Easy Strawberry Chia Seed Jam
This 15-minute strawberry chia jam recipe is easy, healthy, and naturally sweetened! Perfect for breakfast or snacks with no refined sugar.
Making homemade jam might sound like a difficult and long task that can take hours, but not with this 15-minute strawberry chia jam. Serve it with healthy oatmeal crepes or high-protein cottage cheese bagels, and you have the perfect healthy breakfast.
How to Make Chia Seed Jam: Video Recipe
Watch the full video recipe to learn how to make the best Strawberry Chia Jam.
Prefer the written recipe? Scroll down to the recipe box.
Ingredient Notes
- Strawberries: Fresh or frozen strawberries both work great. In particular, frozen berries are perfect when strawberries are out of season. Feel free to swap with other berries like raspberries or blueberries.
- Chia Seeds: Essential for thickening the jam naturally. You can use black or white chia seeds—both work the same. No chia seeds? Alternatively, try ground flaxseeds as an alternative, though the texture will vary.
- Lemon or Lime Juice: Adds a refreshing tang and helps balance the sweetness. Either lemon or lime works well. You can skip it if you prefer a sweeter jam, but it’s recommended for flavor.
- Honey or Maple Syrup (Optional): For added sweetness, use honey or maple syrup. For a vegan option, maple syrup is ideal. You can also skip it entirely if your strawberries are sweet enough.
This is just a short review of the ingredients; for the complete recipe, including quantities, scroll down to the recipe card 👇
What is Chia Seed?
Chia seeds are tiny black or white seeds from the Salvia hispanica plant, native to Central America. Known for being nutrient-dense, chia seeds are high in fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. When mixed with liquid, they form a gel-like texture, making them perfect for recipes like chia puddings or jams. These super seeds are popular in healthy recipes for their ability to boost digestion, heart health, and energy levels.
Why Adding Chia Seeds to a Jam?
Chia seeds act as a natural thickener and are packed with fiber and nutrients. As a result, they replace pectin and extra sugar, making your jam healthier while adding omega-3s and creating a natural strawberry jam with no refined sugar.
More Chia Seed Recipes
Stuck with chia seeds and looking for creative and healthy recipes? I’ve got you covered:
Tips and Tricks
- Taste your strawberries first—if they’re sweet, you may not need any sweetener.
- For a smoother jam, blend with an immersion blender after cooking.
- Let the jam sit for at least 5-10 minutes to fully thicken.
- Stir well before storing to evenly distribute the chia seeds.
- Use fresh lemon or lime juice for the best flavor boost.
- You can mash the strawberries more or less depending on how chunky you like your jam.
- Double the batch and freeze extra portions for later use!
Variations
- Berry Swap: Use raspberries, blueberries, or mixed berries instead of strawberries.
- Citrus Twist: Try orange juice instead of lemon or lime for a unique flavor.
- Sugar-Free: Make it without any sweetener for a pure fruit taste.
- Spiced Jam: Add a pinch of cinnamon or vanilla extract for extra depth.
- Keto-Friendly: Use a low-carb sweetener like erythritol or stevia.
Best Served With
- Classic and simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich
- Oatmeal crepes for a healthy breakfast
- You can also spread it on French toast or pancakes
- Serve with yogurt and homemade granola for a wholesome breakfast
- Use as a topping on classic cheesecake or mini cheesecakes
- Jam cookies
- For a high-protein dessert option: cottage cheese cheesecake or spread on cottage cheese buns
How to Store
Store your chia seed strawberry jam in a clean, airtight jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the fridge when ready to use.
Strawberry Chia Jam Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 14.1 oz (400 g) Strawberries fresh or frozen
- 2¼ tablespoons (32 g) Chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Lemon juice or lime juice
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) Maple syrup or honey (optional)
Instructions
- Prep the Strawberries: wash the strawberries, cut the stems, then chop them into small pieces.
- Cook the strawberries: In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the strawberries, 1-2 tablespoons of water. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start breaking down and release their juices. Use a fork or potato masher to mash the berries to your desired consistency.
- Add the maple, and lemon juice and simmer for another 1-2 minutes.
- Add Chia Seeds: turn the heat off and stir in chia seeds.
- Cool & Store: Remove from heat and let it sit for 5-10 minutes to thicken further. The jam will continue to set as it cools. If you prefer a smoother texture, blend the jam using an immersion blender.
- Transfer to a clean jar and store in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Storage: Store the strawberry chia seed jam in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months and thaw as needed.
- Strawberry Substitute: You can easily swap strawberries for other berries like raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or even a berry mix.
- Sweetener Options: The sweetener is optional. You can use honey, maple syrup, agave syrup, coconut sugar, or even a few drops of stevia or monk fruit sweetener for a low-carb option. Adjust to your taste!
- Chia Seed Substitute: If you don’t have chia seeds, ground flaxseeds can work as a substitute, but the texture will be slightly different.
- Watch the Video: For best results, watch the step-by-step video tutorial included in the post.
- Read the FAQ: Still have questions? Scroll below the recipe card to read the full FAQ section for more helpful tips and troubleshooting.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Chia seed jam is a healthier, easy jam made with fruit and chia seeds instead of pectin or gelatin. In addition, chia seeds naturally thicken the jam while adding fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Yes! Strawberry chia jam is a healthy alternative to traditional jams. It’s naturally sweetened, contains no refined sugar, and is packed with nutrients from strawberries and chia seeds.
Absolutely! This chia seed jam recipe is flexible. For instance, if your strawberries are sweet enough, you can skip the honey or maple syrup and enjoy a natural strawberry jam.
I made it with frozen strawberries as they much cheaper and result was good. I used 2 tablespoons of honey as sweetener and it was just I like it, not too sweet and perfect with a bowl of yogurt and granola.
thank for the recipe.