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- What Is Chia Seed Jam?
- Why You’ll Love This Keto Jam Recipe
- Sugar Free Jam Ingredients
- How To Make Sugar Free Strawberry Jam
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storage Instructions
- What To Serve With Chia Jam
- More Keto Strawberry Recipes
- Tools To Make Keto Friendly Jam
- Sugar Free Keto Strawberry Jam Recipe (Chia Jam)
You’d never guess this is a keto jam recipe! It has all of the flavor or regular jam, without the added sugar and carbs. This sugar free strawberry jam is thickened with chia seeds, which gives it great texture as well as a nutrition boost. And best of all, you can make this chia seed jam with just TWO ingredients (plus a couple of optional ones).
I served this keto strawberry jam on 90 second bread, but any kind would be delicious. (Plus, I have more serving ideas for you at the bottom of this post.) If you prefer jelly over jam, try making keto jelly instead.
You can easily make this an unsweetened jam recipe if your berries are sweet enough, but I almost always add powdered Besti to mine. It tastes like sugar, dissolves effortlessly, and doesn’t crystallize when you store your jam (unlike other sweeteners).
What Is Chia Seed Jam?
Chia jam is a jam recipe that is thickened with chia seeds instead of other thickeners, like sugar or pectin. The seeds make it naturally jammy and also adds plenty of nutrition to jam that’s normally mostly sugar.
Why You’ll Love This Keto Jam Recipe
- Sweet and juicy
- Thick with pieces of fruit + chia
- Takes just a few simple steps
- 30 minutes total to make
- Just 3 grams net carbs
- Contains healthy fats from chia seeds
Sugar Free Jam Ingredients
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for sugar free strawberry jam, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Strawberries – Fresh strawberries are easiest to use because they can be sliced, but you can also use frozen sliced or chopped strawberries. Or feel free to make your keto jam raspberry, blueberry, or blackberry instead by swapping in those berries. (Did you know: Strawberries are keto, but all berries are on the list of keto fruit!)
- Chia seeds – They will help to thicken your keto jam, instead of sugar or pectin. Plus, they add a boost of nutrition.
- Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – Sweetener is optional, but recommended if you like a sweet jam. This is my go-to sweetener for jams because it’s natural, tastes like sugar, and won’t crystallize in the fridge… which is important since you’re unlikely to eat all the jam at once. You could also use powdered allulose for the same consistency, but might need a bit more of it. Powdered erythritol and most other sweetener brands are a last resort substitute, as they do tend to crystallize.
- Lemon zest – This is also optional, but helps bring out sweet, bright flavor in the berries.
How To Make Sugar Free Strawberry Jam
This section shows how to make sugar free jam with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full instructions, see the recipe card below.
- Heat strawberries. Place strawberries in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, until strawberries release liquid and soften.
- Mash. Use a spoon or potato masher to mash berries.
TIP: Blend if you prefer a smoother jam. If you don’t want berry pieces in your jam, puree with an immersion blender (or in a regular blender) at this step.
- Adjust sweetness. Check to see if jam is sweet enough. If it isn’t sweet enough for you, add sweetener to taste, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Thicken. Stir in chia seeds and lemon zest. Allow jam to cool to thicken.
TIP: Add more chia seeds for thicker jam. If you like your jam extra thick, add a couple additional teaspoons of chia seeds to reach the consistency you like. Keep in mind that the jam will continue to thicken when you refrigerate it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I thicken jam without sugar?
You can thicken jam without sugar by using chia seeds! Chia seeds are actually a great thickener for keto strawberry jam because it’s easy and healthy.
Chia seeds have protein, fiber, and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. No sugar needed in this chia berry jam.
Does sugar free jam have carbs?
Yes, most sugar free jam recipes (as well as store bought jams) will have some carbs if they are made with real fruit.
How many carbs are in sugar free strawberry jam?
There are just 3 grams net carbs in a serving (1 tablespoon) of this sugar free strawberry jam!
Storage Instructions
How long does chia seed jam last?
Store jam in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last about a week in the fridge.
Can you freeze chia seed jam?
Yes, you can freeze strawberry chia jam! It will last up to 3 months in the freezer. Simply thaw it out, give it a stir, and it’s ready to use again.
What To Serve With Chia Jam
This keto strawberry jam recipe is great spread on a slice of toasted almond flour bread, but it’s also delicious dolloped onto the breakfasts, desserts, and snacks below:
- Keto Yeast Bread – The yeast makes it tastes SO much like the real thing!
- Almond Flour Pancakes – A fun, fruity way to start the day.
- Keto Cheesecake – Keto strawberry jam makes a sweet garnish.
