Easy Coconut Chia Pudding with Tips for How to Freeze

This Easy Coconut Chia Pudding recipe along with tips for how to freeze it was born out of a dish I had at one of my favorite local restaurants. It's such an easy recipe and super adaptable. I love that I can add my favorite toppings for a great breakfast option for the whole week.

This creamy pudding is made vegan friendly with the use of dairy free yogurt and milk for a single-serve chia pudding that's great for a fast weekday breakfast. Scroll down for the recipe card and for my easy tips to freeze a large batch for future meal planning for your breakfast menu rotation. 

Why You'll Love this Easy Chia Pudding Recipe

This chia seed pudding recipe has 4 ingredients. That’s it. Whisk them all together and let the chia seeds do their magical, fabulous work. The reason this healthy pudding-like breakfast option works so well is that chia seeds are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber this is a pudding that’s packed with health benefits. It will definitely become one of easiest recipes to make as a great option for breakfast. The ingredients can be prepped at scale to accomodate a big batch for a new favorite way to meal prep a healthy breakfast recipe. 

Ingredients for the Chia Pudding

This recipe will yield approximately 24 ounces or three 8-ounce servings. With only four ingredients, this recipe is super simple to whip up in minutes. Here's what we'll need: 

• One 13.5 ounce can coconut milk: For the flavor of coconut in this chia pudding, coconut milk works great. Use unsweetened to control the amount of sugar for this recipe. 
• 8 ounces coconut yogurt: I love adding in the yogurt for added probiotics and it adds a nice tangy balance to the vegan-based pudding. Topping the pudding with my stone fruit compote and your favorite granola and you’ve got a delicious breakfast ready in minutes.
• ⅓ cup chia seeds: the star of the recipe. Rich in healthy fats and fiber, this recipe packs a nutritious punch in this healthy recipe.   
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract: I love just a hint of sweetness here and vanilla extract does the trick. This helps for an initial layer of flavor for this base recipe. This leaves it open to add additional sweeteners of choice and fruit to the top of the prepared pudding.  

How to Prep the Chia Pudding

Prepping a bunch of chia puddings can be done in as little as 5-10 minutes. The process is very similar to prepping a batch of overnight oats. First, combine the above ingredients into a large prep bowl and whisk until well combined. Next, portion out your pudding into 8-ounce containers and store in fridge overnight to allow chia seeds to soak and set at least 6-8 hours or overnight. Take out your desired portion the next day. It will have a pudding-like consistency as the tiny seeds will have thickened overnight. Top with fruit, granola and your sweetener of choice (I recommend stone fruit compote for summer or brown butter apples and pears for fall) This will keep in fridge stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Recipe Adaptations and Substitutions

The next morning I love to serve these individual servings of chia pudding with a splash of maple syrup and top with seasonal fresh fruit. There are so many ways to adapt and substitute ingredients for this easy meal prep chia pudding. Here are a few adaptation and substitution suggestions: 

• Swap out the coconut milk for unsweetened almond milk. Homemade or your favorite store bought variety work well here. You can use your favorite non-dairy milk such as soy or cashew milk too. 
• Substitute kefir or plain greek yogurt for the coconut yogurt if that's your preference. I personally love the probiotic features in kefir and in yogurt so it's my go-to ingredient when prepping this basic recipe for chia pudding. 
• Experiment with flavor profiles: swirl in a tablespoon of cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder for a chocolate chia pudding recipe. Top with tiny chocolate chips and raspberries for a decadently delicious breakfast that satisfies the periodic chocolate craving. 
• Seasonal fruit topping suggestions:
  • Spring: Fresh berries like diced strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or blackberries. 
  • Summer: Keep the berry game going strong. You can also use diced stone fruits like cherries, peaches, and plums. I also love adding in a swirl of a seasonal fruit compote or fruit puree. Cherry and berry are my go-to compotes in summer. 
  • Fall: Brown butter apples and pears or a swirl of pumpkin butter. Top with hemp seeds for added crunch. 
  • Winter: Pumpkin or persimmon butter; or seasonal jams work well here too. 

Storage Tips and How to Freeze Chia Pudding

Chia pudding freezes well if stored correctly. For best results, portion out your chia pudding in a small glass jars or freezer safe airtight containers. The small containers will help keep the texture of the individually packed pudding consistent. To freeze a batch of chia pudding simply follow these steps: 

• Mix: Add your chia seeds, yogurt, and chosen cup of milk to a large mixing bowl. If desired, add your sweetener of choice then stir everything together until well combined. 
• Set: Allow the mixture to set about 10 to 15 minutes to allow the tiny little seeds to thicken slightly. Give the mixture a stir once more. 
• Portion: Divvy up the pudding into a small mason jar and repeat until all jars are filled with approximately 8 ounces of pudding. Secure each container with an airtight or freezer safe lid then place in the freezer. 
• Freeze: Freeze for up to 2 months. Again, we'll meal prepping for future meals so make sure you've got a plan to use them up within a couple months time. 

How easy is that? If you're wanting to enjoy a freezer portion of chia pudding, simply remove an individual portion from the freezer and place in the refrigerator to thaw overnight on the night before you plan to enjoy it. Should your refrigerator temp run cold, it might need additional time to thaw. If that's the case, take the chia pudding out and allow to thaw on your kitchen counter for about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir it up, top it off, and enjoy!