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    MJ & Hungryman » Baby/Kid-Friendly Recipes

    6 Single Serve Chia Pudding Recipes

    By Min On December 6, 2020, Updated October 19, 2021

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

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    collage of six puddings in a mason jar with toddler hand holding spoon in each

    These single serve chia seed pudding for babies 6 months and up is the perfect make ahead breakfast or snack that you can whip up in under 5 minutes! Simple, nutritious, and DELICIOUS, it’s sure to keep you and your family energized. I’m sharing the basic recipe as well as 6 fun flavors to tickle your taste buds.

    If you love overnight oats or quinoa, you’re going to love chia pudding! It’s ridiculously simple to make with ENDLESS flavor combinations. You really can't go wrong!

    Jump to:
    • Health Benefits for Babies and Toddlers
    • Ingredients for the basic recipe
    • How to Make Chia Pudding
    • How to Modify for Babies
    • Toppings
    • How to Meal Prep
    • 6 Fun Flavors
    • More Breakfast/Snack Ideas
    • Single Serve Chia Puddings for Babies and Kids

    Health Benefits for Babies and Toddlers

    • Chia seeds may be tiny but they sure do pack a nutritional punch! They contain many nutrients that help support young children's rapid brain development and strengthen immune systems: omega-3s, iron, complete protein (contain all 9 essential amino acids), calcium, and soluble fiber to name a few. 
    • If battling constipation, these chia puddings may provide relief! They truly helped my son when he was a baby.
    • You can simply sprinkle chia seeds on yogurt, oatmeal, toast, add to baked goods (baby and toddler muffins) or go a step further and make these chia puddings
    • As you know, offering a variety of foods in the early years is so important for food acceptance, helping shape their food preferences, and much more. Chia seed pudding is an excellent vehicle for helping you to achieve that goal, thanks to its versatility. The sky is the limit when it comes to flavorings and toppings. Sharing some of our favorites below. 
    • When chia seeds combine with liquid, they form a gel-like consistency, making it a fun and unique texture to expose your baby to. The seeds "pop" inside the mouth.
    • It’s a great dairy-free, egg-free breakfast option if your child has allergies
    • If your child is underweight, this is a great way to make every bite count.

    Ingredients for the basic recipe

    ingredients for the basic recipe on a wooden board
    • Chia seeds
    • Milk of choice. You can use breastmilk, dairy (whole fat recommended), or a plant-based alternative (here’s a blog post on the best milk for toddlers). Canned full-fat coconut milk is one of my favorites because it really makes the pudding extra thick and rich, and I love the flavor. Feel free to experiment! 
    • Optional add-ins:
      • 1-2 teaspoons sweetener of choice: maple syrup, honey (do NOT serve if your child is under 12 months as it may cause botulism)
      • 2-3 tablespoons mashed fruit: banana, berries, mango, unsweetened applesauce, etc.
      • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
      • ¼ teaspoon spices (e.g. cinnamon, cardamom, pumpkin pie spice)
    • Toppings (See below) - to be added right before eating

    How to Make Chia Pudding

    • Combine the chia seeds, liquid of choice, and optional add-ins in a small container. I like to use these mason jars. Stir well and let it sit for 5 minutes or so. Give it another stir, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. You shouldn’t see any clumps so STIR STIR!
    • You’ll see that the chia seeds will “ch-ch-ch-chia” expand and absorb the liquid, resulting in a pudding-like consistency, hence the name. 
    • Troubleshooting: If you  want the pudding to be thicker, add a bit more chia (a teaspoon at a time). Refrigerate for an additional 30 minutes or until it becomes thick. If it's too thick, you can add more milk.
    • When ready to eat, give its good stir to break up any lumps
    • Now top with whatever your heart desires! 

    How to Modify for Babies

    • If you don’t like the texture of chia pudding, blend the chia seeds and milk before refrigerating. You’ll end up with a smoother and creamier pudding rather than one that’s tapioca-like. It will also set faster so you don’t have to wait as long to enjoy.  
    • While pre-soaked whole chia seeds can safely be offered to babies 6 months and up, if your child has difficulty swallowing, then follow the blended version of chia pudding.
    • I purposefully developed these recipes so that they’re not too sweet (but plenty sweet for the baby). You can always top with more fruit before serving or add more to the base recipe, if you wish. 
    • When adding fruits as toppings for young babies (6-9 months), be sure to mash, flatten, or finely chop. As for nuts, finely grind or chop.

