this protein chia seed pudding is perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a snack. it is easy to make and has 13 grams of protein per serving!

Protein Chia Seed Pudding in a bowl with fruit

the inspiration

This might be a little crazy to say but can you believe there is no chia seed pudding recipe on the blog?! There is a recipe for a blended chia seed pudding but aside from that I have no chia seed pudding recipe on here.

How can I call myself a vegan blogger without a chia seed pudding recipe? And it’s not that I don’t enjoy chia seed pudding because I definitely do. However, I think I just felt as if you all didn’t need another chia seed pudding recipe.

So, when you are creating a recipe that so many people have already made you have to think “how am I making this different?” Naturally, my instinct is let’s make this higher in protein, so that is what we are doing.

ingredients for protein chia seed pudding

the ingredients

Chia Seeds: of course the main ingredient of this recipe, we will need chia seeds. I am using black chia seeds, which are typically more common. However, you can also use white chia seeds. You can find them online, but they are also very easy to find in most major food stores or health stores.
Extra Firm Tofu: to bulk up the protein on this recipe we are going to be using extra firm tofu. I like it as it also creates a very thick base for our chia seed pudding.
Vegan Protein Powder: you can use any protein powder you like. I went with the Orgain Justin’s Collab, it is dark chocolate and peanut butter. Just make sure you use a flavor you really like as it will be the main flavor source here.
Non-Dairy Milk: you can use any non-dairy milk you like. To get in a little extra protein I opt for Ripple pea protein milk. You can use soy milk as well for a high protein option. In this recipe though anything like almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, rice milk, or coconut milk will work. You can also use a flavor or sweetened if you like as well.
Agave: to add in some extra sweetness we will be using agave. You can use any liquid sweetener you like, for example maple syrup. If you want to make it sugar free you can use a sugar replacement.

what are chia seeds?

While I feel like most people know what chia seeds are let’s talk about them in case you don’t! If you are a 90s baby like me “ch-ch-ch-chia” may ring in your head anytime chia seeds are discussed. But who knew the same thing we were using to make a plant with, would be one of the most popular wellness foods now!

Chia seeds are tiny seeds that pack a lot of nutrition into a small bite. They’re full of fiber, omega-3s, protein, and antioxidants. When you mix them with liquid they get bigger and create a gel-like texture. This makes it great for things like a chia egg, or to turn it into a pudding.

how to make protein chia seed pudding

To make this protein chia seed pudding is very easy! There is no cooking involved we just need to do a little blending.

ingredients for protein chia seed pudding in a bowl

In a high-powered blender add in the tofu, protein powder, agave, and non-dairy milk.

Blend for 1 minute or until smooth.

Add chia seeds into a jar.

Fill the jar with the blended liquid.

Mix the chia seeds up and chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

The chia seed pudding will become very thick!

how to serve the protein chia seed pudding

If you want to eat this protein chia seed pudding just by itself you totally can! It is really so delicious. However, here are some ideas for serving it.

Pair it with some healthy fats. Sprinkle with nuts, pumpkin seeds, or hemp seeds. Add a scoop of nut butter, almond butter, cashew butter or peanut butter go great here. You can also do sunflower seed butter to keep it nut free.
Pair it with fruit. There is no wrong fruit option here: fresh berries like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries. You can go a bit more tropical with some mango, bananas, shredded coconut. If it is summer have it with peaches, nectarines, cherry. Seriously, any fruit will be delicious here.
Up the protein even more! If you want it to be even higher in protein you can have it with a protein cereal like Catalina Crunch or add some vegan Greek yogurt on top.
Make it crunchy. Of course some granola would be delicious on top of here.
Make it overnight oats. If you want to bulk up the calories a bit more and overall serving you can definitely turn this into overnight oat protein chia pudding too. I would do about ½ cup of oats.

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why you’ll love this protein chia seed pudding

If you have never made chia seed pudding it is just really fun to make. The end product is so delicious and really unique in texture. I love how easily you can customize this and make so many variations by adding in different flavors like cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, fruit, or whatever else you like.

Because this recipe is vegan it is all plant-based protein which is awesome. So, it is great for anyone who doesn’t know what to make for a vegan breakfast. However, I have definitely also enjoyed this for dessert. It is the perfect take on the go breakfast too.

protein chia seed pudding faq

Is this recipe allergy friendly?

It does use tofu. However, it does not contain gluten or nuts. If you are have a soy allergy you can omit the tofu and add in more protein powder if you like.

How do I store leftovers?

The best part about chia seed pudding is that is is great as leftovers! We actually need it to sit in the fridge for a while to get that texture and consistency we are looking for. Chia seed pudding will last in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Do I eat chia seed pudding cold?

Yes!

Is this protein chia seed pudding good for meal prep?

It definitely is! You can store the individual servings in their own small airtight container or in jars like I did. When you look online a lot of food bloggers like to use fancy jars like a Mason jar or Weck jar for their chia seed pudding. I just always try to save mine from jams, pickles, or anything else. Makes it super easy to reuse them.

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