Easy healthy homemade baby food recipes and ideas that include single food baby puree recipes and textured puree combinations. Plus feeding tips and freezing tips.
*This post has been reviewed by Dora Babic-Cikos, PhD Nutritional Science
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Benefits of Homemade Baby Food
To make your own baby food from scratch may seem like a daunting task, especially if you are not used to cooking. But actually it is very simple and the reasons why I love homemade baby food is:
- you can make it fast with a bit of planning
- you know the ingredients (no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners)
- no worries when store bought baby food is recalled
- delicious
- cheaper
- freezable
- you can make the same ingredients as both puree and baby-led weaning versions so you can try both and see what works better for your family
Stages of baby food
There are three stages of baby food.
- Stage 1 - usually it is for 4 - 6 month old babies that are ready for solids. These are smooth purees made from a single ingredient. You can also make smooth purees for multiple ingredients once you have ruled out allergies.
- Stage 2 - usually for 7 - 9 month old babies these can be a bit more textured purees that are made from 2 or more ingredients. This food does not need to be blended but can be mashed with a fork.
- Stage 3 - chunky soft foods like shredded chicken, scrambled egg, bite size avocado pieces
Most of the recipes below can be made as stage 1 single or mixed smooth purees or stage 2 textured baby puree recipes.
If you want to learn more in depth about the different stages of baby food see this article.
Meal plans and baby food charts based on months of age are available in the baby food charts section such as 6 month old meal plan, 7 month old baby food chart, 8 month old baby food chart, 9 month old baby food chart, 10 month old baby food and diet chart or the 10 month old meal plan, 11 month old meal plan and 1 year old baby food chart.
How to make baby food?
DIY baby food recipes can be made in 3 ways - steaming, roasting or boiling. Steaming retains the most nutrients, followed by roasting and finally boiling.
Some fruits like banana and avocado require no cooking. You will see which foods can be cooked in what way below.
In order to make homemade food for baby the following steps are usually followed:
- Wash: First you need to wash and peel (if necessary) the fruit or vegetable.
- Cook: If required, either steam, roast or boil the fruit or vegetable. We usually steam but sometimes if we are making sweet potato for the whole family then we would make baby's also in the oven (not salted) so we don't have to wash up additional cookware.
- Blend: Depending on which fruit/vegetable you use you would add it to the blender and then add a little bit of water, breastmilk or formula.
Notes on baby blender: You can get a specific baby food maker for puree recipes like the Beaba Baby but we have always used either the affordable Magic Bullet or the Vitamix.
Homemade Baby Food Recipes
Below you will find our most loved homemade baby food recipes.
The first section is single ingredient purees where you can combine one with other (usually a fruit and vegetable work best) or later on you will find our mixed ingredient purees.
Baby Food Carrot Puree Recipe
This puree carrots for baby recipe is a great stage 1 baby food recipe that can be made in 3 ways and served either as carrot puree, carrot mash and baby-led weaning for your 6 month old baby or older. Only 5 min prep.
Check out this recipe
How to Make Mango Puree for Baby
Easy, no cook Mango Puree for your baby. Sweet in taste and with a creamy texture, mango is one of the best first foods to start your baby with.
Check out this recipe
Strawberry Puree Recipe
Strawberries are one of our favorite spring fruits. But since they are often considered an allergen, this stage 1 strawberry puree recipe is perfect for introducing them to your baby's diet.
Check out this recipe
Pea puree (for baby & side dish)
Pea puree can be used and made as a side dish for your food, or as a baby food puree. The great thing about this recipe is that you can use the same recipe for both - so cook once for the whole family.
Check out this recipe
Baked Sweet Potato for Baby (BLW, Puree, Mashed)
One method of preparing sweet potato but you can serve it as baby-led weaning, mashed or sweet potato puree.
Check out this recipe
How to make Apple Puree for Baby
Easy, delicious homemade apple puree for a weaning baby. A perfect puree to start your weaning journey.
Check out this recipe
First Baby Puree - Avocado
Filled with healthy fats and plenty of calories, avocado is one of the best first foods to introduce to your baby.
Banana Puree for Baby
Easiest baby food puree ever – this banana puree is a no-cook, 5 minutes to make puree that is great for when you are just starting solids.
How to Make Pear Baby Puree
Easy, nutritious and a perfect anti-constipation puree - this Pear Baby Puree is one your baby will love.
Check out this recipe
Homemade Pumpkin Puree
Easy to make, and tastes way better than canned pumpkin puree. Perfect to use for all recipes that require pumpkin puree. Or on its own as a baby puree.
