This Paleo and Vegan Banana Chia Pudding is the easiest and healthiest way to eat a nutrient-dense, no-cook breakfast, snack, or dessert. Made in minutes with only 4 wholesome ingredients, this thick and creamy, naturally-sweet treat is full of fiber, plant-based protein, omega 3, and essential vitamins and minerals–it’s nutritiously delicious and the perfect fuel to power you through your day.
Best Banana Chia Pudding (GF, DF, V)
This Banana Chia Pudding may be made with tiny seeds, but they offer BIG health benefits in every nutritious bite. With their gel-like consistency, chia seeds expand after a few hours of soaking in the milk, mashed banana, and agave mixture, making them the perfect ingredient to create this thick and creamy pudding.
Fun fact, chia seeds can absorb up to 10-12 times their weight in liquid, so you can feel full and fueled for hours.
It is so easy to make your Banana Chia Pudding ahead of time, store it in individual-size portable containers, and take it with you for a quick, grab-n-go breakfast, snack, or dessert (don’t forget to pack a spoon!)
Add your favorite toppings and fillings to prepare your own custom-flavored pudding or try my Chocolate Chia Pudding for another delicious indulgence.
Why We Love This Banana Chia Seed Pudding Recipe
- Quick and easy to prepare in 5 minutes–no cooking necessary – great for meal prepping.
- Made with only 4 nutrient-dense ingredients with so many health benefits.
- Thick and creamy and deliciously nutritious.
- Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, refined-sugar-free, grain-free recipe.
- Allergy-friendly meal means it’s perfect for young and old meal plans.
- Chia seeds are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, iron, and calcium.
- Perfect make-ahead healthy breakfast or snack.
Ingredients
- Bananas: If your bananas aren’t ripe enough, you won’t be able to mash them. Look for bananas that have started to get brown spots. You can also use frozen bananas that have been thawed.
- Vanilla almond milk: Feel free to use your favorite dairy or non-dairy milk.
- Chia seeds
- Agave nectar
- Chopped nuts (optional garnish)
Substitutions and Additions
- Tasty Toppings: Customize your chia pudding with your favorite topping flavors!
- Berries: Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and more make naturally sweet toppings.
- Other Fresh Fruit: Or try some sliced bananas, mango, kiwi, peaches, or coconut or even dried fruit.
- Chopped/sliced nuts: Almonds, pecans, and walnuts add texture and taste.
- Nut Butter: Drizzle some peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter for extra flavor and protein.
- Super Seeds: Sprinkle some seeds over your pudding for an additional boost of plant-based protein. Ideas include hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds.
- Other Fun Flavors: You can mix in chocolate chips, cocoa powder, almond extract, granola, or your other favorites to make this your own version of the perfect chia pudding.
- Milk: You can substitute vanilla coconut milk, soy milk, rice milk, or whole milk for the vanilla almond milk.
- Swap The Sweetener: Feel free to replace the agave nectar with honey or maple syrup for some other natural sweetener choices. You can also use stevia or something similar, or for a less healthy option, you can use white or brown sugar.
Recommended Tools
- 2 (8 ounce) wide rim mason jars or other 8 ounce containers
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing tools
- Measuring tools
SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW
How to Make Banana Chia Pudding
It is so quick and easy to make this no-cook Banana Chia pudding simply by mixing all of your ingredients together and letting them chill in the refrigerator. That’s all it takes to create a healthy, nutrient-dense sweet treat that is perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert!
- Combine the mashed bananas, vanilla almond milk, chia seeds, and agave nectar in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
- Transfer mixture to a glass container.
Pro Tip: You can also use two 8 ounce wide rim mason jars. - Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours minimum or overnight.
- Serve with banana slices and chopped nuts, optional.
- Enjoy!
Tips
- The riper the bananas are, the better and sweeter your pudding will be.
- To ripen bananas quickly, stab them all over with a sharp knife or fork to create holes. Then put your banana in the microwave on a plate or paper towel and microwave in 30 second increments until soft.
- If you don’t like the texture of the seeds and prefer your pudding to be completely smooth, simply blend everything together before placing in the fridge to soak.
Storage Tips
- To Store: Store this pudding in the refrigerator, preferably in your mason jar with a lid. If kept in an airtight container, this chia pudding stay fresh for up to 5 days.
- To Freeze: You can freeze chia pudding for 1-2 months in a freezer safe container. Thaw it in the refrigerator prior to serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Chia seeds are a complete protein with all the amino acids that your body needs from an external source.
2. Chia seeds are “the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids.”
3. Chia seeds contain polyunsaturated fat, fiber, protein, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc.
4. Chia seeds have a lot of other health benefits when combined with a healthy way of eating, including affecting cardiovascular health, weight, digestion, and cholesterol. (SOURCE)
Bananas are a healthy source of fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and various antioxidants and phytonutrients. They also may be beneficial for heart health due to their high levels of potassium and antioxidants. What’s more, their resistant starch and pectins may promote colon health.
Color is really the only difference between black and white chia. Both types share the same neutral taste, the thickening/gelling ability, and the same nutritional profile.
Not all chia puddings are Keto friendly. Chia seeds themselves are especially Keto-friendly, but many chia pudding recipes are made with added sugars and fruits high in carbohydrates.
Chia pudding recipes that use berries, full-fat milk, and are unsweetened or sweetened with Keto-friendly sweeteners are usually approved for a Keto diet.
This Banana Chia Pudding, however, is NOT Keto-friendly because both bananas and agave nectar are high in carbohydrates.
Other Easy Healthy Recipes
Banana Chia Pudding
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas mashed (~1 cup)
- 2 cups vanilla almond milk
- ½ cup chia seeds
- 2 tbsp agave nectar
- Banana slices optional garnish
- Chopped nuts optional garnish
Instructions
- Combine the mashed ripe bananas, vanilla almond milk, chia seeds, and agave nectar in a medium bowl. Mix ingredients thoroughly.
- Transfer mixture to a glass container (two 8 ounce wide rim mason jars is a great choice).
- Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours minimum or overnight.
- Serve with banana slices and chopped nuts, optional.
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Store this pudding in the refrigerator, preferably in your mason jar with a lid. If kept in an airtight container, this chia pudding stay fresh for up to 5 days.
- To Freeze: You can freeze chia pudding for 1-2 months in a freezer safe container. Thaw it in the refrigerator prior to serving.
- The riper the bananas are, the better and sweeter your pudding will be.
- To ripen bananas quickly, stab them all over with a sharp knife or fork to create holes. Then put your banana in the microwave on a plate or paper towel and microwave in 30 second increments until soft.
- If you don’t like the texture of the seeds and prefer your pudding to be completely smooth, simply blend everything together before placing in the fridge to soak.
