10+ Baby Food Recipes to Keep Your Little One Happy and Healthy

Making baby food at home is honestly one of the best ways to give your little one fresh, healthy meals. You get to decide exactly what goes into their food—no weird additives or mystery ingredients.

Baby food recipes are really easy to whip up and you can tweak them for your baby’s taste or nutrition needs. Forget fancy ingredients or complicated steps; you can make great meals with what’s already in your kitchen.

1) Avocado Puree

Avocado puree makes an awesome first food. It’s soft, creamy, and babies just seem to love the texture.

Plus, avocados have those healthy fats that are good for brain development. You can mash it with a fork or blend it if you want it super smooth.

To keep it from turning brown, add a splash of lemon juice or just store it tight in a container. Mix it up with other fruits or veggies once your baby’s ready—easy.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe avocado

Cooking Instructions

1. Cut the avocado in half and take out the pit.
2. Scoop the flesh with a spoon.
3. Mash with a fork or blend until smooth.
4. If it’s too thick, add a bit of water or breast milk.
5. Serve right away or stash it in the fridge.

Learn more about making easy avocado puree.

2) Sweet Potato Mash

Sweet potato mash is a classic. It’s naturally sweet, super soft, and babies usually go for it.

Just bake or roast the sweet potato until you can mash it with a fork. Peel off the skin, mash it up, and add a splash of water or breast milk if it’s too thick.

You can start with just sweet potatoes, then mix in other veggies down the line. Baking brings out that sweet flavor—so good.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sweet potato
• Water or breast milk (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Poke holes in the sweet potato with a fork.
3. Bake on a tray for 45-60 minutes until soft.
4. Let it cool, then peel the skin.
5. Mash until smooth.
6. Add liquid if needed for texture.

3) Banana and Avocado Blend

Banana and avocado together? It’s a surprisingly good combo and really easy to make.

Banana brings sweetness, avocado gives that creamy texture and healthy fats. You can also toss in a bit of yogurt for extra protein if you’re feeling it.

Just mash up a ripe banana and avocado. That’s basically it.

Chill it for a few minutes if you want a cool treat. This blend is a nice way for babies to try out new flavors.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 ripe avocado

Cooking Instructions

1. Peel banana and avocado.
2. Cut into pieces.
3. Mash together with a fork until smooth.
4. Optional: Stir in a spoonful of yogurt.
5. Serve right away, or chill for 15-20 minutes.

For more ideas, see this creamy avocado and banana purée recipe.

4) Pea Puree

Pea puree is a breeze to make and gentle on little tummies. Peas have a naturally sweet taste, and they’re loaded with vitamins.

Steam or boil peas until they’re soft, then blend with a little water, breast milk, or formula to get the right consistency. If you want to get fancy, add a bit of mint or zucchini.

It freezes well in small portions, so you’ll always have some ready. A great way to get babies used to green veggies.

Ingredients

• 2 cups peas (fresh or frozen)
• Water, breast milk, or formula (to thin)

Cooking Instructions

1. Steam or boil peas in water for 8-10 minutes until soft.
2. Drain, but save some cooking water.
3. Blend peas with a splash of the saved water or milk until smooth.
4. Cool before serving or freezing.

Learn more about making homemade pea puree here.

5) Blueberry Puree

Blueberry puree is quick and full of flavor. Use fresh or frozen berries—no need to cook, which is honestly a time-saver.

Just blend the blueberries with a splash of water. If you want, add a little banana or lemon juice to switch up the taste.

Blueberries are packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Always check for allergies before serving new foods.

You can mix this puree with oatmeal or yogurt, too.

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 2-3 tablespoons water
• Optional: 1/2 ripe banana or 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse blueberries if using fresh.
2. Blend blueberries and water until smooth.
3. Add banana or lemon juice if you like.
4. Serve right away or chill.

For an easy guide, see this blueberry puree recipe.

6) Mango Puree

Mango puree is sweet and super smooth. Use ripe, fresh mango or frozen if that’s what you’ve got.

You can serve it by itself or mix with pear or banana for a new flavor. Mango is loaded with vitamins and the texture is just right for babies 6 months and up.

If you want, freeze some for later. Try mixing mango with sweet potatoes or carrots for a tasty twist.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe mango (peeled and pitted)
• Water, breast milk, or formula (optional for thinning)

Cooking Instructions

1. Chop mango into small pieces.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Add a little liquid if it’s too thick.
4. Serve fresh or freeze in small batches.

7) Baked Carrot Puree

Baking carrots makes them sweeter, which babies seem to love. Wash and peel the carrots, then chop them up.

Spread the pieces on a baking sheet and roast at 400°F (200°C) for about 20-25 minutes. Roasting softens them up without losing flavor.

Let the carrots cool a bit, then blend with water, breast milk, or formula until smooth. No need to add anything else.

Ingredients

• Carrots
• Water, breast milk, or formula (for thinning)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Wash, peel, and chop carrots.
3. Spread on a baking sheet.
4. Roast for 20-25 minutes until tender.
5. Let cool.
6. Blend with a little liquid until smooth.

8) Apple and Pear Sauce

Apple and pear sauce is naturally sweet—no sugar needed. Peel and chop the fruit, then steam or boil until soft.

Blend until smooth, adding water if it’s too thick. Serve it warm or cold.

You can freeze extra portions for later, which is pretty handy.

Ingredients

• 2 apples
• 2 pears
• 1/4 cup water (or as needed)

Cooking Instructions

1. Peel and chop apples and pears.
2. Put fruit and water in a saucepan.
3. Cover and simmer on low for 6-15 minutes until soft.
4. Blend until smooth, adding water if needed.
5. Cool before serving or freeze.

For more ideas, see this apple and pear puree recipe.

9) Mashed Banana with Breast Milk

Mashed banana with breast milk is about as simple as it gets. It’s sweet, smooth, and gentle on your baby’s stomach.

Just take a ripe banana and mash it up with a fork. Add a bit of breast milk to make it creamier and easier for your baby to eat.

Mix until it’s smooth but not runny. Serve it fresh for the best flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana
• 2-4 tablespoons of breast milk

Cooking Instructions

1. Peel and slice banana.
2. Mash until smooth.
3. Add breast milk and stir to a creamy consistency.
4. Serve right away.

10) Chicken and Avocado Mash

Chicken and avocado mash is a simple, protein-rich meal for your baby. You get the creaminess from avocado and the protein from soft-cooked chicken.

Steam the chicken until tender, then mash it with ripe avocado. You’ll get a smooth mash that’s easy for your baby to try.

If you want, add a bit of boiled potato or a pinch of mild herbs like basil. Just keep flavors gentle for sensitive palates.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
• 1 ripe avocado
• Optional: 1 small boiled potato, peeled

Cooking Instructions

1. Steam the chicken until it’s fully cooked—should take around 25-30 minutes. Aim for 165°F (74°C) if you’re checking.

2. Peel that avocado and mash it up in a bowl.

3. Shred the chicken, then toss it into the mashed avocado. If you want, add some boiled potato.

4. Stir everything together until it’s smooth enough for your baby.

Give this recipe a shot if you want something nutritious and actually tasty for your little one. If you’re looking for more ideas, here’s a chicken avocado baby food puree recipe.