- Coconut Flour Waffles – Makes a high-fiber breakfast with jam on top.
- Dairy Free Coconut Yogurt – Swirl in jam for a beautiful breakfast or snack.
- Keto Ice Cream – Jam can be a delicious ice cream topping or swirl it in before freezing.
More Keto Strawberry Recipes
If you like this sugar free strawberry jam recipe, you might also like some of these other keto strawberry recipes:
- Strawberry Cheesecake Fluff
- Keto Strawberry Shortcake In A Jar
- Sugar Free Strawberry Jello
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Keto Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Tools To Make Keto Friendly Jam
- Strawberry Slicer – This is one of those gadgets that you don’t think you need… until you use it! It slices strawberries much faster than using a knife.
- Saucepan – This one is the perfect size for homemade jam recipes.
- Glass Jars – The perfect way to store your jam.
- Immersion Blender – Use this if you want a smoother consistency.
Sugar Free Strawberry Jam Recipe With Chia
Reader Favorite Recipes
The recipe card is below! Readers that made this also viewed these recipes:
Sugar Free Keto Strawberry Jam Recipe (Chia Jam)
Learn how to make keto chia jam with 2 simple ingredients! This EASY sugar free strawberry jam recipe is sweet, thick, and just 2g sugar per serving.
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Optional ingredients:
Get Keto Sweetener For This Recipe
GET BESTIInstructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Place the strawberries into a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, until the strawberries release a lot of liquid and soften.
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Mash the strawberries with a spoon or potato masher. If you want super smooth jam without strawberry pieces, use an immersion blender to puree the berries.
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Taste to check if the jam is sweet enough. Add sweetener to taste, if desired, 1 tablespoon at a time.
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Remove from heat. Stir in the chia seeds and lemon zest, if using. Allow the jam to cool for 5-10 minutes to thicken.
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For even thicker jam, add an additional 1-3 teaspoons chia seeds if desired. Jam will thicken more when refrigerated.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 2 tbsp
Makes 1 cup jam.
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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53 Comments
Pye
Hi Maya. Has anyone ever canned the strawberry jam? If so, how did it turn out?
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Pye, I have never attempted to can this jam.
Cheryl
Hi, if this was stored in the freezer to get longer shelf life up to the 3 mths, when taken out to use do you have to unthaw the whole thing for one time use, or can it be unthawed a little to use what you desire then put back in the freezer? I know typically foods shouldn’t be re-froze so just wondering.
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Cheryl, I haven’t tried that, but don’t usually recommend thawing and re-freezing foods.
Char
This recipe was a hit with my church weight loss group Daniel Plan. Easy, Fun, Delicious, Economical and Nutritious too! Have you priced Sugar Free Jams?? Thank you!
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Char, I am happy to hear you and your church group enjoyed the jam!
Barbara
This recipe was so easy and super delicious.. next I’m trying raspberries!!!
Kristyn
Love the chia seeds in this jam! My family loves it & I love that it’s sugar-free! We will be using it on tons of things!
Natalie
Amazing jam!! We love this on toast! I will be stocking up!
Amy L Huntley
Homemade Jam is the absolute best and I love that this is sugar free too! You can’t even tell that it is sugar free.
Claudia Thibodeau
How would you make apple jelly ??
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Claudia, As far as I understand, apples need a sugar or packaged pectin to create a jelly. Apple jelly is very high in sugar all on their own, so it wouldn’t fit into a keto or low carb lifestyle.
Shannon
How long can this be stored before it goes bad??
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Shannon, This jam will keep for about a week in the fridge. You can move it to the freezer if you need. It will be good for about 3 months when properly stored.
Leslie Ellins
I love all your recipes. You make me think Keto “outside the box”. Thanks so much!
I tried this last weekend and was thrilled with the finished product. It was even better after it sat in the fridge a few days. The strawberry flavour just seemed to POP after sitting a bit. Paired with your English Muffin recipe it was awesome!
I have made them 6 at a time and baked in those muffin top silicon molds. I have never tried them in the microwave, but I am sure they would work as all your recipes are fabulous. I purchased a one year subscription to your Easy Keto app just so I could have easy access to your recipes.
YASMIN NAIK
I made this with stawberries and bluberries, since I didn’t have enough. It turned out delicious. I substituted a 1/4 tsp of Xanthum gum instead of chia ( I have a chia pudding almost everyday). I spread it on my plain keto cheese cake, sublime from plain lol.
Chelsea Wilhelm-Maskis
How long will this keep in the fridge?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Chelsea, This jam is best in the fridge for a week, but you can also freeze it for up to three months.
