If you've ever wondered how to make Chia Seed Pudding with Yogurt that's creamy and delicious, this is it! Over the years, I've tested making chia pudding too many different ways to count, and this is the base recipe I always come back to because it's foolproof every time. Yogurt gives it a thick texture and adds more protein for a great meal prep!
Quick Look: Chia Seed Pudding with Yogurt
- 🧁 Serves: 2
- ⭐ Features: Easy Meal Prep ✓ Healthy ✓ Fiber-Rich ✓
- ⌛️ Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🍪 Chill Time: 4 hours
- 👩🍳 Skill Level: Beginner
- 🏆 Why make THIS version? Using Greek yogurt makes it extra creamy and adds more protein!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: "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!" -Tammy
As a dietitian, I've always WANTED to like chia pudding, but for the longest time I wasn't a fan of the texture of chia seeds! This is the recipe I landed on that converted me because it is perfectly creamy and has a great balance of nutrition. Make a big batch of this Greek yogurt chia seed pudding 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! If you want to learn more about the nutrition in chia seeds, read my article about the health benefits of chia seeds.
If you're looking for another easy make-ahead breakfast, try my high-protein overnight oats for meal prep or my blueberry chia seed pudding with yogurt!
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Key Ingredient Notes & Substitution Ideas
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. And when soaked like in this easy chia pudding, they absorb the liquid and have a pudding-like consistency. I use black chia seeds but white chia seeds work too.
- Greek Yogurt - for an extra protein boost and to make it especially creamy, add in plain Greek yogurt or Skyr (Icelandic Yogurt). For another easy breakfast centered around Greek yogurt, try this Greek yogurt breakfast bowl with fruit and granola. 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 prefer the almond milk because it's a bit thicker and creamier. Other options for plant-based milk are oat milk, soy milk, cashew milk, or coconut milk.
- Vanilla Extract
- Pure Maple Syrup - I personally love using a drizzle of maple syrup to sweeten chia pudding. You could also use honey, agave syrup, date syrup, or your liquid sweetener of choice.
- Cinnamon & Sea Salt or Kosher Salt
Recipe 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! If you want even more blueberry flavor, try this blueberry chia pudding with Greek yogurt. And if you love the combination of Greek yogurt, chia seeds and fresh fruit, try this creamy strawberry chia pudding for another easy breakfast or snack.
- Peanut Butter - add a drizzle of nut butter - peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter.
- High Protein - add a scoop of protein powder to turn it into a protein chia pudding.
- 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!
- Granola Apple Pie Topping - If you like a little crunch with creamy chia pudding, add a crunchy apple cinnamon granola topping for chia pudding, especially when apples are in season.
More options: pumpkin chia pudding with yogurt and pumpkin spice, coffee chia pudding with Greek yogurt or apple date chia pudding.
How to Make Chia Seed Pudding with Yogurt (Step by Step)
Below are the directions for how to make this recipe with photos I hope are 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 milk, 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 the photo below 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.
Mallory's Dietitian Tip!
I like to top my chia pudding with whatever fresh fruit is in season and an extra spoonful or two of Greek yogurt! The fruit adds antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins while the extra yogurt adds more protein and some calcium.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to use fresh chia seeds! Older chia seeds don't absorb as much liquid and plump up as much.
- If you have a food scale, I suggest to use that to measure the chia seeds because it's most accurate.
- 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. Another easy make-ahead breakfast with chia seeds and Greek yogurt is my banana cinnamon overnight oats.
Chia Seed Pudding with Yogurt FAQs
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. 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 make sure there are none stuck to the bottom of your container or bowl. 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.
-Refrigerator - store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. If you want to store it in individual jars, here are some options:
Mason Jars with Bamboo Lids
Wide Mouth Mason Jar
More Chia Seed Pudding with Yogurt Recipes
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
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
Chia Seed Pudding with Yogurt
Equipment
- 1 milk frother (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (or yogurt of choice)
- 1 cup 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 milk, 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.
Video
Notes
- Be sure to use fresh chia seeds! Older chia seeds don't absorb as much liquid and plump up as much.
- If you have a food scale, I suggest to use that to measure the chia seeds because it's most accurate.
- 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.
- Store in an in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
kait
delicious! best Chia seed recipe I have yet to find. so happy I found your site!
Mallory
Hi Kait, thank you soo much for taking time to leave a rating and comment! I'm so happy you liked the recipe (it's one of my favorites too!). Thanks again and I hope you had a wonderful day. -Mallory
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