Low Sodium Chicken Marinade Recipe (Salt Free)
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Jump to RecipeThis low sodium chicken marinade recipe is sweet, citrusy, and smoky – and brings a fantastic flavor to meat without salt. This marinade takes 5 minutes to get together, and gives meats a delicious hint of sweetness and acidity.
Add all the marinade ingredients together into a plastic bag or a bowl, add your chicken, and let the flavors mix and meld. This tangy marinade is simple and delicious, adds a little kick to your next chicken dish.
This easy salt free marinade will take any chicken you cook to the next level – no boring chicken here! You can marinate any type of chicken: boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, wings, chicken tenders, or even a whole chicken in this great marinade. Make this marinade the next time you’re grilling or roasting to give your chicken a nice smoky and sweet flavor.
By marinating chicken a few hours (or even overnight) in these simple ingredients you get a chance to include some great taste in each bite. Easy marinades like this make low sodium cooking a lot easier, especially if you’re new to a low-sodium diet.
Easy Low Sodium Chicken Recipes
I love finding new (& delicious!) ways to cook chicken, especially with this flavorful marinade. You can add bold flavors and great taste by making your own marinades.
When buying chicken, make sure to find a low salt or sodium variety, as some types of chicken can be injected with a salt solution, upping the sodium content. When you find a good all-natural chicken brand, it’s great to add to lunch salads, soups, or pasta dinners. And easy to bake, grill, or broil – or meal prep this chicken and add it to future meals or freezer dinners!
Browse all our low sodium chicken recipes here to discover your next favorite!
Ingredients for this No Salt Added Chicken Marinade
See the recipe card below for a full list of instructions and ingredient amounts!
- Smoked Paprika:Ā if youāre on a low sodium diet and you havenāt tried smoked paprika yet ā you have to! It gives a sweet & smoky, mild flavor to recipes, with no added salt. Itās one of my favorite spices, we use this on proteins, potatoes, sauces, and veggies!
- Honey: Iād recommend trying a local farmers market to find the best raw honey in your area. If you canāt find local, try getting organic honey, or substitute brown sugar instead.
- LimesĀ ā fresh lime juice works best, but lemon juice could also be used. Use fresh citrus juice (instead of bottled) for best results.
- Onion Powder &Ā Garlic Powder
- Red Chili Flakes: optional for a little heat!
- Black Pepper
- Fresh CilantroĀ āadds so much flavor, especially when combined with lime juice and honey. If you donāt like cilantro, fresh parsley or fresh basil work well instead.
How To Make Marinated Chicken Without Salt
- Take a plastic baggie (with a closeable top), or a large bowl and add your chicken. Add the smoked paprika, lime juice, onion powder, chili powder, chili flakes, pepper, and cilantro to the bag.
- Top with water, just enough to cover the chicken. Stir until all ingredients are combined and cover the protein. Close the bag or seal bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for minimum 4 hours (preferably overnight).
- Before cooking the chicken. drain the liquid from the marinade, and cook chicken using whichever method you prefer.
Low Sodium Dinner Recipes The Family Will Love
This easy marinated chicken is low in sodium and couldnāt be easier to make! This favorite chicken marinade can be customized in new ways by changing up the spices with different flavor profiles. Add cumin for a Mexican inspired chicken, or oregano for an Italian version!
By building meals around salt free pantry staples and swapping a few ingredients you can make healthier meals for you and your family. These salt-free dinners are healthier versions of classics that everyone will love. You can browse all our low sodium dinner recipes. Find your next family favorite!
Use This Marinated Chicken In These Great Recipes
- Low Sodium Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- Low Sodium Grilled Chicken
- Easy Low Sodium Chicken Tacos
- Low Sodium Pineapple Chicken Bowls
- Low Sodium White Chicken Chili
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Low Sodium Chicken Marinade
Equipment
- Plastic Bag
- Mixing Bowl
- Plastic Wrap
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 limes juiced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- Ā¼ teaspoon chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Ā½ cup cilantro * chopped
Instructions
- Take a plastic baggie (with a closeable top), or a large bowl and add your chicken. Add the smoked paprika, lime juice, honey, onion powder, chili powder, chili flakes, pepper, and cilantro to the bag.
- Top with water, just enough to cover the chicken. Stir until all ingredients are combined and cover the protein. Close the bag or seal bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for minimum 4 hours (preferably overnight).
- Before cooking the chicken. drain the liquid from the marinade, and cook chicken using whichever method you prefer.
Notes
Nutrition
*Please note, all nutrition content is estimated based on the ingredients we used, it may vary based on your ingredients. Always check your nutrition labels to verify sodium amounts.
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Chicken is our go to protein. This marinade was A+
Such a keeper! So much flavor I didn’t even miss the salt!! perfect for tacos or main dish or salad!! Thanks for sharing!!
This marinade livens up chicken. So tasty
How much chicken do you use for marinating.
Hi Barb, I would recommend using 1.5-2 lbs of chicken, that should be enough chicken so the marinade covers it.
– Kelly
Look no further than this on your š chicken
Love this marinade
Can you substitute lemon juice for lime juice? Thanks!
Hi Dia,
Yes – you can use vinegar (apple cider vinegar is our favorite for marinade) but any vinegar you prefer will work, just something acidic. Lime juice works too. Let me know what you end up using and how it turns out!
– Kelly
The list of ingredients lists honey…but honey isn’t part of the instructions. Is the honey combined with the other marinade ingredients, or brushed on the chicken later…?
Hi Tracy,
Yes you add the honey with the marinade – sorry if that was confusing. I just made an update in the recipe card with that note, thank you!
– Kelly