Copycat Mrs. Dash Salt-Free Seasoning (The Real Recipe + 5 Variations)

If you’ve ever stood in your pantry holding an empty Mrs. Dash shaker, you already know the problem: that bright, savory, salt-free magic is weirdly hard to replace. Store-bought blends are pricey, the brand quietly changed when Mrs. Dash became simply “Dash” (more on that below), and a lot of “copycat” recipes online taste flat and herby with none of the original’s signature tang.

This one doesn’t. It’s reverse-engineered straight from the original product’s own ingredient list, balanced to taste, and — critically — it nails the lemony brightness that almost every homemade version misses. Make a batch in five minutes with spices you probably already own, and you’ll never pay $5 a bottle again. It’s one of our most-loved homemade spice blends, right alongside our taco seasoning and Italian seasoning.

What Is Mrs. Dash, Exactly?

Mrs. Dash is a salt-free, herb-and-spice seasoning that launched in 1983 (the formula itself dates to 1981) as a way to add big flavor to food without a single grain of salt. It was created by marketing executive Carol Bernick, who was frustrated that nothing on the shelf let her season family meals without sodium. For decades it was the go-to shaker for anyone on a low-sodium diet, a heart-healthy eating plan, or just trying to cut back.

In recent years the brand, now owned by B&G Foods, rebranded from “Mrs. Dash” to “Dash.” The bottles look different and many longtime fans feel the reformulated blends taste blander than the original — which is exactly why making your own has become so popular. When you mix it yourself, you control the freshness, the quality, and the punch. (If you’re building a salt-free pantry, this is the blend to start with.)

The Original Blend is essentially a 14-spice medley built on onion, garlic, and black pepper, rounded out with garden herbs and finished with citrus. That last part is the whole game.

The Secret to Nailing the Flavor

Here’s where most copycat recipes go wrong. They throw together onion, garlic, parsley, oregano, and pepper, taste it, and think “close enough.” It isn’t. It tastes like generic herb mix.

If you read the actual ingredient label on a bottle of the Original blend, the last four ingredients tell the real story:

…orange peel, tomato, lemon juice powder, citric acid, oil of lemon.

That cluster of citrus and acid at the end is the signature. It’s the bright, almost tangy lift that makes you not miss the salt. Salt makes food taste “more like itself”; acid does a similar trick on your palate, waking everything up. Leave it out and your blend is dull. Put it in and suddenly it tastes like the real thing. (It’s the same trick that makes our lemon pepper seasoning so addictive.)

You have two easy ways to get that brightness at home:

• Citric acid (sold near canning supplies, sometimes labeled “sour salt”) — the most accurate match to the commercial product. A little goes a long way.
• Finely grated dried lemon zest — the natural, no-special-shopping option. It adds fragrance plus tang.

The recipe below includes both as alternatives. Add the citrus and you’ve already beaten 90% of the copycats out there.

Ingredients

• Onion powder: Adds sweet savory onion flavor throughout seasoning blend
• Garlic powder: Brings rich garlic taste with warm depth
• Dried parsley: Adds fresh herbal notes and light color
• Dried basil: Provides sweet Mediterranean flavor with fragrant aroma
• Dried oregano: Gives bold earthy Italian inspired herbal flavor
• Coarsely ground black pepper: Adds peppery bite and subtle spicy heat
• Dried marjoram: Brings gentle floral sweetness and mild herbal flavor
• Dried thyme: Adds earthy woodsy notes with classic seasoning flavor
• Dried savory: Creates signature peppery herbal Mrs. Dash flavor
• Ground coriander: Adds citrusy warmth and balanced earthy notes
• Ground cumin: Provides smoky depth with warm savory flavor
• Dry mustard powder: Adds tangy sharpness and subtle spice
• Dried orange peel: Brings bright citrus aroma and fresh flavor
• Celery seed: Adds classic savory seasoning and earthy notes
• Ground cayenne pepper: Provides gentle heat and spicy background flavor
• Dried rosemary: Adds bold piney herbal flavor and aroma
• Ground bay leaf: Adds deep herbal flavor and complexity
• Citric acid or dried lemon zest: Adds bright citrusy freshness and tangy finish

Instructions

1. Combine. Add all ingredients to a small bowl.
2. Crush the leafy herbs. As you stir, press the rosemary, thyme, and bay against the side of the bowl — or pulse the whole mix once or twice in a clean spice/coffee grinder — so the texture is fine and even, like the commercial product.
3. Add the citrus last. Stir in your citric acid or dried lemon zest and mix well.
4. Taste and adjust. Want more heat? Add cayenne. More tang? A pinch more citric acid. More savory depth? A little extra onion and garlic powder.
5. Store. Transfer to a clean, bone-dry shaker or jar with a tight lid.

