Skip to Content

How To Use Chia Seeds

There are many reasons why you might want to incorporate more chia seeds into your diet.

Not only can these seeds provide you with a source of healthy fats and plant-based protein, but they’re also rich in other nutrients, such as magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and more.

How to Use Chia Seeds

Another great thing about chia seeds is that they’re so versatile.

You can use them in a wide variety of different ways to create tasty breakfasts, lunchtime salads, snacks, and desserts. 

Here are the best ways to use chia seeds for great-tasting food with maximum nutritional benefits

The Best Ways To Use Chia Seeds 

Egg Replacement 

If you’re vegan, you already know that making your favorite recipes for baked goods without animal products can be tricky.

If you love baking but want to eat a plant-based diet, one of the best uses for chia seeds is as an egg replacement, also known as chia egg. 

All you need to do to make chia egg is mix a tablespoon of chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water.

This should make enough chia egg to replace 1 egg, but if you need more, just adjust the quantities, keeping the ratio of seeds to water the same so that you don’t impact the overall consistency.

Smoothies

Chia seeds are a great way to add healthy fats and a little protein to your favorite smoothie.

Since chia seeds are small, they blend well and don’t produce large, noticeable lumps.

On the other hand, you could also use chia gel. 

We think chia seeds work well in fruit smoothies, but if you have your doubts, you could use this suggestion as an opportunity to make a different kind of smoothie to your usual.

For example, if you’ve never tried a chocolate and almond smoothie with chia seeds, you’re missing out!

Nut, Seed And Granola Bars 

Granola bars, or seed and nut bars, are popular snacks.

Luckily, you don’t have to spend money buying these from the store. Instead, you can make them yourself at home, as long as you have chia seeds and some other key ingredients. 

To make a homemade granola bar, you can simply combine your seeds with dates, dried fruit, granola, dark chocolate, and anything else you want to use.

You can keep all the ingredients together with coconut oil or honey.

If you want to turn your granola bars into protein bars, just add some protein powder, making sure to mix it in thoroughly so that there are no lumps.

Salad Dressing 

You can blend chia seeds into other ingredients to create a salad dressing.

For example, you could add chia seeds to a classic salad dressing mix consisting of honey, olive oil, lemon juice, and vinegar. 

Chia seeds not only add nutritional value to your salad dressing, but they also help to thicken the dressing, which can be useful if you’re struggling to avoid a watery consistency in your salad dressing recipe. 

Chia Pudding 

Chia pudding is a healthy, yet tasty dessert option.

You can find this in some cafés and even buy it pre-packaged from your local health food store, but it’s cheaper to make it at home. 

If you’ve never tried chia pudding before, it has roughly the same consistency that tapioca does, and you can add different ingredients to change the flavor as well as various toppings. 

Making chia pudding is easy.

You just need chia seeds, vanilla beans, and almond milk.

Our favorite toppings include chocolate, maple syrup, and cinnamon, but you can also add berries, banana slices, honey, and many more ingredients.

Chia Seed Jam

We know what you’re thinking: ‘chia seed jam?’

But really, hear us out.

There’s nothing worse than runny, watery jam, but many of the gel thickeners on the market are artificial and filled with chemicals. 

Adding chia seeds to your jam recipe can help to thicken the jam to a nice jelly-like consistency while contributing extra protein and healthy fats.

Admittedly, the chia seed jam will still be thinner than most jams made with regular gel thickeners, but it will be healthier. 

All you need is chia seeds, mashed fruit of your choice, and a sweetener of your choice.

You could use honey, but if you’re vegan, you could use agave syrup instead.

If the jam still doesn’t feel thick enough, just cook it for longer.

Low-Carb Breadcrumbs 

Breadcrumbs are delicious and versatile.

You can use them to make homemade nuggets, cover fish or meat, or even make an amazing crumble.

Breadcrumbs are also often used as a binder in other recipes.

However, the problem with regular breadcrumbs is that they’re very high in carbs, meaning they may not be suitable for people who are trying to reduce their carb intake for whatever reason.

With that being said, you can use chia seeds to make breadcrumbs low-carb and equally delicious.

You don’t need to use as many chia seeds as you would breadcrumbs; just a couple of tablespoons should suffice.

Breakfast Toppings 

Finally, if you’re looking for ways to make your typical breakfast more exciting, chia seeds can work like a charm.

Not only will they help to ensure that your breakfast is balanced in healthy fats and protein, but they add flavor and texture, too. 

Some of the best breakfast recipes you could add chia seeds to include yogurt, smoothie bowls, and oats.

Just sprinkle your desired quantity of chia seeds on top, along with any other ingredients you may want to add, such as fruit and nuts. 

Final Thoughts 

In addition to being packed with nutrients, chia seeds are an excellent pantry staple because they can be used in so many different ways. 

For breakfast, you can add chia seeds to smoothies, yogurt, or oats.

Snack recipes involving chia seeds include granola bars, and you can also use chia seeds as egg replacements for baking.

Chia pudding, low-carb breadcrumbs, chia seed jam, and salad dressings are all examples of how you can use chia seeds in delicious, creative, and nutritious ways.

HOW TO MAKE CHIA SEED JAM

Chia seeds are a great way to add healthy fats and a little protein to your favorite smoothie.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chia seed jam
Servings: 1
Calories: 484kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh fruit strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

  • Slice any fruit you’re using, such as strawberries, nectarines, apricots, etc., into small pieces. To little berries, nothing needs to be done.
  • Add the fruit, maple syrup, and lemon juice to a pot over medium heat. Using your spoon to aid in the fruit’s breakdown, simmer for 5-7 minutes.
  • After blending the fruit with an immersion blender or potato masher, turn off the heat.
  • After adding the chia seeds, pour the jam into a jar for storage. Put the food in the fridge to cool.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 484kcal | Carbohydrates: 104g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 597mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 75g | Vitamin A: 1383IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 218mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Follow me