23 Chia Seed Recipes That Go Beyond Pudding
This list of chia seed recipes will give you what you expect (puddings, healthy breakfast ideas). But here’s the thing: You should expect more. Don’t get us wrong; we love what a tablespoon of chia seeds can do to overnight oats just as much as the next weekday warrior. But the tiny wonders, which are packed with fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, do other things, ya know?
They can be mixed into savory salads. They can naturally thicken jam and add body to a mocktail. Ground chia seeds can act as a kind of protein powder in pancakes. They can bring that special something to low-carb crackers. Purée some fresh fruit and almond milk into a smoothie, add in some chia seeds, and see what happens. (Greatness happens, that’s what.)
So, here are our favorite chia seed recipes. Yes, there are puddings, but don’t skip over the other stuff. We wouldn’t want you to miss out.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski1/23Hazelnut Granola and Chia Pudding Bowls
Alex Lau2/23Super-Seedy Gluten-Free Bread
“This bread was absolutely delicious!” Well, thanks, Jess from the comments section. “I subbed macadamia milk for the buttermilk because it’s all I had. Turned out great. I’ll definitely make it again.” Noted! Thanks for sharing.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich3/23Power Butter
If you thought it was impossible to make nut butter more delicious, try this added-value version. When we’re craving carbohydrates but still want a healthy snack (healthy fats, maybe a hit of potassium and vitamin C, filling enough to prevent over-snacking later), we like to spread it on rice crackers and top the whole shebang with sliced bananas.
Photo by Alex Lau4/23Chocolate-Cashew Chia Pudding
We’re big fans of pudding. (Obviously.) Chocolate chia pudding with white chia seeds, cocoa powder, and dairy-free cashew milk? Huge fans.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Sue Li6/23Nut Butter Granola Bars
We prefer the natural sweetness of peanut butter with this mixture of raw nuts, pumpkin seeds, old-fashioned oats, and dried fruit, but the deep, roasty flavor of almond butter would work, too.
Alex Lau8/23Blueberry–Chia Seed Jam
Important orientation prep: Don’t worry if this jam looks a little runny when it’s hot. The chia seeds will plump as the mixture cools, thickening it considerably. Get it even colder by layering it into this blueberry icebox cake.
Alex Lau9/23Seedy Oat Crackers
Just a tablespoon of maple syrup is enough to balance these earthy crackers. The recipe features a variety of seeds—and the combination of colors and textures is impressive—but you can use fewer types. Just make sure the total volume stays the same.
Alex Lau10/23Coconut Chia-Tapioca Pudding
This is not just another chia seed pudding recipe. This pudding is a study in white: white chia seeds, fresh coconut meat, coconut milk, pearl tapioca, and coconut flakes.
Marcus Nilsson11/23Mixed Bean Salad With Tomato Vinaigrette
Chia seeds bring not only a delightfully unusual texture to this savory salad, but also, when they bloom, they thicken the dressing slightly. Delightful.
Photo by Alex Lau12/23Tropical Energy Bars
This raw-foods energy bar recipe takes however long it takes you to pulse together the ingredients and, after an hour of fridge time, slice the finished product. (But, just between us, if you’re feeling indulgent, we bet some white chocolate chips, melted and slathered on top, would work well with this mix.)
Alex Lau15/23Blueberry-Chia Smoothie
This smoothie recipe with chia seeds calls for homemade jam, frozen pineapple, and almond milk or coconut water, but you should consider that more a formula than a restriction. Swap in a favorite store-bought jam or compote. Use frozen strawberries, mangoes, or cherries. And, for the liquid, turn to plain water, freshly squeezed orange juice, or any non-dairy milk you like.
Danny Kim17/23Pomegranate-Chia Seed Yogurt Parfait
As you know by now, chia seeds form a gel when soaked in liquid, making them a kind of high-protein analog to tapioca. Try mixing them with varying textures, like the yogurt in this recipe, or cashew cream for an ice-cream-like pudding.
Kyle Johnson18/23Flaxseed–Chia Seed Pancakes With Bacon
This pancake mix—all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, flaxseed, sugar, chia seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt—can be made one week ahead and stored at room temperature. In other words, you could make a big batch and have pancakes all week.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro19/23Matcha-Mango Chia Pudding
While you could certainly whip this layered breakfast together every morning, the puddings will keep in the fridge for five days, making this recipe one of our favorite make-ahead breakfast ideas. With a little prep, you’ve got a grab-and-go morning waiting to happen.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio22/23Tropical Trifle With Coconut and Rum
This is a no-bake dessert at its finest: Minimal prep time thanks to your refrigerator; some raw fruit; and store-bought, dollar-a-sleeve cookies. (But if you absolutely must complicate things, you could always make your own vanilla extract.)
Peden + Munk23/23Berry, Beet, Mint, Lime, and Chia Seed Smoothie
In this drinkable chia seed recipe, non-dairy milks (unsweetened almond milk, oat milk) will add body and protein, but if you prefer something sweeter, try juice. Less heavy? Go with coconut water.
