How To Make Chia Pudding (2024)

If you haven’t triedchiaseed pudding yet, you’re in for a real (and very healthy) treat. There are so many reasons to lovechia and so many ways to servechiapudding that are guaranteed to make your mouth water.

And yes, we are talking about those samechiaseedsof 1980sChiaPet fame!Chiaseeds come from a Mexican plant in the mint family.

The nutritional power ofchia

Chiaseed pudding is a super-tasty and extremely easy way to sneak healthy fats into your diet. Chiaseedsare filled with omega-3 fatty acids — the good fats that promote heart and joint health and aid memory.

And according to registereddietitian,Gillian Culbertson MS, RD,besides supplying heart-healthy omega-3s,chiaseeds keep your blood sugar balanced and are full of minerals and antioxidants.

“They’re also rich in potassium, iron and calcium,” Culbertson says.

More pluses in this pudding

“Chiapuddingis the easiest thing you can possiblymake because the basic recipe has only two ingredients — chia seeds plus any kind of milk. And what’seasier than that?”Culbertsonsays.

Withchia, there’s no cooking involved. And chiaseeds absorb up to 10x their weight in liquid. Just soak them in yourmilk of choiceand these teeny seeds transform themselves into a pudding with a consistency similar to tapioca.

Sound easy enough?Then here are six tantalizingflavor variations she has created fromone simplechiaseed pudding recipe that areperfectas a snack, dessert or even breakfast!

SimpleChiaSeed Pudding Recipe (1 serving)

Nutrition Info—​2 Tbspchiaseeds (28g) with 1 /2 cup (120ml) unsweetened almond milk

• Calories 152*.
• Fat 10g.
• Protein* 5g.
• Fiber 11g.

(*Total calories, protein and fat will be higher if made using a higher-fat milk, as well as for flavors including chocolate and nuts.)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup milk (low-fat, non-fat, soy, almond, coconut, rice, hemp or other unsweetened non-dairy).
• 2 tablespoonschiaseeds (whole, not ground).

In a small bowl, combine yourchiaseeds and milk of choice. Mix well. Set in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, but it’s best to leave chillingovernight.

When you’re ready to eat, give a quick stir. Enjoyas-is, or add any of these tempting toppings to the recipe above to create your own recipe bookof deliciouschiapudding flavors!Mix and match withyour mainmeal or serve as your final dessertcourse!

Cocoa LocoChiaPudding

• 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 /4 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup

Sweet AlmondChiaPudding

• 1 /4 tsp almond extract
• Pinch of cardamom
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 Tbsp sliced almonds

ChaiChiaPudding

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp ginger
• 1/8 tsp cardamom
• 1/8 tsp cloves
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup

PistachioChiaPudding

• 1 tsp chopped pistachios
• Two drops rosewater
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Pinch of cloves
• 1 tsp honey

Sweet AlmondChiaPudding

• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• Pinch of cardamom
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 Tbsp sliced almonds

Chocolate RaspberryChiaPudding

• Handful of fresh raspberries
• 1 tsp dark chocolate shavings
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp brown rice syrup

Mango BlueberryChiaPudding

• 1/4 cup diced, fresh mango
• Handful of blueberries
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1tsp raw honey