My warm chia pudding is the ultimate comforting breakfast for the winter months. Ready in just 10 minutes, gluten-free and packed with fibre, it's a breakfast you'll want to wake up for!
Are you looking for an easy AND fast breakfast? Are you sick of overnight oats? While oats will always be a favourite breakfast of mine (especially this apple cinnamon recipe!), sometimes I do like to switch it up. As they say, variety is the spice of life!
So let me introduce you to this warm chia pudding. It's quick, uses pantry staples, and is super customizable. And it's the PERFECT soothing breakfast for the winter months, when a chilled chia pudding straight out of the fridge is just not cutting it. It's a breakfast I find myself coming back to time and time again, especially when I just want something comforting.
As a dietitian, I'm also a big fan of this recipe nutrition-wise. Chia seeds are high in fibre, with one serving of this pudding containing around 20 grams! For context, that's over half of the recommended daily intake for adults. Fibre is a powerhouse nutrient and has many important benefits, especially related to digestive and heart health. If you're looking to increase your fibre intake, this warm chia pudding is a great place to start (Just be mindful that increasing fibre too quickly may cause digestive upset. You may want to take it slowly!).
Jump to:
Ingredients
I'm willing to bet that you have most of these ingredients already. Who doesn't love a pantry staples recipe?
Chia base
- Whole chia seeds (black or white both work)
- Milk of choice
- Maple syrup
- Vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
Toppings
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Peanut butter
- Chopped walnuts
- Shredded unsweetened coconut
- Caramelized bananas (bananas and coconut oil)
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Follow the steps below to make this warm chia pudding!
Chia Base
In a small pot over medium-low heat, whisk together all chia base ingredients. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 3-5 minutes (stirring periodically) until the pudding starts to thicken. Remove from heat.
Transfer to two bowls and add desired toppings.
Easy Caramelized Bananas
Thinly slice banana into ¼ inch thick rounds. Heat coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Once hot, arrange banana slices in a single layer. Allow to cook for about 3 minutes per side (until bananas begin to brown/caramelize).
Substitutions and Variations
To make gluten-free: This recipe is already gluten-free! If you are especially sensitive to gluten or have Celiac disease, consider getting certified gluten-free items.
To make dairy-free: Use plant-based milk and yogurt.
And now for my favourite part- all the fun topping combinations! If you're someone who likes repeating meals but wants to incorporate more nutrient variety, changing up the toppings is a great place to start! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Caramelized apples
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Blueberries and lemon zest
Equipment
Warm Chia Pudding Storage
This warm chia pudding can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. To reheat, microwave it for around a minute or until warm. You may need to add more liquid if the pudding has become stiff.
Top Tip
With the high amount of soluble fibre in chia seeds, they tend to clump together if you don't mix them properly. To avoid this, make sure you continuously whisk them while cooking. This should prevent them from forming one gel-like blob.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chia seeds are high in fibre, which is important for digestive health. Fibre can also help lower LDL cholesterol, which may improve cardiovascular health.
Another nutritional highlight is its omega-3 content! Omega-3 fats have a ton of benefits, and chia seeds are one of the plant-based sources. If you can't tell by now, I'm a big fan of chia. It's such an easy way to add nutrition into your diet!
Yes, you can. I would recommend making a larger batch and reheating individual portions throughout the week. If you do this, I would also add the toppings fresh each day for best results.
The chia seeds in this recipe already have 12 grams of protein alone. To give it another protein boost, choose a higher protein milk (think cow, soy, or pea milk) and a high protein yogurt (Greek yogurt or skyr). If we use the combination, that adds up to between 20-30 grams of protein! An alternate option if you prefer lower protein options like oat milk and coconut yogurt is to simply pair the warm chia pudding with a couple hard-boiled eggs.
If you're a fan of the classic cold chia pudding, I'd highly recommend trying my layered chia pudding parfaits!
More Quick Breakfast Recipes
- Breakfast Blueberry Crumble Oat Bars
- Layered Chia Pudding Parfaits
- Chocolate Covered Strawberry Blended Overnight Oats
- Vegan Pumpkin Breakfast Cookie
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this warm chia pudding, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Warm Chia Pudding
Ingredients
Chia base
- ½ cup whole chia seeds black or white both work
- 2 cups milk of choice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Toppings
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Peanut butter
- Chopped walnuts
- Shredded unsweetened coconut
- Caramelized banana
Caramelized bananas
- 1 medium banana thinly sliced into ¼ inch thick rounds
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
Chia base
- In a small pot over medium-low heat, whisk together all chia base ingredients. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 3-5 minutes (stirring periodically) until the pudding starts to thicken. Remove from heat.
- Transfer to two bowls and add desired toppings.
Easy caramelized bananas
- Heat coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Once hot, arrange banana slices in a single layer. Allow to cook for about 3 minutes per side (until bananas begin to brown/caramelize).
Lucia says
This is the chai pudding breakfast recipe that I've been looking for: really easy, tasty, and nutritious! Thanks!