• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Email Series!

5 Time and Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

Free email series of my best tips!

Visit my other Site: Pancake Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Free Email Series!

    5 Time and Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

    Free email series of my best tips!

  • Visit my other Site: Pancake Recipes

Rachel Cooks®

Easy Healthy-ish Recipes

  • Recipe Index
  • Popular
    • Instant Pot Pinto Beans
    • Green Beans with Bacon
    • Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
    • Roasted Sugar Snap Peas
    • Beef Stew Seasoning
    • Chili Seasoning Recipe
    • Thousand Island Dressing
    • Poppy Seed Dressing
    • Copycat Panera Squash Soup
    • Chocolate Chip Blondies
    • Instant Pot Pork Loin Roast
    • Frosé
    • Best Chocolate Cake
    • Dill Vegetable Dip
    • Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
    • Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
  • Learn to Cook
    • All The Basics
    • Crostini
    • Delicata Squash
    • Butternut Squash
    • Kabocha Squash
    • Spaghetti Squash
    • Guacamole
    • Croutons
    • Snap Peas
    • Baked Potatoes
    • Baked Bacon
    • Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
    • Simple Syrup
    • Pickled Red Onions Recipe
    • Toasted Pine Nuts
    • Roasted bone-in Chicken Breasts
    • Poached Chicken
    • Roasted Whole Chicken
    • Easy Cheese Sauce

Dinner Made Easy:

Slow Cooker

5 Ingredients

Grilling

Make Ahead

Sheet Pan

Tacos

Pizza

Home Recipes by Type Desserts
GF Gluten-Free VG Vegetarian 5I 5 ingredients or less

Chia Seed Pudding

4.72
/5
2 hrs 5 mins
23 Comments
Jump to Recipe Video
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 01/02/2023Updated: 01/09/2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Pudding, text overlay reads "chia seed pudding - perfect ratio."
Pudding, text overlay reads "the best chia seed pudding."
Pudding, text overlay reads "the best chia seed pudding."
Pudding, text overlay reads "the best chia seed pudding."
This maple cinnamon chia pudding recipe is sweet and delicious with hardly any guilt at all! A great healthy snack or breakfast. Get the recipe on RachelCooks.com!

Enjoy sweet and delicious chia seed pudding as a healthy snack or breakfast. It’s packed with good nutrition and tastes great.

Recipe Overview

Why you’ll love it: It’s super easy to make!

How long it takes: just a couple of minutes to stir up, with additional time to chill
Equipment you’ll need: measuring cup
Servings: 2 (makes 1½ cups)

Chia seed pudding topped with fruit.
Table of Contents
open
  • 1 Recipe Overview
  • 2 About This Recipe
  • 3 How To Store Chia Seeds
  • 4 What You’ll Need
  • 5 How To Make It
  • 6 FAQs
  • 7 Make It Your Own
  • 8 Storage Tips
  • 9 More Recipes With Chia
  • 10 Get the Recipe: Chia Seed Pudding Recipe

I know it’s a little cliché that everyone starts eating healthy foods again as soon as January rolls around.  Have you made your New Year resolution? Maybe your resolution is to to work out at the gym every day, cut back on alcohol, take the dog for a walk twice a day, be a more considerate driver, or eat healthier food and less junk food.

Whatever your resolution, there is no doubt that we should be eating healthy foods year-round. However, I am happy to have a little extra motivation and a reminder to get myself back on track especially after the excesses of the holiday season (all those cookies!).

You’ll be seeing a bit more emphasis on healthy recipes on my site this month. My focus is normally healthy delicious meals that are easy to prepare because truthfully, that’s the way we eat. (After all, my family eats the food I make for my site.) Is it 100 percent healthy? No way, but I try.

Enter chia pudding, black bean brownies, and quinoa pancakes. Weird stuff, I know. Weird but very healthy and surprisingly delicious.

About This Recipe

So why chia seeds? Like most seeds, chia seeds are very nutritious. According to Healthline, the word chia in ancient Mayan language actually means “strength”. Chia seeds are high in protein, minerals, and antioxidants, and fiber. For more about the health benefits of chia seeds, check out the FAQ section below.

Chia seeds filling the frame.

Pretty much everyone loves homemade pudding: vanilla pudding, chocolate pudding, lemon pudding. While it isn’t the most unhealthy dessert in the world, it still has a fair amount of sugar and butterfat with zero fiber, and it takes 15 minutes or so to cook.

