Learn the secret of how to make chia pudding that comes out creamy and indulgent every time. Each chia pudding recipe is dairy-free, easy-to-make, and packed with fuel.
Whip them up for an on-the-go breakfast or pick-me-up snack in the middle of the day.
Scrambling around in the morning of throughout the day without fuel at your fingertips just puts you further and further away from your goals.
Not to mention it makes you perma hangry.
Use a chia pudding recipe below to always have a healthy snack on hand.
And as a Certified Nutrition Coach, chia seeds are one of the foods that I recommend every toddler should have in their diet.
But the best part about chia seed pudding is that you can make the recipes as fueling or indulgent as you need to.
All of the chia puddings below are:
- Dairy-free, gluten-free, and healthy
- Creamy
- Easy to make
- Healthy
The flavors of chia puddings below include berry coconut, energizing matcha, chocolate coconut, mango cream, lemon refresher, strawberry almond, and a classic peanut butter.
The Benefits Of Chia Pudding
- Increase your fiber intake which helps out your gut
- Help combat diabetes by slowing down digestion
- Improve brain health through omega three fatty acids
- Improves bones and teeth by containing a hefty dose of calcium
- Help keep you full due to the blend of amino acids
All in just two tablespoons of chia seeds.
Yup, chia seeds are a powerful thing.
Ingredients You Need
Below is everything you need to make all of the chia puddings (and this peanut butter protein powder chia pudding!). The first four ingredients are the base for every chia pudding recipe and the rest of them are how you make your favorite flavors.
Chia seeds: there are two kinds of chia seeds: black and white ones. both will work for a chia seed pudding recipe. Most of the time I use black chia seeds because they're a bit cheaper and more easily found.
Almond milk: any plant-based milk will work to make a chia seed pudding recipe. We use homemade hemp milk a lot as that's what we have on hand.
Coconut milk: this isn't necessary for all recipes but it does make the snack much more indulgent. Make sure to grab coconut milk from a can and not a watered-down version.
Sweeteners: most commonly used are honey and make syrup. Make sure to use real maple syrup for the best flavor and to keep the chia pudding recipes semi-healthy.
Frozen fruit: by the time the chia seed pudding is ready to eat, the berries won't be frozen anymore.
Unsweetened coconut: a great way to add some extra texture and some sweetness to a chia pudding. Personally, we love toasting our coconut first for maximum flavor.
Matcha powder: if you want some serious ENERGY make a wake-me-up chia seed pudding and use some match powder or matchinga powder.
Cacao powder: not to be confused with cocoa powder (learn the difference between cocoa and cacao powder). Cacao powder is loaded with much more nutrients, including calcium to really give your chia pudding a kick.
Banana: used as a sweetener in chia pudding or as a topping! Banana is a great way to keep chia pudding recipes whole30 approved.
Nut butter: peanut butter and almond butter are used frequently to give chia seed pudding a creamy feel.
Collagen powder & Protein powder: some chia pudding recipes have collagen or protein powder added in (learn the difference between collagen and protein powder). Collagen powder especially is the cleanest form of protein and gives the chia pudding some added fuel.
The Secret To Making Creamy Chia Pudding
Since chia seeds absorb liquid within five minutes you need to stir them again. Whisk together the ingredients, let it sit for 5-10 minutes and then re-whisk (or shake if it’s in a jar).
This is the secret to making chia pudding recipes with almond milk (or any plant-based milk).
Let the chia pudding absorb slightly and then re-stir. It makes the chia pudding consistency perfect every time (especially in this keto chia pudding).
Tasty Toppings
No pudding recipe is complete without some delicious toppings!
This is how you take your chia pudding from being a delicious snack into a healthy dessert. You can top your chia pudding however you want but below are a few of our favorites:
- Dairy-free caramel sauce
- Extra fresh berries
- Chopped nuts (toasted pecans are the best)
- Whole30 whipped cream
- Chocolate chips
How To Make Chia Pudding
- In a bowl, mix together the chia seeds and all liquid ingredients.
- Wait 3-5 minutes.
- Mix in the remaining ingredients and flavors. Re-stir.
- Portion the chia pudding mixture into a mason jar (or jars) and add the toppings.
- Pop in the fridge for 4-6 hours or longer.
But it never worked for me. It always ended up half congealed and half liquid.
But Aren’t Chia Seeds Expensive?
They most definitely are! One bag of chia seeds is about $14 and has 12 ounces in it. This is roughly twenty-four tablespoons.
So, one bag makes 8-9 servings worth of chia puddings.
So again, is it pricy? A bit. But it doesn’t mean you need to eat chia pudding every day! There are also ways you can stretch the recipes:
- Add more fruit
- Whisk it together into a yogurt pudding parfait
There’s no rule saying that chia seeds are the be-all end-all of existence. Do what you can and enjoy them when you make them!
Important Teaching Tips
Don't forget that double stir. It's crucial to make the best chia pudding every single time.
You can easily interchange fruit, nuts, and nut butter in the recipes to switch it up.
Chia pudding tastes best when it's prepped the night before. Giving it 8 or more hours to absorb and infuse the flavors makes it taste best.
Some toppings you don't want to add the night before (like homemade crunchy granola or fresh fruit) as they'll get soggy after sitting there overnight.
Don't be afraid to customize, add in a touch more sweetener, nut butter, or toppings as per your personal taste preference.
Rich, Delicious, Simple Chia Pudding recipes
The below recipes are the best blend of delicious and indulgent.
Whip up a couple for the week and feel great knowing you have some healthy fuel in the fridge!
Berry Coconut Chia Pudding
A crazy creamy chia pudding with berries and coconut milk. It has an indulgent but refreshing feel.
