This banana chia pudding is the perfect healthy snack or breakfast for all peanut butter and banana lovers! It is creamy, delicious, loaded with fiber, and can be prepped in no time so that you always have a satiating snack or breakfast waiting in your refrigerator!
If you're looking for healthy snacks or breakfast ideas that are great for meal prep, then this banana chia pudding might be what you need! The chia pudding is creamy, thick, and tastes super delicious with banana slices and peanut butter.
What I love most about chia pudding is that it is so easy to prepare and store in your refrigerator! It's the perfect way to always have a satiating and nourishing snack or breakfast in your refrigerator.
And if you want to try some of my other favorite meal prep recipes, I recommend checking out these apple cinnamon overnight oats or peanut butter banana overnight oats.
Banana Chia Pudding Ingredients
To make this banana chia pudding you'll need the following ingredients:
- Chia seeds: When you use chia seeds for this recipe, make sure that they aren't expired. Often, chia seeds don't gel up as they should when they are old. So make sure to check the package before you use them.
- Almond milk: You can use either almond milk or another type of (vegan) milk. I personally love almond milk, but any type of milk works for this recipe!
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract is great for adding some flavor to the chia pudding so that it doesn't turn out bland.
- Maple syrup: Maple syrup is used to sweeten the chia pudding. You can use another liquid sweetener like honey, I just think that maple syrup tastes really good in chia pudding.
- Banana: You'll need a large ripe banana for this recipe.
- Peanut butter: I love to use peanut butter for this recipe as it goes so well with bananas. Feel free to use another type of nut butter if you don't like peanut butter. Good alternatives are almond butter or cashew butter.
- Toppings (optional): Adding toppings is the fun part of making chia pudding! I think that chopped peanuts and chocolate chips taste really delicious. If you prefer other toppings, feel free to use them for this recipe.
How to make banana chia pudding
Combine. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the chia seeds, almond milk, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Let the chia pudding sit for a few minutes. Then stir again.
Refrigerate. Cover the bowl and place it in your refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. Then stir the chia pudding again to make sure that everything is smooth.
Assemble. Place half of the chia pudding in dessert glasses or jars. Add a layer of banana slices and peanut butter. Then add the other half of the chia pudding. Top with banana slices, peanut butter, and other toppings of your choice. Store or enjoy immediately!
Tips & Notes
- Use whole milk for a creamier version. Almond milk is thinner and not as creamy as regular milk, which makes it a lighter option. But if you prefer whole milk, please feel free to use it!
- Add more milk if the chia pudding is too thick for your taste. It's great as is but you can add a splash of milk if you prefer it slightly thinner.
- Sweeten the chia pudding to taste. If you prefer your chia pudding sweeter, just add more maple syrup to taste!
Variations
- Blend some of the banana with the milk. If you prefer a banana-flavored chia pudding, I recommend blending some of the banana with the milk until completely smooth. You can then add banana slices on top or add a layer to your chia pudding.
- Mash or chop the banana and stir it into the pudding. If you prefer banana pieces in your chia pudding, you can just chop or mash the banana. If you don't layer the chia pudding, you could prepare it in your storage container instead of using a bowl.
- Blend the chia pudding for a smooth texture. Some people don't like chia pudding because of its texture. In that case, you can just blend the chia seeds! You can either blend everything before soaking or after soaking. If you have a high-speed blender, I'd recommend blending everything immediately.
- Use a combination of the variations above. There are many ways to make banana chia pudding and they all taste great! So feel free to pick your favorite method or combine them.
How to serve banana chia pudding
- Add some Greek yogurt to your serving. Greek yogurt is great for adding extra protein to your meal. I often add some Greek yogurt to my serving to make it more filling.
- Use other types of fruit in addition to bananas. When you blend your banana or chia seeds, you may find that this recipe lacks texture. In that case, add more fruits to your banana chia pudding. And even if you don't blend anything, you can use more fruit. I love to add raspberries and blueberries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chia pudding is a great way to enjoy chia seeds. They contain a lot of fiber, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and several micronutrients, which makes them a great addition to your diet. Just make sure to not consume excessive amounts of chia seeds. They are great when consumed in moderation and as part of a well-balanced diet.
It's perfect for meal prep! As the chia pudding doesn't change its flavor or texture, it's really great for meal prep. Plus, you can easily prepare multiple servings without any additional effort.
You can use nuts, nut butter, chocolate chips, more fruit, or Greek yogurt. There are endless topping combinations to make your banana chia pudding more exciting and delicious!
When chia seeds don't gel up, it's usually because they are expired. Make sure to use fresh chia seeds to prevent this from happening.
You can store banana chia pudding in an airtight container in your refrigerator for 3-4 days. I like to store the individual servings in Mason or Weck jars.
More easy and delicious sweet recipes
If you're looking for more sweet recipes that use nutritious ingredients, I recommend checking out the following recipes. They are super easy to make and taste amazing!
- Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
- Chocolate Chip Baked Oats
- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Chocolate Chia Pudding
- Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Banana Chia Pudding
Ingredients
- ½ cup chia seeds
- 2 cups almond milk or another type of (plant-based) milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 large banana cut into slices
- 4 tablespoons peanut butter
- toppings of your choice like chopped peanuts, sliced almonds, chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add the chia seeds, milk, vanilla extract, and maple syrup to a bowl. Whisk until combined. Let the chia pudding sit for a few minutes, then stir again.½ cup chia seeds, 2 cups almond milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- Place the bowl in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. Then stir the chia pudding again.
- Place half of the chia pudding in small dessert glasses or jars. Add a layer of banana slices and peanut butter. Then add the other half of the chia pudding. Top with banana slices, peanut butter, and other toppings of your choice.1 large banana, 4 tablespoons peanut butter, toppings of your choice
- Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator to enjoy throughout the week.
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