Chia pudding is a healthy breakfast idea or snack that you can put together in 10 minutes.
Today I’ve put together six healthy chia pudding recipes that you are going to love. These recipes include lots of fresh fruit, seeds, nut butter and greek yogurt for added protein and healthy fats.
These six healthy chia pudding recipes will give you delicious flavor options to try for an energizing meal. Learn how easy it is to make chia pudding below.
Chia Pudding
Wanna know the secret to a healthy breakfast that you’ll eat over and over again? It’s meal prep! If you make your breakfast in larger batches and store them in the fridge, you will be creating delicious meals that are grab-and-go.
Chia pudding is wonderful because chia seeds are loaded with nutrition. Did you know that chia seeds help to aid in digestion, increase energy, support blood sugar regulation and weight loss, and improve brain function? They’re basically a superfood that we all should be eating more of.
And just like with overnight oats, chia pudding can be expensive when you buy them at the store. So instead of paying $12-$14 for a fancy chia pudding at a coffee shop, you can make this homemade version for less than $4.
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What Are Chia Seeds?
Chia seeds are high in fiber and a great superfood. If you’ve never used them before, you might be surprised when you add them to water… Chia seeds soak up 10 times their weight in water and will produce a gel coating. This makes them great for digestion as it helps you feel fuller longer because they immediately expand in your stomach when eaten.
How To Use Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are very versatile. They can be eaten raw, soaked in water to form a gel, or sprouted.
They’re great to sprinkle on your morning oatmeal, add to salads, smoothies, yogurt… and to make chia pudding!
Recently we made healthy banana splits at home and used superfoods including chia seeds as toppings. They were a total hit with the whole family!
I also have a wonderful homemade chia jam recipe here that I use in the PB & J chia pudding recipe below.
Money-Saving Tip
Chia seeds can be a little more expensive than some of the other things on your grocery shopping list, but a little goes a long way so you don’t need to buy as much to get great results.
I like to purchase my chia seeds from the bulk section at the grocery store as that’s where I’ve found them to be cheapest. Also, from my experience, black chia seeds tend to be cheaper than white chia seeds, so I stick with those.
Is Chia Pudding Good For You?
Yes! The main ingredient in chia puddings is… you guessed it, chia seeds! They’re an excellent source of fiber, magnesium, and phosphorus. They’re also a good source of calcium, iron, niacin, and thiamin.
To make your chia pudding extra healthy, be sure to use good quality ingredients – stick to a natural sweetener like maple syrup or honey.
You can use regular milk for these recipes or a non-dairy version like almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk or soy milk.
How Do I Thicken My Chia Pudding?
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 they will get. So it’s best to make your chia pudding in the evening and then let them sit overnight to thicken.
How Long Do Chia Puddings Last In The Fridge?
Chia puddings are best eaten within one week of being in the fridge.
Chia Pudding Tips And Tricks
PREP CHIA PUDDING THE NIGHT BEFORE – Chia puddings are really easy to assemble. But you want to give the chia seeds some time to fully soak up the milk, and the best time to do that is the night before.
BATCH PREP ON SUNDAYS – Make a big batch of chia pudding on Sunday night and divide it into 6 oz mason jars for the week. You can shop my favorite mason jars below:
A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY – No need to eat a big amount of chia pudding. A small serving will fill you up! They’re full of healthy fiber which will help with your digestion and make you feel fuller longer.
FRESHNESS – If you’re making chia puddings in advance, save the toppings until the day you’re ready to eat. This will prevent soggy fruit on top, which isn’t that fun.
TOPPING IDEAS – Some toppings I recommend trying are berries, bananas, apples, oranges, nuts, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, raisins, and anything else you feel like experimenting with.
HOW TO EAT CHIA PUDDING – These are pretty straightforward to eat. Take a spoon and stir them up – then take a bite. They’re wonderfully satisfying and delicious. Chia pudding is usually eaten cold, so keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.
CUSTOMIZE TO YOUR TASTES – Once you try out a few chia pudding recipes and learn what you like, start playing around with different combinations. You can try different fruits, nuts or seeds, and don’t be afraid to swap any ingredients out.
Vanilla Chia Pudding
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Vanilla pudding is the base recipe that is used to make every other chia pudding flavor. To make the chia pudding, simply combine milk, chia seeds, maple syrup (or honey), and vanilla extract in a bowl and stir with a whisk.
Pour into a mason jar and let sit in the fridge overnight. Then, add your favorite toppings in the morning before you eat.
Chocolate Chia Pudding
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Save this chocolate chia pudding for when you’re craving anything chocolate! To make this chocolate pudding, you can use cacao powder.
Cacao powder is healthier than cocoa powder. Yes, they look the same but they’re actually not. Cacao powder is a good source of iron, protein, magnesium, potassium and fiber.
If you’re looking for it at the grocery store, you can usually find it in the “health foods” section. You can also buy cacao powder online.
I topped this chia pudding with raw pumpkin seeds and a few 70% dark chocolate chips, but you could also use fresh berries, shredded coconut and nuts.
Peanut Butter And Jelly Chia Pudding
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This is the classic peanut butter and jelly combo but in a chia pudding!
This recipe is done in two parts. First, the bottom layer is created using the vanilla chia pudding recipe. It’s important to let this set in the fridge overnight before adding the second layer.
