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How to Make Chia Goop for Safe and Fun Sensory Play
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How to Make Chia Goop for Safe and Fun Sensory Play

This Chia Goop recipe is a winner if you're looking for a great way to keep little hands busy with safe, natural, and delightfully gooey texture play.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time0 minutes
Resting time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 5 minutes
Yield: 4 cups

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Equipment

Mixing Bowls
Storage Containers

Materials

  • 1 Cup Chia Seeds black or white chia seeds
  • 3 Cups Water cold or room temp
  • 3 Drops Food Coloring of your choice
  • Optional: 1–2 teaspoons cornstarch for thickening

Instructions

How to Make Chia Goop (Edible Chia Slime Recipe)

  • Mix the Seeds. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of chia seeds with 3 cups of water. Stir well.
    1 Cup Chia Seeds, 3 Cups Water
  • Add a few drops of your favorite food coloring to the chia seed mixture. Mix until fully combined. Optional: 1–2 teaspoons cornstarch. If you plan on using the slime quickly. If letting it sit overnight, the cornstarch shouldn't be needed.
    3 Drops Food Coloring, Optional: 1–2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • Let It Hydrate. Cover the bowl and let it sit: 20–30 minutes for light hydration, 2–3 hours for thicker goop, Overnight for maximum gooey texture
  • Adjust the Texture. If it’s too thick, stir in a little extra water. If it’s too runny, sprinkle in corn starch and mix again.
  • Play Time. Transfer it to a sensory bin or sensory tray, and let the fun begin.
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Notes

Variation. You can also make a similar slime using basil seeds, but the texture will be slightly different.

How Long to Let the Chia Goop Rest?

Chia goop has a thick, squishy, gel-like texture—somewhere between hair gel, tapioca pudding, and a loose slime. The exact thickness depends on soaking time and water ratio, but here’s what to expect:
After 20–30 minutes
  • Still pretty runny
  • Feels like watery gel
  • Seeds are just starting to hydrate
  • Great for scooping, pouring, and “splashy” sensory play
After 2–3 hours
  • Medium-thick, like loose chia pudding
  • Scoops well with spoons and cups
  • Still stretchy but not sticky
  • Perfect for most sensory bins and little hands
After Overnight Hydration
  • Thickest stage
  • Feels like cool, wobbly slime
  • Holds shape better, similar to soft jelly
  • Still easily manipulated by younger kids
If You Want It Thicker
Add:
  • 1–2 teaspoons corn starch, or
  • Let it sit longer, or
  • Reduce the cups of water slightly
If You Want It Looser
Add:
  • A splash of warm water
  • More stirring to loosen the gel
 

⭐ Clean-Up Tips (So You Don’t Grow Chia Seeds in Your House!)

Chia goop is taste-safe and fun, but cleanup matters. Because if chia seeds stay damp and get trapped in cracks, fabrics, or carpet fibers, they will start sprouting. (Ask me how I know…)
Be sure to clean up extremely thoroughly or else anything and everything is liable to become a ch-ch-ch-chia pet.
Here’s how to make cleanup easy and sprout-free:
  1. Let Everything Dry First
If the chia goop has gotten on the table, floor, highchair, or sensory tray edges, let it dry completely before wiping.
Dry seeds sweep up much easier than wet ones.
When it dries you can just vacuum it out.
 
  1. Use a Damp Cloth for Final Wipe
Once the dried seeds are brushed away, wipe the area with a warm, damp cloth to remove the last bit of residue.
  1. Rinse Items Immediately
Scoops, spoons, bowls, and toys should be rinsed right away with warm water, before the seeds have time to stick or gel further.
  1. Avoid Draining Large Amounts Down the Sink
Chia expands in water, so pour the bulk of the leftover goop into the trash—not the drain—to avoid plumbing issues.
  1. If Chia Gets on Clothing
  • Shake off as much as possible
  • Rinse under warm water
  • Let the chia slime dry on clothes and brush it off before putting clothes in the washer.
  • Wash as usual
Just avoid tossing damp chia-covered clothes into a laundry basket for later—those little seeds love to sprout in dark, moist places.
  1. Carpet or Rug Cleanup
If chia hits the rug:
  1. Let it dry completely
  2. Vacuum thoroughly
  3. Spot clean with warm soapy water if needed
  4. Outdoor Cleanup Bonus
If the weather is nice, hose off tools outside. Any stray chia seeds that land in the grass will sprout harmlessly and disappear quickly.