Healthy & Easy Chia Pudding Recipes
Chia Puddings have been one of my go-to healthy options lately when I want a quick snack or a nutrient-packed breakfast! They’re easy to make, can be prepared in a very healthy way, and have tons of much-needed protein and nutrients. Plus, they taste super yummy!
And since I’ve been preparing so many different combinations of these recipes lately, I am sharing a few options that are ideal for those busy mornings or afternoons when you want to eat something delicious and still stay on track with your healthy eating goals.
WHAT’S A CHIA PUDDING AND HOW TO MAKE ONE?
They’re super easy to make! It’s literally chia seeds placed in a glass jar with added milk and a few other ingredients of your choice: honey, maple syrup, vanilla extract, fruits, nuts, seeds, and more.
To make a Chia Pudding, start by taking some milk (any kind of milk will work well: whole milk, low fat, nut milk etc ) into a glass. Add some of your favorite sweetener (maple syrup, honey, vanilla extract, etc) and whisk it in well. Next, add the chia seeds and repeat the whisking, ensuring that the mixture is evenly dispersed. Then, refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Once it’s cold, add the different toppings (dark chocolate, nuts, granola, cinnamon, shredded coconut, mint...) and serve!
Note: For those meal-prepping the chia seed puddings, wait to add the toppings, especially any dry ones, until you eat it. This will avoid any sogginess in the toppings!
Ingredients You’ll need to prepare these Chia Seed Pudding recipes!
Main ingredients
Chia Seeds: You’ll need them to create the chia seed puddings, of course!
Milk: You can use any kind of milk for these recipes. I recommend using almond milk for the flavor, the consistency, the health benefits, and the easy digestion. But there are tons of other great options: whole milk, skimmed milk, oat milk, coconut milk, and even quinoa milk.
Sweeteners: This is optional of course, but since I have a big sweet tooth, I love to add some maple syrup or honey to my base recipe. A teaspoon or two are more than enough in my opinion, but this is definitely a personal preference. Try it for yourself and experiment a bit if you feel the mixture needs some sweetness.
Note: Regardless of the amount of honey or maple syrup you decide to add, I always recommend avoiding processed products or sugars. Whenever it’s an option, you should go as natural as possible!
Other ingredients, add-ins and healthy toppings
I always love to mix and match my favorite flavors in my breakfast recipes: some pecans, delicious seeds, fresh fruits, and even some nut butter, dark chocolate or granola.
The final recipes are healthy, delicious, nutritious, and very filling!
Fruits: You’ll definitely want to add fruit to your pudding recipes. The most popular recipes use bananas, berries, and coconut. You can top the pudding with them, or even mash the fruits and mix it all together. Regardless of the recipe, you can use any fruit you like, both fresh and frozen.
Nuts: Nuts are always great to use as toppings! They are packed with protein, fibers, and antioxidants. I’ll usually mix two or more of my favorites to add different flavors and texture.You can also use nut milk when making your base pudding, making it even more delicious and filling!
Other Healthy Toppings: As we said before, any kind of nuts or fruits are great to use as toppings on your chia seed pudding recipes, but you don’t need to stop there! You can add so many other delicious things, like dark chocolate, granola, nut butter, cinnamon, shredded coconut, mint leaves and even granola. The more variety of healthy and yummy flavors, the better!
Chia Seed Pudding Base Recipe
When preparing a chia pudding, as any other breakfast preparation, using the right measurements can make or break the recipe. Yet something we tend to forget is how important the size of the container is! I tend to use glass mason jars to make my puddings. Depending on if you're using a regular or tall glass, you might need to adjust your measures slightly.
Note: Small glasses can work perfectly as well! I use them regularly, especially when preparing a chia pudding for a quick snack.
After some experimenting of my own, I found that this ratio works perfectly for a 16 ounces mason jar.
Main Recipe Base :
¼ CUP OF CHIA SEEDS + 1 CUP OF MILK + ¼ TBSP OF SWEETENER, all mixed together well.
Note: You can use any glass container, but I preferglass mason jars! You can find them all over Amazon, and there are tons of other uses for them as well.
For larger containers or bigger batches, I normally use these measurements:
½ CUP OF CHIA SEEDS + 2 CUPS OF MILK + 1/2 TBSP OF SWEETENER
These are other ratios I normally use:
¼ TBSP VANILLA EXTRACT, CINNAMON or AGAVE
¼ CUP OF NUTS
1 TBSP OF SHREDDED COCONUT (and other similar toppings)
5 Easy and Healthy Chia Seed Puddings Recipes
1.Matcha Morning Power
Since I discovered the benefits of matcha powder, I’ve been incorporating it more and more into my diet. There are so many recipes where we can add it in, and the chia pudding is one where it works perfectly! I call this recipe Matcha Morning Power because it gives a huge morning boost to the immune system and energy levels. For this recipe, you’ll want to whisk the matcha powder and the milk of your preference beforehand, until the mixture is smooth and there are no big clumps. Once this is mixed, add the chia seeds and the sweetener as normal, then chill in the fridge for two hours and top it with blueberries and nuts or granola!
