What Potato Chip Has the Least Amount of Salt? (Hint: It's Unsalted)

December 30, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the American Heart Association, the ideal limit for sodium intake is no more than 1,500 mg per day for most adults, making low-sodium snacks a priority. If you're wondering what potato chip has the least amount of salt, the clearest answer lies in unsalted versions from reputable brands, though lightly salted and homemade options also offer viable solutions.

Quick Summary

Unsalted chips, such as Kettle Brand Unsalted and Utz Original No Salt Added, offer the absolute lowest sodium content for a savory potato chip snack. Homemade versions with no added salt provide an alternative. Lightly salted varieties are another great way to reduce sodium intake without sacrificing all the flavor.

Key Points

Unsalted is the Lowest: Unsalted chips like Kettle Brand Unsalted and Utz Original No Salt Added contain the least amount of salt, often with less than 5mg of sodium per serving.
Lightly Salted is a Middle Ground: 'Lightly salted' options, such as Lay's Lightly Salted, offer a reduced sodium content compared to their classic versions, balancing flavor with a healthier profile.
Homemade Offers Ultimate Control: Making your own chips at home by baking or air-frying without salt provides the most control and allows for truly sodium-free seasoning.
Always Check Labels: Don't assume all 'lightly salted' products are the same; always compare nutrition labels, as sodium content can vary significantly between brands.
Season with Care: If you find unsalted chips bland, use sodium-free seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika to enhance flavor without adding salt.

Finding the Lowest Sodium Potato Chip

When it comes to reducing sodium intake, finding a potato chip that meets your needs can be a challenge. Most chips are heavily salted for flavor, but several brands offer low or no-salt-added alternatives. The lowest sodium potato chip on the market is typically an 'unsalted' variety, followed by 'lightly salted' options. These options are perfect for individuals on restricted diets, or anyone simply looking to make a healthier choice without giving up their favorite crunchy snack.

Unsalted and No-Salt-Added Chips

For the absolute minimum sodium, unsalted chips are the way to go. These products contain only the trace amounts of naturally occurring sodium from the potatoes and oil, and can be considered nearly sodium-free. This allows the pure, earthy potato flavor to shine through. Notable brands offering an unsalted product include:

Kettle Brand Unsalted Potato Chips: Marketed with just potatoes and oil, these chips deliver a strong crunch and all-natural flavor without added salt. They are Non-GMO Project Verified and certified gluten-free, appealing to a wide range of consumers.
Utz Original No Salt Added Potato Chips: Offering a similar promise, Utz provides a classic chip experience without the added salt. A single serving contains just 5mg of sodium, making it an excellent choice for a strictly low-sodium diet.
Radhe Prem Ni Mithaas Unsalted Potato Chips: This brand offers an unsalted option that focuses on the natural flavor of the potatoes, cooked to a golden crisp.

Lightly Salted Alternatives

For those who find unsalted chips too bland, lightly salted varieties provide a balanced middle ground. While not sodium-free, they offer significantly less salt than their classic counterparts. A prime example is Lay's Lightly Salted, which contains 70mg of sodium per one-ounce serving, 50% less than their Classic chips. Other popular brands also offer similar low-sodium versions, allowing consumers to enjoy a familiar taste with less guilt.

Comparison Table: Sodium Content in Popular Chip Varieties

To put the differences into perspective, here is a comparison of the average sodium content per 1-ounce (about 28g) serving of various potato chip types:


Chip Variety	Estimated Sodium (per 1oz serving)	Notes
Utz Original No Salt Added	5 mg	Specifically formulated for minimal sodium.
Kettle Brand Unsalted	0 mg (Trace)	Contains only naturally occurring sodium.
Homemade (No Salt Added)	Minimal (Trace)	The absolute lowest sodium option, determined by the potato itself.
Lay's Lightly Salted	70 mg	Offers 50% less sodium than the Classic variety.
Lay's Classic	170 mg	Serves as a baseline for a typical, fully salted chip.
Lightly Salted Kettle (Avg.)	700 mg (per 100g)	Nutritionix lists a lightly salted Kettle chip at 700mg per 100g, or 198mg per 1oz. Always check labels.

The Homemade, No-Salt Option

For ultimate control over ingredients and sodium levels, making your own potato chips at home is the best method. By thinly slicing potatoes, you can bake or air-fry them with no oil or salt at all. Seasoning can be added later using sodium-free spices like garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika. Alternatively, a seaweed seasoning blend, which provides a savory, umami flavor without a high sodium content, can be used. This DIY approach ensures you know exactly what is going into your snack, guaranteeing the lowest possible sodium content.

Conclusion: Making the Healthiest Choice

While most potato chips are a high-sodium indulgence, it is possible to find or create lower-salt versions. The answer to "what potato chip has the least amount of salt?" is definitively an unsalted variety from brands like Kettle Brand or Utz. For those who prefer a hint of salt, lightly salted options like Lay's provide a compromise. Ultimately, for the strictest control, homemade chips baked or air-fried without salt are the healthiest and most sodium-conscious choice. When purchasing, always check the nutrition label, as sodium content can vary significantly, even among seemingly similar 'lightly salted' products. For further reading on sodium intake guidelines, consult the American Heart Association at https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sodium.

Frequently Asked Questions

The lowest sodium potato chips you can typically buy in a store are the 'unsalted' or 'no salt added' varieties. Brands like Kettle Brand Unsalted and Utz Original No Salt Added offer products with minimal to trace amounts of sodium.

The sodium content in 'lightly salted' chips varies by brand, but they generally contain significantly less sodium than their classic versions. For example, Lay's Lightly Salted has 70 mg of sodium per serving, which is 50% less than Lay's Classic.

Yes, homemade potato chips can be made with virtually no salt, giving you complete control over the sodium content. By air-frying or baking thinly sliced potatoes with no salt added, you get the absolute lowest sodium version.

Instead of salt, you can use a variety of sodium-free seasonings to flavor homemade chips. Options include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or a specialty seaweed seasoning blend that provides an umami flavor.

Yes, many non-potato chips and snacks offer lower sodium alternatives. Look for whole-grain crackers with low-sodium cheese, air-fried vegetable chips (like carrot chips), or homemade snack mixes with nuts and seeds, all of which can be prepared with minimal salt.

You should always check the Nutrition Facts label on the back of the packaging. It will clearly list the sodium content per serving size. This allows for direct comparison between different brands and varieties, helping you choose the lowest-sodium option.

The cooking method (kettle-cooked vs. regular) doesn't inherently dictate the salt content. The amount of salt added is what matters. A kettle-cooked chip can be found in both unsalted versions, like Kettle Brand Unsalted, and heavily salted varieties.