16 Simple Homemade Baby Food Recipes

Making homemade baby food doesn’t require fancy equipment or culinary skills. With just a regular blender and fresh ingredients, you can create nutritious purees that are far more affordable than store-bought versions. These recipes are designed for babies starting solids around 6 months old, though some may begin as early as 4 months with pediatric guidance. The beauty of homemade baby food lies in its simplicity and the control it gives you over what goes into your little one’s meals.

Starting with single-ingredient purees helps you identify any potential food allergies while introducing your baby to new flavors and textures. Here is a list of 16 simple recipes that will give your baby a solid foundation for healthy eating habits.

Sweet potato puree

Sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, making them an excellent choice for baby’s first foods. The natural sweetness appeals to most babies, and the smooth texture is easy to swallow.

Simply pierce a sweet potato, roast it at 400 degrees for 45 minutes, then scoop out the flesh and puree with a little water or breast milk until smooth.

Avocado mash

This buttery treat provides wonderful ‘good fats’ for the baby’s brain and physical development, and the creamy texture is one that babies seem to love. Choose a perfectly ripe avocado that yields slightly to pressure but isn’t mushy.

Simply mash with a fork – no cooking or blending required. Add a tiny squeeze of lemon juice if storing for later to prevent browning.

Banana puree

Bananas are rich in potassium and fiber and are known as one of nature’s own antacids, making them very gentle on the stomach. Use ripe bananas with brown spots to ensure the puree tastes sweet and is easy for the baby to digest.

Mash with a fork or blend until smooth, adding breast milk or formula to reach desired consistency.

Carrot puree

Carrots provide a wonderful introduction to solids because of their naturally sweet taste and pleasant texture, offering a rich supply of beta carotene and vitamin A. Steam peeled, chopped carrots until tender, then puree with the cooking liquid.

The vibrant orange color often captures babies’ attention and makes mealtime more engaging.

Pea puree

Peas pack vitamins A and C, iron, protein, and calcium into their small size. Steam fresh or frozen peas until tender, then blend until smooth. If the skin makes the texture less appealing, strain the puree to make it as smooth as possible.

The bright green color introduces babies to vegetables beyond the typical orange varieties.

Apple puree

Making apple puree is straightforward and creates a versatile base that pairs well with other ingredients later. Peel and chop organic apples, then cook them gently in a small amount of water until soft.

A touch of cinnamon can be added for babies over 6 months. Puree until smooth, using the cooking liquid to achieve the right consistency.

Butternut squash puree

This roasted butternut squash puree creates a smooth and creamy first puree that’s perfect for babies 6 months and up. Cut the squash in half, remove seeds, and roast cut-side down at 400 degrees until tender.

Scoop out the flesh and puree with water or breast milk. The mild, slightly sweet flavor makes it an excellent introduction to winter vegetables.

Green bean puree

Green beans are steamed until tender and can be pureed with a pinch of cilantro for a mild taste that suits the baby’s palate. Trim fresh green beans and steam until very soft. Blend thoroughly, adding cooking liquid as needed.

You may need to push the puree through a fine mesh strainer to remove any remaining skins.

Mango puree

This 5-minute mango puree introduces the baby to one of the world’s healthiest fruits. Choose a ripe mango that gives slightly when pressed.

Peel and remove the pit, then puree the flesh until smooth. No cooking required – just blend the fresh fruit. The tropical sweetness and vibrant color make this a favorite among babies.

Pear puree

This smooth and creamy pear puree is a wonderful first puree that’s easy on baby’s taste buds and great for their growing bodies. Peel and core ripe pears, then steam gently until tender. Pears tend to be naturally watery, so you may not need to add much liquid when pureeing.

The mild sweetness and smooth texture make this an ideal early food.

Oatmeal cereal

Fiber and iron-packed oatmeal serves as a great first food, with iron playing a crucial role in ensuring the baby’s body is well supplied with oxygen. This recipe takes less than 10 minutes and uses simple, nutrient-dense ingredients.

Cook old-fashioned oats in boiling water for about 5 minutes, then puree until smooth and thin with breast milk or formula.

Chicken puree

This basic chicken puree provides an excellent protein addition to baby’s favorite vegetable purees. Pureed meats like iron-rich chicken are totally safe and healthy, providing lean protein and zinc for immune system support.

Cook skinless chicken breast thoroughly, then puree with bone broth or cooking liquid until smooth. A powerful blender works best for achieving the right texture.

Broccoli puree

This broccoli puree offers a great way to introduce the nutritious green vegetable, and when prepared correctly, it’s actually delicious. Steam broccoli florets until very tender, then puree with cooking liquid until smooth.

The mild preparation helps babies accept this sometimes challenging vegetable. Start with small amounts mixed into sweeter purees if needed.

Peach puree

This peach puree is so flavorful that you might find yourself sneaking spoonfuls, with naturally sweet, juicy peaches creating a smooth, creamy, and flavor-packed result. Blanch peaches in boiling water for 30 seconds, then peel and remove pits.

Steam until tender if needed, then puree until smooth. Baking peaches creates an especially delicious variation worth trying.

Bean puree

Baby’s early foods don’t need to be limited to one food group, and beans provide excellent nutrition in the mix. Use cooked chickpeas, black beans, or white beans with skins removed. Puree with cooking liquid, breast milk, or formula until smooth.

Beans offer protein, fiber, and various vitamins, making them valuable additions to a baby’s diet.

Quinoa cereal

This smooth and creamy quinoa cereal has an earthy, robust taste and is loaded with protein, fiber, iron, folate, and magnesium. Cook quinoa according to package directions until very soft, then puree with cooking liquid until smooth and thin.

This alternative to traditional rice cereal provides more protein and nutrients while introducing baby to different grain textures.

Growing together through food

These simple recipes represent more than just nutrition – they’re the building blocks of your baby’s relationship with food. Making homemade baby food allows you to introduce your family’s unique foods, flavors, and eating habits by having your baby eat variations of what you’re preparing.

Each spoonful teaches your little one about different tastes and textures while giving you confidence in exactly what they’re consuming. The journey from these first purees to family meals happens faster than you might expect, making these early experiences all the more precious.

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