In comparison, chia pudding is simply chia seeds mixed with milk, either dairy or nondairy, with a bit of natural sweetness added (maple syrup), and whatever flavorings you like. You can stir up a batch in five minutes. It’s a great snack or even a simple breakfast, especially if you add fresh fruit, yogurt, or granola.

I love the flavors of this chia pudding recipe. Sweetened with maple syrup and flavored with warm spicy cinnamon and vanilla, this is the perfect little treat. If you lean more towards chocolate, be sure to try my chocolate chia pudding recipe. And I couldn’t resist concocting chai chia pudding, mostly because it’s such a fun word combination, but it’s really very nice tasting, too, with all sorts of warm spices and honey.

Close up of chia pudding with berries.

I’ll run through the basics of this recipe right here to get you started. The recipe card is located near the end of the post. It has all the info you need to make chia pudding.

How To Store Chia Seeds

Store chia seeds in a cool place, preferably the refrigerator where they will quite literally keep for years. (Hopefully you’ll use them sooner than that!) I like to put them into a glass jar. Like most seeds, chia seeds may become rancid if not stored properly.  Rancid chia seeds will have a strong, almost chemical odor.

What You’ll Need

  • Chia Seeds: You’ll see from the photo that chia seeds are small in size, ranging in color from dark brown to white. Usually you can find them at a grocery store but they are also available on Amazon. You’ll only need a third of a cup to make a batch of pudding.
  • Milk: Any type of milk is fine, both dairy and nondairy. We usually have 2% milk in the refrigerator so that’s what I use. Whole milk will make a creamier pudding. If you want to make this recipe vegan, use an unflavored milk substitute, such as almond, oat milk, or coconut milk.
  • Maple Syrup: Again, any type of sweetener is fine. Choose the one you like best. I chose pure maple syrup because I like the flavor. Perhaps you would rather have honey or coconut sugar. It’s totally up to you. You can increase the amount or decrease it.
  • Pure Vanilla Extract: Adding vanilla makes the pudding seem more like pudding, if you know what I mean.
  • Cinnamon: This warm spice adds a sweet flavor to the pudding without actually adding any sugar.
Ingredients needed for recipe.

How To Make It

Are you ready? This is really so simple.

Measure out the milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon into a small bowl or a large measuring cup.

Ingredients in a glass bowl, unmixed.

Stir well to combine the ingreidents.

Ingredients mixed together.

Wait 5 minutes and then stir it again. Why the second stir? You want to make sure the chia seeds aren’t clumping together but are evenly dispersed throughout the liquid. If they are clumped, they may not absorb the liquid completely.

Chia pudding being stirred.

At this point, if you want, you can divide the pudding into serving bowls or small jars if you want. It will still have a thin consistency. When it’s ready, it should be quite thick and creamy, much like tapioca pudding.

Cover the bowl(s) and refrigerate. The pudding will need at least 2 hours to firm up but overnight is really best.

Bowl being covered with plastic wrap.

Enjoy the chia pudding just as it is or top it with fresh fruit, sliced banana, a spoonful of jam, or whipped cream. My kids love it with a few chocolate chips (of course).

Close up of chia pudding on a spoon.

FAQs

Is chia seed pudding good for you?

Chia seed pudding is a low calorie dessert or snack. Not only is it low in calories, it contains a fair amount of fiber and important nutrients. Each serving of chia seed pudding has an impressive 9 grams of protein.
Chia seeds are good for your digestion, provide heart-healthy omega-3s, and may improve blood sugar levels.

Is it okay to eat raw chia seeds?

Chia seeds are usually soaked before using. They absorb a lot of liquid and if you eat them without soaking, you may have digestive problems. Always drink plenty of liquid when eating plain chia seeds.
Chia seeds can also be toasted. Add crunchy toasted chia seeds to granola, oatmeal, salads, or bowls.

What is the difference between black and white chia seeds?

According to Choosing Chia, black seeds contain a bit more protein but white seeds contain more omega-3s. Both types are very nutritious and the difference is somewhat negligible.

