10 Salt-Free Seasonings for Flavor-Filled Meals

With the plethora of salt-free seasonings lining the Savory Spice shelves it’s hard to choose just 10 of our favorites. We've left "straight spices" off the list - our herbs, paprika, onion & garlic, and peppers are great but obviously don't have salt in them. We've also left baking spices like cinnamon and ginger off the list since you can rest assured that those also don't have any additional ingredients (like salt).

Instead, we're focusing on our favorite seasonings and spice blends that don't have any salt.  Whether you’re on a salt-free diet or just trying to reduce your salt intake, here are a few top picks for salt-free seasonings that will add flavor without the added sodium.

10 Salt-Free Seasonings for Flavor Filled Meals

1. Chimichurri Dry Marinade:

We call this a dry marinade because it replicates the flavor of a traditional, zesty Argentinian herb marinade in powdered spice form. This Argentinean blend is full of wonderful flavor, but isn't as spicy as other Latin seasonings. Although it can be used as a seasoning for ground beef or pork, it can also be used to make other condiments. We suggest trying an Argentine-inspired ketchup the next time you have a french fry craving.

2. Bohemian Forest:

This herb-filled blend is complemented by the sharp bite of mustard and the sweet aroma of lavender. One of our favorite easy meals is a whole chicken rubbed with Bohemian Forest and cooked in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours. Get the recipe for Slow Cooker Roast Chicken. We also love this blend with roasted or mashed potatoes or baked white fish. 

3. Park Hill Maple & Spice:

Sweet and delicate maple sugar pairs with warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and earthy spices like turmeric, coriander, and cumin for a flavor that will knock your socks off. This blend is perfect for root vegetables, pork, and salmon. Try Maple Glazed Salmon paired with a green salad and Spiced Honey Mustard Dressing.

4. Mt. Evans Butcher's Rub: 

A rugged blend of chunky pieces of herbs and spices including bell peppers, shallots, onion, garlic, and more. This coarse seasoning stands up to longer cooking and high heat applications. Perfect for seasoning both vegetables and meat or in soups and stews. It's also great for the Slow Cooker Roast Chicken recipe we mentioned earlier.

5. Garam Masala: 

Technically this is a curry blend but unlike the curries you might be most familiar with, it doesn't have turmeric. In some ways it’s almost like the savory counterpart to chai. It’s less sweet (no ginger or cinnamon) and more savory (with coriander, charnushka, and cumin) than chai. Traditionally it’s used for dishes ranging from Channa Masala to tikka masala dishes, lamb, veggies, and fish. It's easy to incorporate into more American dishes too, try it in mashed sweet potatoes and barbecue sauces or on a Glazed Ham. It also makes a unique baking spice—try it in pumpkin pie or spiced cashews!

6. California Citrus Rub: 

Citrus is an amazing substitute for salt. In this blend, the tart flavors of orange and lemon are balanced by black pepper and crushed red pepper for a bit of heat. A hint of parsley gives it a refreshing finish. This blend is super versatile, use it to season marinades and vinaigrettes, rub it over chicken or fish before roasting, or simply sprinkle it over cooked veggies or make kale chips.

 7. Italian Herbs & Cantanzaro Herbs:

These herby blends are classics. You are probably familiar with the basil and oregano notes in traditional Italian Herbs. To make our Cantanzaro Herbs, we add a lemon and garlic twist to the classic combination of herbs. Use them interchangeably in dishes like pizza, pasta, and tomato soup.

8. Woody Creek BBQ Seasoning:

This blend proves that you don’t need salt to make great barbecue! This is the perfect all-purpose seasoning to add barbecue bite to sauces, veggies, and BBQ chicken. Simmer it with tomato sauce or tomato paste for a salt-free, homemade ketchup. Mix it into sour cream for a chip dip or mayo for a sandwich spread. I like to use it to season bread crumbs, which I use as a topping for mac and cheese or as a coating for baked chicken breasts.

9. Sweet Sesame Stir-Fry Veggie Shaker: 

This salt-free sprinkle is sweet, nutty, and aromatic with citrus notes. This colorful veggie shaker is the perfect combination of flavor and mild heat (it's a 3 on a heat scale of 1 to 10). Shake on veggies or seafood. As the name suggests, it's also perfect for Stir-Fry or Stir-Fry Egg Rolls (bet you can't have just one!)

10. Salt-Free Cajun Blackening Seasoning: 

Even if you can't have salt, you should still have exciting flavor, which is why we make this salt-free version of our Cajun Blackening Seasoning. This seasoning is so tasty that whether you do a lot of Cajun-style cooking or not, you'll find many ways to enjoy it. Try it on classic dishes like Boudin Benedict with Hot Honey Hollandaise Blackened Chicken or Cajun Fried Shrimp or Cajun-inspired dishes like Boudin Benedict with Hot Honey Hollandaise.

There's a world of flavor, even when you're going salt-free. Explore more salt-free options.