Easy and Healthy Banana Chia Seed Pudding

This easy and healthy banana chia seed pudding is the perfect make-ahead, on-the-go breakfast or snack. It’s deliciously sweet and creamy, like a dessert!

If you’re looking for a make-ahead breakfast idea that you can grab and go before heading out the door, try this quick and easy banana chia seed pudding recipe. 

Imagine starting the day with something sweet, minus the guilt! Deliciously creamy and indulgent, it can easily be a snack or dessert. 😋

This banana chocolate chia pudding is also packed with nutrients, thanks to its ingredients like chia seeds, Greek yogurt, almond milk, cacao, bananas, and cinnamon. 

You can make your banana chia pudding in advance, but if you’re impatient like me, well I got good news for you!

This specific recipe is ready to be enjoyed after an hour compared to other chia pudding recipes. Find out why:

What Is Banana Chia Seed Pudding?

Banana chia seed pudding is a chia seed pudding that features a delicious and wholesome combination of cacao and bananas. 

If you want a make-ahead, on-the-go breakfast besides overnight oats, you can whip up a chia seed pudding instead.

It’s usually made by mixing chia seeds, milk, and a sweetener; then, you can pick whatever toppings you like.

However, this banana chia pudding recipe is not only for busy people who want to make their breakfast ahead of time.

What I love about our banana chocolate chia pudding is we use hot water for the chia seeds.

This way, you don’t need to wait overnight for the chia seeds to turn into silky morsels that soak up the rich flavors of cacao and bananas. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This chocolate banana chia seed pudding is a breakfast, snack, and dessert in one satisfying glass (or jar!) If you haven’t tried a banana chia pudding before, this is your sign to make this recipe because it’s:

• On-The-Go Breakfast Idea: Forget about smoothies and overnight oats! Make this quick and easy banana chia seed pudding before sleeping for a satisfying jar of goodness ready to go the next morning. 
• Healthy and Filling: Chia pudding may taste rich and sweet, but it’s made from wholesome and filling ingredients! Enjoy it as breakfast to start the day on a high note, or have it as a snack or dessert, and it should keep you full to keep your cravings at bay. 
• Adaptable For All Diets And Palate: You’ll love this healthy chia seed pudding recipe because you can customize it with different ingredients to satisfy your palate! Feel free to also make ingredient substitutes to make it vegan or keto! 

What Does Chia Seed Pudding Taste Like?

Chia pudding is creamy and nutty, but it will easily take on the flavor of the other ingredients. And what better combination to savor with chia pudding’s texture than banana and chocolate?

This banana chia pudding tastes sweet, but not in an overwhelming way.

We also used wholesome ingredients like actual fresh banana slices, cacao powder, and cacao nibs, so every spoonful won’t make you anxious about your waistline. 😉

Besides the beloved banana-chocolate combo, the other ingredients like Greek yogurt, almond milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and honey all go well together to create a delightful marriage of flavors for the plump seeds to soak up. 

And if you read the recipe card, don’t be surprised with salt and cayenne pepper because they’re crucial ingredients for a well-balanced and crave-worthy chia pudding!

Is Chia Seed Pudding Healthy?

This banana chocolate chia pudding is not only a treat to the taste buds. It’s also nourishing for the whole body, thanks to its ingredients.

First, chia seeds are fiber-packed to keep you full for longer. This makes unhealthy cravings easier to manage. 

Another reason why this banana chia seed pudding is good for you is because of its protein content from Greek yogurt. Protein benefits metabolism, bone health, muscle mass, and even mental health! 

If you also have a sweet tooth like me, this chocolate banana chia seed pudding is the healthier choice over sugary breakfasts like cereal and pancakes. 

It may taste sweet and rich, but it uses honey, cacao nibs, and cacao powder, which are way better than artificial sweeteners and fatty chocolate. 

And finally, no chia seed pudding is complete without milk. We’re using almond milk as a low-calorie option, but it can easily be any milk of choice.

What Are the Benefits of Banana and Chia Seeds?

Bananas and chia seeds are healthy and perfect for a wholesome breakfast meal. 

We all know that bananas are rich in potassium for supporting heart health, and chia seeds provide nutrients like calcium and iron. 

Both are also fiber-rich, which means they are fantastic for digestion, lowering blood sugar levels, and maintaining a healthy weight. 

But besides the health benefits, this banana chocolate chia pudding is also versatile, and you can add or swap ingredients to make it as nutritious as possible. 

With how easy it is to make and the fact that you can whip up this chia seed pudding in advance, there’s no more reason to skip breakfast or settle for an unhealthy snack, even with a busy schedule!

