Easy Chocolate Pudding Pie

Recipe Ingredients

This chocolate pudding pie recipe uses just 4 simple ingredients, making it a quick and easy dessert.

Chocolate Pudding: You'll need 2 boxes of 4-serving-size instant pudding to make this pie. Be sure to grab instant pudding—not the cook-and-serve variety—as the instant pudding sets up quickly while the cooked version requires heating to thicken.

Pie Crust: A frozen Pillsbury™ Regular 9-inch Pie Crust works great for this recipe and keeps things simple. Bonus—it even comes with its own pie pan. If you have more time, check out our Scratch Pie Crust Recipe for a homemade option.

Milk: Cold milk works best to activate the dry pudding mix for a smooth, creamy texture.

Whipped Topping: A convenient, stable alternative to whipped cream that holds up well for topping pies.

Cookware You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make our chocolate pudding pie recipe.

Mixing Bowl: You'll need a large bowl so there's enough space to blend everything together without the pudding mix flying everywhere as you whisk.

Whisk: Our original recipe required an electric mixer, but now, a simple whisk will do. Use it to beat the dry pudding mix and milk, quickly eliminating any lumps and resulting in a smooth pudding.

Other Cookware You’ll Need: Cooling rack, fork, liquid and dry measuring cups, spatula, small icing spatula.

How to Make Chocolate Pudding Pie

Here’s a quick look at how to make our easy chocolate pudding pie.

1. Bake the Pie Crust

Let the frozen pie crust thaw at room temperature for about 15 minutes. Then, prick the bottom and sides with a fork which is called docking. Docking prevents air bubbles, puffing, and shrinkage, ensuring even baking. Let the baked crust cool completely before adding the filling; a warm crust can cause the pudding to become runny.

2. Mix Together Pudding Pie Filling

Making the filling only takes a few minutes which is why we’ve already baked and cooled the shell. As you whisk, the pudding mix and milk will begin to thicken, reaching a consistency like a thick milkshake.

3. Assemble the Pie

Pour the pudding into the baked shell right away. It will be pourable at first and will thicken as it chills. Use a small icing spatula to smooth it out if needed.

Possible Variations

We’ve heard from you that you love switching things up with this pudding pie recipe. Try any of these tasty variations.

Swap the Pudding Flavor: Butterscotch, pistachio, lemon, or Banana Pudding Pie—one of our favorites.

Use Heavy Cream: One reviewer shares that swapping in heavy cream for the milk thickens the filling to a mousse-like consistency.

Change the Crust: Use a premade graham cracker or chocolate cookie crust.

Add Fun Toppings: Sprinkle chopped nuts, chocolate curls, candy pieces, or toffee bits on top, or drizzle with caramel or chocolate syrup.

If you love dark chocolate, you’ll want to try our Silky Dark Chocolate Pie. For a mousse-like, silky chocolate filling, nothing beats our French Silk Chocolate Pie.

Serving Chocolate Pudding Pie

A chocolate pudding pie makes a delightful alternative to birthday cake and is a perfect dessert for any occasion—from summer barbecues and holiday celebrations to family dinners and elegant parties. Serve a slice of pudding pie alongside fresh berries, vanilla ice cream, or a cup of coffee for a truly satisfying treat.

Storing

A chocolate pudding pie doesn’t usually last long, because it’s so delicious. However, if you happen to have leftovers (store them within 2 hours for food safety reasons), here’s what to do.

Refrigerator

Cover loosely with plastic wrap, or place in a tightly covered food storage container. Store the pie for up to 4 days.

Freezer

We do not recommend freezing this pudding pie as it can alter the texture of the filling, making it watery once thawed.

Why Pillsbury Users Love This Recipe

We’ve heard from our users that this chocolate pudding pie recipe is a true crowd-pleaser thanks to its rich, mousse-like texture that’s achieved by using less milk and adding whipped topping. The recipe’s simplicity and quick preparation make it an easy go-to dessert, perfect for busy nights or last-minute gatherings.

Many love how versatile it is, experimenting with different crusts like crushed OREO® Cookies for a unique twist and customizing toppings with caramel syrup, mini chocolate chips, or sprinkles. This chocolate pudding pie has become a family favorite, praised for its ability to please both adults and kids alike and making it a popular choice for holidays, family dinners, and special occasions.