15 Healthiest Microwave Popcorn Brands for 2025

When it comes to snacking, microwave popcorn is the ultimate quick and easy snack, but which is the healthiest microwave popcorn? While microwave popcorn is a gluten‑free, wholegrain snack rich in fiber and delightfully crispy, some brands are high in saturated fats, sodium and artificial flavorings, which can turn your healthy snack into something unhealthy. 

To find the healthiest microwave popcorn, you’ll need to pay close attention to the nutrition labels. But you don’t have to figure this out alone. We have compiled a list of the healthiest microwave popcorn brands that you need to try.

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• The 15 Healthiest Microwave Popcorn Brands To Try
• What Is the Healthiest Microwave Popcorn?

The 15 Healthiest Microwave Popcorn Brands To Try

1. Angie's BoomChickaPop Sea Salt

When choosing the healthiest microwave popcorn, the saturated fat content, artificial flavors and sodium levels are something you need to pay close attention to. Angie's BoomChickaPop Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn keeps it simple with just three ingredients: non-GMO wholegrain popcorn kernels, pressed palm oil and sea salt. There are no artificial colorants or flavorings, keeping this a healthiest microwave popcorn that only has 35 calories per cup of popcorn.  

Bear in mind, unless you’re super disciplined, you’re going to eat more than one cup, which means the calories and sodium you consume will climb. Each serving, which is about 3.5 cups popped, has 250mg of sodium, 170 calories and 5g of saturated fats. Not only is this one of the healthiest microwave popcorn brands, but it is also pretty tasty!

2. 365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic No Oil or Salt

While some of the healthiest microwave popcorn options do come with oils, finding one without oils or added salts is the ultimate goal. 365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic No Oil or Salt Microwave Popcorn is a firm favorite among dietitians because of the minimal ingredients and that it does not contain preservatives. This healthiest microwave popcorn is made with just popcorn kernels. That means no salts, butters or oils.  

One serving (30g unpopped kernels) only has 110 calories, 1.5g of saturated fat, 3g of protein and 4g of fiber. Admittedly, the flavor of this popcorn is not as tasty because of the lack of salt. If you wish to increase the flavor profile without saturated fats from butter and oils, you may want to add a light drizzle of olive oil, as this is a healthy fat with a rich and subtle flavor.

3. Nature’s Promise Organic Plain

Health-minded snackers who want minimally processed food can reach for Nature’s Promise Organic Plain Microwave Popcorn, one of the healthiest microwave popcorn choices. Quinn avoids diacetyl — an artificial butter flavoring — and sticks to just three ingredients: organic yellow popcorn, organic palm oil and salt.

The result is a light, crisp snack with a clean salty finish that doesn’t leave your mouth feeling dry. One serving provides 120 calories, 3g of protein, 2.5g of total fat (0.5g saturated fat) and 210mg of sodium. This is a great option for a healthy snack without compromising on taste.

4. Black Jewell No Salt No Oil Microwave Hulless Popcorn

While salt and oil do make microwave popcorn taste delicious, if you’re looking for the healthiest microwave popcorn, you’ll want to avoid these ingredients. The Black Jewell No Salt No Oil Microwave Hulless Popcorn is a fun and healthy snack made from heirloom popcorn kernels. 

For over 50 years, this family-owned brand has been making the healthiest microwave popcorn from 100% natural and non-GMO ingredients that are responsibly grown to protect the environment. Many people often forget to think about the bag when looking at ingredients without realizing it is important too. Black Jewell uses a chemical-free microwave bag with no PFOA or PFAS.  

One serving of 3 cups of popped popcorn only has 100 calories, an impressive 1.5g of fat, 3g of protein and 3g of fiber. This popcorn also has nutrients like 1mg of iron and 73mg of potassium, adding to its appeal as a nutritious and satisfying snack.

5. SkinnyPop Sea Salt

SkinnyPop Sea Salt ranks among the healthiest microwave popcorn options and is vegan as well as dairy, peanut and tree nut free. The PFAS-free bag pops up light and airy with a clean, mildly salty finish that makes it an easy go-to for healthy snackers.

One serving, which is about 5 cups of popped popcorn, comes with 130 calories, 6g total fat (of which 1.5g is saturated fat), 260mg of sodium, 3g of fiber and 2g of protein. Don’t let the name “skinny” fool you, though; this popcorn does contain oils like sunflower oil and responsibly sourced palm oils, which can add up quite quickly if you don’t stick to the recommended serving size.