Once the chia pudding has thickened you can top with homemade strawberry chia jam or use a low sugar store bought jam. Add a dollop of your favorite nut butter on top and a few nuts or seeds for added crunch.
Blueberry Chia Pudding
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Blueberry chia pudding is created by adding 1/2 cup of blueberries along with milk to a blender first. Then pour it into a bowl along with other ingredients and stir with a whisk. Pour into a mason jar and let it sit in the fridge overnight.
Add fresh blueberries and plain yogurt as toppings in the morning.
Strawberries And Cream Chia Pudding
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The strawberries and cream chia pudding is probably my favorite. This chia pudding has two steps…
Step one // Make the bottom layer: Add the strawberries and 1/4 cup milk to a blender. Add to a small bowl along with 1 tsp of chia seeds and mix together. Pour into a mason jar and let it sit for at least 30 minutes in the fridge before adding the next layer.
Step two // Make the chia pudding: Use the vanilla pudding recipe to create the top layer. This can sit in a separate container overnight and be poured overtop of the strawberry layer in the morning.
Then, add plain greek yogurt, fresh strawberries, and pumpkin seeds as toppings before you eat.
Banana Split Chia Pudding
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I saved the best for last! This is my personal favorite. If you like bananas like I do, then you’ll enjoy this banana split chia pudding.
To make it, use the vanilla chia pudding recipe and stir in the mashed banana. Let it sit overnight in the mason jar, then add fresh banana slices to the top just before serving.
Six Healthy Chia Pudding Recipes
Ingredients
Vanilla Chia Pudding:
- ½ cup milk - dairy or non-dairy
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tsp honey - or maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Optional Toppings: - strawberries, blueberries and shredded coconut
Chocolate Chia Pudding:
- ½ cup milk - dairy or non-dairy
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tsp honey - or maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp cacao powder
- Optional Toppings: - pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate chips
Peanut Butter and Jelly Chia Pudding:
- ½ cup milk - dairy or non-dairy
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tsp honey - or maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsp nut butter or seed butter
- ¼ cup
strawberry chia jam - or any jam you prefer - Optional Toppings: - sunflower seeds
Blueberry Chia Pudding:
- ½ cup milk - dairy or non-dairy
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tsp honey - or maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup frozen or fresh blueberries
- Optional Toppings: - Greek yogurt and fresh blueberries
Strawberries and Cream Chia Pudding:
- ½ cup milk - dairy or non-dairy
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tsp honey - or maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup frozen or fresh strawberries
- ¼ cup additional milk - dairy or non-dairy
- Optional Toppings: - greek yogurt, pumpkin seeds and strawberries
Banana Split Chia Pudding:
- ½ cup milk - dairy or non-dairy
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tsp honey - or maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ banana - mashed
- ½ banana - sliced
Instructions
Vanilla Chia Pudding:
- Combine milk, chia seeds, honey (or maple syrup), and vanilla extract in a bowl and stir with a whisk. Pour into a 6 oz mason jar and let sit in the fridge overnight. Then, add your favorite toppings in the morning before you eat.
Chocolate Chia Pudding:
- Combine milk, chia seeds, honey (or maple syrup), vanilla extract and cocoa powder in a bowl and stir with a whisk. Pour into a 6 oz mason jar and let sit in the fridge overnight. Then, add your favorite toppings in the morning before you eat.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Chia Pudding:
- Combine milk, chia seeds, honey (or maple syrup), and vanilla extract in a bowl and stir with a whisk. Pour into a 6 oz mason jar and let sit in the fridge overnight.
- Once the chia pudding has thickened, top with homemade strawberry chia jam. You might need to let this sit in the fridge for 20 minutes before adding your favorite nut butter or seed butter. Sprinkle a few nuts or seeds on top for an added crunch and protein.
Blueberry Chia Pudding:
- Add the milk and 1/2 cup blueberries to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour it into a bowl along with chia seeds, honey (or maple syrup), vanilla extract and stir with a whisk. Pour into a 6 oz mason jar and let sit in the fridge overnight. Then, add your favorite toppings in the morning before you eat.
Strawberries and Cream Chia Pudding:
- Make the bottom layer: Add the strawberries and 1/4 cup milk to a blender. Then pour the mixture into a small bowl along with 1 tsp of chia seeds. Pour into the mason jar and let sit for at least 30 minutes in the fridge before adding the next layer.
- Make the chia pudding: To make the vanilla chia pudding layer, combine 1/2 cup milk, chia seeds, maple syrup (or honey), and vanilla extract in a bowl and stir with a whisk. Pour into the 6 oz mason jar and let sit in the fridge overnight. Then, add your favorite toppings in the morning before you eat.
Banana Split Chia Pudding:
- Combine milk, chia seeds, honey (or maple syrup), vanilla extract, and mashed banana in a bowl and stir with a whisk. Pour into a 6 oz mason jar and let sit in the fridge overnight. Then, add banana slices in the morning before you eat.
Equipment Used
Nutrition Info Note: The actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes and the size and number of what you make. The nutritional values provided above are just an estimate. Actual numbers will vary based on brands you choose and the ingredients you use.
If you’re looking for more specific details (for example, to track your macros) then I recommend adding specific brand ingredients and this recipe to a food tracker app on your phone.
