We’ve come a long way since the “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” spray days (ew, gross). To celebrate Popcorn Lovers Day on March 9, we’re exploring some of the best popcorn seasonings out there and have turned to the pros for some new ideas for healthy popcorn toppings (and a few indulgent ones too).

Celebrate that crunch and give yourself permission to reach for more with these 10 new ideas for spicing up a big bowl of the salty, fluffy, crunchy stuff. 

Go savory 

Nutritional yeast is a nutritional powerhouse and different than the stuff you picked up for those sourdough days of 2020. Nutrition coach Melissa McHenry says nooch can add a buttery cheesy flavor to popcorn and is a great source of protein, fiber, B vitamins, manganese, zinc, selenium, and folate. Intrigued? Try this recipe from Gimme Some Oven and get ready to be wowed.

Ranch it up

Deniz Efe, founder of Fitness Equipped, says one of his favorite ways to jazz up popcorn is by making a spicy ranch mix of melted butter, garlic powder, dried dill weed, and a pinch of cayenne pepper to sprinkle over the top.

Get crunchy with quinoa

We’ll bet you never thought of mixing quinoa and popcorn together, but have some faith. Vanessa Gordon of East End Taste Magazine says that the gluten-free grain goes great with your afternoon snack. “I like to add little bits of fudgy quinoa (toasted quinoa mixed with gourmet chocolate fudge sauce) to my popcorn,” she says. “Simply mix the toasted quinoa with your favorite melted gourmet chocolate sauce, drizzle over your popcorn, and place in the fridge for about half an hour.” 

Spice up your life

Culinary author and expert at Kitchen Ambition, Jasmine Mattey, says that one of her favorite ways to eat popcorn (if you’re not afraid of a little kick) is to mix the popped kernels with a garam masala spice blend (coriander, cumin, cayenne, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper) and then drizzle on some sriracha afterward for a warm and spicy concoction. It may sound wild, Mattey says, but encourages a little creativity in the kitchen. “I first learned to mix and match flavors in culinary school,” she says. “It’s loads of fun, and often the wildest  combinations are the best.” 

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”

Popcorn can easily be a terrific anti-inflammatory treat when you pop kernels with ghee, turmeric, cayenne, and black pepper (which activates the properties of the turmeric), says Lauren Tannenbaum, a culinary herbalist and food writer. Tannenbaum says that some of our most-loved culinary herbs can also be our best medicine.

Mangia!

Gordon also enjoys a savory snack. She loves to mix grated Pecorino cheese, fresh pepper, and salt with her popcorn for a Cacio e Pepe-style popcorn. No fresh Pecorino? No problem. Your favorite shakable canister of parm would do in a pinch as well. 

Say cheese

Craving even more cheese? Swipe the powder packet from the box of Annie’s in your pantry and shake over a bowl of freshly popped kernels for a salty, cheesy, mac and cheese-like snack. For a similar twist, sprinkle on Trader Joe’s Cheesy Seasoning blend or the Everything But the Elote seasoning to take it up a notch.

Sweeten your day

Efe says if you’re feeling really adventurous, “get creative and mix and match your favorite sweet flavors.” Instead of a simple drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of brown sugar, he suggests pairing peanut butter with dark chocolate chips, marshmallows with crushed pretzels, or melted chocolate with chopped nuts. Gordon also likes to add cinnamon sugar to her buttered popcorn and suggests melted peanut butter with a touch of sea salt as well. 

For the kids

Don’t forget to make your popcorn kid-friendly too. Mattey suggests adding hot cocoa packets, pumpkin pie spice, or butterscotch chips to popped popcorn for a kid-friendly twist. “These flavor combinations might be [tamer] than an adventurous adult spread, but their tiny taste buds react to the same five basic tastes that ours do—salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami,” she says. “Popcorn usually provides an excellent salty base, so the real challenge of a popcorn bar is to complement it with toppings that cater to those other tastes.”

An apple a day…

OK, maybe you won’t get a full serving of fruit by adding a bit to your movie night treat, but Tannenbaum also loves to mix her crunchy popcorn with nature’s candy. “If you’re a fan of texture, mix dried fruit and candied nuts with fresh popcorn coated in butter,” she says. “If you’re feeling really bold, toss in some shredded coconut.”