This Chia Pudding with Yogurt is creamy, decadent, and a great meal prep! Make a big batch and add your favorite toppings for a healthy breakfast or mid-day snack!
Chia seeds are tiny seeds, but they're jam-packed with nutrition including dietary fiber to support gut health, healthy fats, plant protein, antioxidants, and plenty of vitamins and minerals!
As a dietitian, I've always WANTED to like chia pudding because I know all the nutrition these tiny seeds provide. But for the longest time, I just couldn't understand the hype and was never a fan of the texture of chia seeds! So I decided to take it upon myself to make a chia pudding recipe that I actually enjoy. I'm happy to report I've finally done it!
The trick is to whisk together yogurt & milk with some natural sweeteners, whisk in the chia seeds and stir again 10-15 minutes later to make sure they don't clump. This way of making it gives it a perfect consistency and you can add any flavor-makers or toppings you want! I'm offically a Greek yogurt chia pudding fanatic! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 😊
More Chia Pudding Recipes and Chia Seed Recipes
- Blueberry Chia Pudding with Yogurt
- Blueberry Chia Compote
- Banana Bread Chia Overnight Oats
- Strawberries & Cream Chia Overnight Oats
- Apple Cucumber Smoothie with Chia Seeds
- Banana Date Chia Smoothie
- Blueberry Spinach Chia Smoothie
Learn about the health benefits of chia seeds.
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Key Ingredients & Substitutions
This yogurt chia seed pudding is made with simple ingredients. Below are the main ingredients. Check the recipe card for the measurements!
- Chia Seeds - chia seeds are a nutritional powerhouse. They provide important nutrients like healthy fatty acids to support heart health, dietary fiber which can help prevent blood sugar spikes and plant-based proteins with 2 tablespoons chia seeds providing 5 grams of protein. When soaked like in this easy chia pudding, they absorb the liquid and have a pudding-like consistency.
- Greek Yogurt - for an extra protein boost and to make it especially creamy! Greek yogurt or Skyr (Icelandic Yogurt) both add protein and probiotics to help support gut health. You can use regular yogurt if the texture of Greek yogurt bothers you or vegan yogurt like coconut yogurt to make it vegan. Use vanilla flavored yogurt if you want it a bit sweeter.
- Milk - I've tested this recipe using regular 2% cow's milk and unsweetened almond milk. I actually prefer the almond milk because it's a bit creamier! Other options for plant-based milk are oat milk, soy milk, or coconut milk.
- Vanilla Extract - to add a creamier vanilla flavor.
- Pure Maple Syrup - I personally love using a drizzle of maple syrup to sweeten chia pudding. You could also use honey, agave nectar, date syrup, or your liquid sweetener of choice.
- Cinnamon & Sea Salt or Kosher Salt - this is optional but I add a pinch of cinnamon and sea salt or kosher salt to enhance the flavor!
How to Make Chia Pudding with Yogurt
Below are some photos showing the instructions for making chia pudding with yogurt that I hope you find helpful! The full recipe can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine the cup of milk, cup of yogurt, vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon, and kosher salt. Whisk very well or use a handheld milk frother until it is creamy with small bubbles forming.
- Step 2: Add the chia seeds and stir with a whisk or fork. Let the mixture rest 10-15 minutes and give it another good stir. This helps prevent the chia seeds from clumping. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
It should look like this after the second stir:
Hint: It will thicken up quite a bit in the fridge and I prefer my chia pudding quite thick personally! If you prefer it thinner, wait to add another splash of milk after the 4 hours if needed.
Dietitian Tip
Chia Seeds have been shown to support a healthy gut and play a part in the prevention of chronic illnesses including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. They can also help with weight loss and weight management! Read more about the health benefits of chia seeds here.
Variations
There are endless ways to customize the original recipe for this chia seed pudding with yogurt to make different flavors with optional toppings. Below are some ideas for additional toppings.
- Fresh Fruit - my favorite is to top it with whole foods like fresh berries & enjoy it as a healthy snack!
- Peanut Butter - add a drizzle of nut butter - peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter.
- High Protein - add a scoop of protein powder for more protein.
- Double Cinnamon Vanilla - replace plain yogurt with vanilla and add extra cinnamon!
- Chocolate Chia Pudding - add unsweetened cocoa powder and chocolate chips to give it a chocolate flare!
See this Blueberry Chia Seed Pudding for another option!
Storage for Chia Pudding with Yogurt
- Refrigerator - store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
If you want to store it in individual jars, here are some options:
Expert Tips
- Use a milk frother to combine the milk/yogurt mixture to make this easy breakfast extra creamy!
- Don't skip the double stir. After whisking in the chia seeds, let it sit about 10-15 minutes at room temperature and whisk it very well again before refrigerating.
- Patience is key! Give it at least 4 hours in the fridge for the chia seeds to plump up to their full potential. Make it the night before and portion it into individual containers for a ready-to-go breakfast.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this is a nutrient-rich recipes. The chia seeds provide dietary fiber, plant-protein, antioxidants, healthy fatty acids, and several vitamins and minerals. The Greek yogurt adds more protein and calcium. This recipe is sweetened with maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to enhance the sweetness. If you prefer to cut the sugar even more, skip the maple syrup!
Chia seeds are commonly found in the health foods/organic section of the grocery store. Sometimes they are found in the baking aisle and often you can also find them in the bulk section.
To avoid this problem, be sure to stir it VERY well when you add the chia seeds and let it sit for at least 4 hours in the fridge! It will continue to thicken as it sits!
To avoid the chia seeds from clumping, don't skip the step where you wait about 15 minutes after adding the chia seeds and stir very well again. I've found this to make a big difference in the end product.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Chia Pudding with Yogurt:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Easy Chia Pudding with Yogurt (How to Make it Creamy)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (or yogurt of choice)
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
- 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- pinch sea salt or kosher salt (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the cup of milk, cup of yogurt, vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon, and kosher salt. Whisk very well or use a handheld milk frother until it is creamy with small bubbles forming.
- Add the chia seeds and stir with a whisk or fork. Let the mixture rest 10-15 minutes and give it another good stir. This helps prevent the chia seeds from clumping. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Add your favorite toppings!
- Hint: It will thicken up quite a bit in the fridge and I prefer my chia pudding quite thick personally! If you prefer it thinner, wait to add another splash of milk after the 4 hours if needed.
Notes
- Use a milk frother to combine the milk/yogurt mixture to make it extra creamy!
- Don't skip the double stir. After whisking in the chia seeds, let it sit about 10-15 minutes at room temperature and whisk it very well again before refrigerating.
- Patience is key! Give it at least 4 hours in the fridge for the chia seeds to plump up to their full potential.
- Refrigerator - store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
Tammy
This is the best chia pudding ever!! Even my husband liked it. I added berries and sliced almonds on top and had it for breakfast and loved every bite! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Mallory
Hi Tammy,
Thank you so much for taking time to leave a rating and review!! It truly means so much to me!! I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed it and those sound like great toppings..I am going to try adding almonds next time! -Mallory