Chocolate Chia Pudding (5 Ingredients, Vegan, Low Carb)
This Chocolate Chia Pudding is made with only 5 ingredients! It’s healthy, high fibre, absolutely delicious and a filling breakfast option! It’s also great for meal prep!
I’ve been making chia puddings so long that I can’t even remember the first time I made one. It’s one of my favourite go-to breakfasts, especially on a busy morning (hello meal prep) so it’s crazy that I haven’t made way more versions for the blog! Anyway, since we are getting back into meal prepping more often at home, you’ll definitely be seeing way more chia puddings and way more meal prep options.
What are chia seeds?
Maybe chia seeds are one of your favourite ingredients, or maybe you’ve never used them. Let me pull an extract from one of my blog posts where I explained often confusing vegan ingredients,
Chia seeds are a tiny seed that mean “strength” in Mayan, and I’m assuming it’s because the chia seed gives you lots of energy. They are tiny black seeds that get gelatinous when they absorb water, similar to flax seeds, and are loaded with fibre. You can use chia seeds in a multitude of ways – in your water to add fibre to your daily diet, as a great egg replacement too and really anywhere you want more protein and fibre. Due to their high fibre content, they help to keep you really full – which is why I like to sprinkle them over fruits or in overnight oats. They’re also high in omega 3’s so you can enjoy them daily! I’ve even added them to a jam to replace pectin (since they get so gel-like).
Consequently, chia puddings are puddings made typically with chia seeds, a liquid, a sweetener and an optional topping or spice. They are thick, pudding like in texture, and very easy to make. For this version, I opted for a Chocolate Chia Pudding because well, I love chocolate, and it tastes like having dessert for breakfast!
How to make chia pudding
Making chia pudding is so simple. I’ll explain how to make this one. Firstly, I like to mix the chia seeds with the cocoa powder and stir with a fork. Then I pour in the almond milk, the maple syrup and the sea salt and whisk thoroughly until everything is combined. I let it sit for five minutes, then I stir again. Something about this second stir really ensures that all the chia seeds are properly incorporated. Then I let the fridge do its magic. The chia seeds absorb the liquid, create a thick and gelatinous texture. What results is pure heaven. Delicious, thick, creamy and so filling.
Meal prepping chia pudding
If you’re looking for an incredibly quick breakfast option, this chocolate chia pudding is IT. Since they take between 5 and 10 minutes of prep, you could easily make chia puddings for the entire week all at once. We love to meal prep chia puddings because of the ease, how filling it is, and because it’s one of the few breakfasts that will last you the entire week in the fridge without a change in taste. Plus, you could also make this for a healthy low carb dessert!
Here’s how I meal prep chia puddings. I usually line up like 5 (or however amount I’m meal prepping) jars. I love using Weck Jars and mason jars for this, plus they look so neat lined up in your fridge. Then I will make the below recipe “5 times”, or make it 5x in a large bowl, then divide it up. It’s honestly up to you. I find the first way easier so I don’t have a bowl to clean up, and if you’re tracking macros or calories then you know you have an even amount in each. See all the nutritional information below in the recipe!
Tips for making chia pudding
Woohoo, tip time! Here are some super simple tips:
- Make sure you have fresh chia seeds! If your chia seeds don’t begin to absorb liquid by the 5 minute stir time, then they’ve probably gone bad.
- Feel free to up your liquid amounts or your chia seed amounts. This chia seed to liquid ratio makes for a nice and thick pudding, but you can add more if you want or more liquid if you want yours slightly thinner.
- While this chia pudding is ready in 4 hours, I would let it sit overnight. Overnight chia pudding REALLY is the best kind. All the flavours have melded together, and your pudding is at the best consistency.
- This chia pudding clocks in at 16.3 net carbs, making it low carb (almost all of those net carbs are from the maple syrup), but you could make these even lower carb or keto by swapping the maple syrup for a sweetener alternative like stevia drops. This recipe is VERY customisable to your needs.
- Remember that you can easily double or triple this recipe. I just did it at a single serving since that’s how I usually have it.
Chocolate Chia Pudding (5 Ingredients, Vegan, Low Carb)
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 tablespoons cacao powder
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup*
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- In a bowl or in an individual jar, mix all of the ingredients together with a whisk. Stir until completely combined. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then stir again for about a minute. This ensures everything is thoroughly mixed and nothing clumps together in spots. Taste test and adjust based on whether you want more sweetener or spices.
- Set in the fridge covered for 4 hours or overnight.
- Remove from fridge and top with your favourite toppings - here I like sliced strawberries and coconut flakes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
I made this chocolate chia pudding and was pleasantly surprised how filling and satisfying it was. Thank you for sharing. I will be making this more often for sure!
Hi Jennifer,
So happy to hear that!! You’re so very welcome!
This was delicious and so filling!! So good with sliced strawberries!
We’re so happy that you enjoyed this recipe Sarah! Thank you so much for reading and leaving such a nice comment!
This is one of 3 recipes I have tried from your website—incredible whether you have it for breakfast, snack or dessert! Super easy, I make it in a ball jar, whisk…add coconut, bananas, nuts…anything goes, and what a healthy chocolate fix it is! Thank you.
Thanks so much Lynn! We’re happy that you enjoyed it, love that you are making it your own.