15 chicken recipes for babies
Chicken can be a great, tasty, protein-packed staple in your baby's diet. And we've got some great, colourful recipes you can introduce to the highchair tray from weaning to 12 months
Versatile, easy to cook and mild in flavour, chicken is an ideal choice when it's time to introduce meat into your weaning baby's diet. Chicken is a good source of growth-boosting protein and it combines well with baby-weaning staples, including vegetables, pasta, rice and fruit.
The texture of chicken will be a new sensation for your baby: make sure you cook the chicken until it’s nice and tender, and therefore easier to eat. You’ll probably also want to puree it initially, especially if your baby has no teeth and isn't used to lumpier, chopped-up food.
Be mindful, too, to pay attention to all the usual hygiene rules around cooking raw meat: always ensure that it’s cooked thoroughly and then left to cool before serving it to your baby (or if you're reheating, that you heat till it's piping hot before leaving it to cool), and always wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw chicken.
16 simple and tasty chicken recipes for babies from 6 to 12 months
1. Chicken and butternut squash puree
A hearty combination of chicken breast and butternut squash. Suitable from 6.5 months.
2. Chicken, cheese and courgette mash
Cheesy courgette and chicken dish packed with vitamin A and calcium. Suitable from 6.5 months.
3. Chicken and root vegetable mash
This simple mash, with a cheesy twist, is a great way to use up leftover chicken meat. Suitable from 7 months.
4. Chicken and couscous hotpot
A veggie-packed dish using chicken mince, which you can substitute for diced chicken breast as your baby gets older and more accustomed to chewing. Suitable from 7 months.
5. Annabel Karmel's lentil and chicken curry
A super-tasty, slightly spicy dish of lentils and chicken. Suitable from 8 months.
6. Sweet and sour chicken
This wok-fried dish is one of our family favourites: definitely make enough for Mum and Dad, too!
Suitable from 9 months.
7. Chicken and apple
A super-simple chop and chuck in the pan recipe. You can use pear instead of apple, for a different fruity flavour. Suitable from 9 months.
8. Chicken and lentil stew
Chicken and lentils make a tasty, protein-rich combo – flavoured here with a subtle touch of thyme and tarragon. Suitable from 9 months.
9. Chicken and cheese enchiladas
A Mexican-inspired dish that we like a lot: the recipe makes enough for adults, too. Hurray! Suitable from 10 months.
10. Chunky vegetable chicken
This one's packed with 4 different veggies and can be mashed up for the lump-averse. Suitable from 10 months.
11. Rainbow pepper chicken
A colourful stir-fry to serve with pasta, noodle or rice. Suitable from 10 months.
12. Mild chicken curry
Deliciously creamy coconut chicken curry with carrots and onion. Suitable from 11 months.
13. Homemade chicken dippers and tomato sauce
Combine mealtimes with a little fine-finger-control practice by encouraging your baby to pick up the oven-baked crunchy chicken pieces and dip them in the tomato sauce. Messy but fun! Suitable from 11 months.
14. Chicken stir fry
Rice, chicken and a whole lot of veg: nutritious and very colourful. Suitable from 11 months.
15. Homemade chicken nuggets
No added salt or fat makes these a much healthier option than shop-bought. Makes 12 to 15 nuggets to serve whole as finger food or chop up. Suitable from 11 months.
Authors
Janet is mum to two children aged 6 & 9 and a great-Aunt too. She began writing early, penning her first book aged just 7. She has published 2 books
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