This deliciously rich 4 Ingredient Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding is full of fiber, protein and healthy fats to keep you full for hours. It's a great breakfast to meal prep at the start of the week and tastes amazing topped with bananas and peanut butter!
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Have you tried chia seed pudding yet?
If not, you’re in for a treat! It is insanely easy to make and has the coolest texture.
Think tapioca pudding…but with more nutrients!
It can be enjoyed anytime of the day for a quick breakfast, a hearty snack, or even dessert!
My Introduction to Chia Seed Pudding
I remember so clearly when I first discovered chia seeds. A friend of mine was using them to improve her digestion (oh, hello fiber!) and told me she would just soak some in water and enjoy a spoonful of “pudding” every day.
So easy!
Chia Pudding Variations
Chia pudding is so versatile!
You can really get creative with the flavors. Here are just a few variations that you can try:
- Cinnamon Vanilla (add ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract and up to ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon)
- Mocha Chia Seed Pudding
- Golden Milk Chia Seed Pudding
- Carrot Cake Chia Seed Pudding and of course
- this 4 Ingredient Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding!
As many of you can probably guess, chocolate is my all-time favorite flavor.
What’s not to love about starting your morning with a healthy, chocolatey breakfast?
What Exactly are Chia Seeds?
Chia seeds come from a plant in the mint family called Salvia Hispanica. They were a staple in the ancient Aztec diet and have now gained attention world-wide thanks to their amazing nutritional benefits.
Most consider chia seeds now to be a superfood!
They are super absorbent, allowing them to plump up and become gelatinous when soaked in liquid.
If you haven't used chia seeds as one of your vegan ingredients in your pantry yet, you're in for a treat!
Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
Chia seeds have tons of health benefits, making chia seed pudding great for any diet - vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, paleo or keto!
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Chia seeds are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are harder to get on a vegan diet.
Soluble Fiber
Chia seeds are high in soluble fiber, which can help regulate blood sugar and slow down digestion, keeping you fuller for longer.
Protein
There are 4.7g of protein in 1 oz (28.4g) of chia seeds making it a decent source of protein.
Other Nutrients
A serving of chia seeds, which is just 1 ounce or 2 tablespoons, contains a good source of plant-based protein, calcium, iron, magnesium and antioxidants!
Ingredients
Basic Chia Pudding Recipe
The basic pudding recipe (without the chocolate) really only requires two ingredients:
- Chia seeds (I recommend the Healthworks brand chia seeds)
- Liquid of choice such as non-dairy milk
My friend would simply soak her seeds in water and call it a day.
However, if you want more flavor in your pudding, I suggest using non-dairy milk such as some homemade almond milk, coconut milk, or even good homemade cashew milk, plus some spices / powders or juice.
Ingredients for this Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe
This recipe requires 4 ingredients:
- Chia Seeds
- Cocoa Powder
- Maple Syrup
- Non-Dairy Milk
Can I substitute honey for maple syrup for the sweetener?
Yes! Simply substitute to 2 tablespoons of honey for the 2 tablespoons of maple syrup.
What non-dairy milks should I try?
Depending on your taste, almost any non-dairy milk can work!
- almond milk
- cashew milk
- walnut milk
- oat milk
- coconut milk
Can I add fresh fruit?
Yes! Strawberries or cherries would be especially delicious on top!
How about coconut whipped cream?
Oh, I like you! I'm glad you asked. Yes, try adding my coconut milk whipped cream along with some berries!
What spices can I use?
Some people like to add spices, such as ground cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, or cloves. Instead of cinnamon, some people even like to use ginger!
Pro Tip: You may need to add a bit more liquid if you're going to add spices.
How to Make Chia Seed Pudding
While chia pudding takes about 5 minutes of hands-on time, it does need to soak in the fridge for a few hours in order to thicken.
Pro Tip: For one serving of basic chia seed pudding you’ll need about 3 tablespoons of chia seeds and ¾ cup of liquid.
The process is simple:
- Whisk these two ingredients together in a mason jar or bowl until there are no clumps of seeds stuck together. You'll notice for the vegan recipe I share below, I also add cocoa powder and maple syrup;
- Allow the mixture to sit for about 5 minutes before stirring again;
- Cover the container and place it in the fridge to thicken for about 2 hours or overnight.
Pro Tip: If the consistency of your pudding is either too liquid or too clumpy, you may need to give it another stir after taking it out of the fridge, then put it back in the fridge for another 30-45 minutes.
Everyone will have different preferences on how thick or thin they like their vegan pudding. I would recommend starting with less liquid and adding more as desired.
If you include any spices or powders (cocoa powder, peanut flour, protein powder, etc.), then you’ll probably need a little more liquid than if you were just making a 2 ingredient recipe.
Storage
Great news is you can both freeze and refrigerate this vegan pudding, making it a great food to meal prep at the start of the week or month.
In the Fridge
This pudding can be stored in a sealed jar or container in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you plan to meal prep and store it in the fridge for a few days, then I would recommend making just the base of your vegan pudding and then adding toppings right before you plan to enjoy eating it.
In the Freezer
Chia pudding can also be frozen! Just be sure to use a freezer-safe container or jar. It will last for a few weeks in the freezer. To enjoy your frozen pudding, simply remove it from the freezer the night before and allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight.
When it comes to freezing, you can freeze the toppings as well. However, crunchy toppings such as granola, nuts, and seeds should be added right before enjoying to maintain their crunch factor.
Yes! This kind of pudding is really easy to double, triple, quadruple etc. You can make enough servings to last 3-4 days in the fridge, or make even more servings to store in the freezer.
Chia pudding does not used animal products as long as you use maple syrup for your sweetener instead of honey.
Chia seeds are naturally gluten-free.
Yes, chia seed pudding is suitable for a paleo diet.