Pro tip: Make sure every ingredient is fully dry and your jar is completely moisture-free. Garlic and onion powder are humidity magnets — any dampness and the blend clumps into a brick.

5 Variations to Match Every Mrs. Dash Flavor

The Original is just the start. The brand sells a whole lineup, and you can clone the popular ones by tweaking the base recipe. (Hungry for more? Browse all our DIY seasoning recipes.)

1. Garlic & Herb

Double the garlic powder, drop the tomato/citrus down slightly, and add ½ teaspoon fennel seed (ground). This is the savory, garlic-forward blend that’s incredible on chicken, potatoes, and garlic bread. For a standalone version, see our full garlic herb seasoning.

2. Lemon Pepper

Heavy on the citrus and pepper: use 1 tablespoon dried lemon zest, 1 tablespoon coarse black pepper, 1 teaspoon citric acid, plus 1 teaspoon each onion and garlic powder. Skip most of the leafy herbs. Perfect on fish, shrimp, and roasted vegetables.

3. Italian Medley

Bump the basil, oregano, and marjoram to 1 teaspoon each, add ½ teaspoon dried thyme and ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Built for pasta, marinara, pizza, and bruschetta — basically our Italian seasoning with the Mrs. Dash citrus twist.

4. Onion & Herb

Lead with onion powder (double it), add ½ teaspoon sweet paprika and a pinch of dried chili, and keep the herb mix. Great in soups, ground beef, dips, and sour-cream-based sauces.

5. Extra Spicy (a.k.a. Table Blend with kick)

Take the Original and add ½ teaspoon more cayenne plus ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes and a pinch of smoked paprika. The everyday shaker for people who like a little fire. If you love heat, our Cajun seasoning is the natural next batch.

How to Use Your Homemade Seasoning

This blend is genuinely all-purpose. A few favorites:

• Proteins: chicken, turkey, pork, fish, shrimp, eggs, tofu — start with our salt-free baked chicken
• Vegetables: roasted broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes, and green beans
• Starches & grains: rice, quinoa, pasta, baked or mashed potatoes
• Snacks: popcorn, avocado toast, cottage cheese, deviled eggs
• Soups, stews, and chili as a finishing sprinkle

For meats, make a quick wet rub: mix 1 tablespoon of the blend with a little olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon, coat your protein, and let it sit at least an hour (or overnight) before cooking. You can also stir a spoonful into flour and breadcrumbs for a flavorful, salt-free coating on baked chicken or fish.

How to Store It (and How Long It Lasts)

Treat it like any spice blend — its enemies are heat, light, air, and moisture.

• Use a small airtight glass jar or a shaker with a tight lid.
• Store it in a cool, dark cupboard — not on the counter above the stove or on a sunny shelf.
• For peak flavor, use within 6 months. It stays safe well beyond that, but ground spices and dried herbs lose their punch over time, so the blend gets weaker the longer it sits.
• Shake before each use to remix ingredients that settle.

If your blend starts smelling faint or tasting flat, it’s the spices aging, not the recipe — refresh your jar and you’re back in business.

Is It Really Salt-Free? A Note on Sodium

Yes. This recipe contains no added salt (sodium chloride) at all. The only sodium present is the tiny, naturally occurring trace in dried herbs and vegetables — typically around 1–2 mg per ¼ teaspoon, which is nutritionally negligible.

One thing to know: a true salt-free blend like this is different from a salt substitute. Salt substitutes usually replace sodium chloride with potassium chloride, which matters if your doctor has you watching potassium (common with certain kidney conditions or medications). This blend uses neither — it’s just herbs, spices, and citrus. As always, if you’re managing a medical condition, run big dietary changes past your doctor or dietitian.