Check out this recipe
Best pureed spinach baby recipe
This pureed spinach baby recipe is loaded with vitamins and minerals for your baby. Great combined with other sweet or savory baby food purees.
Check out this recipe
Chicken-Carrot Mash
Chicken Carrot Mash is a quick and nutritious recipe for a 6 month old baby that is simple and can be either BLW or pureed.
Check out this recipe
Banana Buckwheat Puree
An easy, tasty stage 1 baby puree. This Banana Buckwheat puree is full of calories, fiber and essential nutrients that you baby will like.
Check out this recipe
Banana Avocado Baby Puree
With only 2 ingredients and 5 minutes of preparation you have a creamy, highly nutritious Banana Avocado baby puree.
Check out this recipe
Apple Sweet Potato Baby Puree
Easy, healthy homemade apple sweet potato baby puree recipe that your baby will love. A perfect stage 1 baby puree recipe that your baby will love.
Check out this recipe
Chicken Butternut Squash Baby Food Recipe
Almost entirely hands-off, easy method to make the nutritious protein rich Chicken Butternut Squash Baby food recipe. Can be served to babies from 6 months old either as a stage 1 baby food puree combination, stage 2, stage 3 or as baby-led weaning.
Check out this recipe
Zucchini Sweet Potato Puree for Baby
Although vegetable purees might not be your baby's favorite, the sweet taste and creamy texture in this Zucchini Sweet Potato Puree will have them wanting more!
Check out this recipe
Apple Banana Oatmeal
A great, high-calorie breakfast that's quick to make and a perfect start to the day for a 6-month-old and up!
Check out this recipe
Sweet Potato Fruit Pudding
Homemade breakfast pudding that contains vegetables and is delicious and nutritious? Look no further!
Check out this recipe
45 purees in 45 minutes
Make a few weeks of purees for your weaning baby in just 45 mins. Then freeze and use whenever you need to!
Check out this recipe
Forest Fruit Millet
A healthy breakfast, packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber so your baby starts the day off the best way, and stays full for longer.
Check out this recipe
How to store DIY baby food?
- Baby purees are best stored in airtight containers in the fridge. In the freezer use ice cube trays or specific trays for baby puree like this one from Keedo Feedo.
- Store homemade baby food in the fridge for 3 days and freezer for up to 6 months
- Thaw overnight in the fridge in an airtight container or in a water bath (puree in airtight container placed in a bowl with warm water). Once thawed use within 24 hours
- To serve remove it 2 hours in advance from the fridge so the puree reaches room temperature and then you don't have to reheat it
- Reheat in a small saucepan on the stove with a teaspoon of water. Make sure it is not too hot when feeding your baby.
Feeding Tips
- offer foods one by one to control for allergies
- always be present when baby is eating
- avoid salt and sugar
- don't worry about how much they are eating - breast milk / formula is still the main source of nutrition and they are exploring new foods
- offer purees/mashed foods on a preloaded spoon (have a few spoons on hand)
- have a great bib to minimize cleaning
- serve food in a suction bowl so baby can scoop food out themselves
- teach them to drink little sips from an open cup from the beginning
- notice when baby is full because they will start turning their head away, clamp lips, throw food on the floor, spit food out, push food away
Kitchen Tools You Need
- Peeler
- Bamboo Cutting Board
- Steaming basket
- Stainless Steel Roasting Trays
- Blender - Beaba Cooker, Magic Bullet or Vitamix
- Glass containers for storing purees
- Silicone Containers for storing
- Spoons for feeding
- Bowls for feeding
- Overall Bibado Bib
More recipes for babies
If you've tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, then please rate it and leave us a comment below!
21 Best Homemade Baby Food Recipes
Easy healthy homemade baby food recipes and ideas that include single food baby puree recipes and textured or baby puree combinations. Plus feeding tips and freezing tips.
