Best Microwave Popcorn (Movie Theater Style, Cheesy, Just Salt, and More)

The best microwave popcorn is exceptionally buttery and salty, and the kernels are sweet, earthy, and have a distinct toasted corn flavor. At least, that’s what we thought going into our initial microwave popcorn taste test. But after trying 25 bags of microwave popcorn, our eyes have been opened to other ideals, as well. We’re talking about butter-free, salt-only microwave popcorn, artisanal popcorn, and even flavored microwaved popcorn. So, what is the best microwave popcorn that absolutely popped off? Read on to find out. 

Here’s what we looked for in the best microwave popcorn: More than anything, we wanted the package to deliver on its promise. If it says “extra butter,” then we’re assuming there’s going to be a ton of butter. If it says “sea salt,” then we expect a seasoned bag of popcorn with a subtle, not iodized, salt taste. If it says “organic,” then we want fluffy, tasty, pure kernels that aren’t too dry. And if it says “movie theater” on it, well, we expect it to be the perfect alchemy of salt and butter.

We recently re-tasted all of our original winners (the ones that were still sold), as well as some new contenders. A lot of the former best microwave popcorns did not perform this time around. A few moved up in the rankings. And we added some new products, as well. Peep the list and find the best microwave popcorn brand for you.

The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.

Best Just Salty

Orville Redenbacher Natural Simply Salted

Walmart

If you’re not into butter on your popcorn but you still want salt on your popcorn, then this is the best microwave popcorn for you. Recommended by our own dear readers (we really do read the comments on these pieces), this popcorn features a pure, salty flavor without a whiff of butter. Is it life-changing? No. But does it have an audience? Absolutely. — Justine Sterling

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

6/10

Sporks

Best Fancy

Black Jewell Touch of Butter

Amazon

Hey, fancy popcorn eaters? Don your ascots and put on your popcorn gloves, because we found the best fancy microwave popcorn for you. Black Jewell markets its popcorn as “gourmet specialty popcorn.” Made from heritage black popcorn, the puffs aren’t technically hulless but they are, according to the brand, “virtually hulless.” The butter flavor is lighter than most movie theater-style microwave popcorn, but it still tastes very movie theater-esque—maybe like craft popcorn from a fancy indie movie theater. It’s quite good and some of the best microwave butter popcorn if you’re looking for something a little more artisanal than your standard brands. — Justine Sterling

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

6.5/10

Sporks

Best Spicy

Jolly Time Jalapeno Butter

Walmart

We need more flavored microwave popcorn. Where’s my cacio e pepe popcorn? My tom yum popcorn? My Old Bay popcorn? Well, at least we have this new addition to our line-up of the best microwave popcorn. It’s not purely spicy—it actually tastes like jalapeno. You get that fruity, peppery flavor. But, of course, there’s also heat. The spice builds and builds with every handful but never becomes overwhelming. It could use a touch more salt, but you can always take care of that yourself. — Justine Sterling

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Best Hulless

Black Jewell Simply Sea Salt

Amazon

Another entry from Black Jewell, the packaging describes this popcorn as being “white as snow,” and it really is. It’s so white, it’s practically violet. But it’s also delicious—light, extremely crisp, with a quality corn flavor and pops of bright sea salt. And, thanks to those negligible hulls, it’s easy to eat without getting little bits caught in your teeth. If you want popcorn that goes heavy on the corn flavor without going heavy on the hulls, this is the best microwave hulless popcorn to buy. — Justine Sterling

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Corn-y

Market Pantry Butter Microwave Popcorn

Target

Something changed with Target’s microwave popcorn. Originally, we included this brand on our list of the best microwavable popcorn because of its intense buttery quality. But upon retrying it, we weren’t blown away by the amount of butter at all. Instead, we were wowed by the pure corn flavor of the airy, crispy puffs. Seriously, this tastes like fresh-popped corn straight out of a restaurant kitchen—like something you might get as a shareable starter from a gastropub. It truly celebrates the flavor of corn, and it’s some of the best microwave popcorn to buy if you’re looking to add your own flavorings. — Justine Sterling

Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Indulgent

Cousin Willie’s Buttery Explosion

Amazon

Who wouldn’t trust Cousin Willie to give you some of the best microwave popcorn? I’d also trust him to find me a spare truck part for a steal and to know where to get a chicken for free (presumably his front porch). But back to the popcorn. The popped kernels are so light and crispy—they practically dissolve in your mouth leaving a buttery, salty sensation on your tongue. And there’s just a hint of sweetness, too, that balances out that intense saltiness. “It’s buttery without being greasy,” Sporked’s Jordan Myrick commented. It’s the best microwave popcorn for an indulgent evening—we’re talking a bottle of Chardonnay and a sharing-sized chocolate candy just for you and a ‘90s rom-com marathon. — Justine Sterling 

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Movie Theater Style

Jolly Time Ultimate Theater Style Popcorn

Amazon

Walmart

This is the best microwave popcorn if you add extra butter at the movie theater—like, lots of it. The inside of the bag is stained with yellow, artificial butter goodness. Each kernel is coated well with buttery flavor. You know how the last third of a movie theater tub of popcorn is no longer buttery? That’s not a problem with Jolly Time. It’s salted well, too, and overall just incredibly tasty. Jolly Time is a great brand name, to boot. Who doesn’t love having a jolly time? — Danny Palumbo

Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Cheesy

Jolly Time The Big Cheez

Amazon

There’s no hiding the cheese, sorry, cheez in this microwave cheese popcorn. The neon orange liquid seeps out of the seams when you take the bag out of the microwave. But don’t worry—shockingly, it’s not a bag of grease. It’s a bag of the best microwavable popcorn if you want a lot of flavor—but also want something more than just plain butter. It’s rich and cheesy, in a Cheetos sort of way. The popcorn is crispy. It’s fun. It’s different. It deserves a place in your pantry. And, according to Jordan, “It would go so well with an ice-cold Coke.” — Justine Sterling

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Pop Secret Movie Theater Butter

Amazon

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time working as a line cook, it’s this: Proper seasoning is the hardest thing to get right. You either have it, or you don’t. And Pop Secret has it. It has the perfect balance of salt and butter that we’re looking for in the best microwave butter popcorn. It mimics the alchemy of delicious movie theater popcorn. Sure, it’s artificial butter, but we love that and we think you do, too. The price is great, also. It’s microwave popcorn; it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. If you think the best popcorn is movie theater popcorn (like a lot of us do), then this is the best microwave popcorn, period. — Danny Palumbo

Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Other microwave popcorn brands we tried: Kirkland, ACT II Butter Lovers, SkinnyPop Sea Salt, BOOMCHICKAPOP, Simple Truth Organic, Kroger, Signature Select, O Organics, Trader Joe’s, Great Value Butter Popcorn, Sprouts Organic Butter Popcorn, Whole Foods 365 Buttery Flavor Popcorn, Amish Country Popcorn, Act II Xtreme, Skinny Girl, Quinn Butter & Sea Salt Popcorn (Unavailable)  

The post Best Microwave Popcorn (Movie Theater Style, Cheesy, Just Salt, and More) appeared first on Sporked.