Chia Seed Granola Bars
on Mar 15, 2015, Updated Feb 24, 2025
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These no-bake vegan chocolate chip chia seed granola bars are easy to make in one bowl with just 6 simple ingredients.
About the Recipe
Here are a few reasons to love these chia granola bars:
- Vegan and gluten-free recipe.
- Refined sugar-free.
- Can be made nut-free.
- 1-bowl recipe.
- No blending needed.
- 6 simple ingredients.
- No baking.
You can also use chia seeds in these No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Chia Seed Bars, No-Bake Homemade Energy Bars and No-Bake Chocolate Chia Energy Bars.
Ingredient Notes
Here are a few notes on the ingredients you’ll need and any possible substitutions. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements.
- Oats: Quick oats work best in this recipe because they’re a bit finer and hold together easier. You can use rolled oats or old-fashioned oats if needed or even give them a quick pulse in a food processor to help break them down into a quick oat consistency.
- Peanut Butter: You can use any nut or seed butter like peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter or tahini.
- Chocolate Chips: Use dairy-free chocolate chips like Enjoy Life or Camino for vegan bars. Use dark chocolate for a lower sugar option or sugar-free chocolate chips like Lily’s if preferred.
- Coconut Oil: This is essential to the recipe and can’t be omitted.
- Maple Syrup: You can use agave syrup or brown rice syrup if preferred.
- Chia Seeds: For crunch, binding and nutrition! White or black chia seeds work.
How to Make Chia Seed Granola Bars
This is a very simple no-bake recipe and doesn’t even require blending! Simply mix everything up, press into a ban, chill, then slice. Below is a visual of how the mixture should look in the bowl and pan.
Step 1. Add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and use a spoon to mix until it’s uniformly combined into a crumbly dough.
Step 2. Line a 7-8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper so the edges of the paper stick out over the sides of the pan.
Firmly press the dough into the pan, taking a few minutes to really work it into the corners and get it nice and flat. This will ensure they hold together well
Place the entire pan in the freezer for at least 30 minutes then use the parchment paper to lift out the pan. Slice and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
These need to be kept cold to hold together properly. They’re okay at room temperature for a while but as the coconut oil starts to melt they won’t hold together very well, it will stay in bar form but be a little crumbly as you eat it. They’re absolutely awesome straight from the fridge or freezer, so stick to that for best results!
You can store the bars for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge or for 3 months in the freezer in a heavy duty freezer bag or container.
More Recipes to Try!
Energy Bars
No-Bake Chocolate Chia Energy Bars
Desserts
Tahini Hemp Seed Bars
Energy Bars
No-Bake Lemon Energy Bars
Chia Seed Granola Bars
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix well until thoroughly combined into a crumbly dough.
- Line a 7-8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper so the edges stick out over the sides of the pan and then firmly press the mixture into the pan. Spend a few minutes really pressing it in there, this will help them hold together properly once they're done.
- Place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes to firm.
- Lift the bars out of the pan using the edges of the parchment paper and slice into 10 bars.
Hi,
This might be a stupid question, but does the coconut oil need to be melted?
Thank you,
Betsie
It doesn’t have to be completed melted but should at least be soft so you can easily mix it.
Hi Deryn,
I didn’t melt the oil, but it was very soft and let me say that the bars were extremely tasty! My husband loved them too! I plan on taking a few to work and since I use a cooler with ice in it, they will keep perfectly.
Thank you for an amazing recipe!
Betsie
That’s great! Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for letting me know 🙂
Hi! What could we replace the coconut oil with in this recipe?
Thanks!
Hi! Sorry I can’t make a suggestion for this one because the coconut oil helps hold everything together. I have lots of other bars made without oil if you take a look through the energy bar section. Thanks!
Delicious & Healthy! Simple to prepare with a little extra muscle when not using an electric mixer. When they are cut into portions, they will be an excellent addition to my freezer. Enjoy them for breakfast, snacks or even a dessert. Thanks!
* I prepared as the recipe stated, with the addition of chopped walnuts & dried cherries.
These bars are fabulous! I have made them many times and they’re one of my family’s favorite snacks.
Awesome! Thanks, Lisa!
These are great and soooooo easy! I add craisins to them and use part rolled oats as well. I replace honey for the maple syrup and then keep them frozen for eating! So yummy!
This was a staple of mine through college. There was always a batch in my freezer for at least 2 years….
I like to add dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and coconut flakes and just increase the amount of peanut butter and coconut oil. (sometimes I’ll chop up dried fruit like apricots and add that as well)
Delicious! I formed these into balls rather than bars, only because I thought they might be easier to put in my freezer this way. They are pretty tasty and kid-approved, as well. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed them!
I’d like to make a recipe using Chia seeds but would like them to remain soft because my children have sensory issues with texture. How can I include them in their soft state?
Thanks!
That won’t work I’m this recipe unfortunately. All I recommend is making chia seed pudding. I have a number of chia pudding recipes, you can find them by searching chia seeds from the home page. Good luck!