It’s going to be a hot one this summer and while my family tends to opt for oatmeal for most weekday breakfasts, we’ve been enjoying these chilled summer chia bowls lately!

There are some fancy breakfast places that will charge you like $8 for a chia bowl like this, piled high with fresh fruit and chia pudding. But, you can make a big batch of them at home for a few bucks and they store really well in the fridge, actually getting better after a day or two in my opinion!

Read on and let’s learn some chia bowl tricks and tips and check out my basic Summer Chia Bowl recipe!

What is a Chia Bowl?

A chia bowl is essentially any bowl that combines chia pudding with fruit. Sometimes there will be other ingredients like acai or yogurt, but sometimes you’ll just get the chia pudding and fruit. Depends on the place. Of course, if you are making chia bowls at home you can do whatever you want!

Personally, I find a 100% chia pudding bowl to be a bit much so I like to do about half chia pudding and half yogurt in my bowls. The yogurt gives it a little tang and zip to what is otherwise a really creamy and light pudding texture.

Buying Chia Seeds

You can buy chia seeds in bulk at some health food stores these days or you can find them prepackaged at almost any grocery store. You will probably get sticker shock when you buy your first bag. They aren’t exactly cheap. A medium-sized bag of chia seeds will run you $8-$10, but they last a VERY long time. You only use about a tablespoon of chia seeds for each bowl so you can really stretch out that cost over many breakfasts.

Are Chia Bowls Healthy?

Like so many things in the kitchen, it depends. At its core, chia seeds are incredibly healthy. They are packed with protein and fiber and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better way to start the day. But, if you add a bunch of honey and chocolate or whatever to it, then it becomes more of a dessert than a healthy breakfast.

Personally, I try to strike a balance here with some sweet additions, but not a ton of extra sugar in my bowls. Stick with yogurt, chia pudding, and fruit and you’ll end up with a really healthy and well-rounded breakfast.

How to Make a Chia Breakfast Bowl

I like to start my chia pudding with a mix of chia seeds and hemp seeds. You could just use the chia seeds if you don’t want to bother buying another seed.

Chia and hemp seeds mixed with milk

Stir the seeds together with milk (or non-dairy milk like almond milk) and vanilla. Be sure to stir it really well so all the seeds are separated. They will have a tendency to clump together which will give you a lumpy final pudding texture.

Stick the bowl in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Ideally, you could do this the night before you want breakfast. That’s really the best way to make sure it thickens well. Then you’ll be left with this lovely chia pudding!

Chia pudding for chia bowls

Now you are ready to make a chia bowl!

Add in Ideas for Chia Bowls

I like to make a quick macerated fruit mix for my chia bowls. I use assorted berries and stir them together with a little strawberry jam and fresh lemon juice. This is a great topper for cold breakfast!

Macerated berries for chia bowls

Okay! Let’s make chia bowls!

My Basic Summer Chia Bowl

Summer Chia Bowls

5 from 1 vote
Author: Nick Evans
Servings: 3 Servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
These healthy and filling chia bowls are a great way to start any hot day. Make the chia pudding in advance and add it to yogurt with ALL the summer fruit. Enjoy!

Ingredients 

  • ¼ cup chia seeds
  • 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt
  • Honey, garnish

Quick Berry Blend:

  • 2 cups assorted berries
  • 2 tablespoons strawberry jam
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, stir together chia seeds, hemp seeds, milk (or non-dairy milk), and vanilla. Stir together well so seeds are separated. Store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
  • For berry mix, slice any larger berries like strawberries. Add 2 cups of assorted berries to a small bowl with strawberry jam and lemon juice. Stir to combine and store in the fridge until needed.
  • To make a bowl, add 1/3 cup of yogurt to a bowl. Top with 1/3 of the chia pudding mixture. Garnish with various fruits and berries. Drizzle with honey and serve cold.
  • All the pieces of this can be made in advance and store great in the fridge for a few days. Assemble right before eating for best flavor and texture.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 343mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 242IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 289mg | Iron: 3mg
Course: Breakfast & Brunch, Main Dishes
Cuisine: American

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Making this recipe in advance

Summer Chia Bowls

The real joy of these chia bowls is how easy they are to make in advance. In fact they are BEST if you make them in advance. The chia pudding gets thicker and creamier and even the berries get better if they sit for a day or two in the fridge.

If you like these bowls, it’s also an easy recipe to DOUBLE so you have plenty for a full week of breakfasts!

Here are a few other great breakfast recipe ideas!