How to make Chia Seed Pudding (plus 5 amazing recipes)

Chia pudding is one of the easiest recipes you can make to serve as a healthy breakfast or whenever you want a pick-me-up snack or treat. 

I share a two-ingredients basic recipe that you can enjoy in as little as 30 minutes or make overnight if you're into meal prepping. You can make this silky, smooth, healthy chia pudding with your milk of choice. It's a great base to have in your fridge so you can choose every morning a new topping. 

Plus, I share how you can make your pudding thin, thick, or super creamy and 5 of my favorite healthy blends that I use to flavor my basic chia pudding.

All the recipes are dairy-free, gluten-free, and some of them are also low-carb (Keto) chia puddings that you can quickly adapt.

Jump to How to make healthy chia pudding | The ratio of chia seeds to liquid| How to store chia seeds | How long do chia seeds need to soak | What kind of milk is best for chia seed pudding | How to store chia seed pudding | How long does chia seed pudding last in the fridge | How to flavor chia pudding with toppings | Base recipe chia pudding | 5 amazing recipes to flavor chia pudding

Having a good batch of basic chia pudding ready in the fridge makes preparing morning meals during the week a whole lot easier. Add a few extra toppings, maybe a sweetener of your choice, and you have a healthy breakfast that's ready in less than a minute—although I could eat this all day, even as a dessert—especially the chocolate-flavored one I share below.

The basic proportions are easy to remember once you've found the perfect ratio of chia seeds versus liquid. I prefer a less thick pudding consistency, but I encourage you to experiment with it. It's just chia pudding. You add more liquid if its' too thick for you or more seeds if too watery and pop it back into the fridge—ridiculously simple, no?

But don't worry, I'll give you a couple of excellent "chia seed pudding ratio" options to start with, and since I've made many different flavor combinations over the years, I'm also sharing 5 of my favorites so you can switch it up.

How to make this healthy chia pudding

Well, as mentioned before, It's ridiculously simple.

• Stir the seeds in your milk of choice until well combined.
• Let it sit for 2 to 5 minutes.
• Give it another stir to break up any clumps of chia seed that might have developed—especially at the bottom.
• Then store it in the fridge until it has a nice, thick pudding-like consistency.
• It thickens quickly, but I usually let it sit for at least 30 minutes or more, or overnight if you wish to prepare it the night before.
• When ready to consume, give everything a good stir again to break up the seeds and check that the pudding has a good solid texture.

The best way to make it is by using a sizeable see-through mason jar or a bowl that comes with a lid. Keep it stored in the fridge, and take out whatever you need to make your pudding with your toppings of choice.

You can immediately stir in a sweetener like some maple syrup, honey, Stevia, or a sugar substitute like Monkfruit—just a few suggestions. But I like to make my chia pudding with two essential ingredients (seeds and liquid) and add flavors when I layer my pudding with the toppings.

The ratio of chia seeds to liquid

A thinner consistency

Most packages recommend two tablespoons of chia seeds for every cup of milk. It creates a lovely consistency, primarily when you use plant milk like oats or nut milk. 

A thicker consistency

But if you like a thicker chia pudding, I recommend two tablespoons of chia seeds for every half cup of milk or ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) per cup of milk, and for a big batch, that equates to ½ cup (82 grams) chia seeds for 2 cups milk.

Make it super creamy

Don't like the chia seed texture? Try blending the pudding before adding the toppings or any extra sweeteners. You'll get a super creamy concoction, almost equivalent to a mousse texture.

The bigger the batch, the better it blends in your blender. And you can go all the way until all seeds have entirely disappeared. It's not my most favorite option. But it works great with a chocolate flavor, reminiscent of a chocolate mousse, and probably great if you also want to make a batch for your toddler.

Chia seeds contain many health benefits and are an excellent food source for adding omega 3, fiber, protein, and extra vitamins and minerals to your diet.

How to store chia seeds

If unopened, I usually keep my chia seed bag in the pantry. But as soon as I've opened it, it goes in the fridge.

There are different chia seeds storage methods, but I've found that storing them in the fridge, adequately sealed, extends their shelf life and keeps the seeds from becoming rancid too quickly.

