This super delicious and healthy chia pudding recipe lets you try a new flavor for breakfast or snack every day of the week!
Chia pudding is the ultimate healthy dessert
If you’re new to chia seeds, this easy chia pudding recipe is a great starting point.
You simply stir everything together and refrigerate until thick. No fancy cooking gadgets, no whisking on the stovetop, and no baking required.
The resulting pudding is deliciously thick and creamy, with so many health benefits! It can be vegan, gluten free, raw, paleo, sugar free, oil free, nut free, low calorie, low carb, soy free, and keto friendly.
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I’ve posted the basic recipe below, along with some of my favorite flavor variations, each of which can be prepared in under 5 minutes.
And you can eat chia pudding for breakfast, snack, or a healthy dessert.
Why you should try chia pudding
1. High in fiber, protein, and calcium
It’s also high in B vitamins, iron, phosphorous, zinc, and magnesium.
2. Chia seeds are rich in Omega 3s
Just 2 tbsp of chia seeds have the same amount of heart-healthy Omega 3s as four ounces of salmon, so it’s a good vegetarian source of Omega 3s.
3. They’ve been shown to help you feel full
Chia seeds can expand up to 10 times their size by soaking up liquid, which can help keep you hydrated and aid in the digestion process. They are a great source of energy and can help in weight loss but are not strictly a diet food.
4. Natural alternative to cornstarch or heavy cream
The chia seeds naturally thicken the pudding, with no need to add any flour, starch, cream, eggs, or thickeners like xanthan gum, cornstarch, or carrageenan.
5. A new flavor idea for every day of the week
Try some of the flavor variations below, or have fun coming up with your own.
You can make chia seed pudding with almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, yogurt, cashew cream, or even other liquids such as orange juice or coconut water.
Or make a breakfast chia parfait by layering the pudding with fresh berries, banana, coconut yogurt, graham cracker crumbs, or Vegan Brownies, Sweet Potato Brownies, or Black Bean Brownies.
Chia seed pudding flavors
Chocolate Chia Pudding: Add a spoonful of mini chocolate chips and 2 tbsp cocoa powder or your favorite chocolate protein powder to the base recipe below for a yummy chocolate fudge pudding variation.
Strawberry Coconut: Use canned or carton coconutmilk for the milk of choice in the base recipe, and garnish with chopped or sliced strawberries or layer the pudding in a glass between layers of fresh berries (as shown in the photo below with raspberries).
Peanut Butter Cookie Dough: Stir one or two tablespoons of peanut butter or powdered peanut butter into the base recipe. If desired, crumble a few Keto Peanut Butter Cookies or these Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies on top.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread: Stir in mini chocolate chips and 1/4 cup mashed banana for a banana chia pudding. I like to quickly heat the banana first so it caramelizes, adding natural sweetness.
Blueberry Pie Chia Pudding: Stir in 1/4 cup mashed or pureed blueberries or blueberry yogurt. Add a dash of cinnamon and tiny sprinkle of cardamom if desired.
Other flavor ideas for how to make chia pudding include mocha, pumpkin pie or sweet potato, matcha, pb&j, piña colada, chocolate chip cherry, cinnamon roll, orange vanilla, key lime pie, or coconut chocolate.
Or stir in a tablespoon each of cocoa powder and this Homemade Nutella Recipe.
How to make the recipe
Start by gathering all of your chia pudding ingredients, and take out a container with a lid that can be used to store the pudding once it’s made.
Whisk all ingredients together in the container until evenly combined. Cover the container, shake it up, and refrigerate overnight.
This recipe will keep 4-5 days in the fridge, so it’s great for meal prep.
Feel free to double or triple the recipe below if you want a larger batch, or make up a bigger version of the base and then portion individual servings into containers, turning each one into a different flavor so you can try a new flavor every day.
And if you’ve tried chia puddings in the past and weren’t a fan of the gel-like texture, simply blend all of the ingredients together before letting it sit overnight. The resulting pudding the next day will be thick and smooth.
What would be your dream flavor chia pudding?
