Homemade Meat Baby Food Recipes – Nutritious Homemade Meat Baby Foods Are Better than Jarred.
Please note: Meats may be introduced anytime between 7-8 months of age with the advice of your pediatrician. Many pediatric authorities, specifically in Canada, the EU and the U.K. recommend meat as one of baby’s first solid foods but not as THE first food. In the U.S. the recommendation to start meats earlier than 8 months is also becoming more common.
Easy, Fresh & Nutritious Meat Baby Food Recipes that your baby will Love.
Try the Beef, Chicken & Vegetable Stock/ Broth recipes too.
You may add veggies or fruits to any of the meat baby food puree recipes as you like. The additions of fruits and/or veggies may make the meats more palatable for baby’s first introduction to meats.
Beef, Pork or Veal Purée (Basic)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cold and cooked boneless beef, pork or veal – chopped into chunks no bigger than 1 inch
- 1/4 c cooking juice (save the juices that you cooked the meat in) or plain water
Directions:
Step 1: Place meat chunks in blender or food processor and puree until a powdery mix is formed. Slowly add water and puree further until a smooth consistency is created.
Step 2: Add as much liquid as needed to make a consistency appropriate for your baby. You may add veggies or fruits to this puree as you like.
Chicken Purée (Basic)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cold and cooked boneless chicken – chopped into no bigger than 1 inch pieces
- 1/4 c cooking juice (save the juices that you cooked the meat in) or plain water
Directions:
Step 1: Place chicken chunks in blender or food processor and puree until a powdery mix is formed. Slowly add water and puree further until a smooth consistency is created.
Step 2: Add as much liquid as needed to make a consistency appropriate for your baby. You may add veggies or fruits to this puree as you like.
Egg Yolks
Read the Egg Allergy Information page for more information about egg allergies and using eggs in baked or other foods.
Ingredients:
- Eggs – as many or as few as you like. Try to buy natural or organic eggs whenever possible.
Directions:
Step 1: Hard-boil an egg
Step 2: Peel shell away and cut in half
Step 3: Scrape or pop out the yolk
Step 4: Mash the yolk and mix in formula, breast milk, yogurt, applesauce or whatever you choose that is appropriate for your baby.
OR
Step 1: Crack an egg and separate the white from the yolk (you may use the shell for this or use an egg-separator)
Step 2: Warm olive oil or butter in a frying pan
Step 3: Scramble the yolk in a bowl with formula, breast milk, juice or whole milk and transfer to frying pan
Step 4: Cook over medium heat, scrambling constantly, until thoroughly cooked
** You may also add items such as pureed (or small diced & soft cooked) broccoli, carrots, peas etc… makes great finger food.
Fish Purée (Basic) Read the Introducing Fish article here
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked boneless white fish
- 1/4 c or plain water
Directions:
Step 1: Place fish in blender or food processor and slowly add liquid while puréeing until a smooth consistency is created.
Step 2: Add as much liquid as needed to make a consistency appropriate for your baby. Add in veggies or even fruits if you like!
Turkey Purée (Basic)
Ingredients:
- 1 c cold and cooked boneless turkey – chopped into no bigger than 1 inch pieces
- 1/4 c cooking juice (save the juices that you cooked the meat in) or plain water
Directions:
Step 1: Place turkey chunks in blender or food processor and puree until a powdery mix is formed.
Step 2: Slowly add water and puree further until a smooth consistency is created.
Step 3: Add as much liquid as needed to make a consistency appropriate for your baby.
Tofu
Read Ideas and Information about Tofu and Feeding Babies Tofu
Selecting Meats for Baby Food Recipes – Prepared ANY meat by baking/roasting it. Some good cuts are:
Chicken – Breasts (higher in protein and lower in fat) and Thighs/legs (higher in iron and higher in fat)
Beef – Eye of Round roast, Top Sirloin, Lean Fresh Ground beef
Pork – Tenderloins, Pork Loin Roast (boneless – center cut), Center cut Pork Chops
Turkey – Breasts, Thighs, Legs, Ground Turkey (note the same rules applies for white/dark meat with turkey as chicken)
Ham – while really pork, Ham is not the same as eating Pork Tenderloin for ex. A fresh home baked ham is the best. Check all labels for Sodium Nitrite and Salt content prior to purchasing.
EASY Meats and Protein “Dinners” and Combinations for Babies
Baby’s First Omelet
Ingredients:
- 2 Egg Yolks
- Milk or Formula
- Puréed or Chunky Veggies
- Cheese
Directions:
Step 1: Prepare a small frying pan with a pat of butter or a dab of olive oil and heat
Step 2: Scramble egg yolks & Milk or Formula in bowl then pour egg mixture into heated pan.
Step 3: Scramble egg mixture until almost cooked and add veggies.
Step 4: Cook until egg mixture is no longer runny.
Step 5: Add small bits of shredded cheese (Swiss, American, Cheddar or Parmesan)
Step 6: Scramble again when cheese has melted.
Serve with Fruit Dices, Yogurt, and/or Petite Toast Points with Fruit Purée Spread.
Great for Lunch or Dinner too. Ensure that the Baby Omelet has cooled enough for Baby to eat. (Please use only those ingredients that baby has eaten without any allergic reactions.)
Baby’s First Beef Stew
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup cubed cooked beef
- 1 peeled potato
- ¼ cup shelled fresh or frozen peas
- 1 peeled carrot
- 1 stalk of celery
- 1/4 cup uncooked pasta (try ditalini or other small pasta sizes)
- 4 cups of water
Directions:
Step 1: Wash vegetables thoroughly and chop very fine.
