Flamin' Hot Cheetos popcorn recipe

Here is a Flamin’ Hot Cheetos popcorn recipe you’ll want to try!

This is not your normal Cheetos snack. Chester Cheetah would agree – and my husband because he tried it and loved it.

It’s perfect because you can adjust the amount and level of spice and it gives a fun kick to ordinary popcorn. And you can choose what kind of texture you want – and even level it up with lime.

The concept:

What we are doing is making “Cheeto dust” (enter the Narcos theme song here). The cool part is you can store it in a tightly closed jar and use it on all kinds of other recipes or as a topping.

To make this Flamin’ Hot Cheetos popcorn recipe, you will need:

Plain popcorn (pop it or buy it already popped)
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos (choose your flavor)
2-3 limes

Other supplies:

Large bowl
Ziploc bag or food processor (to crush the Cheetos)
Rolling pin (if using the Ziplock bag)
Mixing spoon or spatula
Gloves (because Flamin’ Hot Cheeto dust is hot!

The choices:

Cheetos brand has more than one flavor on the shelves. I found a baked version and even one with lime! You can branch out of the Cheeto family and try Takis. They have a lot of different flavors as well. Want to skip the “hot” altogether? Go with the classic Cheetos. You can add in garlic powder, onion powder, lime to make your own much-loved cheesy treats for cheesy smiles. Even better toss in some shredded cheddar cheese into your popcorn along with the hot Cheetos. Okay, we are veering off the rails here.

Back to the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos popcorn recipe!

Here’s a step-by-step guide to making this crazy popcorn:

Prepare the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos:

Start by crushing the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into fine crumbs. You can do this by placing them in a Ziploc bag and using a rolling pin to crush them. Decided if you want chunky pieces or a find powder, like a spice. I went with somewhere in-between.

Do you want actual Cheeto pieces along with the popcorn or do you want the popcorn to be covered in Cheeto dust? An alternative is to use a food processor until you achieve a fine consistency. Set the crushed Cheetos aside.

Pop the popcorn: Prepare the plain popcorn according to the package instructions. You can use microwave popcorn, stovetop popcorn, or an air popper, depending on your preference. To make it SUPER easy, you can buy pre-popped popcorn. No vegetable oil or sunflower oil needed. No heat need. No microwave needed!

Add the lime: Place the popcorn in a bowl and squeeze lime all over the popcorn and mix with the spoon.

Combine the popcorn and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crumbs:

There are two ways to combine the Cheetos and the popcorn

Place the popped popcorn into a large bowl. Gradually add the crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to the bowl, while tossing and mixing the popcorn with a spoon or spatula. Continue adding the crumbs and mixing until the popcorn is evenly coated with the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos seasoning.
Pour the popcorn into the bag of the Cheeto dust. Seal the bag and shake so the popcorn so thoroughly covered.

Serve and enjoy: Once the popcorn is coated, it’s ready to be enjoyed. You can serve it immediately, or you can spread it out on a baking sheet to allow it to cool and dry a bit if desired. Squeeze more lime!

Chunky Hot Cheetos Popcorn

Not into Cheeto dust? Do the same method but only crush them half way so they are still chunky. Pour the popcorn in the Ziploc bag, shake and then serve. Don’t forget the lime!