These 12 Budget-Friendly Homemade Baby Food Recipes will save you an average of 75% off of store-bought brands! Delicious food for your baby at a fraction of the price!

A collage of budget friendly and frugal homemade baby food purees.

Budget-Friendly Baby Food Recipes

Who wants to save several hundred dollars on baby food?

I better see everyone raising their hands 🙋🙋🙋

The estimate is that the average baby goes through roughly 2500oz of purees in six months, which can cost upwards of $900 with store-bought purees. I don’t know about you, but spending almost a thousand dollars on store-bought baby food is not really on my agenda.

There are so many pairs of amazing shoes I can get with that money instead 😉👠

Especially when I can make a better quality of puree for baby at a fraction of the price!

Below you will see 12 Budget-Friendly Homemade Baby Food Recipes that I compared with store bought brands. The recipes don’t always match up perfectly, but I got as close as possible with a variety of different brands. All of the produce I priced out is organic and all of the pouches are organic as well. I did some math and equations (which kinda blew my mind) and I found out that making your own baby food purees saves you a ton of money!!!

The recipes below give you between 55-98% savings off of store-bought brands 💰

Yes! 98%!!!!!!

That is just crazy, I know!

And the average savings come in at 75% off of store-bought brands!!

It’s time to start saving some major money by making some homemade baby food!

Ways to Save Even More Money on Baby Food Recipes

Shop Around

I priced out all of the produce for the purees below at Trader Joes, which has cheaper organic produce than Whole Foods but you can certainly get cheaper organic produce at Costco or at your local grocery store. If you want to save even more money, then I would recommend shopping at several different stores and seeing what produce they have on sale each week.

Use Frozen

I would strongly encourage you to use frozen organic produce whenever fresh produce isn’t available or is too costly. Frozen produce is picked and packaged at the peak of freshness so most of the time frozen produce is the same, if not better, quality then you can get fresh at the store. To use frozen produce in baby purees, simply place a bowl of the frozen produce on the counter or in the fridge until thawed. You can also use the defrost setting on the microwave if you are in a rush. Drain any excess water before using in a puree recipe.

Organic vs. Conventional

I always stress that it is best to use organic produce for baby’s food for the first year, but depending on where you live you might not be able to find quality organic produce at a reasonable price. If you can’t find organic produce or simply don’t have the budget for organic produce, then I would then strongly recommend using the Dirty Dozen/Clean Fifteen List as a guide for what organic produce is a must verses what conventional produce is totally fine to use. During the summer months I can usually find all organic produce at reasonable prices but in the winter I use that guide all the time when I shop for my family.

Apple + Spinach and Broccoli Baby Puree

small white bowl filled with homemade green puree with produce and spoon on the white background.

Apple, Spinach + Broccoli Baby Food Puree

5 stars (21 ratings)
This simple combination puree is a great way to serve baby two different green vegetables – spinach and broccoli.
Get the recipe

Sweet Potato + Coconut Milk with Coriander Baby Food Puree

clear cup filled with a creamy sweet potato baby food puree with a white spoon coming out of it.

Sweet Potato + Coconut Milk with Coriander Baby Food Puree

5 stars (1 rating)
Get the recipe
  • Makes:  30 ounces
  • 3 organic sweet potatoes (2.67), 1/2 cup organic coconut milk ($.28), 1/2 tsp coriander ($.10) = $3.05 or $.10oz
  • Plum Organics Baby Food, Just Sweet Potato 3oz pouch = $1.13 or $.37oz
  • Total Savings of Homemade Puree = $.27 per ounce or 72% savings

Mango, Kale + Ginger Baby Food Puree

Spoon resting on top of a glass jar filled with mango and kale baby food puree.

Mango + Kale Baby Food Puree with Ginger

4.89 stars (9 ratings)
This puree has it all – super sweet mango, healthy superstar kale and a pinch of tummy yummy ginger that will leave your baby happy and healthy! 
Get the recipe
  • Makes:  20 ounces
  • 2 organic frozen mangos ($1.19), 2 organic pears ($.82), 1/2 cup organic kale ($.07), 1 tsp fresh ginger (.$10) = $2.18 or $.11oz
  • Happy Squeeze Organic Superfoods Twist Apple, Kale & Mango 3.17oz pouch = $.95 or $.30oz
  • Total Savings of Homemade Puree = $.19 per ounce or 63% savings

Blackberry + Kale + Apple Baby Puree

Spread of produce and a small bowl of baby food puree.

Blackberry + Kale + Apple Baby Food Puree

4.86 stars (7 ratings)
This Blackberry + Kale + Apple Baby Food Puree is a fast and easy puree -mighty apples are steamed with dark and enticing blackberries and nutrient rich baby kale.
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  • Makes: 15 ounces
  • 2 organic apples ($.66), 1 c organic blackberry ($1.84), 1 cup organic baby kale ($.14) = $2.64 or $.17oz
  • Happy Squeeze Organic Apple, Kale & Blueberry 3.17oz pouch= $.90 or $.38oz
  • Total Savings of Homemade Puree = $.73 per ounce or 71% savings

Apple + Spinach + Pea Baby Food Puree

image of a white cutting board with produce scattered on it and a small bowl filled with the baby food puree.