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds
- ½ cup almond milk
- 2 tbs coconut cream
- 1 tbs unsweetened, shredded coconut
- 1 tbs maple syrup
- ½ cup frozen berries
Add all ingredients except the berries into the chia pudding while you’re making it. Whisk it up. Let it sit for ten minutes, whisk again and top it with the frozen berries before you place it in the fridge.
Energizing Matcha
Need a pick me up? Matcha is one of my favorite “superfoods”. Matcha green tea is loaded with antioxidants and can act as a metabolism booster.
And the Matcha from Four Sigmatics is even better. This Matcha powder is mixed with lions mane which a mega source of energy and focus. It’s actually one of my staples as an entrepreneur.
- 3 tbs chia seeds
- ½ cup almond milk
- ½ teaspoon Four Sigmatic Matcha Powder
- 1 tbs raw honey
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon coconut cream
- 1 tablespoon walnuts
Aside from the walnuts, mix all ingredients into the chia seeds and almond milk. Let sit for ten minutes and mix again. Top with walnuts (or toasted pecans!) and place in the fridge overnight.
Note: know that the nuts on top will lose their crunch if you place them on the chia pudding overnight.
Mango Cream Chia Pudding
A delicious blend of refreshing mango and coconut cream makes the best snack! Plus, this recipe is high in protein!
- 1 cup frozen mango
- ½ cup almond milk
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- 1 tbs collagen powder
- 2 tbs coconut milk
In a blender, combine the mango, almond milk, and collagen powder and blend until smooth. Pour it over top of the chia seeds and let sit. Re-stir after 5 minutes and portion into two small jars. Pour one tablespoon of coconut milk in top of the chia pudding mixture in each jar. Pop in the fridge (makes 2 small servings).
Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding
A classic recipe that no kid will turn down. It’s simple, delicious, and perfect to curb a chocolate craving.
- 3 tbs chia seeds
- ½ cup almond milk
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder
- 1 banana, cut in half
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Mash half the banana and mix it with the cacao powder and the syrup into the chia seeds and almond milk. Let sit for ten minutes and whisk again. Slice the rest of the banana on top and place it in the fridge.
Berry Almond Chia Pudding
A refreshing recipe loaded with berries. Berries always give me an extra boost at midday because they’re just so uplifting. This one is a favorite of mine around that 2 pm sulk.
- 3 tbs chia seeds
- ½ cup milf of choice
- 5 tablespoons almond butter
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ cup berries or frozen berries
Mix the almond butter and syrup in with the chia seeds. Let sit for ten minutes and whisk thoroughly again. Top with berries and place in the fridge
Peanut Butter Protein Chia Pudding
Creamy and oh-so delicious! This protein chia pudding is swirled with creamy peanut butter and topped with chocolate chips
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- 3 tbs vegan vanilla protein powder
- 1 cup milk
- 1tbs peanut butter, more for topping if desired
- 3 tbs maple syrup
- 1 tbs chocolate chips (optional)
Mix everything together, pop in a jar, and drizzle with more peanut butter before tossing it in the fridge.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth & Fuel Your Body
The ultimate collection of high-protein, no-bake snacks for busy moms.
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With the Strong and Sweet Protein Guide, you’ll get over 25 high-protein, snack recipes that taste like dessert and pack in 17+ grams of protein per serving. These snacks are perfect for fueling your energy and keeping those sweet cravings in check—without adding more stress to your already busy day.
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Inside the Strong and Sweet Guide, you’ll discover exactly how much protein you need each day, how to choose the right protein powder, and enjoy over twenty-five easy ultra-simple snack recipes, each packed with 17 grams of protein or more.
More Dairy-Free Recipes You'll Love
- Espresso overnight oats
- Cookie dough overnight oats
- Chocolate baked protein oatmeal
- Lemon chia seed protein pudding
- Coffee chia pudding
- Cakey, vanilla protein donuts
- Iced coffee protein shake
- Salted caramel protein shake
- Protein granola
- Chocolate chia protein balls
- Peanut butter and jam protein balls
- Chocolate fudge protein balls
- Fudgy protein brownies
- High protein cookies
- High protein pancakes
- Yogurt protein pancakes
- Easy, no-bake vanilla protein bar
- High protein snack recipes
Frequently Asked Questions About Chia Seed Pudding
Chia pudding needs a minimum of four hours in the fridge to set and even that is speedy, six is best. Not only does this allow time for the chia seeds to absorb the liquid but also to chill. Chia pudding recipes aren’t overly tasty when they're warm.
It depends on the flavor but chia pudding in general has a mild crunch in texture. Because chia seeds create a gel when mixed with liquid the texture is normally thick. Some people love it and others don't. Start by making a small batch and see what you enjoy. Most people like chia seed pudding when topped with additional things like berries, granola, or chocolate chips to give it a bit more texture.
If your chia pudding seems a bit watery, add in one teaspoon if chia seeds and let it sit. The chia seeds should absorb the liquid and thicken the mixture.
If your chia seeds have fallen and clumped to the bottom it's because you didn't stir them well enough or use the "double-star" method. Waiting five minutes and stirring them again is truly the secret to creamy, perfect chia pudding.
You'll want to store chia pudding in a mason jar in the fridge. Chia pudding will stay good for about
To make creamy chia pudding, use a ratio of 3 tablespoons of chia seeds to ½ cup of plant-based milk.
It’s not common but like anything else, chia seeds can go bad. If you want to extend the life of your chia seeds, store them in a sealed jar in the fridge. Stored like that, chia seeds should last at least a year unless liquid gets into the jar as you use it. You’ll know your chia seeds have gone bad if they start to clump together. Otherwise, I wouldn’t worry about it.
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