This is how to make Ninja Foodi popcorn in your air fryer and pressure cooker machine. A super quick, delicious, healthy snack made in minutes. If you love easy Ninja Foodi recipes this is a fun one to try.
Looking to make a big ol’ bowl of Ninja Foodi popcorn for movie night this weekend? Well it is easier than you thought it might be! Just one of many other easy Ninja Foodi recipes we share here on The Typical Mom blog. (participant in the amazon affiliate program, links present)
How to Make Popcorn in the Ninja Foodi
Before this pot was created I was one of the first people to make and share how to make Instant Pot popcorn. This is kinda’ similar but the machine is quite different so I thought I would experiment with it so it would work for you on the first go around.
After many many trials I reached perfection and if you follow our careful steps you too will have success, and so much fun. Kids love watching it all, it’s like magic really. Try it this weekend and let us know what movie you watch while enjoying it. 😉
Jump to:
- How to Make Popcorn in the Ninja Foodi
- What function do you use to make popcorn in Ninja Foodi?
- Can you make popcorn in the Ninja Foodi?
- Pressure Cooker Popcorn
- How do you cook popcorn in a Power Pressure Cooker XL?
- Do you have to use coconut oil to pop popcorn?
- How to Pop Popcorn without a Popcorn Popper
- What toppings can you put on popcorn?
If you too are obsessed with your Ninja Foodi pressure cooker air fryer machine, here are a few resource to start with:
- You can bookmark our Ninja air fryer recipes page, we add to that weekly.
- Here’s a printable air fryer cooking times chart here for your fridge.
- Be sure to save this link to Instant Pot recipes for beginners too. You can use any of those in your pot too.
- Grab a set of wooden utensils to work with. They are great so your pot doesn’t get scratched!
- Then join our Ninja Foodi EASY Recipes – Facebook group where you can share and find more ideas you’ll love. Thousands of others share both pressure cooker and air fryer recipe ideas there daily and you can too!
If you need to know how to cook frozen meat in a pressure cooker, we have information on that. NO, you aren’t the only forgetful one. 😉
What function do you use to make popcorn in Ninja Foodi?
Only the saute function is used to make this. Leaving the lid open the whole time, you don’t want to splatter oil underneath that. You really could use any sort of pressure cooker to make this. You’ll just want a glass lid that fits on top. I have a 6.5 quart pot and this 10″ lid worked great.
You really could use a splatter screen instead if you have one on hand. You just don’t want the kernels popping all over your kitchen, and they would.
I used a lid from one of my Calphalon pots that fit just right. Since there wasn’t a little vent on the top I just left it ajar just a bit to release a bit of steam.
Can you make popcorn in the Ninja Foodi?
That is what I set out to decide. I almost gave up after a few rounds of different methods. I first used the air crisp lid, preheating Ninja Foodi first but that didn’t get hot enough in the end to do anything but burn the kernels.
Then once I tested it out using the saute feature it works amazingly well. The trick is to heat the coconut oil first so that it is hot enough to sizzle the popcorn immediately once you pour them in, not before!
Pressure Cooker Popcorn
How do you cook popcorn in a Power Pressure Cooker XL?
The instructions would be the same, that machine has a saute function as well. You can make Crockpot Express popcorn the same too. That button says sear/brown. Just make sure to use this oil and make sure it’s HOT.
I took a photo below of the minute I poured in all of my kernels. You see how they immediately started to sizzle and bubble. If they don’t then your oil wasn’t hot enough and it may not work. Be patient, that is the name of the game here.
5 minutes of melting it and preheating is about how long you need to wait. You can test it out with just 1 dropped inside. If it looks like this right away then add the rest. If not, wait a few minutes and then add 1 more to test.
Do you have to use coconut oil to pop popcorn?
Yes, vegetable oil will NOT work because it won’t get hot enough. This one has a higher smoke point is why it is a must. Don’t worry though there are other uses for it like melting chocolate smoother, and a great alternative to other oils that gives a touch of flavor to your dish.
