauce. In a large bowl, toss the sauce with popped corn and ½ cup of blue cheese crumbles. Garnish with celery sticks and the handsome cast of Underdogs or settle in with the classic football series, Friday Night Lights.

Gooey Popcorn S’mores

Start by melting 6 tablespoons of butter in a large microwave safe dish. Add ¾ bag of mini marshmallows and continue microwaving and stirring until they’ve melted smooth. Remove bowl from microwave and stir in a full bag of popcorn, plus 1½ cups of chocolate chips, 2 cups cinnamon toast crunch cereal, and the  remaining mini marshmallows. Allow time to cool before eating. Enjoy with campfire songs and Wet Hot American Summer or Wet Hot American Summer, First Day of Camp.

Maple Bacon Popcorn

Heat 6 strips of pre-cooked bacon in the microwave, then crumble into bits. Drizzle ¾ cup maple syrup over a bowl of popcorn. Toss with crumbled bacon and enjoy! Goes great with the opening scene of Pulp Fiction or any episode of Parks and Recreation that involves JJ’s diner.

Apple Pie Popcorn

Begin by melting 6 tablespoons of butter in the microwave. In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup dried apple slices with your popcorn. Pour melted butter over top, then sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar to taste. Mix until everything is equally seasoned, then drizzle caramel on top. We recommend pairing America’s favorite dessert with a classic like, American Pie, or the political series, House of Cards.

Nutella Pretzel Popcorn

In a large bowl, mix 1 bag of popcorn and 2 cups of crushed pretzels. Heat 1 cup of Nutella in the microwave until it is slightly melted and easy to pour. Drizzle the Nutella over your pretzel popcorn mix and toss until each piece is evenly coated. Sprinkle 1 cup chocolate chips on top for added chocolatey goodness. This recipe should be enjoyed with a movie that’s equally as decadent. Treat yourself to a classic romance like Pride and Prejudice, or a guilty pleasure that’s oh-so-good, like Gossip Girl.

Bon appétit and binge watch away!