Overnight Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding

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Overnight Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding is just waiting to be topped with berries, nuts or chocolate! Or, savored with no toppings at all as any good pudding can be. It's low-carb, SBD compliant, keto-friendly and absolutely delicious!

Just like Whipped Cottage Cheese Dessert Cups, it checks off all the boxes, so it's ok by me as a healthy way to start the day or a sweet ending to dinner! 

You'll need to plan ahead like you do for overnight oatmeal in a jar. But, it's worth the wait!

Jump to:

• What you need
• What are chia seeds?
• How does it work?
• The ratio
• How to make overnight chia seed pudding
• Ultimate list of toppings
• 📋 Recipe

What you need

• Milk - any type including whole or skim milk. Unsweetened almond, soy or rice milk may be used too. If using a sweetened milk alternative then you may not need to add additional sweetener!
• Yogurt - any unsweetened Greek or regular yogurt. Non-dairy alternatives will also work. If you happen to use sweetened yogurt, then you won't need added sweetener. 
• Chia seeds - these are readily available at the grocery store, pre-packaged or in the bulk section.
• Vanilla extract - gives the pudding it's signature vanilla flavor. If you have other extracts on hand, experiment! Almond extract is delicious too!
• Sweetener - we used an erythritol powdered sweetener in this recipe. We always suggest that you use what you have on hand and like. We've made this with honey, maple syrup, sugar as well as many sugar alternatives. Sweetener is stirred in at the beginning and the end of the recipe, if desired. So, go light with the initial amount. 

What are chia seeds?

Chia seeds are the seeds of a chia plant or Salvia hispanica. The plant is an herb and the seeds have many health benefits according to Wellness Mama, including lots of protein and fiber.

Remember chia pets, the little plants you can grow from seed and shape with scissors? Same thing!

We sprinkle them over oatmeal and salad greens, use them as an egg-replacer and even mix it into the breading of chicken tenders.

How does it work?

It's like magic! When chia seeds are mixed with liquid they absorb it, expand and become gelatinous. That's why we've been using them instead of eggs in cookies for years.

The ratio

The standard ratio to make chia seed pudding is 2 Tablespoons chia seeds to ½ cup milk. Once you start other types of ingredients, the ratio can change slightly. 

We used 2 Tablespoons for this recipe since Greek yogurt thickens the texture a bit. However, another Tablespoon can be added for an even thicker consistency.

How to make overnight chia seed pudding

Since chia seed pudding has lots of liquid, it's best to make it up the night before so it reaches its full potential. However, you can get away with several hours in the refrigerator in a pinch.

Simply stir all of the ingredients together in a bowl or jar. Cover and place in the refrigerator until thickened.

Important Note: After about 30 minutes, stir the mixture again to distribute the chia seeds which will drop to the bottom in a big clump! 

Ultimate list of toppings

The options are endless for topping keto chia seed pudding. But, remember, every ingredient changes the nutritional information including carb count!

• Nuts - almonds, walnuts, and pecans. Toast the nuts for a more intense flavor.
• Berries - raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries, with raspberries being the lowest carb option of the 3.
• Seeds - sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds
• Blueberry compote 
• Chocolate chips or cocoa nibs - use a stevia sweetened brand to keep it low-carb.
• Coconut flakes

I topped this creamy treat with strawberries, blueberries and toasted walnuts for a patriotic theme!

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating and tag @DinnerMom or #DinnerMom on social media. We LOVE to see and share your creations!

📋 Recipe

This recipe was originally published 5/22/2014. It was updated to improve the reader experience.