How to Pop Popcorn without a Popcorn Popper
Here is the lid I already had in my cabinet that worked great. You may have one just the right size too on hand. Turn pot on and set to saute. Add your coconut oil now. Keep attached crisp lid open during this entire duration. Do not use it as a lid, that would make for a messy clean up if you ask me.
- Wait about 5 minutes so it can get the pan and oil really hot. Drop one popcorn kernel in the oil. If they immediately start to sizzle then it is ready.
- Pour in rest of kernels and sprinkle with salt.
- Place glass lid on just barely ajar so a bit of steam can release (if yours doesn’t already have a small steam valve present). The kernels should start popping within 1 minute if your oil was hot enough initially.
- Wait until popping starts to really slow down but before popping stops. Then press the off button but keep lid on for about 4 minutes as remaining pieces continue popping.
- Remove the lid. Pour into a bowl so they don’t continue cooking and get brown/black. Melt butter in microwave and pour on with a bit more salt and enjoy.
I like to season more once it is done. Melted butter is a great addition when done but there are so many other possibilities.
What toppings can you put on popcorn?
It is really fun for family movie night to make some aluminum foil bowls. Then set out all different types of things so each person can “dress” their bowl. Not only will it taste great but it will be a fun experience for everyone.
- Melted butter
- Dry ranch dressing mix
- Salt and pepper
- Lawry’s seasoned salt
- If you love kettle corn microwave popcorn you could sprinkle on salt and sugar
- Here is a pack of 15 popcorn seasonings you can try next time too
Quick and easy to throw together but will definitely be a huge HIT with your kiddos. Way easier than using the old fashioned stove top method and then you can rinse it out and make Ninja Foodi pulled pork for dinner after.
It is hard for me to enjoy it beyond the same day. It will lose it’s crunchiness a bit but if you want to I’d recommend using a gallon freezer bag. Make sure to suck all the air out before zipping.
You can use the air fryer function to pop popcorn or in the Foodi on the saute function. For both machines you will need coconut oil to get hot enough to pop the kernels. Using a different type of oil will likely not work. A high temperature is needed with foil lining the air fryer basket to get this done.
This isn’t the first Ninja Foodi snack we have made in this multi cooker pot though. The first was a basic bowl of Ninja Foodi rice which is my youngest daughter’s favorite. With just some soy sauce it is another gluten free treat.
Then I made something we love right out of our garden! If you have never tried Ninja Foodi kale chips you have got to make it this week. I promise you’ll be surprised at how yummy they really are.
You can print recipe below or just come back again and again when you want to make this at home. We love “seeing you” and would enjoy seeing how you served your bites and what you watched while enjoying it this week too.
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Ninja Foodi Popcorn
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 c popcorn
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Turn pot on and set to saute. Add coconut oil now. Keep attached crisp lid open at all times for this.
- Wait about 5 minutes so it can get the pan and oil really hot.
- Drop 1-2 seeds into the oil and if they immediately start to bubble then it is ready. Then pour in rest of kernels and sprinkle with salt.
- Place glass lid on just barely ajar so a bit of steam can release. The kernels should start popping within 1 minute if your oil was hot enough initially.
- Wait until popping starts to really slow down and then turn pot off but keep lid on for about 4 minutes as remaining pieces continue popping.
- Remove glass lid. Pour into a bowl so they don't continue cooking and get brown/black. Melt butter in microwave and pour on with a bit more salt and enjoy.
A. Barnett
Sunday 19th of May 2024
Worked perfectly as written. Thank you! I'm curious if you tried avocado oil, if that is also worth a try.
The Typical Mom
Monday 20th of May 2024
Oh good!! I haven't tried
Marilyn
Saturday 5th of February 2022
Amazing. I wouldn't have thought to use it for popcorn. Thanks for the info. Love popcorn 💗💖
The Typical Mom
Monday 7th of February 2022
So fun with the kiddos
Donna
Thursday 15th of April 2021
Great to know!!! Thanks! Can I use other with a high smoking point, such as avocado oil? And if so, it should take less time to get really hot, since the coconut oil has totake a little time to melt.
The Typical Mom
Thursday 15th of April 2021
I haven't tried with that. If you do let me know if that works too.