6. Orville Redenbacher Simply Salted 

For more than 40 years, the Orville Redenbacher brand has been making some of the healthiest microwave popcorn made from Orville Redenbacher’s exclusive kernel, first planted in 1952. This kernel differs from the competition with a lighter and fluffier microwave popcorn that only has salt and palm oil. For added freshness, the brand includes mixed tocopherols. Tocopherols are a fat-soluble form of vitamin E that is derived from vegetable oils. 

This healthiest microwave popcorn comes with 170 calories per serving of 4.5 cups of popped popcorn. It also has 11g of fat, of which 6g is saturated. Compared to other brands on this list, this microwave popcorn does have a much higher sodium content of 400mg, which can be unhealthy if you’re consuming a large quantity of this popcorn.

7. Act II Light Butter 

When you talk about microwave popcorn, you’re likely going to think of Act II popcorn. This popular brand has been making microwave popcorn since 1981. It had started out as a frozen product before the revolutionary microwavable popcorn bag was developed in 1984. The brand figured out early on the importance of healthy snacking by creating the healthiest microwave popcorn option. 

Act II Light Butter has 50% less fat and 30% fewer calories than regular microwave popcorn, yet still delivers a rich, 100% butter flavor. One generous serving — about 6.5 cups of popped popcorn — contains 140 calories, 3.5g of total fat and 4g of dietary fiber. 

However, it also has 410mg of sodium per serving, which is on the higher side. Consuming too much sodium regularly can increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease, so it’s something to keep in mind when choosing your go-to snack.

8. Healthy Heart Market No Salt 

If you’re looking for a low-calorie snack, you’re going to want to try the healthiest microwave popcorn from the Healthy Heart Market. This microwave popcorn is made without any added salt or oil. The brand is known for selling organic popcorn that is organically grown by family farmers. Not only is this healthiest microwave popcorn free from preservatives and artificial flavors, it also boasts 0g saturated fat.  

With only one ingredient, organic popcorn, one serving of two tablespoons of unpopped kernels delivers a low 110 calories, 1.5g of total fat, 4g of protein and a high 5g of fiber. This brand also stands out with 0g sodium, making it a heart-smart choice. Thanks to its fiber content and clean ingredient list, it’s a snack that supports cardiovascular health and helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

9. Angie's BoomChickaPop Real Butter

Nothing beats a bowl of warm, buttery popcorn. But let’s face it — that classic version isn’t the healthiest way to snack. A smarter alternative is Angie’s BoomChickaPop Real Butter Microwave Popcorn. Made with real ingredients, it delivers that iconic buttery flavor with fewer calories and cleaner ingredients.

This option uses non-GMO whole grain kernels, is gluten-free and contains no preservatives. A serving of 3.5 cups of popped popcorn has 170 calories, 5g of saturated fat, 3g of protein and 320mg of sodium.

While 5g of saturated fat is still on the higher side, it’s significantly lower than what you’ll find in many other butter-flavored microwave popcorn that rely on artificial butter flavoring. If you’re looking for a microwave popcorn that strikes a better balance between real butter taste and more mindful nutrition, this one deserves a spot on your grocery list.

10. Angie's BoomChickaPop Lightly Sweet Kettle Corn 

Another great option from Angie’s BoomChickaPop is the Lightly Sweet Kettle Corn. This healthiest microwave popcorn is the perfect alternative for that sweet kettle corn flavor that you love. Kettle corn is well-known for its distinct sweet and salty notes but it is not the most healthy popcorn choice. 

To keep that iconic sweetness but without all the added fat and sugar, this brand uses cane sugar and monk fruit extract to sweeten the kettle corn instead of an artificial sweetener and the result is perfectly sweet.

This healthiest microwave popcorn has five simple ingredients — wholegrain popcorn, pressed palm oil, cane sugar, monk fruit extract and sea salt. A 3.5 cup serving gives 170 calories, 3g of fiber, 5g of saturated fat (about one‑quarter of the daily limit), less than 1g sugar and 240mg of sodium, placing it among the top healthy snacks for kids when enjoyed in modest portions or paired with fruit.

