Rye Free Dairy Free Smoky Ranch Queso Popcorn

Total time20 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time10 min

Rye Free Dairy Free Smoky Ranch Queso Popcorn

Snack time just got a serious upgrade. This smoky, savory popcorn delivers all the creamy, tangy vibes of ranch queso without a drop of dairy — nutritional yeast does the heavy lifting, bringing that cheesy, umami depth you'd swear came from something far more indulgent. Smoked paprika and cumin give it a warm, almost campfire-like backbone, while dried dill and chives keep things bright and herbaceous. The coconut oil acts as the perfect carrier for the seasoning paste, helping every single kernel get coated in that bold, ranch-forward flavor. For anyone navigating grain sensitivities, this is the kind of snack that requires zero label-squinting — the ingredient list is short, whole, and completely free of any rye-containing fillers or flavor additives that tend to sneak into store-bought seasoned popcorns. It comes together in one pot and one bowl, making cleanup almost as satisfying as the snack itself. Pop a big batch and try not to eat it all before it hits the serving bowl.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the popcorn

⅓ cup popcorn kernels
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2 tbsp coconut oil

For the seasoning

3 tbsp coconut oil
3 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp dried dill
½ tsp dried chives
½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
¾ tsp fine sea salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

1
Heat 2 tbsp coconut oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 3 popcorn kernels, cover, and wait until all 3 kernels pop — this signals the oil is hot enough. Add the remaining kernels in a single layer, cover, and cook, shaking the pot every 15–20 seconds, until the popping slows to about 2 seconds between pops. Remove from heat immediately and transfer the popcorn to a large mixing bowl, discarding any unpopped kernels.
2
In a small saucepan, melt 3 tbsp coconut oil over low heat until just liquid. Remove from heat and stir in the nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, dried chives, ground cumin, cayenne pepper, fine sea salt, and ground black pepper until a uniform paste forms.

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