Over the 16 years that I’ve been creating recipes I’ve always prioritized nutrition without sacrificing flavor. And I’ve created hundreds of easy recipes to make healthy living manageable. The chia pudding is one of them – pop it in the fridge in the evening and you’ll have a week’s worth of quick morning meals!

Chia seeds are incredibly nutritious. The fiber content alone makes it a rockstar food, but they’re also a good source of protein and healthy fat.

This recipe is intended to be a springboard for however you’d like to customize it! Swap out the coconut milk for another type, use whatever sweetener you prefer, and add your favorite fruit.

About Chia Seeds

Did you know chia seeds can absorb 10x their weight in liquid?! Amazing.

These little seeds are also packed with a lot of nutritional value. They’re a good source of quercetin (a natural antioxidant), fiber, and have good amounts of calcium, magnesium, and a bit of protein.

TIP: Use chia seeds as a vegan egg replacement!

1 T chia seeds + 3 T water and let it sit for 15 min. Add to the recipe when it calls for 1 egg.

Making chia pudding is crazy easy, although it does have an interesting texture that not all of my kids enjoy. I’ve buzzed it up in my blender to smooth it out and that helps them like it more. 

It’s also easily made dairy free and it’s naturally gluten free. Yay!

I buy my chia seeds at Costco, but they’re available at just about every grocery store and online.

What you’ll need for Chia Pudding with Coconut Milk

• Coconut Milk: Both light and full-fat would work here
• Chia Seeds
• Maple Syrup or your preferred sweetener
• Sea Salt
• Vanilla Extract
• Mangoes: I love mangoes here, but you can use any type of fruit you prefer
• Toasted Coconut Flakes: Optional, but delish

Coconut milk to chia seed ratio

I prefer to use 1/3 or 1/4 cup chia seeds for every cup of liquid. Use more chia seeds for a thicker pudding.

Because I’m using a thicker liquid like creamy coconut milk, the pudding ends up being thicker than it usually would. I like it this way, but if you prefer a looser pudding, use more liquid or reduce the amount of chia seeds by a couple of tablespoons.

What kind of milk to use in chia pudding

You can make chia pudding with any kind of milk — regular dairy milk, or dairy free milks like almond milk, and oat milk work well, but I especially love using canned coconut milk. I love all things coconut and the coconut milk makes it super creamy and delicious. And more dessert-like (which is my goal most of the time. Ha.)

You can use full fat coconut milk or light coconut milk in this, depending on your preference. Obviously, light coconut milk will have less fat if you’re tracking macros or concerned about that.

What kind of sweetener is best?

I like to use pure maple syrup when I make chia pudding, but you can use honey, any granulated sweetener (like coconut or maple sugar), or a low-carb sweetener like Stevia or monkfruit.

How to make Coconut Chia Pudding

All you need to do is whisk together the chia seeds, milk of your choice, and sweetener of your choice. (And vanilla extract if you like!) Then you chill it overnight (or a couple of hours if you can’t wait that long). 

Patience is good here — you’ll want those chia seeds to absorb as much of the liquid as they can.

That’s it!

Tips for making chiTips for making Coconut Milk Chia Pudding

Whisk, wait, and then whisk again.

What I mean is… whisk everything together inially, then wait 5-10 minutes. Whisk it one more time and then put it in the fridge for a few hours. 

This prevents the chia from initially sinking to the bottom and creating a big, stiff blob on the bottom. You’ll thank me later.

You’ll have to stir it one more time before serivng to make sure there aren’t any clumps, too.

How to serve Coconut Chia Seed Pudding

Chia pudding makes a great snack or breakfast! And can be prepared more decadently for a healthier dessert option.

If you’re like me, you’ll take a few bites out of the container while standing in front of the open refrigerator.

If you’d like to eat it in a more civilized manner, then add some to a bowl and top with fruit, granola, yogurt, and a sprinkle of hemp seeds, cacao nibs, or other healthy things. Here are a few of my favorite combos:

• Mango + toasted coconut flakes (my favorite with this coconut milk chia pudding)
• Diced apples + a spoonful of peanut butter + pinch of cinnamon or Chai Spice
• 1-2 scoops Chocolate collagen powder stirred in + a spoonful of peanut butter (this PB chocolate chia pudding is Steve’s favorite)
• Berries + yogurt + granola

How to store Coconut Milk Chia Seed Pudding

Chia pudding keeps in the fridge for several days. This recipe actually makes a perfect amount to fit in a quart sized mason jar! 

Want more easy, healthy breakfast ideas?

More easy breakfast recipes from Perry’s Plate

A Green Smoothie (that actually tastes good)

Best Homemade Granola (with coconut oil & low sugar)

Crispy Oven Sweet Potato Hash Browns

Homemade Chicken Breakfast Sausage

5-Minute Breakfast Salad

If you make one of my recipes, be sure to post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!

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Chia Pudding with Coconut Milk

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

This creamy coconut chia pudding is a delicious breakfast or snack topped with toasted coconut flakes and sweet mango! Prep a bunch ahead of time so it's always ready when you need a bite.

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Ingredients

• 1 14-ounce can coconut milk (light or full-fat)
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup chia seeds
• 3-4 Tablespoons maple syrup (see note)
• Pinch sea salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ripe mangoes, cut into chunks
• 1/2 cup toasted coconut flakes, for serving

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl or large glass measuring cup, whisk together the coconut milk, water, chia seeds, sweetener, salt, and vanilla.
2. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes. Whisk again to remove any clumps, and then cover and chill for at least 2 hours. (Overnight is my favorite!)
3. Give it one more good stir before serving.
4. Serve with a few spoonfuls of mango chunks and a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes.

Notes

1. You can use any kind of sweetener here. Honey and maple work well. Low carb sweeteners and coconut sugar does, too, but coconut sugar turns the pudding a light brown color.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Nature's Intent Organic Chia Seeds - 3lb Bag - USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Kosher, Keto & Paleo - Good Source of Calcium, Omega 3 and Iron - for Salads, Yogurt & Smoothies
• 
  LETS DO Organic Unsweetened Coconut Flakes, 7 OZ

Nutrition Information

Yield 4 Serving Size 3/4 cup pudding
Amount Per Serving Calories 515Total Fat 32gSaturated Fat 22gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 0mgSodium 87mgCarbohydrates 57gFiber 12gSugar 39gProtein 8g

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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