Chia seeds are keto, but chia seed pudding is not. Chia seeds have lots of fiber and are low in carbs, so they are great for a keto diet. But people on a keto diet will need to substitute a sugar-free sweetener for the maple syrup in this recipe.
Chia seed pudding is high in fiber, which typically aids weight loss, but there are many more factors to consider.
Yes! Instead of mixing or whisking the ingredients together, you can simply blend them in a blender.
More Chia Pudding Inspiration!
I love getting creative with my vegan pudding ingredients!
If you’re uncertain how to do this, think of it like oatmeal. There are so many different ways you can jazz up basic pudding to turn it into something exciting and decadent.
Below are even more vegan chia pudding recipe ideas to get your creative juices flowing!
- Banana and peanut butter
- Pecans and maple syrup
- Fresh mango and shredded coconut
- Blueberries and lemon zest
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Strawberries and chocolate hazelnut spread
- Berry compote and coconut whipped cream
Just like different toppings like vanilla or chocolate will help jazz things up, try mixing up the flavor of the chia seed pudding itself. You can use different liquids, spices and powders to come up with a variety of recipes to keep your mornings fun and exciting!
More Chia Pudding Recipes
Here are two recipe variations that I've developed that you might enjoy:
- Golden Milk Chia Seed Pudding (anti-inflammatory + superfood!)
- Carrot Cake Chia Seed Pudding (beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants!)
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- ¾ - 1 cup non-dairy milk
Instructions
- In a bowl or large jar, mix together the chia seeds and cocoa powder until combined.
- Add in the maple syrup and ¾ cup of non-dairy milk and mix well, adding in more maple syrup if you want a sweeter chocolate pudding.
- Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes and then mix well again.
- Cover the mixture and place the chia seed pudding in the refrigerator for a couple of hours or overnight.
Joy says
Looks yummy! I think hemp seeds instead of chia will work great with your recipe too.
Faith VanderMolen says
Hemp seeds are always a wonderful addition to any diet! Thanks for sharing!
Shelly says
I just made this recipe and mine is runny. I followed this recipe what did I do wrong?
Faith VanderMolen says
I don't think you did anything wrong Shelly! Sorry it was runny. Sometimes a bag of chia seeds can be "duds" or old and don't gel up as much. Next time you could start with 1/2 the liquid and add more as needed? Or buy some new/different brand of chia seeds if you think they were duds. I hope you can give this recipe another try!
Linda says
I used 1/2 cup of yogurt and 1/2 cup of coconut milk was good.
Faith VanderMolen says
Sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing!
Heather says
Love this pudding but the carbs don’t seem correct to me. 24g? 0 net carbs? How’s that possible with so much fiber in the chia seeds?
Faith VanderMolen says
Hi Heather! We just started using a new app to calculate the nutrition facts for my recipes and I've been skeptical as well with some of its calculations. I don't think nutrition calculators are ever perfectly accurate, but it does seem like this one is way off as there is not much fiber or fat listed for this recipe and there should be a good bit of both fiber and fat in this recipe (the good kind)! I'll look into it more. Thanks for voicing your concern!
Fawn says
Have you updated the fiber and carbs for the chia seeds? My chia seeds have the same amount of carbs as fiber.
Faith VanderMolen says
Thank you for your comment! I believe the fiber content is more accurate now. However, our nutrition facts calculator is just an estimate!
Elaine says
Have made this a few times now it’s lovely.
I like it as a pudding and also as a topping for overnight oats.
Thank you for sharing such a simple yet tasty recipe!
Faith says
So great to hear Elaine! Thanks so much for letting me know!
marge201 says
Can't wait to try it. I'll report back. TY!
Faith says
Yes, let me know how it turns out for you! Thanks so much!
Yael Tamar says
Great pudding! Delicious and your blog is my absolute favorite for meal ideas! This will be on the dessert menu this week for sure 🙂
Faith says
That's great news Yael! I'm so glad you like the pudding and I hope you enjoy it for dessert this week:)
Cleona says
I really enjoy reading your blog - for the food and also to imagine life in China! Can I ask though - where do you get all your ingredients? I am from the UK and live in Italy, which is hardly the ends of the earth, but even here certain vegan wholefoods type ingredients are really hard to come by, and if you do find them, unbelievably expensive. So I'm wondering - do you order online? If so, have you any recommendations?
Faith says
It's taken me a while to find a system but many of my health food items I either bring back with me whenever I visit America or different countries or I have people who are coming to visit bring me a few items. In addition to that I LOVE a website called Taobao that is like Chinese Amazon. I can find almost everything on there. It just took me a while to learn how to search for things. Some things can be extra expensive though because their imported, but I'm always surprised what I can find for a good price. That doesn't really help you much though! But yes, online and through friends visiting are my main ways of getting health food items. Everything else like produce I buy in our city:) Do you have Amazon in the UK? Or iHerb is another site that I love and ships to most countries!
Jennifer T. says
This looks super delish! I can't wait to try it!
Faith says
It's my fav! I hope you like it!
Oscar says
Chia pudding is great. Asia can get old fast. It's good to get away. Off to Croatia next week on a sailing adventure. 🙂 Totally excited.
Faith says
Yes. It's so good to get away. And Croatia! So fun. I was just there a couple weeks ago. We went to Plitvice lakes and Dubrovnik and loved them both. Where are you going? Have such a great time!
Emily says
I totally agree that refreshment is so key for being able to come back and really appreciate and love on those people and that environment around you. I'm so thankful that you had a really wonderful memorable restful trip, and it's wonderful that you came back incredibly refreshed.
Faith says
I think refreshment is needed for everyone, no matter where you life. We're human! I'm so thankful for such a restful memorable trip as well. Thanks so much Emily!