One big milestone in your child’s first year is adding solid foods into their diet. While you can obviously buy baby food from the store, there are probably some of you out there looking to whip up your own creations. Below you will find some simple baby food recipes for each stage, along with all the kitchen gadgets you need to make this process a breeze!

THE BASICS

Before we get to recipes, there are a couple of things you should know. From the kitchen gadgets you need to the best ways to store your baby food, below you will find our tried and true Rookie Mom tips! The age most moms start feeding their baby and creating baby food recipes is at 6-8 months.

MUST-HAVES WHEN TRYING THESE BABY FOOD RECIPES

There are a couple of kitchen appliances that will make these baby food recipes even more simple. One thing you might want to consider is a baby food maker.

At first glance, it seems a blender could get the job done but these actually do so much more. They can both steam and puree. We have a whole article discussing all the best baby food makers here!

You also may want to invest in a cutting board and a good chopping knife. The pureeing process will be much easier if you cut harder veggies and fruits into small pieces.

HOW TO STORE BABY FOOD

Making baby food is one thing, but then where do you store all your delicious creations? When you whip up a batch of baby food, you are obviously going to need containers. These OXO containers are great or these baby brezza pouches  both make for great easily storable baby food containers.

You can also keep it super simple and use an ice cube tray!

WHAT ABOUT ALLERGIES?

Of course, one of the nerve-wracking things about starting solids is figuring out allergies. We highly recommend introducing only one food at a time and then closely watching for any signs of an allergic reaction.

You can also look into using powders like Lil Mixins which slowly introduce high allergy foods like peanuts and eggs to your baby. They give your baby exposure to these foods early which can actually help prevent allergies from happening later on.

Food allergies are complicated, and we highly recommend discussing them with your pediatrician.

HOMEMADE BABY FOOD RECIPES FOR NEW EATERS

The beginning of your baby’s food journey will probably be full of purees and lucky for you, these are really simple to make. In fact, these baby foods are so simple to make, I wouldn’t even really qualify these as recipes!

AVOCADO PUREE

1. Cut Avocado in Half
2. Mash Avocado with a Fork or Put it in the Food Processor
3. Optional: Mix with Breast milk or Water until it reaches the desired consistency

BANANA PUREE

1. Slice Banana
2. Add to Blender and Blend until it reaches desired consistency

CARROT PUREE

1. Wash and Prep Carrots peeling off any greenery
2. Steam the Carrot until it is soft
3. Puree the Carrot in a Blender

NEXT STEP BABY FOOD RECIPES

Around 7-9 months, your baby is most likely ready to move on from simple one ingredient baby food purees. This is when the baby food recipes get a little more exciting!

BEETS & BLUEBERRIES

1. Peel the beets and cut them into small cubes
2. Steam the Beets and Blueberries together for about 10 minutes
3. Blend the Steamed Mixture into a Puree
4. Optional: Mix with Breastmilk or Water until it reaches the desired consistency

PEAR & BUTTERNUT SQUASH BABY FOOD RECIPE

1. Peel and De-seed the Butternut Squash
2. Peel and Cut the Pear into cubes
3. Cut the Squash into cubes
4. Steam the Squash for 10 minutes, then add in the pear and steam for an additional 5 minutes
5. Puree Together in a Blender

CHICKEN WITH SWEET POTATOES AND CARROTS

1. Place a Chicken Breast into a Steamer Pot and steam for 3 minutes
2. Add Chopped Sweet Potato and Carrots to the Steam Pot and cook for another 5 minutes (ensure chicken is cooked through at temperature of 165 degrees) 
3. Puree Ingredients Together in Blender

BABY FOOD RECIPES THAT ARE (ALMOST) LIKE REAL FOOD

Here are some yummy options for your 9 to 12 month olds. Don’t worry, these are still very simple recipes! However, it is great for babies to get a little variety as they continue to grow and it is okay to start giving them some finger foods as well. Your little one will love these crazy delicious additions to their diet! 

5 VEGGIE PASTA

Ingredients

• 1 Cup of Pasta (there really are no rules here but we love shells and penne!)
• 1 Cup of Chopped Vegetables: Peas, Carrots, Green Beans, Broccoli, Zucchini
• Olive Oil
• Optional: Parmesan Cheese if your baby has been introduced to dairy

Directions

1. Cook Pasta according to Package
2. Chop and Steam Vegetables
3. Mix Together All Ingredients

BREAKFAST MUFFINS

This is one of our absolute favorite baby food recipes, and you can premake a big batch that will last up to a week!

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 Cup of Whole Rolled Oats
• 1/3 Cup of Plain Yogurt
• 1 Banana
• 1 Egg
• 2 Tablespoons of Maple Syrup 
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons of Baking Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
• Pinch of Salt
• 3/4 Cup of Sliced Strawberries

Directions

1. Preheat Oven to 350
2. Line a 24-count Mini Muffin Pan 
3. Fold All Ingredients Together and Divide Evenly Among Muffin Pans
4. Bake for 13-15 Minutes
5. Allow to Cool and Serve!

MINI QUESADILLAS

Ingredients

• 2 Small Tortillas
• 1/4 Cup of Shredded Mozzarella or Mild Cheddar

Directions

1. Place Tortillas on Preheated Skillet
2. Once Golden Brown, add cheese to one side and place extra tortilla on top 
3. Cover the skillet to melt the cheese
4. Let the tortilla cool off and serve!
5. Pro Tip: Add additional toppings like vegetables, avocado, or shredded chicken when you feel your little one is ready 

Mamas know best so when it comes to feeding your baby solid foods, always trust your own instincts and chat with your pediatrician. These recipes are a great place to start for each stage and will hopefully inspire you to make some of your own creations as well.