Easy Chia Pudding Recipes
healthy breakfast or snack
Discover a whole new breakfast experience that’s delicious, healthy and satisfying!
Chia pudding breakfast or snack
If you are looking for an easy no-egg breakfast option but still wanting lots of healthy protein, try chia pudding! It’s an easy-to-make snack or breakfast that will satisfy, energize and add nutritional benefits to your diet. The simple recipe is only 3-ingredients, but you can easily personalize by adding other optional ingredients of your choice.
I’ve created three different recipes for your inspiration, but the flavor combo possibilities are endless: strawberry orange chia pudding, blueberry banana chia pudding, and chocolate peanut butter chia pudding. All three of these recipe begin with three simple ingredients: chia seeds, milk of choice and sweetener of choice, such as honey, maple syrup or a jam or marmalade. Note: for a vegan version, use maple syrup or fresh fruit to sweeten, as honey is not considered vegan.
Why is chia pudding healthy?
What are chia seeds and what nutritional benefit are they to me? Chia seeds are a tiny oval shape and gray in color. They are mostly native to southwest United States and Mexico and have been cultivated since before 3500 BC. Chia seeds come from a flowering plant of the mint family called Salvia Hispanica. Don’t let their size fool you, these tiny seeds hold great nutritional power. They are a small vessel for all things needed in a healthy diet like dietary fiber, protein, healthy carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Did you know chia seeds have a higher calcium content than milk and also are higher in omega-3 essential fatty acids than salmon? They contain iron, potassium, magnesium, selenium along with being rich in antioxidants.
Where to find chia seeds: With all that nutritional knowledge about chai seeds, the only question you’ll be asking yourself is “When am I going to make this?” If you haven’t discovered chia seeds yet and don’t know where to find them, head over to your nearest grocery store (I found mine at Aldi) and look for them on the baking isle (or I have them linked below if you’d rather stay comfy at home and purchase on Amazon.)
Let’s begin!
Ingredients:
Basic chia pudding ingredients for one serving:
2 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 cup milk of choice (use plant milk for dairy-free/vegan)
1-2 tsp sweetener of choice, such as honey, maple syrup or jam/marmalade (I don’t like it super sweet, so use your desired amount, which may be up to 1 tablespoon.) Note: For a vegan version, use maple syrup or fresh fruits to sweeten as honey is not considered vegan.
Optional: garnish with fresh fruit, granola, or yogurt.
How to make chia pudding
Instructions:
In a small bowl, mixing cup, or mason jar, add chia seeds, milk and sweetener (if using) and stir thoroughly. Wait 3-5 minutes and stir again, then cover and place in refrigerator for at least 2 hours, but can be overnight or longer.
How much simpler could it get, right?!? Easy peasy!!!
How long does chia pudding last?
Storage: You can store chia pudding, covered, for up to one week in refrigerator. It is recommended to top with fresh fruit the day you will consume. The best storage vessels for chia pudding are: mason jars, Tupperware containers, or glasses with lids (or use plastic wrap to cover.)
When ready to enjoy, top with fruit, granola or yogurt and dig in!
I love to have a mixture of different textures like creamy yogurt and crunchy granola, it add so much to the eating experience.
Three delicious chia pudding yogurt parfait recipes for your inspiration:
Strawberry Orange Chia Pudding Parfait
Bottom: Mix together 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla yogurt (or almondmilk yogurt alternative) with 1/2 tbsp orange marmalade and add to bottom of glass.
Middle: Add cut up oranges or mandarin segments on top of yogurt mixture.
Top: Mix together 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almondmilk, 1/2 tsp raw honey in a separate small bowl or cup. Let sit for 3-5 minutes, stir again and then add to parfait and refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Garnish: Fresh chopped strawberries and orange segments.
Blueberry Banana Chia Pudding Parfait
Bottom: Add 1/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries to bottom of serving glass.
Middle: Add 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla yogurt.
Top: Mix together 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almondmilk, 1/2 tsp raw honey (or maple syrup for a vegan version) in a separate small bowl or cup. Let sit for 3-5 minutes, stir again and then add to parfait and refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Garnish: Fresh cut banana slices and blueberries.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Pudding Parfait
Bottom: Mix together 1/2 tbsp all-natural peanut butter and 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almondmilk yogurt and add to bottom of serving glass.
Middle: Add small handful of peanut butter granola or cereal (I used Kashi Go Peanut Butter Crunch) on top of the yogurt.
Top: Mix together 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almondmilk, 1/2 tsp pure maple syrup and 1/2 tsp cocoa powder in a separate small bowl or cup. Let sit for 3-5 minutes, stir again and then add to parfait and refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Garnish: Dollop of yogurt, peanut butter granola and chocolate shavings. Note: This also makes a healthy dessert alternative for sweet cravings.
Easy Chia Pudding Parfait Recipe -Chocolate Peanut Butter
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bottom: Mix together 1/2 tbsp all-natural peanut butter and 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almondmilk yogurt and add to bottom of serving glass.
- Middle: Add small handful of peanut butter granola or cereal (I used Kashi Go Peanut Butter Crunch) on top of the yogurt.
- Top: Mix together 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almondmilk, 1/2 tsp pure maple syrup and 1/2 tsp cocoa powder in a separate small bowl or cup. Let sit for 3-5 minutes, stir again and then add to parfait and refrigerate (covered) for at least 2 hours or overnight. Enjoy with a spoon.
Notes
NOTE: I am lactose intolerant, that is why I choose to create a dairy-free version, but if you would like to use real dairy ingredients you can (equal substitution amounts) just keep in mind that it will change the nutritional values.
Can you blend all ingredients together to make the pudding instead of layering it? Yes. You can add all ingredients together, except for garnish, and place in fridge for 5 minutes. Remove and stir, then refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours.
Storage: You can store chia pudding, covered, for up to one week in refrigerator. It is recommended to top with fresh fruit the day you will consume. The best storage vessels for chia pudding are: mason jars, Tupperware containers, or glasses with lids (or use plastic wrap to cover.)
