Chia Pudding Breakfast Parfait (3 Ways)

With this easy-to-follow Chia Pudding Breakfast recipe, you can easily transform chia seeds into a thick and creamy chia pudding parfait. Three fun flavors are included, plus other sugar-free toppings to choose from, so you can enjoy a different parfait every day of the week!

If you’re wondering if chia pudding makes a healthy breakfast, the answer is an astounding YES. Chia pudding has become a staple breakfast option among many health-conscious consumers.

Tired of overnight oats? Make a big batch of chia seed pudding!

Unfortunately, recipes for chia breakfast puddings and chia desserts are often used interchangeably, which is wrong because chia desserts are usually sweetened and often contain higher amounts of sugar.

Chia desserts are still delicious and healthy, but they are desserts and not breakfast foods, especially if you are trying to consume less sugar.

That’s why I made this chia pudding breakfast recipe without any added sweeteners. Instead, you get to enjoy the real flavors of berries, mango, and apples.

Making the base recipe is as simple as mixing milk and chia seeds, setting it in the fridge overnight, and then returning the next morning to a thick and creamy portion of plain chia pudding.

From there, you can use the chia pudding to make one of the chia parfait flavors or mix and match your favorite toppings to create a personalized parfait.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• This chia seed pudding recipe is easy and super versatile. You simply combine milk and chia seeds, then let the mixture chill until thick and creamy. The hardest part is deciding which delicious parfait topping combinations to pile on first.
• It’s packed with nutrients. Chia is rich in fiber, protein, calcium, and healthy fats, and the different toppings add nutrients too.
• No added sugars or sweeteners. Eating less sweetened foods, especially for breakfast, helps train your taste buds to appreciate the natural sweetness in real food ingredients.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Milk – This can be regular dairy milk or a non-dairy alternative, like almond, cashew, oat, or macadamia nut milk. Coconut milk is an option as well. I like using plain coconut water or light coconut milk beverage in a carton. If you have a can of coconut milk, you can use it, but I suggest blending it with water first.
• Chia seeds – You can use black or white chia seeds as they are nearly identical nutritionally and in flavor. Avoid brown chia seeds as they were harvested before maturity resulting in fewer nutrients and a bitter taste.
• Toppings – This is the fun part. You can customize your chia pudding parfait with various fruits, nuts, seeds, crunchy ingredients, etc. Read on for healthy topping ideas and my favorite chia pudding parfait flavors.

How to Make a Chia Pudding Breakfast

1. Combine: Pour the milk into a small glass jar or container, then add the chia seeds and mix well with a spoon. Allow the mixture to stand for about 10 minutes, then give it one more good stir.
2. Soak: Place the container in the fridge, and let the chia seeds soak until the mixture thickens into a spoonable, pudding-like consistency. This will take at least 4 hours, but it makes the most sense to soak the chia seeds overnight so they’re ready just in time for breakfast in the morning.
3. Assemble: When you’re ready for breakfast, grab the chia pudding from the fridge and assemble it parfait style with layers of oats, fruit, berries, crunchy nuts, and seeds – and enjoy!

Chia Pudding Parfait Flavors

You can make one of these parfait flavors or modify the recipe to match your dietary and taste preferences.

1. Very Berry

Make this chia seed parfait with your favorite fresh, juicy berry or any combination of fresh or frozen raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries.

Just layer the chia pudding in the bottom of a tall glass or jar, then top with fresh berries, rolled oats, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds.

2. Apple Cinnamon

This chia pudding parfait flavor was inspired by a slice of apple pie. It’s great with any sweet apple variety or unsweetened applesauce – or you could add a layer of each.

To make an apple cinnamon chia pudding parfait, add the chia pudding to a glass and layer the apples and/or applesauce, rolled oats, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds on top. Finish with a pinch of cinnamon. Add more to taste.

3. Mango Coconut

This chia parfait is sweetened with the tropical flavors of mango and unsweetened shredded coconut. Banana slices, papaya, pineapple, kiwi, and guava would also be delicious.

To make a mango coconut chia pudding parfait, layer the pudding in a glass or a small Mason jar, followed by layers of mango, shredded coconut or coconut flakes, rolled oats, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds.

