Creamy Chocolate Protein Chia Pudding Recipe – Healthy!

Meet your new make-ahead breakfast that tastes like dessert: creamy chocolate chia pudding with 35g protein and 15g fiber! Made with just 5 staple ingredients—almond milk, plain Greek yogurt, chia seeds, cocoa, and a scoop of chocolate protein—this chocolate protein chia pudding stirs together in minutes and sets up in the fridge while you sleep. The result is silky, spoonable pudding with rich chocolate flavor, a boost of protein, and fiber-packed chia to keep you satisfied and full.

Creamy Chocolate Protein Chia Pudding Recipe – Healthy!

I love that this recipe involves no cooking, is budget-friendly, and is endlessly customizable.

Keep it simple, or finish each cup with a velvety swirl of Greek yogurt mixed with melted dark chocolate for a cheesecake-meets-mousse vibe – so good!

I highly recommend making a big batch once, then portioning it into jars so you have grab-and-go breakfasts, post-workout snacks, or wholesome desserts ready for the next few days—minimal effort, maximum payoff.

Why you’ll love this chocolate chia pudding recipe

Ultra creamy: Greek yogurt plus cocoa makes a mousse-like, creamy chocolate chia pudding—no blender required.

Protein-packed: Between Greek yogurt, chia seeds, and chocolate protein powder, you’ll get a satisfying 35 grams of protein snack or breakfast!

Perfect make-ahead breakfast: Mix at night, wake up to ready-to-eat pudding that tastes like dessert!

Simple ingredients you’ll need for this creamy pudding

Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.

• Almond milk (or your favorite non-dairy milk) – Unsweetened almond milk keeps sugars low and lets the chocolate shine.
• Plain Greek yogurt – The secret to creamy chocolate chia pudding with extra protein. Use 2% or whole for the silkiest texture. Use non-fat for an even higher protein content.
• Chocolate protein powder – Boosts protein and chocolate flavor. Whey mixes super smooth; plant-based blends (pea/rice) work great, too—just taste and adjust sweetness since some powders are sweetened and others aren’t.
• Chia seeds – These tiny seeds thicken the pudding as they hydrate, creating that classic tapioca-like texture while adding fiber and omega-3s.
• Cocoa powder  – Deepens the chocolate flavor.

Topping:

• Greek yogurt mixed with Dark chocolate chips – A quick “cheesecake” swirl that adds tangy creaminess and an extra hit of chocolate.

How to make chocolate chia protein pudding

Step 1: In a jar or bowl, whisk the almond milk and Greek yogurt. You can also use an immersion blender to make it extra smooth.

Step 2: In the container you’ll store your chia pudding in, mix together the protein powder, chia seeds, and cocoa powder. Slowly pour the milk mixture in, stirring well. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes, then whisk once more to keep the chia from clumping.

Step 3: Optional step: Melt the dark chocolate and stir it into 2 tbsp Greek yogurt. Spoon over the pudding after it’s sat for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Cover in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, but overnight for best results, to give it the thickest, creamiest pudding texture.

Tip: For a completely smooth, mousse-like texture like with my chocolate protein blended overnight oats, blend the base after the 10-minute rest, then chill. This will help if you aren’t a fan of the texture of chia pudding.

Watch me make this healthy breakfast!

The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!

More flavor variations to try

• Mocha: Add 1–2 tsp instant espresso or a splash of strong coffee.
• Peanut butter cup: Whisk in 1 tbsp peanut or peanut butter powder, then top with chopped peanuts.
• Berry-chocolate: Fold in ¼ cup raspberries or strawberries before chilling; finish with extra berries.
• Mint chip: Add ⅛ tsp peppermint extract and sprinkle cacao nibs on top.
• Salted caramel: Stir in 1–2 tsp maple syrup and a pinch of flaky salt.

How to meal prep it and store leftovers

This is the perfect snack or breakfast to meal prep, because it just gets better the longer it sits! You can prep a double batch and keep it stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.

The creamy texture does become a bit thicker after 24 hours (which I LOVE), but if it becomes too thick for you, simply add a splash of milk and stir it up.

Substitutions, optional variations & dietary adjustments

Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this high protein chocolate chia pudding recipe. 

If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!

Almond milk –  Use can use oat milk, hemp milk, cashew milk, or your favorite type of milk. For a richer dessert vibe, try canned full-fat coconut milk  or coconut cream (use ⅓–½ cup plus a splash of water). Regular milk works here too!

Greek yogurt –  Swap with a thick dairy-free yogurt (coconut or almond). If skipping yogurt entirely, add ¼–⅓ cup extra milk and a full scoop of protein powder for similar protein. Blended cottage cheese is another great option!

Chocolate protein powder: Any chocolate protein works—whey, casein, or plant-based protein. If using unflavored protein, add 1–2 tsp maple syrup and ½ tsp vanilla extract.

Cocoa powder – You can substitute raw cacao powder one-for-one.

Chia seeds – If your kiddo dislikes the chia texture, blend the base smooth (or use white chia seeds) before chilling—instant mousse.

More chia seed pudding recipes you’ll love

• Matcha protein chia pudding
• Lemon chia seed pudding
• Mango chia pudding parfait
• Peanut butter protein yogurt parfait with chia jam

If you try this easy chocolate chia pudding recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!

XO

Heather