11. Pop Secret Light Butter Flavor

Pop Secret Homestyle is a solid choice when searching for the healthiest microwave popcorn. Made from the brand’s secret recipe, it has no preservatives, artificial flavors or dyes but still tastes delicious with a sprinkle of salt and a subtle taste of butter. It is made with non-GMO corn and contains no high fructose corn syrup. This is a healthy popcorn snack perfect for movie nights or just a quick bite when you’re crunched for time during the week.  

One serving of this healthiest microwave popcorn, which is about 4 cups of popped popcorn, has 120 calories, 2g of saturated fat, 290mg of sodium and 2g of fiber. You should be aware that this microwave popcorn does contain milk, which is a common allergen.

12. Newman's Own Touch of Butter

Choose the healthiest microwave popcorn company that gives 100% of its profits to help kids like Newman’s Own. The Touch of Butter Microwave Popcorn is a popular microwave popcorn choice that has half the amount of total and saturated fats compared to other leading microwave popcorn brands. Despite being low in fat, the brand still offers a buttery and salty flavor that does not border on tasting artificial. 

This is one of the healthiest microwave popcorn options as it contains 130 calories per serving, delivers 4g of fiber and despite its rich buttery flavor, contains 4.5g of total fat — just 1.5g of which are saturated. The snack has 250mg of sodium per serving, a moderate level that delivers flavor without tasting overly salty. Overall, this is a must-try popcorn from a brand with a big heart.

13. Jolly Time Healthy Pop Butter 

For days when you crave a simple but tasty snack, Healthy Pop Butter stands out as one of the healthiest microwave popcorn brands, bringing movie‑night flavor without the fat hit. 

A 5 cup serving has just 100 calories, zero fat, 4g of fiber and 175mg of sodium and it’s made with non‑GMO wholegrain kernels and no artificial dyes. Add a dash of smoked paprika or nutritional yeast for extra flavor while still keeping it light.

14. Orville Redenbacher’s Smartpop! Butter

If you're trying to lose weight but still crave that classic buttery, salty popcorn taste, the healthiest microwave popcorn we recommend is Orville Redenbacher’s Smartpop! Butter Microwave Popcorn. While there are other healthy options from this brand, the Smartpop range takes the crown for being the lowest in calories and therefore the healthiest microwave popcorn. 

This popcorn is a buttery classic that manages to have 94% less fat than leading brands while still tasting good. With only 15 calories per cup of popped popcorn, this is an excellent low-fat and low-calorie snack. One serving — about 6.5 cups of popped popcorn — has just 120 calories and only 2g of total fat, though it’s slightly higher in sodium at 340mg compared to some other brands.

15. Full Circle Market Organic Butter

Made from a company that prioritizes high-quality ingredients and organic foods, the Full Circle Market Organic Microwave Butter Popcorn is the healthiest microwave popcorn snack from the brand. Made from wholegrains and certified organic, there are no artificial flavors, preservatives or synthetic colors. 

Instead, there are organic popcorn kernels, organic palm oil and less than 2% of salt and organic flavoring. The result is a microwave popcorn with a subtle butter flavor. This healthy snack contains 160 calories, 9g of fat and 190mg of sodium per serving.

What Is the Healthiest Microwave Popcorn? 

So, which is the healthiest microwave popcorn? The answer depends on what you are looking for. If sodium is the deal‑breaker, unsalted options like Black Jewell No Salt No Oil, 365 Organic No Oil or Salt and Healthy Heart Market Popcorn lead with 0–5 mg of sodium and 100–110 calories per roughly 3 cup serving. 

If you want a bigger bowl with almost no fat, Orville Redenbacher’s SmartPop! Butter and Jolly Time Healthy Pop Butter keep calories around 100-120 and saturated fat at 0-2 g, though they bring 175-340 mg of sodium. All are wholegrain and supply about 3-4 g of fiber, so the healthiest microwave popcorn for you is the brand that best balances calories, fat and salt for your needs.

Another healthy microwave popcorn option is homemade popcorn, which lets you control the type and amount of oil used (such as heart-healthy canola oil) and customize the flavor without relying on added preservatives or excess sodium. Plus, it’s quick and easy to make at home.

Microwave popcorn is the perfect healthy snack that is light, crunchy and tasty. But not all microwave popcorn is healthy. By adding oils, sugars and sodium, what was once a healthy snack can now be the opposite. 

But not this list of microwave popcorn. Whether you’re running errands, rushing between meetings or looking for a convenient healthy snack, these 15 healthiest microwave popcorn options are nutritious without compromising on flavor. 

For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.