How to Adapt This Chia Seed Breakfast Recipe

Here are a few ways you can adapt this chia breakfast recipe to your taste and dietary preferences:

• Add nuts such as cashews, walnuts, pecans, and hazelnuts instead of sunflower and pumpkin seeds, or mix them all together;
• To make this chia seed breakfast grain-free, skip the rolled oats and add one more tablespoon of nuts or seeds;
• To make this chia breakfast more filling, add extra nuts and seeds;
• Add two tablespoons of sugar-free granola instead of rolled oats and seeds;
• Add a smooth, creamy layer of pure, no-sugar-added almond, cashew, or peanut butter.
• Mix and match fruits and berries to create your favorite flavor combination.

Storing

This chia pudding recipe makes enough for one breakfast, but you can easily double or triple the recipe and soak the chia seeds in a larger container. Once the pudding thickens, divide it between airtight containers and enjoy it within 2 to 3 days.

The assembled chia pudding parfaits are best enjoyed immediately. Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a parfait?

A true French parfait is a layered dessert consisting of sweet, frozen custard, fruit, fruit syrups, and whipped cream. In contrast, a breakfast parfait (a.k.a. yogurt parfait) is typically layers of yogurt, fresh or frozen fruit, and granola.

What can I use instead of oats?

If you were hoping for a grain-free substitution for rolled oats, add extra nuts and seeds for the crispy element.

Can I make the chia pudding sweeter?

Once your taste buds adapt to eating less sugar, fruit and berries will taste much sweeter and more succulent. Ideally, sweet enough that you won’t need any added sweeteners.

If your taste buds are still waking up to no sugar, you can add a small amount of natural sweetener like honey, pure maple syrup, or coconut sugar to the chia pudding.

More Healthy Breakfast Recipes You Might Like:

• Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
• Quinoa with Fruit for Breakfast
• Homemade Muesli
• Apple Sauce Oatmeal
• How to Sweeten Oatmeal without Sugar

Chia Pudding Breakfast Parfait

Yield: 1 portion

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes

This chia pudding breakfast is easy to make and very versatile. It's refined sugar-free and sweetened with only fruits and berries. 3 delicious flavor combinations. Perfect as a nutritious breakfast or healthy snack.

Print

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup your favorite non-dairy or cow's milk
• 1 1/2 Tbsp chia seeds

For the Very Berry Chia Breakfast:

• 1/2 cup berries
• 1 Tbsp rolled oats
• 1/2 Tbsp shelled raw sunflower seeds
• 1/2 Tbsp shelled raw pumpkin seeds

For the Apple Cinnamon Chia Breakfast:

• 1/2 apple (sweet variety), chopped
• 1 Tbsp rolled oats, (use gluten-free if needed)
• 1/2 Tbsp shelled raw sunflower seeds
• 1/2 Tbsp shelled raw pumpkin seeds
• pinch of cinnamon

For the Mango Coconut Chia Breakfast:

• 1/2 cup chopped mango
• 1/2 Tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 Tbsp rolled oats
• 1/2 Tbsp shelled raw sunflower seeds
• 1/2 Tbsp shelled raw pumpkin seeds

Instructions

1. Pour the milk into a jar or a glass container. Add the chia seeds and stir with a spoon. Let it stand for about 10 minutes then stir well one more time. Place the jar into the fridge and let the chia seeds soak for at least 4 hours or overnight.

For the Very Berry Chia Seed Breakfast:

1. In a jar or glass, layer the chia pudding, berries, rolled oats, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

For the Apple Cinnamon Chia Seed Breakfast:

1. In a jar or glass, layer the chia pudding, apple slices, cinnamon, rolled oats, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

For the Mango Coconut Chia Seed Breakfast:

1. In a jar or glass, layer the chia pudding, mango, shredded coconut, rolled oats, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

Notes

Nutrition information is a rough estimate for the Very Berry Chia Parfait made with almond milk.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Sincerely Nuts Sunflower Seed
• 
  Anthony's Organic Chia Seeds
• 
  Elmhurst Milked Variety Pack
• 
  Oregon Pumpkin Seeds
• 
  Organic Shredded Coconut
• 
  Bob's Red Mill Rolled Oats

Nutrition Information

Yield 1 portion Serving Size 1 chia breakfast
Amount Per Serving Calories 209Total Fat 12.5gSaturated Fat 1.8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 15.8gCholesterol 0mgSodium 132.2mgCarbohydrates 20.5gFiber 13.3gSugar 3.4gProtein 7.7g

Nutrition facts provided on this website are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a qualified health care provider for personalized diet advice and make sure that each of the ingredients is allowed in your diet.

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