What You’ll Save by Making It Yourself

A 2.5 oz bottle of the name brand runs roughly $4–$6 depending on where you shop. This recipe makes about ½ cup (close to a full bottle’s worth) from pantry spices you likely already own — pennies per batch once you’ve got the spices on hand. Buy your herbs from the bulk bins or a warehouse store and the savings get even sillier. It also makes a genuinely lovely homemade gift: spoon it into a 4-oz jar, add a label, and you’ve got a thoughtful, useful present.

Tips for the Best Possible Blend

• Start with fresh spices. This is the #1 rule. Open each jar — if the aroma is weak or the color is faded, replace it. Stale spices make a stale blend.
• Grind for authenticity. A quick pulse in a spice grinder gives you that fine, uniform, commercial-style texture. Don’t over-grind into dust.
• Never substitute garlic salt or onion salt. Use the pure powders, or you’ve defeated the entire salt-free purpose.
• Customize freely. This is your blend. Love rosemary? Add more. Hate cumin? Leave it out. Write down what you change so you can repeat your perfect version.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mrs. Dash seasoning made of? The Original blend is a salt-free mix of dried onion and garlic, black pepper, and a dozen herbs (parsley, basil, oregano, marjoram, savory, thyme, rosemary, celery seed, coriander, cumin, mustard, bay, cayenne), finished with carrot, tomato, orange peel, lemon juice powder, citric acid, and lemon oil. That citrus finish is what gives it its signature brightness.

Is Mrs. Dash a salt substitute? Not exactly. It’s a salt-free seasoning — it adds flavor in place of salt, but it doesn’t contain a sodium replacement like potassium chloride the way dedicated “salt substitutes” do. Many people use it as a salt alternative at the table.

Why did Mrs. Dash change to Dash? The brand was rebranded to “Dash” by its owner, B&G Foods. The packaging and name changed, and some longtime customers feel the blends taste milder than the original — a big reason DIY copycat recipes have taken off.

How do I get that “tangy” Mrs. Dash flavor? Add citrus and acid. The original gets its lift from lemon juice powder, citric acid, lemon oil, and orange peel. At home, use citric acid (most accurate) or finely grated dried lemon zest. Skipping this step is the most common reason homemade versions taste flat.

How long does homemade seasoning last? It’s safe for a year or more, but it tastes best within about 6 months, while the herbs and spices are still aromatic. Store it airtight, away from heat, light, and moisture.

Can I make this without cayenne? Absolutely. Leave it out for a no-heat blend, or cut it to a pinch. The recipe is fully adjustable to your taste and tolerance.

What can I use Mrs. Dash on? Almost anything savory — chicken, fish, eggs, roasted and steamed vegetables, potatoes, rice, pasta, soups, popcorn, avocado toast, and as a rub or breading base.

Related Recipes from Fork To Spoon

Once you’ve made one DIY blend, it’s hard to go back to bottles and packets. Here are more reader favorites worth keeping in a jar:

More salt-free & all-purpose copycats (the closest cousins to this one):

• Copycat Dan-O’s Original Seasoning — low-sodium, sugar-free, citrus-forward, and good on near anything.
• Copycat Kinder’s Garlic & Herb Seasoning — garlicky and herby with a bright lemon lift (easy salt-free option).
• Copycat Morton’s Nature’s Seasoning — the classic green-cap all-purpose shaker, made at home.
• Copycat Kinder’s The Blend Mix — the popular salt-pepper-garlic rub for grilling.

More homemade spice blends:

• The Best Meatloaf Seasoning — smoky, savory, and balanced for ground meats.
• The Best Homemade Pot Roast Seasoning — nine pantry spices, no foil packet required.
• Lawry’s French Fry Seasoning — turns plain fries, potatoes, and popcorn into something addictive.

Copycat packet seasonings:

• Homemade Chili Seasoning Mix (McCormick Copycat) — one batch equals one packet, with less sodium.
• Homemade Sloppy Joe Seasoning (McCormick Copycat) — sweet, tangy, and savory in five minutes.
• Homemade Old El Paso Taco Seasoning — tastes just like the packet, minus the fillers.