Strawberry Chia Pudding is so much better than regular chia pudding! It’s flavored with fresh strawberry puree and tastes like dessert.

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Featured Comment: “This is SO delicious!! I have made Chia Pudding before, but just with milk, not yogurt, and never thought to puree my fruit! There definitely were no leftovers after breakfast this morning… and this is a new favorite recipe for sure! Thanks for this! I love it!” ~Kim

You Will Love This Strawberry Chia Pudding Recipe!

This is hands-down the best chia pudding recipe ever. With no cooking, it’s quick to prepare and great to make in advance for a healthy option the whole family can always agree on.

I often make a batch at the beginning of the week for grab-and-go breakfasts as I head out the door. Just add your favorite toppings, and you have a filling option that satisfies all your dietary needs and flavor preferences, too!

Ingredients 

Find all the ingredients for this strawberry chia seed pudding recipe at your local grocery store. You can make substitutions from here based on your wants or needs. 

ingredients for chia pudding.
  • Whole Milk: Whole milk has the highest fat content and is best for creating a creamy pudding.   
  • Greek yogurt: Whole milk plain Greek yogurt is thick, creamy, and tangy. 
  • Maple syrup: A little bit of maple syrup adds sweetness. You can use honey instead. Or, omit it completely to keep this recipe added sugar-free.
  • Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla extract if at all possible. It has the best flavor. 
  • Chia seeds: A small amount of chia seeds goes a long way since they swell in the yogurt.  
  • Strawberries: For the best flavor, use fresh strawberries. 

Substitutions and Variations 

You can make some tasty variations to this sweet treat to make it exactly how you like it. Here are some options: 

  • Dairy: Replace the dairy milk to make this recipe dairy-free. Almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk will work. Then, use plant-based yogurt for the Greek yogurt.
  • Toppings: Add your favorite toppings for added taste and texture. Some great options include coconut, peanut butter, chocolate chips, vanilla almond flax granola, almond butter, cashew butter, honey, or agave. 
  • Protein powder: Add a scoop of vanilla protein powder to the pudding to make this snack more filling.      
  • Yogurt: This recipe calls for plain Greek yogurt, but you can use another flavor or style if you prefer. Try strawberry, coconut, peanut butter, lime, or vanilla yogurt instead. 

How to Make Strawberry Chia Pudding 

There are only a couple of steps to make this gluten-free recipe from scratch. 

milk, chia seeds, and yogurt in a glass bowl.

Step 1: Combine the milk, yogurt, vanilla, chia seeds, maple syrup, and salt in a bowl.

pureed stawberries in a food processor.

Step 2:  Puree strawberries in a food processor.

pureed strawberries with yogurt mixture in a glass bowl.

Step 3: Whisk in the strawberry puree into the yogurt-milk mixture.

chia pudding in glass jars.

Step 4: Divide the pudding evenly between jars, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours up to overnight.

What is the Chia Seed to Liquid Ratio? 

The best chia seed-to-liquid ratio is about 3 to 4 tablespoons of seeds to one cup of liquid. You can change this depending on your preferences as well. 

Do you like your pudding thinner or thicker? An easy way to adjust this is to change how many tablespoons of seeds you use.  

How to Change the Texture of Chia Seed Pudding? 

Chia pudding has a specific texture that lots of people enjoy, however, you can easily change the texture to be smoother and creamier. 

To do this, simply pour the prepared yogurt and chia seeds (after they’ve had a chance to sit in the refrigerator) into a blender and blend until it’s nice and smooth. You can then pour it back into the jar and add your favorite toppings. 

chia seed pudding in a glass jar with a spoon topped with coconut.

Tips & Notes

  • There are a few different ways to sweeten chia pudding. This recipe uses maple syrup, but you can use honey, agave, very sweet strawberries, or vanilla yogurt (instead of plain). 
  • Enjoy this pudding alongside other breakfast items. This pudding is a delicious addition to breakfast and can be eaten with Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes, Avocado Toast, Pasta Fritatta, or Ham and Egg Muffins.    
  • Meal prep the chia pudding. Instead of making four of these tasty chia cups, double or triple the recipe to enjoy it for days to come.
  • Easily store leftovers in the refrigerator. If you have leftover chia pudding or want to make it in advance, you can easily do this by covering it and putting it in the refrigerator for up to five days. This can be longer if you leave out the strawberry puree before refrigerating it. 

Recipe FAQs

How to make my chia pudding not clumpy? 

If your chia pudding is clumpy when you take it out of the fridge, be sure to stir it before you add any toppings. This will break up any lumps and make it smooth again. 

Is chia pudding crunchy? 

Chia seeds are crunchy, so if you don’t have time to allow them to sit in the yogurt for a couple of hours, then you’ll notice the crunch when you eat them. 

Why isn’t my chia pudding thick enough? 

If your chia pudding isn’t thick enough, add more chia seeds and let it sit for about 10 minutes to allow the seeds to absorb some of the liquid. 

Why is my chia pudding bitter?  

Chia seeds are slightly bitter before they absorb the moisture from the yogurt. If you didn’t let them sit together long enough, your pudding might be on the bitter side. 

Is chia pudding actually good for you?

Chia seeds have an abundance of health benefits. For instance, chia seeds are an excellent source of heart-healthy omega-3 fats and fiber.  When combined with other nutritious ingredients like strawberries and milk, chia seeds make for a healthy breakfast or snack.

If you try Strawberry Chia Pudding, please leave a star rating and let me know how you like the recipe in the comments below.

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stawberry chia seed pudding in glass jars topped with fresh strawberries.

Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Fresh strawberry chia pudding to enjoy for breakfast, snack, or dessert. No cooking, no fuss, just fresh strawberries and creamy pudding.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3/4 cup milk, preferably whole milk
  • 1 1/4 cups plain Greek yogurt
  • 3 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/3 cup chia seeds
  • 6 oz. fresh ripe strawberries

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk the milk, yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla, salt, and chia seeds just until blended.
  2. In a food processor or blender process the strawberries until pureed. Add the puree to the chia mixture and whisk to combine.
  3. Divide between four jars with a lid and refrigerate for 2 hours up to overnight. Enjoy cold topped with chopped strawberries or any other toppings of choice.

Notes

  • Sweetness: This pudding is not overly sweet. If desired, feel free to add an extra tablespoon of maple syrup.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6 ounces
  • Calories: 260
  • Sugar: 14.1 g
  • Sodium: 56 mg
  • Fat: 12.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 24.8 g
  • Protein: 13.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 16.2 mg

Recipe originally published May 2022 but since been updated.