Protein Chia Seed Pudding [18g + Dairy-Free]

Name: High Protein Chia Seed Pudding
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 245 min
Ingredients: 3 tbs Chia seeds; 1/4 cup Fresh lemon juice; 1 tbs Unsweetened coconut; 3 tbs Almond milk; 2 tbs Collagen powder; 1 tbs Maple syrup; 1/2 tsp Lemon zest; 1.5 tbs Coconut cream (optional)

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A creamy blend of coconut, lemon, and protein to give you a morning boost! This lemon protein chia seed pudding is an easy way to up your daily protein intake and enjoy what you eat.

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A great meal prep recipe, this protein chia pudding can be made as indulgent or healthy as you like! Whip up a batch for the next day and gain a burst of energy when you need it.

Lemon chia protein pudding topped with coconut cream in a small jar with lemons on top and a spoon in the pudding.

This high-protein chia seed pudding is a wicked way to gain a burst of energy first thing in the morning or throughout the day!

Made with protein-packed chia seeds and fresh lemon juice, this high-protein snack is a delicious and refreshing way to stay full.

In fact, as a Certified Nutrition Coach, chia seed puddings are often snacks I include in my snack guides because they're so full of nutrients. Between the collagen powder and natural protein in chia seeds, recipes like this are a great way to bump up your protein intake. Learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet and why you want to amp it up.

"This chia seed pudding is not only delicious, but the use of lemon zest adds a punch of aroma making it uplifting and energizing too." -Sonia

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Easy to make: Chia pudding is classically simple to whip up and can be popped in the fridge in about 5 minutes.

Meal prep: Since this kind of pudding will stay fresh for 3-4 days, it make a great meal prep recipe so that you always have something to snack on.

Healthy: Naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and paleo this chia seed pudding also has 17 grams of protein to keep you full.

Ingredients You’ll Need

A wicked high-protein snack, this protein chia seed pudding comes together quickly too with a handful of gluten-free pantry staples! Peek at the photo below for a full shot of what you need.

Chia seeds: these little powerhouses are one of the three foods I think every kid should have in their diet. They’re that good! And a little goes a long way. Make sure to grab whole seeds though and not ground.

Dairy-free milk: we use homemade hemp milk but any almond milk or dairy alternative will work (learn more about dairy-free swaps). Oat milk chia pudding can be especially creamy!

Maple syrup: a hint of maple syrup for sweetness! Grab the real stuff and enjoy the smoky flavor.

Fresh lemon juice & zest: you want to use fresh as this is what gives the pudding its intense flavor. Lemon is a wonderful pick-me-up and works just as beautifully in these gluten-free lemon cookies!

Collagen powder: one of the cleanest sources of protein, collagen powder is a staple in my diet. Learn about the differences between collagen powder and protein powder when it comes to high-protein snacks (like this high-protein pumpkin pudding)

Shredded coconut: opt for unsweetened coconut if possible.

Coconut milk: adding extra coconut milk to the high-protein chia pudding is optional, but it makes it SO much more indulgent! Learn everything you need to know about coconut milk and which one to choose for the recipe.

Multiple ingredients to make chia pudding in measuring cups with text labels over top.

Learn How To Make Protein Chia Seed Pudding

Hot tip: Don’t skip the step about waiting five minutes and re-stirring the protein chia pudding. This is what helps make sure it doesn’t clump at the bottom (learn more about how to make perfect chia pudding).

Tan bowl with chia seeds and coconut on a wooden cutting board.

Step 1: Whisk together the chia seeds, coconut, and collagen powder.

Step 2: Add in the remaining ingredients and mix well.

Tan bowl with chia seeds and coconut and almond milk on a wooden cutting board.

Step 3: Let it sit for five minutes and then mix again.

Lemon chia pudding in a small jar with coconut cream on a cutting board with a whisk beside it.

Step 4: Portion it into a jar and let it chill for four hours or more. Then top the protein chia pudding with your favorites and enjoy!