Make It Your Own

  • Make a double or triple batch. It’s very easy to increase the recipe as long as you follow the ratio of seeds to liquid. For example, to make a double batch, use two-thirds cup seeds and 2 cups milk; for a triple batch, use 1 cup seeds and 3 cups milk. Chia pudding keeps well in the refrigerator.
  • Experiment with flavor combinations. I mentioned chocolate chia pudding and chai chia pudding above. Concoct your own chia pudding recipe using different spices, extracts, or citrus zest (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit). I think orange zest with vanilla extract sounds like a great combo to try.
  • Add toppings. Try fresh fruit: sliced strawberries, peaches, bananas, grapes, etc. Canned fruit works too. Make it fancy with a little whipped cream and chocolate jimmies. Add a spoonful of your favorite jam or top it with yogurt. Granola-topped chia pudding makes a nutritious breakfast. In fact, I add chia seeds to my granola recipe!
  • Looking for a keto friendly recipe? Try this one from Blissfully Low Carb.
Side view to show texture.

Storage Tips

Chia pudding can be refrigerated for up to five days. I like to put it into small jars or another type of airtight container. You definitely want to cover it while it’s in the fridge.

Apparently you can also freeze chia pudding but I confess that I’ve never tried that. It’s so easy to make that I guess I don’t see the point of freezing it.

More Recipes With Chia

Best Granola Recipe – make it your own!

Breakfast Quinoa with Chia and Cinnamon

Yogurt Popsicles with Berries and Chia (2 ingredients)

Savory Granola (nut-free recipe)

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Chia seed pudding topped with fresh berries.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Chia Seed Pudding Recipe

4.72 from 21 votes
Prep Time: 5 mins
Additional Time: 2 hrs
Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins
2 servings
Print Rate Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Enjoy sweet and delicious chia seed pudding as a healthy snack or breakfast. It's packed with good nutrition and tastes great.

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup chia seeds
  • 1 cup milk (see note)
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup (see note)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, optional
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
  • Let sit for 5 minutes, stir again (see note). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
  • Serve with desired toppings (fruit, whipped cream) or simply with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon.

Notes

  • You can use any milk you like, either dairy or nondairy, such as unflavored almond milk or oat milk. The nutrition information is calculated with 2% milk.
  • You can use any sweetener you like (honey, agave, coconut sugar, sugar, brown sugar, etc), and may add more or less to taste, if desired.
  • If desired, divide pudding into two bowls or jars before refrigerating so it’s ready to eat in the morning (grab and go).
  • Recipe card updated 11/3/2022.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.75cup, Calories: 221kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 9mg, Sodium: 61mg, Potassium: 299mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 136IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 328mg, Iron: 2mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
Did You Make This?Be sure to upload a photo & tag me at @RachelCooksBlog. I love seeing what you made!
Share A Photo! Tag on Insta Rate It
Free email series

5 Time & Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

Free email series of my best tips!

FREE BONUS!

You May Also Like...

  • Chocolate chia seed pudding in a small bowl.
    Chocolate Chia Pudding
  • Easy to make, festive, and fun, these funfetti pudding pops will be a fun treat for the whole family. Kids especially love these! Get the popsicle recipe on RachelCooks.com!
    Funfetti Pudding Pops Recipe
  • The flavors of Chai in a chia seed pudding recipe....chai chia! Say that 10 times fast! Or just make this flavorful, healthy, sweet treat. Get the easy recipe on RachelCooks.com!
    Chai Spiced Chia Seed Pudding Recipe
  • Chocolate chia seed pudding in a small bowl.
    Chocolate Chia Pudding
Two pieces of fried goat cheese stacked.
Previous Post
Fried Goat Cheese
Three black bean brownies stacked up.
Next Post
Black Bean Brownies

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




The maximum upload file size: 1 MB. You can upload: image. Drop files here

  1. Jessica Chase says

    October 30, 2021 at 11:07 pm

    5 stars
    This is so so good. I added 1/4 tsp cardamon and some fresh grated nutmeg in as well. I’ve done both the normal cold version and cooked it over the stove for a warm fall treat. I have even cooked bananas with maple syrup and butter/coconut oil for bananas foster version. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      November 1, 2021 at 10:19 am

      Love the addition of cardamom. And bananas foster, YUM! So glad you like the recipe. :)

      Reply
  2. Helen Brindell says

    August 13, 2015 at 12:47 am

    My daughters and I love chia seed pudding – we are partial to our chocolate peanut butter chia seed pudding. This looks and sounds wonderful so I just whipped up a double batch for breakfast in the morning. The sample taste was wonderful. Can’t wait!

