You’ve discovered the magic of chia jam – and for good reason! It’s a lower sugar option that’s also got fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, thanks to those chia seeds. But now you’re staring at a jar in the fridge wondering what else to do with it besides spread it on toast. As a dietitian that loves chia jam, I’ve got some creative and nutritious use cases that go beyond the basics.
First, know that you can freeze chia jam if you’ve got a ton on hand and don’t think you’ll use it all. Just freeze it in an ice cube tray, then pop out the frozen cubes to store in an airtight container or ziptop bag. That way you can just defrost a little bit whenever you want to use it in the future!
But back to using your freshly made jam. Here are some of my favorite ideas!
1. Swirl into oatmeal
Stir a spoonful of chia jam into your morning oats for a fruity punch with less added sugar. In fact, I love this peanut butter and jelly oatmeal recipe, which is made with strawberry chia jam. All the nostalgic PB&J vibes in oatmeal form!
2. Spread on a sweet and savory pizza
One of my favorite unique pizza recipes is using blackberry chia jam on dough or flatbread, and then adding ricotta, mozzarella, basil, grilled chicken (optional), and a little balsamic drizzle. So good! You can also do versions with goat cheese or brie, and top with other greens like arugula.
3. Use in a PB&J
Easy peasy: your favorite bread, peanut butter, and a generous scoop of chia jam. Yum! A nutritious option for athletes as it contains carbohydrates to fuel your fitness goals. It can also be great for those who are looking to gain weight; use thick bread and add extra peanut butter to boost the calories.
4. Layer in yogurt parfaits or yogurt bowls
Greek yogurt is a high-protein win for active women. Swirl in some chia jam and add your favorite toppings, like granola, nuts, nut butter, shredded coconut, cacao nibs, or whatever else your heart desires. The pic below is a go-to of mine: lower-sugar vanilla greek yogurt, blueberry chia jam, and a lower-sugar homemade granola recipe.
5. Spread on rice cakes
If you’re a rice cake person, chia jam instantly makes them feel more substantial and interesting. Add some nut butter and you’ve got an easy balanced snack! [You can find more healthy rice cake topping ideas here.]
6. Dollop on pancakes or waffles
In our house, we always have ALDI’s protein waffles on hand – huge fan because two pack in 12 grams of protein and only have 4 grams of added sugar. For my kiddo who’s a waffle fanatic, he loves just eating them plain. But I love spreading some chia jam on top for extra flavor (and a drizzle of peanut butter too)! You can do the same on any homemade waffle or pancake recipe, too. For example, try adding strawberry chia jam to these cottage cheese protein pancakes. Or, add blueberry chia jam to a lemon ricotta pancake recipe.
7. Swirl into cottage cheese
This is a great option for athletes. Cottage cheese is rich in leucine, an amino acid that’s helpful for promoting muscle protein synthesis. It’s also rich in casein, a more slowly digested protein that makes cottage cheese a good bedtime snack option. Swirling chia jam into the cottage cheese can make it more appealing to eat by obviously offering quite a bit of fruity flavor.
8. Mixed into a salad dressing base
Whisk a little chia jam with olive oil, a splash of balsamic or red wine vinegar, a little Dijon, and salt and pepper. You get an easy, fruity vinaigrette that’s slightly sweet and slightly tangy. Perfect for a delicious summer salad (think arugula, grilled chicken, berries, avocado, feta, and a chia jam vinaigrette – yum!).
9. Blend into smoothies
Maybe you’ve got some frozen bananas on hand but don’t have any frozen berries. No worries! Just throw a few tablespoons of chia jam into the blender for that flavor and antioxidant boost. Or use chia jam for one layer of a fun layered smoothie (a big hit with my kiddo).
10. Layer with overnight oats
OK, OK – kind of similar to the oatmeal option, but I think it deserves it’s own spot on this list. You can make a big batch of overnight oats, then layer some of those with the chia jam in a glass for a picture-perfect breakfast. Cinnamon overnight oats is particularly good with cranberry chia jam, while vanilla overnight oats works well with strawberry or blueberry. Of course, if you don’t care about the layered look, you can also just add a few spoonfuls when prepping your overnight oats and shake it up.
11. Mix into homemade energy balls
When you’re making a batch of oat-based energy balls, you can skip some of the sweetener (often honey or maple syrup) and use chia jam instead. It’ll help moisten and bind the energy balls, and of course add a little fruit flavor.
12. Use as the center of a thumbprint cookie
You can always use these with any standard recipe, but I like this thumbprint cookie recipe that’s a bit healthier (if you’re looking for that kinda thing!). It’s made with oat flour and rolled oats, and is minimally sweetened with just a little maple syrup. You’ll use a spoonful of chia jam in the center of each cookie. A great balanced option for kids and adults alike!
13. Make a glaze for salmon, pork, or chicken.
Mix fruity chia jam with a splash of soy sauce or balsamic vinegar and add a few crushed red pepper flakes. Brush this onto a piece of salmon or chicken in the last few minutes of grilling, or stir into the pan in the last few minutes of sautéing! Keep in mind that chia jam does typically have crunchy fruit seeds when you use berries, so just make sure you’re OK with that texture when you’re using it in this way. If you want to avoid too many seeds, a peach chia jam is a great option for a meat glaze. Blueberry also works well (less seeds than raspberries, strawberries, or blackberries).
14. Add to grilled cheese.
Sweet and savory grilled cheeses are top notch! Add sharp cheddar to the bread (I use a higher protein option), then layer in chia jam and more cheddar. I like to add arugula as well. Toast each side in a pan with a little butter. Serve with a veggie of your choice!
15. Spoon over baked brie.
If you need a fun app to serve for a party, spoon some jam over brie then bake it in the oven (here’s a great baked brie recipe). I recommend a berry jam with fewer seeds for this use case, like blueberry or cranberry chia jam.
I hope you enjoy these ideas and find some fun ways to use your chia jam!
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