Laurie
IS THERE ANTHING I CAN USE INSTEAD LEOMON ZEST IF NOT WHERE CAN I FIND IT, EXACTLY WHAT IS IT?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Laurie, Lemon zest is the outside yellow peel from the lemon. You can use a small grater or microplane to extract your own zest from a lemon, just be sure to only use the yellow skin and not the white pith underneath the skin. The pith is very bitter and can overpower the recipe.
Elizabeth
Is it possible to strain this as I don’t care for the seeds sticking n my teeth?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Elizabeth, Yes, absolutely! You’ll want to use a blender to puree the berries, then you can push them through a sieve to remove the seeds. Enjoy!
Denise
Has anybody tried this using ground chia seeds? I detest that chia seeds stick in my teeth but would love to get a Keto-Friendly jam just don’t want the whole seeds
Denise
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Denise, Yes, you can use ground chia seeds.
Nancy Wright
I think this sounds great! Looking forward to trying this summer with homegrown strawberries and blueberries too. Thanks so much!
Yadira
Made it very easy and very yummy; perfect with my keto toast!! Thank you so much for the recipe!
Brianna
This is just what I was looking for! Thanks for all the great recipes 🙂
A couple questions – Do you think this recipe could be canned, like sealed in the jars and stored on the shelf, since it’s cooked?
I usually make Freezer jam for the year when I go strawberry picking- is there a reason it would only last 3 months?
Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Brianna, Chia seed jams are not safe for canning. There are a couple of resources online that can explain why in more detail, but basically it has to do with the ability for seeds to grow certain strains of bacteria even after being canned. This jam is best within 3 months in the freezer, any longer and it may get freezer burn. If you have a chest freezer, you may be able to get a longer freeze time out of this recipe. I hope this helps!
Brianna
Good to know, thanks for your response!
Sarah G
Very easy to make, one question tho. How long can it be stored? Is it best in the fridge or counter top?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Sarah, Please store your jam in the fridge. It is best for up to a week in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer. Enjoy!
Sherry Richter
Just wondering if the chia seeds can be ground for smoother jam?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Sherry, Yes that should work fine.
Lori
I’m a bit of a freezer jam freak due to not using sugar but other sweeteners. I don’t mind seeds from berries and vary using ground chia seeds, pectin or gelatin to thicken. I just made an apple pie freezer jam with gelatin (half batch) from another site, swapping out the sugar for an erythritol blend. I noticed Wholesome Yum’s keto apple pie has no apples and the apple muffins have one diced apple in the whole batch thus needing extract to carry the flavor – that’s it for apples. Adding a refrigerator-jam/freezer-jam page, including strawberry/chia, to be spread on the keto bread of one’s choice would allow folks to have many flavor profiles they may be missing or think they can no longer have. Particularly seasonal fruits for which the serving size must be kept to a minimum so that a tablespoon works out just fine. So more jams, please?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Lori, Thanks for the great suggestion!
Patricia Ballek
Made this last week yummy.
Elizabeth
This is so yummy! I make this every week. It is great in yogurt or porridge. I also use a variety of frozen berries. It is great during the winter months or any time I year.
Jaimie
I just made this today and am in LOVE! It is SO GOOD! This is the first time in 4 months on veto that I’ve had strawberry jam. Now I’m going to want it on everything! Its as so easy, too!
Zuzana
This is so quick and easy. I never make any jams. Have to change that
Yang
Perfect for the strawberry season coming! I am saving this to make soon.
Kari
There’s nothing like homemade jam, and I’m so excited to try your sugar free version! Also super excited that it freezes well so I can make big batches!
Guy
Love how simple this is! There’s really no need to add sugar when you use fresh strawberries so I can’t wait to make this summer!
Renee D Kohley
Such a fun way to use seasonal strawberries! We will pick them locally end of June here so I can’t wait to make some jam!
Raia Todd
Love how easy chia seed jam is! It’s nice to have an option that doesn’t included added sweeteners, too.
Jean
Yum, I loooove chia jams and this was fantastic!
Josianne Plante
Simple and so good!! I used organic strawberries added a bit of stevia. It was perfect
Paula
Have you tried using blueberries or raspberries? I assume they would work as well?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Paula, Yes, you can use other berries, too!
Pam
Can you use flax seeds instead of chia seeds?
Wholesome Yum A
I think so, Pam! Let me know if you try it.
Margaret Kennedy
Thank you so much for this recipe, been trying to find one.
Also very interesting to know that Chia seeds are a good thickener.
Sarah
Can this be made with ground chia seeds? My husband loves jam but seeds are painful and he avoids anything that might have seeds.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Sarah, Yes, you can use ground seeds if you like! Or puree the jam after it’s ready.