Stovetop kettle corn

 

Make your own kettle corn at home with this simple stovetop recipe. This summer fair and carnival food favorite is perfect for summer movie snacking or sitting in the backyard on a summer evening.

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item from these links, a small percentage goes to support the work of this blog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kettle corn is something I always like to grab a big bag of when I'm at a summer time carnival or fair. It smells so good when they are cooking it up in the big kettle. Plus, I love the sweet and salty flavor combination.

 

 

All you need to make this at home is a large heavy-bottom soup pot that has a lid, oil, popcorn kernels, sugar, and salt along with pot holders and a large stirring spoon. I have not made this in a cast iron pot, I use a regular soup/stock pot. 

Note that I have only made this popcorn on a gas stove, not an electric stove with a glass top. A glass top stove may not yield the same results, also take care to not scrape the heavy bottom pan across the glass top to keep the kernels moving.

 

We almost always make our popcorn in an air popper, but for this method it is made on the stovetop in a large pot (or kettle). We always keep popcorn kernels on hand for an easy and tasty snack.

When making kettle corn at home, you need to watch it carefully and keep the pot moving so that you don't burn the sugar and so that you don't burn the popcorn. Use your pot holders to hold the handles of your pot to keep it moving while the kernels are popping.

Serve this kettle corn for a summer movie night, a backyard gathering or campfire, or whenever you want a delicious sweet and salty snack. I like to eat it the day that it is made, but it will last for a couple of days in a sealed airtight container.

 

Yield: about 10 cups popped

Author: Amy (Savory Moments)

Stovetop Kettle Corn

Make your own kettle corn at home with this simple stovetop recipe. This summer fair and carnival food favorite is perfect for summer movie snacking or sitting in the backyard on a summer evening.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup popcorn kernels
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Instructions

1. In a large heavy-bottom soup pot with a lid, warm the oil along with three or four popcorn kernels over medium heat with the lid on. Keep a potholder on your hand and give the pot a shake every once in a while (note we made this on a gas stove, if using electric/glass top, lift your pan when shaking to not scratch the top. Results may differ on an electric stove top).
2. Once those kernels pop, stir in the sugar and 1/3 cup of popcorn.
3. Return the lid to the pan and continue to give it a shake every 15 seconds or so to keep the sugar from burning.
4. Once the popping stops, remove from the heat and add the salt. Give the popcorn a good stir and remove the popcorn from the pot with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula (the melted sugar will be very hot). Serve immediately.
   

Recommended Products:

Popcorn kernels

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @savory_moments on instagram and hashtag it # savorymoments

I hope you give this stovetop kettle corn recipe a try! Let me know in the comments below.

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! 

This post was originally published in 2014 and has been updated in 2022 with updated text, a recipe card, and more to improve reader experience.

Check out these other snack recipes:

Maple Pecan Caramel Corn

Turmeric & Honey Roasted Chick Peas

Oven Baked Zucchini Chips

Sweet & Spiced Glazed Mixed Nuts