Usually, I buy from companies that sell their seeds in vacuum-sealed stand-up pouches and that provide protection against moisture. I also love that they come with tear notches that you can open quickly without spilling any seeds and have zip-seal closures. They're strong, durable, and, best of all, recyclable.

How long do chia seeds need to soak in milk?

Chia seeds can gel fast when using creamy milk such as oats, coconut, or nut milk like hazelnut or cashew. 

It usually takes about 30 minutes. But if you like it to be more gelatinous or thicker, then soak it for at least 1 to 2 hours or overnight.

What kind of milk is best for chia seed pudding

Any milk. However, I admit that I have never used regular dairy milk before because I don't care for its taste.

Go for an unsweetened choice of milk, and some of my favorites are:

• oat milk (my daughter's favorite)
• Cashew or hazelnut milk
• hemp milk (my favorite)

But I've also used:

• almond milk
• soy milk
• coconut milk
• pea milk

How to store chia seed pudding

If you make a big batch, you can store it in a large mason jar—that's what I usually do—or an airtight container. Then only take out what you need for the day to create your variations of breakfast, snack, or desserts.

But you can also portion your pudding into individual servings with your favorite toppings for a quick grab-and-go breakfast or snack. And I have some great recipes for you down below.

How long does it last in the fridge

It stays good refrigerated for up to 5 days. If you feel that the seeds have thickened a bit too much, add some more milk or give it a good stir to thin out the pudding again.

How to flavor your chia pudding with toppings

My basic 2-ingredient chia pudding recipe doesn't have much flavor. But that's THE. FUN. PART. It's pretty much a blank canvas to add whatever toppings and flavors you feel like eating on any given day.

And chia pudding absorbs the flavors you give it. 

Okay, so now you have that batch of chia pudding waiting for you in the fridge, and all you need to do is add your favorite toppings. 

Some of my favorites are

• Fruits: frozen or fresh fruits in season,
• Seeds and nut butter: Try healthy hemp seeds, sesame seeds, or (homemade) nut butter.
• Dried fruits: such as coconut shreds, dried cranberries, or apricots.
• Nuts: walnuts, Brazil, and almond are my favorite.
• A lovely (homemade) jam: a couple of tablespoons are enough to add that sweet, mild flavor to the pudding.
• Additional flavors: vanilla or almond extract, cocoa or cinnamon powder.

These are just a few suggestions.

How to make a healthy Chia pudding (Base Recipe)

Make your batch with this two-ingredient base healthy chia pudding recipe. Either add your favorite toppings or use it to concoct one of my 5 delicious chia pudding flavor combos that I share below.

5 Amazing recipes to flavor chia pudding

There are, of course, so many ways to add flavor to your healthy chia pudding. And besides adding your favorite sweetener or toppings, you can also blend in less than 5 minutes a delicious flavored or fruity mixture that will take your chia seed pudding to the next level.

I share here some of my favorite recipes. All you have to do is blend and mix or layer it with your prepped basic chia seed pudding.

It is best to make these concoctions on the spot—it takes less than 5 minutes. However, you can make them in advance and store them in the fridge, or better yet, assemble them with the chia seed pudding as a meal prep option.

Here are 5 of my favorite amazing recipes that turn a healthy chia pudding into an incredible breakfast, snack, or treat.

1. KIWI -SPIRULINA DELIGHT (Dairy-free, Vegan, GF, Paleo-friendly)

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This first recipe contains delicious green kiwis and is sweetened with half a banana and just a tad of maple syrup (optional). It's also infused with spirulina to add extra nutrients and antioxidants. If you like it sweeter, add a whole banana instead. It's best to eat this the same day or next.

Ingredients you'll need for (2 servings):

• ½ teaspoon Spirulina (or matcha) powder
• 2 kiwis, peeled
• ½ of a peeled banana
• 1 tablespoon plant milk (I love hemp for this recipe)
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• Extra kiwi slices and coconut shreds for garnish

Place spirulina, kiwis, banana, plant milk, and maple syrup in a small blender or food processor. Blend until you get a smooth green liquid. Mix or layer this green sweet goodness with up to 5 tablespoons of the base chia seed pudding per serving.

