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    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    Rich Chocolate Smoothie With Chia Seeds

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    chocolate chia smoothie pin
    chocolate smoothie pin
    chocolate chia seed smoothie pin

    Chia seeds are one of my favorite foods on the planet, and this Chocolate Smoothie with Chia Seeds is a fav!

    Chia seeds are incredible. They may be tiny, but they are mighty! The Aztecs actually used them as currency they were so valuable, but in today's world chia seeds are loved for their high nutritional profile. These guys are packed with vitamins, minerals, protein, healthy fats, and fiber. I love adding them to cereal, granola and especially smoothies! This delicious chocolate smoothie recipe will not only satisfy your taste buds, you'll actually feel full!

    chocolate smoothie with ground chia seeds in a clear mug

    Jump to:
    Adding Chia Seeds in Smoothies
    How to Store Chia Seeds
    Rich Chocolate Flavor
    Chocolate Chia Smoothie
    Rich Chocolate Smoothie With Chia Seeds

    Adding Chia Seeds in Smoothies

    Wondering how to use chia seeds in smoothies? Let's start by talking about how they react in liquid.....

    Chia seeds absorb up to 12x their volume in liquid! Isn't that crazy? This is why I like to soak them before adding them to smoothies. Plus, they grind up more finely since they expand in the liquid. In this recipe, I let them absorb in the almond milk first.

    You can also add them in dry, just personal preference. If you add chia seeds in dry make sure to drink water with your meal. Otherwise, the chia seeds may cause some GI back up aka bloating!

    If I add chia seeds in dry to smoothies, I usually stir them in after pouring the smoothie into a glass so that way I don't have to dig around cleaning the blender finding chia seeds in every crevice. Those things get stuck in every corner!

    chia seeds soaking in almond milk and then scooped with a spoon as chia pudding

    In this recipe, I let 1 tablespoon chia seeds sit in ¼ cup almond milk. I stir the seeds every 5 minutes and by 15 minutes, they usually form a thicker, pudding like consistency (shown above). Pre-soaking the chia seeds this way and adding them to the blender will help grind them up into a finer texture. If you don't like the idea of seeds in your smoothie, try it first this way! You might be surprised by how finely they are ground 🙂

    How to Store Chia Seeds

    I store most of my nuts and seeds in the refrigerator to maintain freshness. Since chia seeds have healthy fats, you want to protect those oils from going bad. Storing them in a dry, cool area like a refrigerator is always a good idea!

    Rich Chocolate Flavor

    This smoothie recipe is richhhh. It's not super sweet or dessert like but has more of a dark chocolate richness that is divine! I honestly don't add in the honey sometimes because I'm so in love with the dark chocolate flavor. If you're looking for an added sugar free smoothie recipe than this is it! Try it without honey first, and you might be surprised how delish it is without the added sugar! But if you find you want some extra sweetness, drizzle some honey into the blender and adjust the sweetness as needed for your taste buds!

    handheld mug of rich chocolate smoothie with chia seeds

    Chocolate Chia Smoothie

    I start this smoothie by blending the frozen banana with the yogurt and gelled chia seeds. Then I add in the cacao powder, cinnamon and vanilla extract. I like to stir in the powders. Otherwise, when you turn on the blender the cacao and cinnamon hit the sides and top of the container and don't actually make it into the smoothie. Once those are mixed in well, I add in the ice cubes and blend well. Pour and enjoy! Do you have a favorite way to eat chia seeds? Let me know below in the comments!

    chocolate chia smoothie in a glass mug with sprinkled cacao powder

    Rich Chocolate Smoothie With Chia Seeds

    Rich & creamy, this chocolate smoothie with chia seeds is divine! Made with yogurt, cacao, cinnamon & vanilla extract. Full of protein and with the option of added sugar free!
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 2 smoothies
    Author: Monica Nedeff
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    Ingredients
      

    • 1 frozen banana
    • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
    • ¼ cup milk or non-dairy alternative
    • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
    • 1 tablespoon cacao powder
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon honey (optional - leave out if wanting to make it added sugar free)
    • ½ cup ice (about a handful of ice cubes)

    Instructions

    • Mix ¼ cup milk or non-dairy alternative (I use almond milk) with 1 tablespoon chia seeds. Stir every 5 minutes until the seeds absorb the liquid and become more of a pudding - takes about 15 minutes.
    • Blend the frozen banana, yogurt and gelled chia seeds.
    • Add in the cacao, cinnamon, vanilla and honey. Stir so that the powder blends into the mixture. Then blend away until mixed well!
    • Add in the ice cubes, blend well - enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 92mg | Potassium: 279mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 108IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 1mg

    (Nutrition values are calculated by third-party software and an estimate that can vary based on product brands and cooking methods.)

    Course: Drinks, smoothie
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: chia seed smoothie, smoothie with chia seeds
    Tried this recipe? I love seeing your creations!Mention @monicanedeff.rdn or tag #monicanedeff so I can share them with the community!

    If you ever make a recipe, tag me on Instagram @monicanedeff.rdn I love seeing your creations and sharing them with the community! Please comment and give this recipe a star rating if you've made it as it greatly helps support this blog and my small biz, thank you! Happy cooking!

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    Hello! I'm Monica - a registered dietitian nutritionist, solo female traveler and recipe developer helping you eat healthy on the go while empowering you to nourish your body, mind and soul!

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