Strawberry Chia Pudding (Vegan + Paleo)

Strawberry Chia Pudding – This dreamy strawberries and cream chia pudding is a delicious healthy breakfast you can make an advance. It’s perfect for meal prep! (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

I’ve been SO HAPPY it’s strawberry season again! Now that strawberries are back in season and on sale, I’ve been tossing them in everything–baked oatmeal, smoothies, and strawberry chia pudding.

I know it’s not everyone’s favorite thing, but I really love chia pudding. It’s a quick-and-easy meal prep breakfast that’s perfect for busy mornings or when you have a few minutes to think ahead. We’ve played with flavors like coconut, chocolate, blueberry, mango lime, and our newest flavor is Strawberry Chia Pudding.

This strawberries and cream chia pudding recipe is full of ripe strawberry flavor and has a happy pink color that’s so cheerful in the mornings. I love that it only takes a few ingredients to put together, and it tastes LOVELY.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started…

HERE’S WHAT GOES INTO OUR STRAWBERRY CHIA PUDDING RECIPE:

• Fresh or Frozen Strawberries. You can use fresh or frozen strawberries to make strawberry chia pudding. You’ll be blending them up, so either works!
• Coconut Milk. For creaminess, I really like using a blend of coconut milk and another milk, like…
• Almond Milk. This helps balance the flavor so the coconut doesn’t stand out too much. You can use another kind of milk here, if you prefer.
• Pure Maple Syrup. To highlight the natural sweetness of the berries, I add just a tiny bit of pure maple syrup to the strawberry chia pudding. This is technically optional, or you can swap it with agave if you prefer.
• Vanilla. A few drops of vanilla give this total Strawberries And Cream Chia Pudding vibes. I love this effect!
• A Tiny Pinch of Salt. I always notice a difference if I forget to add just a tiny pinch of salt to my chia pudding. You’ll use less than 1/8 tsp.
• Chia Seeds. Then, come our chia seeds! They’ll thicken this from a blended strawberry milk to a thick, lovely strawberry chia pudding as they gel. Plus, they’ll give you a boost of healthy fats and fiber!
• Goodies To Go On Top! Once your strawberry chia pudding is assembled, you’re ready to add goodies!

LET’S ADD GOODIES! HERE ARE MY 5 FAVORITE TOPPINGS FOR STRAWBERRY CHIA PUDDING:

1. FRESH BERRIES. Fresh berries are a natural topping for strawberry chia pudding. I love using strawberries best to highlight the flavor of the pudding, but you can also mix and match from raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries to add color and keep things interesting!
2. GRANOLA. I love adding a bit of crunch to the top of my chia pudding, so a little sprinkle of granola is one of my favorite toppings. (Try this paleo-granola if you need a grain-free version!)
3. NUTS. Similarly, nuts can be a great way to add some crunch. Sliced almonds are nice with strawberries!
4. SLICED BANANAS. A few slices of banana can be delightful on top of strawberry chia pudding. With the strawberries and cream flavor of the chia pudding, adding banana on top almost makes this feel like a sundae!
5. CACAO NIBS. These little crunchy nibs are made from raw cacao and are unsweetened. They can run a little bitter if you’re not used to them, but I LOVE them on top of chia pudding, especially with berries and granola!

FAQ + TIPS AND TRICKS FOR THE BEST STRAWBERRY CHIA PUDDING:

HOW LONG DOES STRAWBERRY CHIA PUDDING LAST? Strawberry chia pudding will keep 3-4 days in the refrigerator. The color will soften a bit over time, since the strawberries will oxidize (be exposed to oxygen and go slightly brown). This is harmless, but doesn’t look as pretty. Chia pudding also thickens over time, so if you find your pudding’s a little thicker than you like, feel free to thin it out with a splash of milk!

CAN I USE FROZEN STRAWBERRIES FOR STRAWBERRY CHIA PUDDING? Absolutely. You can use fresh or frozen strawberries for strawberry chia pudding. If you’re using frozen berries, letting them thaw a bit before blending will help them get smoother faster.

A TRICK FOR PRETTY CHIA PUDDING. If you’re feeling fancy or a little extra, try this this trick for pretty chia pudding: thinly slice a strawberry from stem to tip and press the thin slices against the sides of your jar. Press them until there are no air bubbles trapped between the berry and the jar. Repeat, creating a design around the edge of your jar, if you like, then add the chia pudding to the jar.

WHAT ARE THE BEST JARS FOR CHIA PUDDING? Speaking of jars, my favorite jars for chia pudding are the ones made by Weck. I have these ones that are a bit more tall and narrow (I love them for Overnight Oats, too!), and I have these flatter, wider ones (pictured) that I love for chia pudding. (They’re a bit more bowl-shaped.) But any glass container you can cover with a lid will work! These are a great inexpensive option I use all the time.

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