This copycat of Trader Joe’s Popcorn with Herbs and Spices uses six ingredients: nutritional yeast, celery seed, dill, onion powder, garlic powder, and sea salt. Fresh-popped kernels soak up the blend in about 10 minutes. The recipe makes enough to serve four.
Nutritional yeast is the ingredient that sets this seasoning apart from a generic herb blend. It gives the coating a savory, almost cheesy depth, which is exactly the flavor in the TJ’s bag that people can’t quite explain. Without it, the celery seed and dill land flat.
The seasoning goes into the olive oil before the popcorn, not directly onto it. Dusting dry herbs over popcorn means most of the seasoning falls to the bowl’s bottom, leaving the top kernels barely coated. Mixing everything into the oil first lets it cling evenly to every piece.
Trader Joe’s Popcorn Recipe
Course: SnacksCuisine: American4
servings5
minutes10
minutes300
kcalCelery seed is what most copycat versions miss, and it is the detail that makes the seasoning taste like the bag rather than generic herb popcorn. The six-ingredient blend takes about two minutes to mix, and the whole recipe needs no special equipment beyond a pot and a bowl.
Ingredients
- Popcorn
⅓ cup popcorn kernels
2 tbsp olive oil (or butter), plus extra for popping
- Herbs & Spices seasoning
1 tsp nutritional yeast (Bragg’s Nutritional Yeast Seasoning)
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp dill
½ tsp sea salt
Directions
- Pop the popcorn kernels using your preferred method (stovetop, air popper, or popcorn maker).
- While the popcorn pops, combine the nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, celery seed, dill, and sea salt in a small bowl.
- Add 2 tbsp olive oil to the dry seasoning and stir until combined.
- Transfer the popped corn to a large mixing bowl.
- Drizzle the seasoning and oil mixture over the popcorn and toss to coat.
FAQs
Where do I find nutritional yeast if I don’t already have it?
Most grocery stores carry nutritional yeast in the health food or bulk aisle, usually near the supplements or baking section. It is also available online and at natural food stores like Whole Foods or Sprouts. Bragg’s Nutritional Yeast Seasoning is the brand used in the recipe, though any nutritional yeast works here.
What if I want the seasoning to have more heat?
Cayenne works here and adds heat without disrupting the herb balance. Start with ¼ teaspoon added to the oil mixture, since it distributes more evenly than dusting it on afterward. Smoked paprika is another option if you want warmth with a smoky edge rather than straight heat from cayenne.
Can I mix the seasoning in advance?
Yes, the six dry spices can be combined and stored in a small jar, separate from the olive oil. When you are ready to season, add the oil to the pre-mixed blend and drizzle as usual. Having the blend premixed cuts the active prep to under two minutes on any given night.
What other TJ’s snack can be seasoned at home the same way?
TJ’s Crunchy Curls take seasoning even better than popcorn since the ridged surface grips the coating. The crunchy curls with chili lime seasoning at thecopycatcook.com builds the same drizzle-and-toss format around TJ’s Chile Lime blend. It is a five-minute recipe with no cooking required.
What TJ’s dessert pairs well with this for a movie night?
A Trader Joe’s ice cream sandwich is the natural companion to a bowl of seasoned popcorn for a movie night at home. The TJ’s ice cream sandwich cookies at thecopycatcook.com uses store-bought TJ’s ice cream with from-scratch cookies, ready in about 20 minutes of active work. It makes six to eight sandwiches, so there is enough for a crowd.
