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Bacon Ranch Popcorn
The secret here is popping the kernels directly in leftover bacon drippings for a deep, smoky richness you can't get from regular oil. Tossed with crispy bacon bits, grated Parmesan, and zesty ranch seasoning, this savory snack completely transforms your standard movie night fare. It's salty, crunchy, and coated in just enough melted butter to make the seasonings stick perfectly to the kernels. Once you've tried this homemade version, you'll never want to go back to plain microwave bags again.
Equipment
- Skillet
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 4 bacon slices
- 1 Tbsp. butter
- ⅓ cup popping corn
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
- 2 tsp. buttermilk ranch dressing mix
- ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- 1Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes or until crisp. Remove the bacon, reserving the drippings in the pan, and let the strips drain on paper towels. Coarsely chop the cooled bacon.
- 2Melt 1 Tbsp. butter with the reserved bacon drippings in a heavy-bottomed 4-qt. saucepan with a lid over medium-high heat. Add the popping corn and cook, covered, shaking the pan occasionally. Continue until most of the corn is popped and the popping noise slows to less than 5 pops every 10 seconds.
- 3Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it cool for 1 minute. This gives any late-popping kernels time to finish safely so they don't jump out when you open the lid.
- 4Transfer the popped corn into a large brown paper bag or a very large bowl with a lid. Add the chopped bacon, Parmesan cheese, 2 Tbsp. melted butter, ranch dressing mix, and black pepper. Shake vigorously to coat everything evenly.
Notes
- Equipment: If you don't have a large brown paper bag, a very large mixing bowl with a tight-fitting lid works perfectly for shaking the popcorn.
- Make ahead: You can cook and chop the bacon up to 2 days in advance. Store it in the fridge until you're ready to pop the corn.
- Tip: Make sure your melted butter is warm but not piping hot when tossing, so it distributes evenly without making the popcorn soggy.