    Is your baby 6 months old and up?

    Learn all the secrets to starting solids safely while optimizing nutrition!
    I NEED IT NOW!

    Toppings

    Anything you add to oatmeal or yogurt will work here too! 

    • fruits
    • nuts seeds
    • shredded coconut 
    • nut butters
    • Granola - (try this homemade no added sugar granola)
    • yogurt
    • lemon, lime, orange zest

    Related Post: Nuts and seeds for baby

    How to Meal Prep

    Purchase some small containers or mason jars and double or triple any of these recipes. Then pour into the single-serving containers/jars.

    You can also make more than one variation to rotate through since they keep in the fridge for several days. If you’re blending, just give the blender a rinse before proceeding with other flavors.

    You can have several different flavored jars of chia pudding ready to go in under 15 minutes. Fun! Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    6 Fun Flavors

    Peanut butter Banana Chia pudding

    peanut butter date pudding in a glass bowl

    Raspberry Tahini Chia Pudidng

    raspberry tahini flavor in a glass bowl

    To the basic recipe (canned full-fat coconut milk HIGHLY recommended!), add 1 tablespoon tahini + ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract + 2 tablespoons mashed raspberries. Top with chopped nuts, cereal, more raspberries.

    Blueberry Lemon Chia Pudding

    blueberry lemon pie chia pudding in a glass bowl

    To the basic recipe, add 1 tablespoons mashed blueberries + 1 tablespoon mashed banana + ¼ teaspoon cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon lemon zest. Top with yogurt, more zest, blueberries, walnuts

    Pumpkin Pie Chia Pudding

    pumpkin pie chia pudding in a glass bowl

    To the basic recipe (canned full-fat coconut milk), add ¼ cup pumpkin puree + ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Top with pecan and maple syrup

    Carrot Cake Chia Pudding

    carrot cake pudding in a glass bowl

    To the basic recipe (canned full-fat coconut milk), add ¼ cup finely grated carrots + ¼ teaspoon cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon cardamom. Top with yogurt, walnuts, unsweetened shredded coconut, optional: maple syrup or finely chopped raisins

    Mango Avocado Chia Pudding

    mango avocado chia pudding in a glass bowl

    To the basic recipe (canned full-fat coconut milk), add 2 tablespoons finely minced mango. Top with mango, avocado, unsweetened shredded coconut

    More Breakfast/Snack Ideas

    • Overnight oats or quinoa
    • Toast Toppings
    • Breakfast ideas for babies
    • Baby and Toddler Muffins
    collage of six puddings

    Single Serve Chia Puddings for Babies and Kids

    Single serve chia seed pudding for babies 6 months and up is the perfect make ahead breakfast or snack that you can whip up in under 5 minutes!
    5 from 13 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Resting Time: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1
    Author: Min | MJ and Hungryman

    Equipment

    • mason jar

    Ingredients

    The Basic Recipe

    • ½ cup milk of choice (breastmilk, dairy, plant-based)
    • 2 tablespoons chia seeds

    Optional

    • 1-2 teaspoons sweetener of choice (e.g. maple syrup, honey, date syrup) or
    • 2-3 tablespoons mashed or finely chopped fruit
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon spice (e.g. cinnamon, cardamom, pumpkin pie)

    Toppings

    • fruits, finely chopped nuts/seeds, shredded coconut, nut butter, yogurt, lemon zest

    Instructions

    • Combine the chia seeds and liquid of choice in a small container. I like to use a mason jar. Stir well and let it sit for 5 minutes or so. Give it another stir, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. You shouldn’t see any clumps so stir stir. 
    • If you  want the pudding to be thicker, add a bit more chia (a teaspoon at a time). Refrigerate for an additional 30 minutes or until it becomes thick.
    • When ready to eat, give its good stir to break up any lumps
    • Top with whatever your heart desires! 