EQUIPMENT
Ingredients
Carrot Puree
- 500 g carrots
- ¼ cup water
Mango Puree
- 1 Mango
Strawberry Puree
- 1 cup Strawberries
Pea Puree
- 500 g frozen peas ½ cup water
- ½ cup water
Baked Sweet Potato
- 1 medium sized sweet potato
Baby's First Apple Puree
- 1 apple
First Baby Puree - Avocado
- 1 avocado
Banana Puree
- 1 banana
Pear
- 1 pear
Pumpkin Baby Puree
- 1 sugar pumpkin
Pureed Spinach Baby Recipe
- 500 g spinach
Chicken Carrot Mash
- 1.4 oz skinless chicken breast
- 1 carrot
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
Banana Buckwheat
- 1 banana
- 1 pinch buckwheat (dry weight)
- 1 tablespoon water
Banana Avocado Baby Puree
- 1 avocado
- 1 bananan
Apple Sweet Potato
- 1 apple
- 1 sweet potato
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
Chicken Butternut Squash
- 3.6 oz chicken breast
- 1 cup butternut squash
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Zucchini Sweet Potato for baby
- 1 zucchini
- 1 sweet potato
- 1 tsp olive oil
Apple Banana Oatmeal
- ¼ apple
- ½ banana
- 1 tablespoon oats
- 2 tablespoon water
Sweet Potato Fruit Pudding
- 1 apple
- ¼ peach
- ⅓ sweet potato
Forest Fruit Millet
- 1 tablespoon millet
- 4 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon blueberries
- 1 tablespoon raspberries
Instructions
Carrot Puree
- Trim the tops, peel, wash the carrots and cut them into chunks. Place water in a saucepan. Once boiling place the carrots in a steamer basket on top, cover and steam for about 15 minutes until soft. Retain the water from steaming for the puree. Transfer the carrots to a blender, food processor or Vitamix and blend. Add water tablespoon by tablespoon until you reach the desired consistency.
Mango Puree
- Thaw the frozen mango three ways - either overnight in the fridge; place the sealed bag of mango in a bowl of cold water for about half an hour; or just pop it in a blender about 2 hours before you want to blend and let it thaw.Blend. Place the mango in the blender or food processor and blend until smooth. It may require a bit of water so you can add little by little making sure that it is not too runny.Serve or store for later use.
Strawberry Puree
- Wash the strawberries and remove the green tops.If cooking or steaming place them in the pot.Strawberries can be served both cooked/steamed or raw. If serving for a baby younger than 8 months I recommend cooking/steaming because their digestive systems might not be able to process the fiber just yet.Steam or cook for about 10 minutes or until they are soft.If you have time, allow to cool before blending.Place in a blender and blend.
Pea Puree
- Place the peas in a steamer basket over boiling water, cover and steam for about 5 minutes. (Alternatively place them in a saucepan with boiling water for 5 minutes until soft and then drain).Place in a blender with some lemon juice, olive oil and herbs (all optional) and blend until smooth. If you use a blender the puree will have a much smoother texture than if you use a food processor however even if you use a blender you may want to make it super smooth. To make it silky smooth you want to push it through a sieve with a spoonTaste and add salt for adults, not for baby.
Baked Sweet Potato
- Preheat the oven to 360°F / 180°C. Wash and peel the sweet potato and cut into strips about the width of your pinky finger. Once preheated, place the sweet potato in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes. Once finished, let it cool for at least 5 minutes prior to serving/storing. For BLW serve as is (has to be so soft you can mash it between your fingers) or else puree in a blender with a teaspoon of boiled water until the desired consistency is reached or mash with a fork.
Baby's First Apple Puree
- Peel and wash the apple.If you have a baby cooker, set the baby cooker and steam.If you are steaming with a steamer basket, place the cut up apples in the steamer basket over a pot filled with water and turn the heat to high and cover the pot. Should take about 10-15 minutes.Remove the apples and place in your blender.Blend until you get a nice puree consistency and keep adding water teaspoon by teaspoon if you need it to be more smooth.
First Baby Puree - Avocado
- Cut the avocado in half, remove the stone and scoop up the flesh. Place the avocado in a blender with a teaspoon of boiled waterBlend; keep adding water if needed until you reach your desired consistency
Banana Puree
- Peel the banana.Place in a blender and blend until smooth.Add a tablespoon of water if you need to reach a smoother consistency.
Pear Baby Puree
- Peel and wash the pear and cut into cubes.If you have a baby cooker, set the baby cooker and steam. If you are steaming with a steamer basket, place the cut up pears in the steamer basket over a pot filled with water and turn the heat to high and cover the pot. Should take about 10-15 minutes.Remove the pears and place in your blender.Blend until you get a nice puree consistency and keep adding water teaspoon by teaspoon if you need it to be more smooth.