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Above, watch the chia pudding recipe video
Chia Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk of choice or cashew cream
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
- sweetener of choice, as desired
- scant 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- *Sweetener amount will depend on the type of milk and sweetener you use, as well as your tastes. Options include maple syrup, stevia, sugar, coconut sugar, date paste, etc.Chia Pudding Recipe: Whisk all ingredients in a container. If desired, you can blend everything together now, which will result in a smoother consistency the next day, but I actually love the taste and fun texture of leaving the seeds whole, so it's up to you. Cover, shake, then refrigerate overnight. The next day, it will be nice and thick. The pudding will keep 4-5 days refrigerated, so feel free to make a larger batch and portion into individual containers. I’ve included some flavor ideas earlier in this post, or have fun dreaming up your own!View Nutrition Facts
Video
Notes
Healthy Ways To Use Chia Seeds
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I don’t have any vanilla bean paste at home but have everything else can I leave it out or is there a sub?
I don’t have vanilla bean paste, is there a substitute for it? This looks delicious, Katie! Can’t wait to try it!
You can just use vanilla extract
Thank you, Amanda! Will definitely try that. =)
I might try using less in that case… Also the flavor will be different, but of course it will still “work.”
Can i add chia seed to chocokste milk im new at this
Sure, sounds fun!
Not sure where it says to use vanilla bean paste in the recipe? I just see vanilla extract.
I’ve heard about the magical grow spell that chia can cast. A little too expensive for the amount I’d probably end up using it….
I can TOTALLY relate to this story. I can’t believe some of the ridiculous stuff I’d beg my mom for and for actually disliking her because of those reasons. Momma knows best, people! I also had a Chia Pet, the dinosaur one. I had an obsession with dinosaurs as a kid. I also had an obsession with the dinosaur eggs oatmeal, which is one item I would beg my mom to buy that was completely reasonable.
Check Sam’s Club. I bought a big container 2# for about $12 and they are organic.
Haha I wanted that ‘dog’ too. I think my parents just thought it was dumb and didn’t even bother with a substitute! I think I’ll try this…looks yummy! By the way the 2nd pic is amazing!
I whole-heartingly agree, I keep scrolling up to that second picture! I’m not even big on raspberries, yet my mouth is salivating!
How come you stir in the other ingredients the next day? Does that make a different consistency than if you added the vanilla, stevia and salt when you were mixing it up the first time? I am going to make some tonight!
Either way is fine.
Thanks! I tried it this way (stirring in the next day) and it turned out great!! I’m really glad I saw your method because other recipes haven’t mentioned to stir it after it sets, so I’ve always just eaten it as is. It’s always been kind of flat and not at all like a pudding texture. I never thought to stir it up because I guess I thought it might separate again and be even less like pudding. But this forced me to stir it all up the next day and I saw that stirring it after it sets does the exact opposite of what I thought it would do. It made it nice and fluffy! Thanks so much Katie!!!! 🙂
This sounds sooooo good!! I love that cashew cream!
Were do you get vanilla bean paste?
xo Elizabeth
Grocery stores, near the vanilla extract and spices.
Have question here Katie. 😉 that chia tea recipe. ,, how much do I eat per day ? Whole thing or half or coulple TBS everyday ? Appreciate your input. I am sure have drink lots water or get consipated!
I love chia seed pudding! I mix the dry chia seeds with cacao powder, a little powdered stevia, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Then I add the milk and whisk it. Put it in the fridge and let thicken, whisking a few more times as needed. Mmmmm!
Mmmm, this sounds good! Can you use Stevia Vanilla Creme drops instead of the vanilla bean, or even just half a capful of vanilla extract?
I’m intrigued to see what this tastes like, and might have a go at it! I reckon it’ll go well with some fresh mango too, yum! Does the mixture thicken a lot overnight? x
I love chia pudding and layering it with fruit and granola…mmmm!
I love chia pudding!! Especially because it’s so quick and easy to make. I always find myself using lots of pineapple in my puddings. I think I need to go wild and crazy and add some berries sometime 🙂