2. Cuba Mango and Coconut Love
You can take a Cuban out of Cuba, but you can’t take Cuba out of that person! So for this recipe, I took inspiration from some of the most popular flavors on the island and created a simple, delicious, and summery Chia seed pudding recipe. If you love sweet flavors and want to have dessert for breakfast while still having a healthy meal, this is the perfect yogurt parfait recipe for you !
This chia pudding base uses coconut milk and the main topping is (of course) mango! I’ll also add shaved coconut and some mint leaves to finish it off.
Alternatively, you can blend the mangos until you have a purée and layer that with the chia and milk mix, then top it off with more fresh fruits and the mint leaves.
Delicious!
3.Yummy Chocolate
This is my favorite comforting chia pudding recipe. I love to prepare it on cold/chilly days, or to have it while watching a rom-com. It’s a great healthy substitute for chocolate ice-cream on movie nights. All you’ll need is a low-fat chocolate milk (or a dairy-free chocolate almond milk), chia seeds, maple syrup or honey, shaved almonds, bananas or strawberries, and cocoa nibs as crunchy toppings. You can even make your own dairy-free chocolate almond milk at home with just a few ingredients (almonds, semi sweet chocolate, and water).
4. Nut Butter Pudding
As a nut lover myself, a nut and chia seed pudding recipe had to make this list. The ingredients are simple, but they blend so perfectly together and make it super easy to become obsessed with this combination!
You’ll need almond milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla extract or paste, and any nut butter of your preference. For this recipe, I love to use my homemade coconut almond butter (find the recipe here) but you can use peanut butter, plain almond butter, cashew butter, or really any nut butter that you like! Mix it all together until the clumps are gone and the mix is as homogeneous as possible. This could take a while, since the nut butter tends to stick together in clumps. Refrigerate, and once ready to serve, top it with extra nut butter, raspberries, shredded coconut, and any seeds or nuts of your choice. The perfect recipe if you want a combination of healthy, delicious, nutritious, and protein!
5. Tutti Fruity
If you like fruity flavours, you probably love fruit-packed recipes. For this one, I took inspiration from one of my favorite childhood desserts, tutti frutti ice-cream! This recipe is delicious, refreshing and super colorful… ideal to lift your morning spirits and start the day in a fun and healthy way!
Take some strawberries/ kiwis (or any of your preferred fruits) and blend them until you have a purée, then let this chill in the fridge. In a different container, prepare the basic basic chia pudding recipe (chia seeds + milk + sweetener) and refrigerate for at least 2 hours as well. Once everything is chilled, layer the fruit puree with the basic chia pudding, and add some oats, granola, or toasted nuts in the middle layers as well. Top it all off with more fruits, nuts and seeds for some extra flavor and crunch before serving!
How To Meal Prep Chia Puddings Step by Step
Healthy Chia Puddings are a perfect meal prep option to have for breakfast, afternoon snack, and even after dinner dessert. It won’t take you more than a few minutes to prepare a whole batch that can last you days or even a week!
On Sunday evenings, all you need to do is fill or layer up your mason jars with the basic chia seed pudding. Then on the day of eating, just add the toppings (fruits, nuts, granola, leaves and seeds) and it’s ready to enjoy. This makes the whole meal prepping process very efficient, and will help you save time each day.
Just remember that the later you add the toppings, the fresher they will taste!
CHIA PUDDING CONTAINER WITH INSERT
For those meal-prepping your chia puddings for work, I recommend using a container with a separate storage section that will keep your toppings as fresh and crunchy as possible. This container can also be used if you are meal-prepping overnight oats or any kind of parfaits.
We recommend storing your chia seed puddings in airtight containers such as glass sealed mason jars when refrigerating. Any glass jars will work, but these have been my go-to lately.
Chia seed Puddings Health Benefits and Other Tips!
Chia Puddings are not only healthy, but also the perfect way to maintain balance between nutritional value and great taste!
As with most of our recipes, all of these ingredients are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, calcium, and protein. We always advise you to keep away from processed foods and refined sugars, and to use natural and homemade ingredients whenever possible.
Chia seeds are a powerful source of fiber, antioxidants and proteins. They contain B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and zinc, all of which will help boost your immune system and benefit your overall health!
Did you like any of our healthy chia pudding recipes? Let us know in the comments, and share any other great chia seed pudding recipes you currently prepare at home!
To find more healthy breakfast ideas like overnight oats , healthy breakfast on the go and yogurt parfaits, check the articles below. We have many other amazing grab and go recipes for breakfast and snacks, as well as lots of other healthy foods for lunch and dinner! To see all those recipes, healthy tips, and food advice, head to our Health and Wellness sections.
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Besitos from the kitchen,
Laura
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