Chocolate Chia Seed Smoothie
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This chocolate chia seed smoothie is so easy to make. It’s naturally sweetened with bananas and dates, and the chia seeds provide a filling texture. It’s the perfect quick breakfast for busy mornings, or a midday boost that everyone will love!
Ch-ch-ch-chia! This go-to chia smoothie recipe is delicious. With chia seeds, almonds, cocoa powder, dates, and a banana, it’s a chocolate-lover’s dream breakfast.
Drink it from a glass or turn it into a smoothie bowl with your favorite toppings. It’s super easy to make for a quick breakfast.
Chia seed smoothie ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this smoothie with chia seeds:
- Water – this will be the liquid for the smoothie, and for soaking the chia seeds.
- Chia seeds
- Toasted almonds* – for a wonderful nutty taste. You can also use almond butter.
- Cocoa powder – adds that creamy chocolatey flavor we all love.
- Dates – to sweeten things up.
- Frozen banana – adds sweetness and bulk to the smoothie.
*Tip: Toast the almonds in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for 6-8 minutes, or until they are golden and fragrant.
Chia seed smoothie variations to try
Customize your chia seed smoothie with one of these ideas:
- Add a handful of spinach to the blender
- Add a ½ avocado for more creaminess
- Add berries for a wonderful chocolate berry flavor
- Use coconut water in place of water
- Use regular or dairy-free milk in place of water for more creaminess.
How to serve a chia seed smoothie
We like to drink this chocolate chia seed smoothie right from the glass, with a few toasted almonds and chia seeds on top.
If you’re feeling like something more substantial, turn it into a chia seed smoothie bowl! Top it with granola, hemp seeds, toasted nuts, shredded coconut, cacao nibs, or fresh fruit. It’s a great switch-up from our green smoothie bowl!
If you let the smoothie sit a while, it will turn into sweet chia seed pudding and you can add your favorite toppings for more of a dessert feel. You can see our chia matcha pudding recipe for more inspiration.
Chocolate Chia Seed Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ cup toasted almonds (see notes)
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 4 dates (pits removed)
- 1 frozen banana (peeled)
Instructions
- Put the chia seeds and water into your blender and let them sit for 5 minutes without blending.1 ¼ cups water, 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- Add the toasted almonds (reserve a few if you would like some for garnish), cocoa powder, dates, and frozen banana.½ cup toasted almonds, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 4 dates, 1 frozen banana
- Blend on high for 30 seconds, or until your smoothie is very smooth. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
so good! I have made this smoothie so many times, love it! Thanks
this looks delicious, but i am allergic to dates and I was wondering if there was a good substitue. Thanks!
You could omit them and add an extra banana or some maple syrup to sweeten it. 🙂
Wow, I just made this and also just finished drinking it, and it tastes beautiful! Love it so much!
Can i use raw almonds??
If you have a high-powered blender it will work. 🙂
What’s the calorie & protein content in the Chocolate Almond Chia Seed Smoothie?
Oh waitttt…. I saw it now….
Did you use unsweetened cocoa power?
I do!
love how you make this with water…..must try!
It’s so good!!
The picture is absolutely salivating Kristen. I absolutely appreciate your photography skills. Do you shoot in Sunlight or artificial light. What aperture you use?? Mind blowing seriously…
Aww you are too kind! I use artificial light (I have the Lowel Ego) as I find it much easier to control than sunlight. The aperture I use depends on the camera and lens. The chia seed smoothie pics were taken with my d5100. I probably had the aperture set to around 3 or 4. The camera I use now (a d810) is a lot more sensitive to light so I tend to shoot with the aperture at 7. 🙂
Thanks, Traci! And you’re totally right, it is delicious once it turns into pudding too. 🙂
It’s a total treat! It’s really more like having dessert for breakfast. 🙂