Choosing Collagen Powder

It’s no surprise that this protein chia pudding is made with collagen powder just like this chia pudding breakfast parfait.

All the protein without the bloat.

I use collagen powder for amping up protein and boosting gut health.

Honestly, as a busy mom collagen powder just makes it easy to eat more protein and not feel like I’m living off chicken and eggs.

And more protein means more energy, more natural beauty, and feeling your BEST.

I grab my collagen from Perfect Supplements because they source their collagen from pasture-raised (grass-fed) cows. So, I trust it.

Grab some collagen powder and use code mamabear10 to save some money.

High Protein Chia Seed Pudding

A deliciously creamy snack or breakfast! This make-ahead, protein chia pudding is the perfect way to brighten up your day and stay fueled.

5 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 0

Chilling Time 4

Total Time 4 5

Course Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 327 kcal

Video

Equipment

1 Mason jar

Ingredients

3 tbs Chia seeds
¼ cup Fresh lemon juice
1 tbs Unsweetened coconut
3 tbs Almond milk
2 tbs Collagen powder
1 tbs Maple syrup
½ teaspoon Lemon zest
1.5 tbs Coconut cream optional

Instructions

Whisk together the chia seeds, coconut, and collagen powder.
Add in the remaining ingredients and mix well.
Let it sit for five minutes and then mix again.
Portion it into a jar, add in the coconut cream on top if using and let it chill for four hours or more.
Top the protein chia pudding with your favorites and enjoy!

Notes

You can either mix the ingredients in a bowl and then portion them into a jar, or you can add the ingredients into a jar and shake it to combine.
Don’t skip the step about waiting five minutes and re-stirring the chia seed pudding. This is what helps make sure it doesn’t clump at the bottom!
If you’re using coconut cream to make this chia seed pudding more indulgent, you can add it right on top of the jar before refrigerating. This is optional but it makes the high protein chia pudding SO much more indulgent!
If using the coconut milk, you can also split this into two mini snack-size portions (topping with 1.5 tbs of coconut milk in each).

Disclaimer:

Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"

Nutrition

Calories: 327kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 18gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gSodium: 105mgPotassium: 295mgFiber: 13gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 24IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 310mgIron: 3mg

Keyword collagen recipe

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Topping The Chia Seed Pudding

The protein chia seed pudding recipe is amazing all on its own (just like this keto chia pudding). However, you can make it more indulgent by topping it with a few favorites!

Fresh berries
Nut butter
Crunchy granola
Nut free granola (perfect for school!)

These toppings are all great way to boost any kind of breakfast pudding or Greek yogurt bowl (use a vegan Greek yogurt as needed).

Lemon chia protein pudding topped with coconut cream in a small jar with lemons on top and the jar on a wooden cutting board.

Flavor Variations

One of the best parts about this protein snack is that switching up the flavor is pretty simple! Below are a few fun variations to try.

Citrus: In place of lemon, try using fresh orange juice or even grapefruit for a twist.

Nutty: If you like a nutty flavor, add some almond extract to the chia seed pudding as you mix it.

Sweetener: The recipe uses maple syrup to sweeten it but you could substitute that with honey for a different kind of sweet.

Fast, crave-worthy snacks that hit your protein goals (without tracking or extra cooking time).

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Frequently Asked Questions About How To Make Protein Chia Pudding

How long does chia seed pudding last in the fridge?

Protein chia pudding will last roughly three days in the fridge if stored in an airtight container.

Can I use protein powder instead of collagen powder?

Protein powder absorbs very differently than collagen powder and the two are not interchangeable. Since vegan protein powder absorbs more liquid than collagen powder it would alter the texture of the recipe.

Do chia seeds go bad?

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.

Which dairy-free milk is best for chia seed pudding?

Any non-dairy milk will work in chia pudding it may just alter the texture a bit. Chia pudding with oat milk will be creamier than a recipe with almond milk. However, the nut milk one will have a healthier fat profile. Use what you have on hand,

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