How to make a chia egg – a super simple and versatile vegan egg substitute, neutral in flavor, and packed with nutrients!

If you want to enter the realm of vegan baking, then knowing how to make a chia egg is top of the priority list. This ingredient is perfect for a whole variety of dietary needs and free-from baking. This post takes you through what chia eggs are, the difference between chia and flaxseed eggs, how to make a chia egg, and of course, some recipe and usage suggestions.

When it comes to choosing a vegan egg substitute, chia and flax seeds are both fantastic, interchangeable options. I have a super simple flax egg DIY too. These are both gluten-free, paleo, keto, whole30, low-carb, etc. options.

Chia seeds are generally a healthy, nutritious, plant-based egg replacer.

What Is A Chia Egg?

A Chia egg is made by combining ground chia seeds with water. The resulting mixture is a thick, viscous mixture that you can use in free-from and vegan baking as a vegan egg substitute.

If you’ve eaten chia pudding before, then you’ll know that chia seeds get wonderfully gelatinous when combined with a liquid. By using ground chia seeds, you end up with more of a uniform ‘eggy’ mixture.

While it doesn’t act in the same way as an egg inside baked goods, chia eggs make for an excellent ‘binder’ and are useful in tons of different recipes.

It is worth noting that the dark color will affect the color of your baked goods. However, luckily, the flavor is very neutral – unlike many of the egg substitute options.

Chia Seeds vs. Flax Seeds

Knowing that flax and chia seed eggs are pretty much interchangeable, I thought I’d go a little into the differences between them and why you might want to choose one over the other.

First, in terms of taste, chia seeds are the more neutral option when it comes to taste. Whereas flaxseed has a mild nutty flavor, chia seeds don’t have much of a flavor at all. I’ve never really found the flax taste to affect any of my bakes negatively, though, so it’s up to you.

In terms of nutritional value, Chia seeds and flaxseed are somewhat similar nutritionally. Chia seeds have slightly fewer calories, yet higher carbs and fiber per serving in comparison. They also contain more calcium.

However, flaxseed contains more omega-3 fatty acids (which provide a LOT of their health benefits), and they are fairly even when it comes to protein levels. Due to the additional fiber, chia seeds can help to make you feel slightly fuller for longer. However, in general, there isn’t much of a difference between the two options.

Lastly, I think I should probably mention that there can be a bit of a price difference. Flaxseeds (or linseed, as they are also called) are usually cheaper.

How To Make A Chia Egg

When it comes to making a chia egg, the method is pretty identical to that of a flax egg. You need to mix chia seeds and water.

The actual method couldn’t be much more straightforward, either. You just mix the two ingredients and wait for the magic to happen. Soon you’ll have a gelatinous, gooey substance similar in texture to regular eggs.

This amount is equal to one egg and can be increased as needed. However, I’ve found that it’s best to only use in a recipe calling for 1-2 eggs when using this replacement. Any more and the recipe will likely need further adjustments.

You can read the full details (and notes) in the recipe card below. Plus, you can read the full details on the methods to ground chia seeds on this post to grind flaxseed.

Recipes & Uses

Chia eggs are super easy to add to a variety of recipes as an egg replacement. From cakes to cookies, brownies, and muffins- there are plenty of ways to make use of this ingredient.

While I haven’t tested every single recipe here with the chia eggs, these are all recipes that I think could work.

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For example, these banana bread recipes, including this Healthy Banana Bread (Naturally Sweetened), Simple Gluten-Free Banana Bread Recipe, or this Banana Bread with Homemade Nutella. You could also use it within various cakes and brownies, like this Gluten-Free Brownie or this Raspberry & Coconut Cake. Not to mention this Pancake Cake and other pancakes, french toast, pastry, and more.

If you’re looking for a direct substitute for items like an omelet, scrambled egg, etc. then this isn’t what you’re looking for. However, feel free to check out my scrambled tofu recipe.

Let me know in the comments your favorite ways to use your chia eggs. Also, I love seeing your recreations so feel free to tag me on Instagram @AlphaFoodie.