Healthy Chia Pudding Recipe

This is the best chia pudding recipe! This chia seed pudding is made in 5 minutes with 4 ingredients in one bowl! It’s easy to customize to comply with your dietary needs (Paleo, vegan, etc.)! Serve it with your favorite toppings for a healthy dessert, breakfast or snack.

I'm always looking for healthy ways to satisfy my raging sweet tooth, and this Chia Pudding recipe is just perfect (along with these black bean brownies and healthy peanut butter blondies). Chia seed pudding is easy to make in one bowl with only four ingredients, and tastes like the tapioca pudding I've loved since I was a child but is so much healthier. 

This recipe is easy to customize to comply with your dietary needs by choosing your favorite milk and sweetener (Paleo, vegan, etc.)! Serve it with your favorite toppings for a healthy dessert, breakfast or snack.

Chia Pudding Recipe: Ingredients & Substituions

Let's discuss the four ingredients in this chia pudding recipe, as well as possible substitutions. 

• Milk. You can use any milk in this recipe with great results. I usually opt for unsweetened vanilla almond milk, coconut milk or whole milk. 
• Honey. Maple syrup is a great vegan sweetener option. When I make this recipe for myself I use 2 TBS of sweetener, when I make it for my family I use 4. I recommend starting with 2 and taste testing, then adjusting from there. 
• Vanilla. the pure vanilla extract imparts the best flavor - I don't recommend skipping the vanilla or making substitutions. 
• Chia Seeds. No substitute here! You can use black or white chia seeds. 

How to make Chia Pudding

You can make this chia seed pudding recipe in two ways - 1) in a bowl or 2) in a blender. 

To make in a blender

If you'd like to use a blender, simply put all the ingredients in the container of a Vitamix (or another high-powered blender) and blend for 30 seconds or until the mixture is smooth. It's that simple. 

To make in a bowl

In a large bowl, whisk together milk, honey vanilla and sea salt until combined (it’s easier to incorporate honey if the milk is room temperature).

Add chia seeds & chill

Next, add the chia seeds and whisk to combine.  Then place the large bowl in the refrigerator to chill for 30 hour, stirring once halfway through.  

NOTE: It's important to chill the mixture before transferring it into jars to ensure the chia seeds have started absorbing the liquid and they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture. 

Transfer Chia Pudding to Jars & Chill

Transfer the pudding mixture into 2-4 glass jars with lids and chill overnight in the refrigerator, or for at least 8 hours.

To store/freeze

Store this chia seed pudding in glass jars with airtight lids in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Or freeze for up to 2 months.

Serve

One chilled and thickened, serve this chia seed pudding with your favorite toppings. Here are some suggestions; 

• Fresh or frozen & thawed berries 
• Fresh fruits (bananas, apples, citrus fruits, etc.)
• Nut Butters (like this vanilla almond butter or this homemade peanut butter)
• unsweetened coconut
• Candied almonds
• Cinnamon Sugar pecans 
• Honey or Maple Syrup
• Strawberry Sauce
• Chocolate chips or cocoa nibs
• Nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts, etc.)
• Dried Fruits (cranberries, apricots, rasins, etc.)

If you like this recipe, try these:

• Overnight Oats with Yogurt is another great overnight meal prep breakfast recipe, and try these Chocolate Overnight Oats!
• This chocolate chia pudding is one of our favorite quick and healthy desserts.
• Peanut Butter overnight oats are one of my favorite easy breakfasts - and it has chia seeds for extra protein and fiber!
• Chocolate peanut butter chia pudding - another delicious healthy dessert!
• Healthy desserts: I'm very into making healthy and delicious desserts like this chia seed pudding! Some of our favorites include: healthy peanut butter blondies, black bean brownies and these fudgy paleo brownies.  
• These healthy banana oatmeal cookies are nutritious and delicious! 

Chia Pudding FAQs

Is Chia Pudding Healthy? 

This particular chia seed pudding recipe is very healthy! Not only is it low calorie, but it tastes amazing, satisfies your sweet tooth and packs some serious nutrition. Some of the benefits of chia seeds include (but are not limited to): 

• Loaded with nutrients. One serving of chia seeds (2 TBS, half of this recipe), contains the following: 
  • 4 grams of protein - which is essential for muscle-building and energy. 
  • 11 grams of fiber - which keeps you regular and fuller longer. 
  • 5 g omega 3 fatty acids - 
  • Plus calcium, potassium, zinc, and many B vitamins!
• Antioxidant-rich. Chia pudding is rich in antioxidants which are essential to a healthy lifestyle and contributes to lowering blood sugar and reducing inflammation. 

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