Homamade Pumpkin Puree
- Turn your oven to 400°F / 200℃. Wash and cut the pumpkin. To cut the pumpkin hold it by the stem upright and push a large knife on the top next to the stem. Then push to the bottom. Turn the pumpkin around and do the same thing on the other side (i.e. don't try to cut through the stem). Grab the pumpkin at the bottom and pull the two sides apart. They should separate easily. Remove the seeds. Take a spoon (maybe a large salad spoon) and just scrape the seeds and put them aside.Place the two halves down on a baking tray.Roast the pumpkin for about 45-60 minutes. This will depend on the size of your pumpkin and your oven. To know that the pumpkin is done, take a fork and pierce through the skin. If it goes through smoothly then your pumpkin is done.Cool until you can grab them with your hands and scoop out the flesh with a spoon and leave the skin behind.Place the flesh in a food processor and process until smooth – depending on your food processor could be 3-5 minutes.Store in the fridge for 3 days and in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Pureed Spinach Baby Recipe
- Wash the spinach. Place it in a steamer basket or steamer and steam for about 5 minutes, until it is soft and has reduced in size. Run cold water over it to stop it from cooking and cool it quickly.Transfer to a blender and blend with water or breastmilk.
Chicken Carrot Mash
- Wash, peel and slice the carrot into tiny pieces (if baby-led weaning cut into long thin pieces and if you will be serving as a puree cut into small cubes). Add the carrot in a pot or pan with enough water to cover it. Bring to boil and cook for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes add the sliced chicken breast and cook for another 15 minutes. Once finished, take out the pan and drizzle with olive oil. Allow to cool for 5 minutesIf following baby-led weaning, cut into long strips so baby can grasp. If pureeing then add to a blender with a tablespoon of water. Keep adding water as necessary to achieve desired consistency
Banana Buckwheat
- Put the buckwheat into a pot, cover with water and bring to a boil.Continue cooking over low-to-medium heat, stirring regularly until the buckwheat absorbs the water, about 10 minutes.In the meantime, peel the banana and mash with a fork.Once the buckwheat is cooked, allow to cool, mix with the banana and cinnamon and blend into a smooth puree by adding boiled water if necessary. Add teaspoon by teaspoon of boiled water until you reach your desired consistency.
Banana Avocado Baby Puree
- Peel the banana. Cut the avocado lengthwise all around and twist the halves in opposite ways. Divide the 2 avocado halves and remove the seed. Scoop the avocado flesh from the skin from both halves with a spoon. Put both the banana and avocado flesh in a blender and blend until smooth
Apple Sweet Potato
- Wash the apple and sweet potato and peel the skin off. Cut into cubes and either put in a baby cooker or over boiling water to steam. Steam for about 20 minutes (until soft) or until the baby cooker is finished. Make sure to keep the water from the steaming in case you want to add it later. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Put in a blender and add the olive oil. Blend until smooth; if required, add water teaspoon by teaspoon until the desired consistency is reached.
Chicken Butternut Squash
- Preheat the oven to 390ºF / 200ºC.Wash, peel and slice the butternut squash into cubes (or ½ inch / 1. 5 cm thick sticks if BLW). Cut the chicken into cubes (or strips the width of two adult fingers put together if BLW).Put the chicken and butternut on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and bake for 30 mins.Once cooked, let cool and blend into a smooth puree. Add teaspoon by teaspoon of pre-boiled or bottled water if needed to reach desired consistency.
Zucchini Sweet Potato
- Wash the sweet potato and zucchini.Peel both the sweet potato and zucchini.Cut into cubes and either put in a baby cooker or over boiling water to steam.Steam for about 20 minutes (until soft) or until the baby cooker is finishedMake sure to keep the water from the steaming.Allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Put in a blender and add the olive oil. Blend until smooth if required, add water teaspoon by teaspoon until the desired consistency is reached
Apple Banana Oatmeal
- Put the oats into a pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Peel and grate the apple. Add the grated apple to the oats and continue cooking for a few minutes until the apple softens.For BLW, plate the apple oatmeal next to half the bananaIf you are mashing then mash the banana and add it to the cooked apple oatmeal.For puree place all the ingredients in a blender with a tablespoon of water and blend; keep adding water until you reach desired consistency
Sweet Potato Fruit Pudding
- Peel the sweet potato and apples and wash under running water. Wash the peach under running water. Slice all ingredients into small pieces and place in a steamer over a pot of water. Cover and bring to boil. Once boiling lower the heat to medium. Once fully soft, allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before blending. Add a bit of water and blend into a pudding
Forest Fruit Millet
- Place the millet and water in a pot and bring to boil over high heat then simmer until all the water has been absorbed. A few mins before the millet is fully cooked, add the blueberries and raspberries to the pot and stir. Once cooked, allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving/storing
Nutrition
Serving: 1g
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