Garnish with extra kiwi slices and coconut shreds (highly recommended).

2. GRAPEFRUIT & ALMOND PUDDING (Dairy-free, GF, Paleo-friendly)

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Grapefruit, almonds, and the floral notes of honey complement each other so well and adds a delicious fresh element to chia seed pudding. A little bit of honey goes a long way to balance out some of the bitterness of grapefruit.

This is my absolute favorite and its best to make this with coconut or almond milk.

Ingredients you'll need for (2 servings):

• 1 large peeled grapefruit
• 1 tablespoon coconut or almond milk
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of almond butter, coconut shreds, and fresh basil leaves for garnish

Place grapefruit, milk, and honey in a small blender or food processor. Blend until you get a smooth orange liquid. Mix or layer this sweet goodness with up to 5 tablespoons of the base chia seed pudding per serving.

Garnish with almond butter (highly recommended), coconut shreds, and fresh basil leaves (optional).

3. BERRY YOGURT PUDDING WITH HEMP SEEDS (Dairy-free, Vegan, GF, Paleo)

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You can choose any berries or a combo thereof. But I highly recommend throwing in a few frozen cherries to add a naturally sweeter taste. I usually add a tad of honey or maple syrup as well—not much, though. And love drizzling this one with hemp seeds and tahini butter to add extra healthy fats and proteins.

Ingredients you'll need for (2 servings):

• ½ cup frozen berries (throw in some cherries, if you can)
• ¼ cup cashew yogurt (or coconut yogurt)
• 1 teaspoon of honey or maple syrup
• Top with hemp seeds, extra fresh berries, and a drizzle of tahini butter

Place berries, yogurt, and sweetener in a small blender or food processor. Blend until you get a smooth reddish thick liquid. Mix or layer this red sweet goodness with up to 5 tablespoons of the base chia seed pudding per serving.

Garnish with hemp seeds (highly recommended), extra berries of choice, and a drizzle of tahini butter or almond butter (optional).

4. DARK CHOCOLATE DELIGHT (Dairy-free, Vegan, GF, Paleo, Keto)

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This is so delicious, and it's probably more of a dessert. Flavors of cacao, cinnamon, and chocolate mint just work well here. I also like sometimes to add extra collagen peptides (optional, of course) and turn it into a post-workout snack that's simply irresistible.

Ingredients you'll need for (2 servings):

• 1 ½ tablespoon cacao powder (you can also replace half of it with dark chocolate collagen peptides)
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
• ¼ cup cashew yogurt (or coconut yogurt)
• 3 teaspoons monk fruit sweetener (or more to taste)
• Top with dark chocolate bits, nuts, and chocolate mint leaves (optional) for garnish

Place cacao powder, cinnamon, yogurt, and sweetener in a small blender or food processor. Blend until you get a smooth dark brown liquid. Mix this chocolate sweet goodness with up to 5 tablespoons of the base chia seed pudding per serving.

Garnish with dark chocolate bits (highly recommended), walnut or pecans, and chocolate mint leaves (optional).

5. BASIL INFUSED LEMON PUDDING (Dairy-free, Vegan, GF, Paleo, Keto)

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This delicious chia seed pudding is zingy and refreshingly citrusy. A few fresh sweet basil leaves are all you need to add a sweet peppery taste that works surprisingly well in this simple concoction.

Ingredients you'll need for (2 servings):

• 1 lemon, peeled
• 4 to 5 fresh Basil leaves
• ¼ cup cashew yogurt
• 3 teaspoons monk fruit sweetener (or more to taste)
• Top with extra Basil leaves and lemon slices for garnish

Place lemon, Basil, yogurt, and sweetener in a small blender or food processor. Blend until you get a smooth, light yellowish thick liquid. Mix this citrusy sweet goodness with up to 5 tablespoons of the base chia seed pudding per serving.

Garnish with fresh basil leaves and extra slices of lemon (optional).

Now go ahead and make your favorite flavor combo or PIN this for later. I always love to hear from you, and if you tried another lovely flavor combination! Don't forget to subscribe to my monthly newsletter!

Recipe originally posted September 2018 but updated to include new information and updated pictures.