Jump into my quick and easy guide onhow to pop popcorn in the microwave using just a paper bag— no oil or equipment needed!

How to Pop Popcorn in the Microwave Using Just a Paper Bag

Making popcorn has never been easier! It’s one of my all-time favorite easy and healthy snacks for the whole family. And did you know you can make popcorn in a brown paper bag in the microwave? It’s so simple and doesn’t require any popcorn-making gear that you might’ve *thought* you needed to make popcorn at home (I know that’s what I thought!).

I’m not a huge microwave person, but this is completely an exception because this method is a lifesaver. You don’t need an air-popper, stovetop-popper, or any oil, and you can ditch the store-bought chemical-filled microwaveable popcorn, too! Making it in a paper bag in the microwave is silly easy, and you can have a whole-grain, fiber-filled snack on the regular with little effort on your part! Score.

(I also love adding a little butter and salt. So delicious.)

How do you know when the popcorn is done?

The goal is to pop as many kernels as you can, without burning the popcorn. The time that will take varies depending on the age and water content of the kernels, your area’s climate, and your microwave.

Be sure you stick close by while it’s popping so you don’t end up with burnt popcorn. Listen as it begins to rapidly pop, and when there’s a one-second pause in popping, it’s done. Go ahead an open the microwave and remove the bag.

What are some ways to spice up traditional popcorn?

Butter and salt are always a favorite topping, but you can also get creative and try recipes like my chili lime popcorn, my homemadeCaramel Sauce,the best sticky caramel corn, or this fun (and non-sticky)spiced caramel corn with white chocolate.All of them are delicious!

What size paper bag do I use to pop popcorn?

You can use just about any size brown paper bag that will fit in your microwave. The little lunch sack size is easy to find, but there’s a size just a bit bigger which also works great.

Looking for more healthy and easy snack ideas?

More popcorn recipes you’ll love:

This post was originally published in 2018 and has been updated in July 2019.

I hope you found this hack forhow to pop popcorn in the microwave using just a paper bagjustas genius and exciting as I did! Enjoy fresh popcorn any day of the week and pop on.