Easy Chia Pudding – Eating Bird Food

If you haven’t tried chia seed pudding before, now is the time! It’s the perfect healthy breakfast or snack to meal prep for the week and it’s super easy to make.

There are a ton of chia seed recipes out there (and I have dozens posted here on EBF), but if you’re new to chia seeds, chia pudding is an awesome place to start because you’ll get a real sense of their absorption power, the gel-like texture chia seeds create and their ability to help keep you full.

What Is Chia Seed Pudding?

Chia seed pudding is a simple, no-cook recipe made by stirring chia seeds with a liquid, usually milk, and letting the mixture sit until it thickens. As the seeds absorb the liquid, they swell and create a pudding like consistency that is creamy, spoonable and surprisingly satisfying.

It is one of those recipes where a few pantry staples transform into a nourishing breakfast, snack or dessert. Since chia seeds do not have a strong flavor on their own, the pudding takes on whatever flavors you mix in, which makes it incredibly versatile. You can keep it plain and lightly sweetened or dress it up with cocoa, fruit, nut butter or spices to make it your own.

Chia Seed Pudding Ingredients

To make chia seed pudding, you really only need two simple ingredients: chia seeds and milk, but there are some easy additions that will take the flavor up a notch.

• chia seeds – you can’t make chia pudding without chia seeds. Feel free to use white or black chia seeds, whichever variety you have on hand.
• milk – I like using non-dairy options like almond milk, oat milk or coconut milk, but any type of milk will work.
• maple syrup – I’m a big fan of adding a touch of sweetness with maple syrup, but honey is another great option. If you need a sugar-free option, just skip the sweeteners all together or use a sugar substitute like stevia or monk fruit.
• vanilla – this is optional, but I like adding a little vanilla for extra flavor.

How to Make Chia Pudding (2 Steps)

1. The process of making chia pudding is so easy! The first step is to stir together your chia seeds and milk in a mason jar or bowl. I usually do 3-4 Tablespoons of chia seeds to 1 cup of liquid.
2. Once the mixture is well combined, let it sit for 5 minutes, give it another stir/shake to break up any clumps of chia seeds, cover and put the mixture in the fridge to “set” for 1-2 hours or overnight.

Watch How to Make Chia Pudding

Chia Seed to Liquid Ratio for Chia Pudding

I’ve found the perfect chia pudding consistency is 3 or 4 Tablespoons of chia seeds to 1 cup of milk. I usually start with 3 Tablespoons of chia seeds to 1 cup of milk, but if you want a thicker pudding I recommend using 4 Tablespoons to 1 cup of milk.

The type of milk is up to you and will vary based on preference and dietary restrictions. I love using non-dairy milks like almond milk, oat milk and coconut milk. Unsweetened almond milk is the lowest in calories and sugar so if you want a simple, low calorie, low sugar chia pudding this is the best option to choose.

Full-fat canned coconut milk is great if you’re looking to increase the thickness and make a really filling breakfast, snack or dessert out of the chia pudding. It’s also a great option if you follow a low carb or keto diet.

How to Store and Meal Prep

Chia pudding is an awesome meal prep option because it will stay good in the fridge for 5-7 days. For meal prep, just place the pudding in airtight jars or meal prep containers and store in the fridge.

Chia Seed Pudding Tips & Troubleshooting

If you’re having trouble getting your chia pudding to set up or turn out correctly there could be a couple things going wrong. Here are a couple tips that might help!

1. Make sure you’re using chia seeds and not some other type of seed! There are white and black chia seeds and both work for chia pudding, but no other seeds will work. Also, check that your chia seeds aren’t old and maybe try switching brands. I’ve heard complaints from several people that the Trader Joe’s chia seeds don’t absorb as much liquid as other brands. If you’re having trouble with chia seeds from Trader Joe’s, try buying another brand.
2. Use a jar or container with enough space. Chia seeds expand quite a bit, so choose a jar that gives the mixture room to grow. A tight, tiny container can make it harder to shake or stir everything evenly.
3. Make sure you give your chia pudding a good stir about 5-10 minutes after you initially mix it together. This breaks up any clumps of seeds and helps ensure the mixture will set. If you don’t do this, sometimes all the chia seeds will clump at the bottom and you’ll be left with lots of liquid on top instead of a well combined, creamy pudding.
4. If your chia pudding isn’t thick enough, just add more chia seeds to the mixture and let it sit a bit longer. You can also use a thicker milk. Full-fat canned coconut milk creates an ultra thick and creamy chia pudding.
5. If you hate the texture of chia pudding, try blending it in a high powered blender like a Vitamix. Once blended, the mixture will be smooth and creamy like a regular pudding instead of a bit seedy like tapioca pudding.
6. Let it chill long enough. Chia pudding really needs several hours in the fridge to reach that pudding-like texture. If it seems thin after 1 hour, don’t panic. Check back after a few more hours or overnight.

Frequently Asked Questions