Step 2: Simmer the veggies for 20 minutes or until softened
Step 3: Add the macaroni and cook for 10 minutes longer or until very soft.
Step 4: Drain but save the water and use to mash into the stew
Step 5: Mash or puree the mix until it is of a consistency adequate for baby
Beef or Veal Dinner
Ingredients:
- 1 lb beef or veal, tender and lean, cut in 1″ pieces
- 1 celery stick, chopped
- 3 carrots peeled and diced
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut in 1/4 inch dices
- 1 tablespoon minced onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
Directions:
Step 1: Put the meat in about 1 cup of water in a saucepan and simmer for 45 minutes or until cooked
Step 2: Add celery, carrots, potato, garlic and onion.
Step 3: Cook for 35 minutes or until veggies are tender.
Step 4: Take pot off the heat and let cool a few minutes. Discard vegetables and serve as a “side” or add to puree.
Step 5: Put about 3/4 cup of the meat in the blender with 1/3 cup of the cooking water. Puree until smooth. Add the reserved veggies. Repeat with the remainder of the meat
Apples & Chicken
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup chopped & cooked boneless chicken*
- 1/4 cup cooked apple (no skin or seeds), very soft
- You can also use a 1/4 cup of Natural applesauce
Directions:
Step 1: Puree chicken with cooked apple in a food processor or blender until desired consistency for baby is achieved.
Brown Rice Chicken & Peaches
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup cooked boneless chicken – chopped
- 1/4 cup cooked brown rice
- 1 ripe peach
- 1 tb juice (white grape or apple juice may be used or use water)
- 1 tb milk and 2 ts wheat germ
Directions:
Step 1: Mix all ingredients together, transfer to blender/food processor and puree or chop to make textured for older babies
Creamed Chicken & Potato adapted From “Baby’s First Helpings” by Chris Casson Madden
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp Sweet butter or margarine
- 1 tsp Unbleached flour
- 1/4 c Low fat milk
- 1/4 c Chicken, cooked, boned and-shredded
- 1/4 Potato, baked and cubed (try using sweet potato.)
- 1 tbls Grated white cheddar cheese
Directions:
Step 1: Melt butter in small heavy pan over low heat.
Step 2: Stir in flour and blend well and then add milk and stir until smooth.
Step 3: Cook over low heat until mixture begins to thicken, then add chicken and potatoes. Stir for about 2 to 3 minutes more or until heated through. Feel free to add a few vegetables. Add cheddar and stir until melted.
Chicken Casserole adapted from First Meals by Annabel Karmel
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 chopped carrots
- 2 sliced leeks, white part only
- 1 chicken breasts, cut into chunks
- 2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 2 peeled, chopped parsnips
- boiling water
Directions:
Step 1: Heat oil in pan, add carrots & leeks, & sauté until softened, (about 6 mins.)
Step 2: Add chicken and sauté, turning occasionally, till seared, but not browned.
Step 3: Add potatoes & parsnips & just cover w/boiling water. Cover & simmer for 15 mins, or till everything is tender and cooked through. Blend to a puree, or leave chopped for older babies.
Baby’s Yummy Fish Dinner
(consult a pediatrician regarding introducing fish and read the Introducing Fish to Babies page.)
Ingredients:
- 1 filet of any white fish such as cod, haddock etc. (unbreaded and cooked)
- 1/8 c or whole milk
- 1 tbsp melted butter
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/8 cup mashed peas
- 1/8 c mashed carrots
- 1/8 c mashed potatoes
Directions:
Step 1: Combine all ingredients and blend/puree until creamy – Serve warm
Tofu
Ingredients:
- 1 Package of Firm or Extra Firm Tofu
Directions:
Step 1: Cut tofu into small bite-sized cubes and dust it with crushed cheerios, wheat germ or crushed graham crackers
Step 2: Blend it up with a banana and wheat germ and serve by spoon. You may blend it with any type of fruit(s) like apples, strawberries, blueberries or pears
Step 3: Cube it and toss it into (sodium free) soups or broth and give the cubes to baby
Step 4: Mash tofu with cottage cheese and seasoning to make a sandwich spread.
Step 5: Create your own tofu burgers with mashed tofu, bread crumbs, chopped onion and your favorite seasonings – according to baby’s age and stage of course.
Use the silken tofu and add fruits and fruit juice to create a Fruit Smoothie
Click here to print a No-ad version of the Meat Baby Food Recipes
Remember, always consult with your pediatrician regarding introducing solid foods to your baby and specifically discuss any foods that may pose allergy risks for your baby.
Cooking & Puréeing Meats for Baby
Cooking Meats for Baby:
Baking meats for baby food is my preferred method and retains the most nutrients. You can boil/poach or use a crock-pot but *be aware that when any food sits in water or its own juices, nutrients leach into the liquid. If you do not use the liquid, the nutrients along with the liquid will get tossed out down the drain.
Puréeing Meats for Baby: (most tried and true method for the least amount of “grittiness”)
- Make sure the cooked meat is COLD and is in no bigger than 1-2 inch chunks when you puree.
- Grind up the meat first until it is almost like a clumpy powder.
- Add water, formula, or breast milk or the natural cooking juices as the liquid and continue to puree.
- Add fruits and veggies if you wish