    Notes

    • If you don’t like the texture of chia pudding, blend the chia seeds and milk before refrigerating. You’ll end up with a smoother and creamier pudding rather than one that’s tapioca-like. It will also set faster so you don’t have to wait as long to enjoy.  
    • While pre-soaked whole chia seeds can safely be offered to babies 6 months and up, if your child has difficulty swallowing, then follow the blended version of chia pudding.
    • I purposefully developed these recipes so that they’re not too sweet (but plenty sweet for the baby). You can always top with more sweetener or  fruit before serving or add more to the base recipe, if you wish. 
    • When adding fruits as toppings, be sure to mash, flatten, or finely chop. As for nuts, finely grind or chop.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 11g | Sodium: 57mg | Fiber: 9g | Calcium: 291mg | Iron: 2mg
    Course breakfast, snack, dessert
    Cuisine American
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag me @KidFriendly.Meals today!

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      Favorite Cheese Quesadilla Recipe
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    • Baked biscuits with toddler's hand grabbing one.
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    About Min

    Thank you so much for stopping by! I am Min, a Registered Dietitian, a Christ follower, a wife, and a mom to our two miracle babies! Currently, I’m having a ton of fun feeding their tummies and sharing our baby led weaning journey! Follow me on Instagram if interested in seeing daily menu as well as tips and tricks.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Morgan says

      January 06, 2023 at 8:27 am

      5 stars
      This is a fam fav! My littles loves helping making them almost as much as eating them. Thanks so much for always making easy, healthy meal ideas!

      Reply
      • Min says

        January 06, 2023 at 2:13 pm

        These are so fun to make together, isn't it? Thank you for being here!

        Reply
    2. Meredith says

      October 14, 2022 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      Love these recipes. I've never gotten the quinoa to turn out very tasty, but use the chia seed base recipe (usually half milk half Greek yogurt) all the time, it is so versatile!

      Reply
      • Min says

        October 14, 2022 at 6:04 pm

        I'm so glad you're enjoy these chia puddings! So easy and delicious, right?

        Reply
    3. Ammu says

      August 08, 2022 at 3:22 pm

      Hi can you add oats to this recipe ? If yes ,how much ?

      Reply
      • Min says

        August 09, 2022 at 5:32 am

        I wouldn't for these but if you want to use oats, I suggest trying my overnight oats!

        Reply
    4. Steph says

      April 19, 2022 at 4:35 pm

      5 stars
      Hi MJ, thank you for taking the time to share all your wonderful recipes. I was wondering how long does a batch of chia seed keep? I made way too much, and didn't realize the chia expanded so much. Can I save it for another day?

      Thanks so much again. I love the idea of overnight preparing, makes the mornings so much easier.

      Reply
      • Min says

        April 20, 2022 at 5:55 am

        HI! Yes they expand a lot don't they? Absolutely that's one of the beauties of these puddings. You can keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. The seeds will clump so just give it a good stir before enjoying. And hold off on adding the toppings until right before eating 😉

        Reply
    5. NYoon says

      November 11, 2021 at 6:42 am

      5 stars
      I started making this for our kids ever since I learned about it from your blog. They are now almost 4 years old and this is still their favorite breakfast!

      Reply
      • Min says

        November 11, 2021 at 10:26 am

        aww love it!

        Reply
    6. Kathrin says

      November 10, 2021 at 11:28 am

      5 stars
      Baby loves these for breakfast 😍

      Reply
      • Min says

        November 10, 2021 at 11:37 am

        And so easy to make right?

        Reply
    7. CS says

      September 28, 2021 at 6:11 pm

      What can we use for milk if baby is under one?

      Reply
      • Min says

        September 28, 2021 at 6:25 pm

        You can use milk at that age. You just don't want to offer it as a drink. It's fine to use it in recipes. You can also use breastmilk, formula, coconut milk, etc.

        Reply
    8. Sydney says

      December 06, 2020 at 11:39 pm

      Hello, is it possible for lo to become constipated after having chia? I've noticed this several times in my lo and am not sure if it's normal.

      Reply
      • Min says

        March 01, 2021 at 8:47 pm

        HI! Just linked. You can also search for "vegetable baby oatmeals"

        Reply

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    HI!

    I am MJ, a registered dietitian and a mom of 2. I truly hope you’ll enjoy all the recipes and tips that I share on what and how to feed your child!

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