Apple, Spinach + Pea Baby Food Puree

5 stars (16 ratings)
Filled with not 1 but 2 (!!) green veggies that provide a big heaping dose of protein, calcium, vitamin A and C, fiber and iron and served with a side of yumminess.
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  • Makes:  12 ounces
  • 2 organic apples ($.66), 1/4 cup organic spinach ($.12), 1/4 cup organic frozen peas ($.09) = $.87 or $.07oz
  • Mama Bear Organic Baby Food Apple, Pear & Spinach 4oz pouch = $1.20 or $.30oz
  • Total Savings of Homemade Puree = $.23 per ounce or 77% savings

Carrot Applesauce for Baby + Toddler

A glass bowl of carrot applesauce with a spoon going inside.

Carrot Applesauce for Baby + Toddler

5 stars (5 ratings)
Carrot Applesauce is the perfect afternoon snack for your toddler or baby (and yourself) that is full of wholesome apples, carrots and spices, and tastes just like a bowl of warm carrot cake,
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  • Makes:  30 ounces
  • 6 organic apples ($1.98), 4 organic carrots ($.52), spices ($.40) = $2.90 or $.10oz
  • Plum Organics Organic Baby Food, Apple and Carrot 4oz pouch = $1.13 or $.28oz
  • Total Savings of Homemade Puree = $.18 per ounce or 64% savings

Apple + Sweet Potato and Carrot Baby Puree

Small white bowl with spoon resting on top with homemade baby food puree inside.

Apple, Carrot + Sweet Potato Baby Food Puree

4.89 stars (35 ratings)
This vibrant puree has a fun yet complex sweet and savory taste profile and I would for sure add in a pinch of mild curry powder or chopped fresh thyme to play up the exotic flavor that is happening.
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  • Makes: 26 ounces
  • 3 organic apples ($.99), 1 organic sweet potato ($.89), 2 organic carrots ($.26) = $2.14 or $.08oz
  • Happy Baby Organic Sweet Potatoes, Mangos & Carrots 4oz pouch = $1.40 or $.35oz
  • Total Savings of Homemade Puree = $.27 per ounce or 77% savings

Homemade Quinoa Baby Cereal

Homemade Quinoa Baby Cereal (4+ months)

4.59 stars (58 ratings)
This smooth and creamy Homemade Quinoa Baby Cereal has an earthy and robust taste and is loaded with protein, fiber, iron, folate and magnesium. It’s great served as a meal itself or mixed with baby’s favorite fruit or vegetable puree.
Get the recipe

5-Minute Pear + Blueberry Baby Food Puree

Small white bowl filled with a smooth pear and blueberry baby food puree.

5-Minute Pear + Blueberry Baby Puree

4.93 stars (26 ratings)
This 5-Minute Pear + Blueberry Baby Food recipe is a simple and delicious baby food puree filled with fiber, antioxidants, folate and potassium for the win!
Get the recipe

Roasted Banana, Apple + Cinnamon Baby Food Puree

clear bowl filled with baby food puree.

Roasted Banana + Apple with Cinnamon Baby Food Puree

5 stars (2 ratings)
Roasted Banana + Apple with Cinnamon Baby Food Puree is a complete culinary treat for baby – it tastes just like a warm apple pie!
Get the recipe
  • Makes:  25 ounces
  • 3 organic apples ($.99), 2 organic bananas ($.50), 1/8 cinnamon ($.03) = $1.52 or $.06oz
  • Mama Bear Organic Baby Food, Apple & Banana 4oz pouch = $1.20 or $.30oz
  • Total Savings of Homemade Puree = $.24 per ounce or 80% savings

Carrot + Nutmeg Baby Food Puree

carrot baby puree - gray storage container filled with a smooth carrot puree.

Carrot Puree Recipe for Baby (Stage 1)

4.67 stars (124 ratings)
Filled with nutritious steamed carrots and a pinch of nutmeg – this puree will sure to delight your little ones taste buds!
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Avocado + Pineapple + Banana Baby Food Puree

Image is of a white cutting board with a spread of produce and a small bowl filled with a creamy homemade baby food puree.

Avocado, Pineapple + Banana Baby Food Puree

5 stars (6 ratings)
Loaded with healthy fats, fiber, manganese, vitamin C and B1 this puree will be a winner for your little one.
Get the recipe
  • Makes: 8 ounces
  • 1/2 organic banana ($.12), 1/4 organic avocado ($.29), 1/4 cup organic pineapple ($.43) = $.84 or $.10oz
  • Once Upon a Farm Wild Rumpus Avocado 3.12oz pouch = $3.49 or $1.09oz
  • Total Savings of Homemade Puree = $.99 per ounce or 90% savings

 

 

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photo of two books - Little Foodies and Little Bento