Ingredients For Banana Chia Pudding

• Chia seeds – We’ve used black chia seeds for this recipe since it’s more readily available.
• Hot water – This banana chia seed pudding is ready in just an hour because hot water speeds up the plumping of the chia seeds!
• Honey –  Feel free to use your favorite sweetener.
• Vanilla extract – Completes the overall flavor of our banana chocolate chia seed pudding.
• Salt – Use just enough salt to balance the sweetness of the chia seed pudding. 
• Greek yogurt – Helps achieve the delicious creamy consistency of the banana chia pudding. 
• Almond milk – You can also use any type of milk you like for this chia pudding recipe, but plant-based milk is a fantastic option to keep the pudding low-calorie. 
• Cacao powder – Instead of using artificial chocolate flavor, we’re making this chocolatey banana chia pudding with cacao powder!
• Cinnamon – This warm spice perfectly complements the sweet, creamy banana chia seed pudding. 
• Cayenne pepper – The kick from cayenne pepper really brings out the chocolatey goodness of this banana chia pudding. 
• Bananas – You can also make this chia seed pudding with other fruits, but ripe banana and cacao is a match made in heaven. 😋
• Cacao nibs – We’ll top our banana chocolate chia pudding with cacao nibs instead of chocolate chips.

Tools Needed To Prepare Banana Chocolate Chia Pudding

• Bowl for mixing the pudding ingredients
• Glass for serving the banana chocolate chia pudding. 

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Chocolate Banana Chia Seed Pudding

Almond milk

Want to make your chia seed pudding thicker and creamier? Swap almond milk with full-fat coconut milk!

Peanut butter

Bananas and chocolate…what else would taste great with these two?

Try this creamy pudding with a drizzle of peanut butter on top! 🤤

Almonds

Make this chia seed pudding recipe with your favorite seeds and nuts. Personally, I love the crunch of almonds with the smooth chia pudding.

How to Make Banana Chia Seed Pudding

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 1/2 cup almond milk
• 2 1/2 tbsp cacao powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 pcs bananas, sliced
• 1 tbsp cacao nibs

Tools you need:

• Bowl
• Serving glass

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather the ingredients for your banana chia seed pudding.

STEP 2: Place the chia seeds in hot water, stir, and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.

STEP 3: Stir in the honey, vanilla extract, and salt.

STEP 4: Add the Greek yogurt, almond milk, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Mix the pudding until combined.

STEP 5: Fill a glass with half of the chia pudding mixture and layer with banana slices.

STEP 6: Top with more chia pudding, extra banana slices, and cacao nibs

STEP 7: Cover and chill for at least an hour before serving.

What To Serve With Chocolate Banana Chia Seed Pudding

Enjoy this banana chia seed pudding on its own, or serve it with simple ingredients like fresh raspberries and mangoes. 😋

Or if you’re looking for a topping like whipped cream, a healthier option you can use for this chia pudding is coconut cream. The coconut flavor tastes amazing with the rich and creamy chia pudding. 

You can also try this chia seed pudding with other quick and healthy breakfast recipes!

Step your granola game with our banana granola recipe, or make our custard yogurt toast to find out why it’s viral. 

Tips About Making Banana Chia Seed Pudding

First time making a chia seed pudding? Keep these tips in mind:

• This banana chia seed pudding is ready after an hour in the fridge. But if you have the time, chia pudding is best enjoyed after chilling overnight. 
• Is your chia seed pudding clumpy? Remember to stir them again after they gel up!
• For easier storage, make this banana chocolate chia pudding in a mason jar with sealed lid.

How To Store Banana Chocolate Chia Pudding

Chocolate banana chia seed pudding is a fantastic make-ahead breakfast since it stores well. You can enjoy it the next day after chilling overnight in the fridge. 

If you made a big batch and divided the chia pudding in several airtight containers like mason jars, I suggest enjoying your creation within 3 days in the fridge since it has fresh bananas. 

Is Chia Seed Pudding Really Good for You?

Chia seed pudding is good for you because it’s filling and a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, AKA heart-healthy fats. But, of course, every chia pudding recipe is different. 

You want your chia seed pudding to offer a balance of carbs, protein, and fat. The good news is it’s easy to swap and experiment with different ingredients when making chia seed pudding.

And if you love how easy it is to make this healthy banana chia seed pudding, I’m sure you’ll be a fan of this strawberry smoothie bowl.

It’s also good for you, and you only need to mix everything in a blender!

Is It Better to Use White or Black Chia Seeds for Chia Pudding?

Both black and white chia seeds will work well for chia pudding.

Some prefer white chia seeds to maintain a light aesthetic on their homemade chia pudding, while black chia seeds are easier to find. 

FAQ About Chia Seed Pudding

Conclusion

Perhaps it’s time to dethrone overnight oats as everyone’s favorite make-ahead breakfast.

Try this banana chia seed pudding and see for yourself why everyone loves this fiber-packed delight!

Making it is as simple as combining the ingredients. And because we’re soaking the chia seeds in hot water, you don’t need to wait long hours to enjoy the creamy chia pudding. 😋

Let me know how you enjoyed this chia pudding recipe in the comments below. What are your favorite toppings?

If this banana chia seed pudding recipe got you drooling, you’d enjoy these similar recipes:

• Halloween-Ready Graveyard Pudding Cups
• Delicious Bananas Foster Croissant Bread Pudding
• Ultimate  Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
• Copycat Mcdonald’s Yogurt Parfait
• Quick and Easy Banana Granola Recipe