Tajin Popcorn - Unique Cooks (2024)

Crunchy, spicy and salty- this Tajin popcorn is the perfect snack to make for a movie night or a sleepover, or just when you’re craving for it!

Inspired by the flavors of Mexican street corn aka Elote, which features the bold chili lime seasoning, this easy snack comes together in just a few minutes on your stovetop or Air Fryer- and of course, you can use your favorite air popper too, if you want to.

Versatile and customizable, this is one snack that’s seriously addictive, and you’ll find yourself making it again and again!

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Ever since I whipped up my batch of homemade Tajin seasoning mix, I have to say, I’m legit obsessed with it, and have been putting it to use for all sorts of snacks and recipes.

The spicy Mexican seasoning was a hero ingredient in a lot of my snack recipes- chili lime pepitas, Tajin nuts, Mango con Tajin and even pepinos con chile.

And then, I thought, why not use it to season my batch of classic popcorn too? And that’s when I decided to make this!

What's So Great About the Recipe?

My favorite part about this Tajin popcorn recipe is its simplicity and flavor!

The fiery and savory flavor is super easy to achieve, and you don’t even need any fancy ingredients or equipment to make it.

The crunch of the popcorn and the kick of heat have the perfect marriage of flavors and textures, making it a great snack to munch on when you’re trying to consciously eat healthy.

Ingredients For the Tajin Popcorn Recipe

You’ll need just 3 simple ingredients for this delicious popcorn snack recipe.

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Popcorn kernels: You’ll need some good quality popcorn kernels to start with. Choose the unseasoned variety.

Tajin seasoning: For that kick of flavor, you’ll be using Tajin seasoning, which you can make from scratch or just use the store bought variety.

Olive oil: Olive oil will help coat the seasoning nicely on the popcorn.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Tajin Popcorn on the Stove Top

Making this crunchy and savory snack in a pot over the stovetop is super easy.

All you’ll need to do is add the olive oil and corn kernels in a thick, heavy bottomed pan.

Mix to ensure that all the kernels are coated with, and on let them pop on medium heat, with the lid on, leaving just a teeny bit of space for the steam to escape.

Once the popping slows, take the pot off heat and let it rest for 2-3 minutes before you top it with the Tajín.

How to Make Tajin Popcorn in Air Fryer

Preheat your Air Fryer at 400° F.

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Step 1: In a small bowl, mix the olive oil and corn kernels. Spread this on your prepared Air Fryer basket lined with kitchen foil.

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Step 2: Let the kernels pop in the Air Fryer for about 5 minutes. Open the basket, remove the popped kernels, and cook again for 3 more minutes to get the perfect popcorn.

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Step 3: Sprinkle the spice powder over your bowl of popcorn and enjoy!

Substitutions & Variations

• I used olive oil for the recipe because I wanted to keep it vegan. You can choose to use butter if you don’t have any dietary restrictions.
• Want the heat from the Mexican spice to be balanced with a little sweetness? Brown sugar can be a great choice.

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Equipment

• Stainless Steel Pot
• Mixing Bowls
• Serving Spoons

How to Store the Leftover Tajin Popcorn

If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container or Ziploc bags at room temperature.

They should stay good for 2-3 days, but since this is popcorn we’re talking about, remember that they’ll most likely lose their crunchiness.

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Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe

• If your popcorn seems to be lacking that salty flavor, you can sprinkle some sea salt or seasoning salt over it too.
• Want a bit more of that sour taste Mexican food is so famous for? While you can’t exactly drizzle lemon juice on the popcorn, you can add some fresh lime zest into the mix.
• When cooking the popcorn in the Air Fryer, remember to shake the Air Fryer basket a couple times during the cooking process.
• If you have some leftovers, you can try making Elote popcorn using it! All you need to do is sprinkle some Cotija cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over it and toss well.
• If you want to enjoy those Mexican corn on the cob flavors, while still keeping it vegan, you can use nutritional yeast to lend the popcorn that delicious, cheesy flavor.

How to Serve Tajin Popcorn

There’s nothing quite like a large bowl of this crunchy, savory popcorn for a nice movie night or an evening snack that needs that something extra.

If you’re making this for a party, you can also team it up with other tasty appetizers and snacks like some Turkish cheese rolls and upside down onion tarts.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these: