Walnut Free Dairy Free Smoky Ranch Queso Popcorn
Snack time just got a serious upgrade with this smoky, savory popcorn that tastes indulgent without a drop of dairy in sight. Nutritional yeast does the heavy lifting here, delivering that cheesy, umami-rich depth you'd expect from queso while keeping things completely plant-based. A bold spice blend of smoked paprika, cumin, garlic, onion, dill, and chives layers on the ranch flavor, and a pinch of cayenne gives it just enough heat to keep you reaching back into the bowl. Melted coconut oil acts as the perfect binder, helping every single kernel get coated in that deeply seasoned paste. The stovetop popping method is straightforward and gives you fresh, fluffy popcorn as the base — no microwave bags or mystery additives required. This is the kind of snack that disappears fast at movie nights or game-day spreads, and nobody will miss the cheese.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the popcorn
- ⅓ cup popcorn kernels
- 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.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!