The 1-Ingredient Upgrade to Add to Any Soup—Trust Me On This

With soup season in full swing—at least at my house—I am scouring through recipes for old familiar favorites and new inspirations. I'm ready to simmer a different pot every week. But with so many to choose from depending on my mood and what I have on hand, I know I'll be adding this one topping to each bowl. And it's not something you might expect at first.

So what's the beloved garnish that will adorn my bowls of soup? None other than popcorn. The humble snack makes an unexpectedly fun and flavorful addition that elevates every spoonful. Here's why you should try it, too.

Why Add Popcorn to Your Soup

I remember the first time I added popcorn to my soup. I had a bag of Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn and some tomato bisque. One thing led to another and the rest is history—I never looked back. While Cheddar is a delicious choice, more often than not I use the plain, freshly popped popcorn that I always have on hand since it's a go-to snack for both me and my kids.

I typically only do a small handful at a time so the popcorn stays crispy, but it's also good when the soup starts to soak in and the flavors start to meld. Similar to adding crackers, you get a little crunch, a little salt, and a wonderful balance overall.

Let me also say, this is not a novel concept. I was reminded of that when one of the recipes I found during said soup scouring was our top-rated Wisconsin Native's Beer Cheese Soup. The recipe creator, SAVVYHOSTESS encourages us to "Serve with lots of popcorn floating on top!"

We even have a recipe called Popcorn Soup which is simply a corn chowder garnished with fresh popcorn.

Apparently, it's not only a trend Midwesterners love to follow. According to a Reddit thread on the topic, it has long been "a staple in some Latin American places. Particularly Ecuador, where you would never be served soup without popcorn"

Soup Recipes to Try With Popcorn

This snack upgrade works better with certain soups than others. Popcorn in something like a brothy chicken noodle will absorb the liquid too quickly, causing the pieces to dissolve into a bit of a mush. I'm not saying that's necessarily bad or good, but it is a bit like watching a sponge in action. Thicker soups can hold the popcorn at the surface better, suspending the snack until it gets scooped into your spoon. Here are some delicious options:

• Wisconsin Native's Beer Cheese Soup
• Baked Potato Soup
• Butternut Squash Soup
• Chef John's Creamy Mushroom Soup
• Cheeseburger Soup
• Rich and Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
• Simple Sweet Potato Soup

As far as topping your bowls with popcorn, it's as simple as popping your own, or popping open a bag. Go with plain, buttered, Cheddar, or try a zesty twist. Bacon popcorn would be tasty with cheeseburger soup, Cajun-spiced would work nicely on sweet potato, or, for an extra decadent bowl, add truffle-lovers popcorn to kick mushroom soup up a notch. Not only will this beloved snack level up your meal, but it's an unexpected riff that will get everyone talking—and give your dish a "pop."