    Reply
  3. Lauren says

    January 12, 2015 at 11:00 pm

    Hi! How many calories do you think this is around?

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 13, 2015 at 7:08 am

      I don’t calculate the nutritional value of my recipes (due to the variations in ingredients, etc) but there are some great online calculators! It would really depend on what type of milk was used.

      Reply
  4. denise says

    January 7, 2015 at 11:55 pm

    sounds interesting

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 9, 2015 at 10:58 am

      It’s definitely something new and unique! :)

      Reply
  5. Philia Kelnhofer says

    January 7, 2015 at 10:35 pm

    Oh my goodness, YES! I definitely ate too many cookies, but hey, you’re supposed to during the holidays, right? I am legit walking to my kitchen right now and making this for tomorrow morning!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 9, 2015 at 10:56 am

      I’m so glad you tried this and liked it, Phi! Thanks for sharing on IG :)

      Reply
  6. Sheena says

    January 7, 2015 at 10:14 pm

    Does it have a texture like tapioca? I’m ashamed to say I’ve never tried it, I might have to hand back my gluten free card!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 8, 2015 at 2:49 pm

      Yeah it sort of does, now that you mention it! I hope you try it and love it! :)

      Reply
  7. Mom says

    January 7, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    Do you think I can get chia seeds at Meijer? I’d like to try this. I love pudding but feel guilty eating it. This would be good for breakfast.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 9, 2015 at 10:57 am

      Yes! :) Or take some from my house, I have a ton.

      Reply
  8. Alaina {Fabtastic Eats} says

    January 7, 2015 at 12:33 pm

    I try to eat balanced year round, and so far january hasn’t kicked my butt into gear yet, hopefully it happens soon! ;) I love chia pudding, and this flavor combo is perfect!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 9, 2015 at 10:59 am

      haha! You’re so thin though — enjoy that beer and pizza ;)

      Reply
  9. Melanie @ Carmel Moments says

    January 7, 2015 at 9:55 am

    I’ve still never tried chia pudding. Looks amazing! Love the maple twist.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 9, 2015 at 10:59 am

      Thanks Melanie!

      Reply
  10. Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says

    January 7, 2015 at 7:41 am

    I am pretty sure that I win the worst healthy food blogger award because I STILL haven’t tried chia pudding, even though it’s all the rage. However, my Canadian heart loves the maple here, so I obvi need to try it! Pinned!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 9, 2015 at 10:59 am

      I’m surprised! Hope you try it and love it!

      Reply
  11. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says

    January 7, 2015 at 7:20 am

    Such a perfect breakfast! This sounds great!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 9, 2015 at 11:03 am

      Thanks Katrina!

      Reply
  12. Megan Kohrs says

    January 7, 2015 at 7:10 am

    Mmm! I loveee chia seed pudding and love this maple version. I will have to add it to my To Make Snack list asap!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 9, 2015 at 11:02 am

      Thanks Meg! Hope you try and love it!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Rachel! Life can be complicated, cooking shouldn't be! I believe that you can put a delicious meal on the table without stressing. It's possible, and I'm here to help. Have a seat at my table...let's chat, eat, and have fun! Read more...

Air Fryer Instant Pot 30 Minutes One Pan Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Slow Cooker Vegetarian 5 Ingredients

Trending

Cooked salmon fillet on a grey-toned plate with cooked asparagus spears. The salmon is being flaked with a fork.

Air Fryer Salmon – easy and delicious!

Pizza pasta being scooped from a pan with a wooden spoon.

Pizza Pasta – 1 pan, 20 minutes

Image of a giant bowl of spaghetti with turkey meatballs.

Baked Turkey Meatballs

Asparagus Panzanella Salad

Seasonal

Beef and vegetable stir fry in a black wok.

Beef Stir Fry With Vegetables

Hot honey chicken sheet pan dinner with honey being drizzled on.

Hot Honey Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Sweet and sour shrimp lettuce wrap garnished with green onion.

Sweet and Sour Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

BBQ Chicken burrito bowl with avocado and sour cream.

BBQ Chicken Bowl

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
Free Bonus!

5 Cooking Secrets to Save Time & Stress

Free email series of my best tips and recipes!

Featured On:

Back to Top
  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Work with Me
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
© 2023 Rachel Cooks®
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled