If you've tried chia pudding before and weren't impressed, these recipes might surprise you. They're creamy, flavorful, and easy to prep ahead for busy mornings or grab-and-go snacks.
It's creamy, filling, and made with just a few simple ingredients like chia seeds, almond milk, and a natural sweetener. In this post, I'm sharing six easy chia pudding recipes you can meal prep in minutes. Whether you love chocolate, fruit, or peanut butter, there's a flavor combo for you.
BONUS: These are naturally gluten-free, high in fiber and plant-based protein, and perfect for busy mornings or snack attacks. Grab the free printable guide below and make your week easier!
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What is Chia Pudding?
Chia pudding is made by soaking chia seeds in liquid (usually milk). The seeds absorb the liquid and create a thick, creamy texture-kind of like tapioca pudding, but with a slight crunch. It's naturally gluten-free and packed with omega-3s, fiber, and plant-based protein.
The best part? You don't have to cook a thing. Mix it, chill it, eat it. That's it.
6 Easy Chia Pudding Flavors
How to Make Chia Pudding (Base Recipe)
This is the simple recipe that starts it all. Once you master this base, you can customize it with any of the 6 flavors below.
Ingredients (1 serving):
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ cup milk (any kind - dairy, almond, oat, coconut)
- 1 tsp maple syrup or honey
- Optional: ¼ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Stir everything in a jar or container with a lid.
- Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir again to break up clumps.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Add your toppings and dig in!
Tips for Perfect Chia Pudding
- Use fresh chia seeds - Old seeds might not absorb liquid well.
- Stir twice - Once at the start, then again after 5-10 minutes.
- Adjust texture - Add more milk if it's too thick, or more seeds if it's too runny.
- Chill overnight - For the creamiest texture, prep it the night before.
Chocolate Chia Pudding
Rich, chocolatey, and feels like dessert for breakfast-but it's totally meal prep approved.
Ingredients (1 serving):
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tsp maple syrup or honey
- 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
Whisk or shake everything together in a jar. Let sit, stir again after 5 minutes, and chill. Top with coconut, chocolate chips, or berries.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Chia Pudding
Like a PB&J sandwich… but make it spoonable. Super satisfying and kid-approved.
Ingredients (1 serving):
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tsp maple syrup or honey
- 1 Tbsp natural peanut butter
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 Tbsp strawberry jam (add after chilling)
Instructions:
Mix everything except the jam in a jar. Stir twice, chill until thick, then spoon the jam overtop before eating. Add extra PB if you're feeling bold.
Blueberry Chia Pudding
Light, fruity, and blended for a smooth texture. Tastes like blueberry yogurt with a little crunch.
Ingredients (1 serving):
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
Blend the blueberries and milk together first. Then stir in the rest of the ingredients. Chill overnight and top with Greek yogurt and more berries.
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Strawberries and Cream Chia Pudding
Layered and pretty enough for brunch. Sweet strawberry base, creamy vanilla topping.
Bottom Layer:
- ½ cup strawberries
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp chia seeds
Top Layer:
- ½ cup milk
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
Blend strawberries and ¼ cup milk, then stir in 1 tsp chia seeds. Pour into a jar and chill. For the top layer, mix everything else and chill separately. After 3+ hours, pour the top layer over the strawberry base.
Banana Split Chia Pudding
Creamy banana base with dessert vibes-feel free to top with chocolate chips or coconut.
Ingredients (1 serving):
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ ripe banana, mashed
Instructions:
Mash banana in a jar, then stir in everything else. Let sit, stir again, then chill overnight. Top with banana slices, yogurt, or chopped nuts.
Best Chia Pudding Toppings
Top your pudding like a pro! Here are some favorites to mix and match:
- Greek yogurt or coconut cream
- Fresh fruit: strawberries, blueberries, banana, mango
- Crunchy: granola, cacao nibs, chopped nuts, seeds
- Sweet: drizzle of maple syrup, honey, or a few chocolate chips
- Layered: a scoop of nut butter or spoonful of jam
How to Store Chia Pudding + Meal Prep Tips
Want to make mornings easier? Chia pudding is made for meal prep.
- Fridge Life: Store each serving in an airtight container (like a mason jar) for up to 5 days.
- Prep Ahead: Make a batch or a few flavor combos on Sunday night-breakfast is done for the week.
- Top It Later: Hold off on adding fruit, granola, or anything crunchy until right before eating. This keeps everything fresh, not soggy.
- Freezer Tip: You can freeze chia pudding! Just use a freezer-safe jar, then thaw it in the fridge overnight before eating.
Chia Pudding FAQs
It's pretty straightforward to eat. Take a spoon and stir it up - then take a bite. Chia pudding is usually eaten cold, so keep it in the fridge until you're ready to eat. It's fine stored at room temperature for a few hours if you plan to bring it to work or school.
The calories will vary depending on the flavor you choose and the ingredients added. A basic vanilla chia pudding without toppings has 235 calories for reference.
There are a few things that can result in runny chia pudding... not waiting long enough for chia seeds to soak is a big one. Chia pudding should chill in the fridge a minimum of 3 hours before eating.
Chia seeds are like natural thickeners - once you add them to a liquid, they will start to form an outer coating. But the longer they sit, the thicker pudding you'll get. So it's best to make your chia pudding in the evening and then let them chill overnight.
These can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week. If you're meal prepping a large batch of chia pudding, I recommend saving the toppings until the day you're ready to serve for freshness.
Chia Pudding Recipe (6 Flavors)
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Ingredients
Base Recipe
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ cup milk - dairy or plant-based
- 2 tsp maple syrup - or honey
- ½ tsp vanilla extract - optional for most, required in vanilla
Instructions
- Add milk, chia seeds, sweetener, and any add-ins to a mason jar or bowl.
- Stir well or shake with a lid.
- Let sit 5 minutes, then stir again to break up clumps.
- Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight until thick.
- Add toppings before serving: fresh fruit, yogurt, granola, nut butter, or coconut flakes.
Notes
Flavor Add-Ins:
- Vanilla: Use base recipe as-is
- Chocolate: + 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- Peanut Butter & Jelly: + 1 Tbsp natural peanut butter, 2 Tbsp strawberry jam
- Blueberry: Blend ½ cup blueberries with the milk
- Strawberries & Cream: Layer ½ cup blended strawberries with ¼ cup milk + 1 tsp chia, then top with ½ cup milk + 2 Tbsp chia
- Banana Split: Mash ½ banana into base recipe
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-calculated and meant to be an approximation only.
Shana says
I just love these recipes. So easy and quick to prep. My go to one is the banana split. In the mornings I would add peanut butter, but I have powdered peanut butter so I added that to soak overnight so we shall see how that turns out.
Edith Martin says
Do the chia seeds need to be washed before preparation?
Andi Anne says
No they don't