Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning
These 4 delicious Broccoli Recipes for Baby-Led Weaning are the perfect first food for your baby! They are healthy, easy to make, and can be served in a variety of ways. Great for 6 months and up!
Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning
Looking to serve your baby nutrient-dense broccoli right from the start? 🥦
Then you’ve come to the right place!
In this post, you will find 4 of my all-time favorite ways to serve broccoli to babies!
These recipes were made to be delicious to babies’ taste buds so that it will (hopefully) lead to a lifetime love 💚 for broccoli.
First time making homemade baby food? Then, I would suggest that you start by reading my very in-depth Complete Guide to Baby-Led Weaning – which covers what exactly is baby-led weaning, to every parent’s concern of baby-led weaning and choking, this guide goes over it all. I will also share how to know when baby is ready for BLW, the top 10 best first foods, a helpful sample blw feeding schedule, helpful tools to have on hand, and much much more! You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes!
Watch the Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning Video
Watch and see how easy it is to serve broccoli to your baby!
Reasons to Love Broccoli for BLW
- great for baby-led weaning – 6+ months
- also great for the finger food stage – 9+ months
- full of essential nutrients for baby
- different ways for baby to self-feed
- easy to make
Benefits of Broccoli for Baby
Broccoli has a whole host of health benefits!
- The fiber found in broccoli promotes gut health and heart health.
- It helps support your immune system with the help of vitamin C.
- Broccoli is high in vitamin K, which is important in blood clotting.
- The antioxidants found in broccoli may help protect against certain types of cancers.
- Vitamin A and antioxidants found in broccoli promote eye health.
Shopping & Storing Tip: When purchasing broccoli, look for a firm head with dark-green crowns and tightly-closed buds. Broccoli is a hardy, cool-weather vegetable, so it loves your cold refrigerator. Wrap the broccoli in a few dry paper towels, to help wick away any excess moisture, and store in an unsealed plastic bag.
Helpful Tools
These tools will make doing baby-led weaning so much easier. For more of my favorite kitchen tools make sure to check out my shop.
- steamer Basket
- Medium Saucepan
- Storage Containers for Fridge
- highchair
- suction bowl or baby bowl
- baby spoon
- open lid cup
- bib with catch pocket
Frequently Asked Questions
Baby can have broccoli as one of their first foods. When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes around 6 months of age. Some of the developmental milestones babies need to reach in order to start solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). Before you start your baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.
Broccoli can 100% be your baby’s first food if you want it to be. It is recommended to wait to introduce the top eight allergen foods to your baby once a few other well-tolerated foods have been introduced, but otherwise foods can be introduced in any order so choose whatever you are most excited for your baby to have.
No, broccoli is not a common allergen, however, as with any food, start with a small portion and be aware of any signs that might be an allergic reaction after introducing it.
Broccoli does not usually cause constipation in babies, and it can actually help alleviate constipation due to its high fiber content.
How to Make Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning
There are several different ways to prepare broccoli for your baby. Here are 3 of my favorite ways:
- Steamed Broccoli with Lemon
- Roasted Broccoli with Garlic
- Broccoli and Ricotta
- Broccoli Cheese Egg Muffins
The goal is to cook the broccoli until it is soft enough for your baby to eat (or gnaw on) yet still firm enough for your baby to be able to pick and self-feed. For babies 6 months and up using their palmar grasp, you can serve steamed broccoli florets, steamed broccoli chopped up and mixed with ricotta, or broccoli mixed with cheese and eggs and cooked into a muffin.
Broccoli Puree: You can offer purees and still allow your baby to lead the way with self-feeding by offering thee puree on a self-feeding spoon, by placing a few spoonfuls of the puree directly on the tray or in a bowl for your baby to dip their fingers into, or you can even use the puree as a dip for solid foods such a banana or piece of toast.
How to Serve Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning
A good rule of thumb to follow is the younger the baby, the bigger the piece of food. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but the bigger the piece of food, allows your baby to hold onto it while chewing and sucking on it without posing as high of a choking hazard. For babies 6-9 months, you will want to cut food into 2-3′ strips or sticks roughly the size of 2 adult fingers. For babies 9-12 months, you can shred or cut food into ‘pea-size’ pieces.
6-8 Months: steam or roast bigger florets until tender.
8-10 Months: smaller florets or chopped pieces of steamed or roasted broccoli.
10-12 Months: chopped pieces of steamed or roasted broccoli.
Steamed Broccoli with Lemon
This steamed broccoli with lemon is a simple and flavorful recipe that baby, toddler and even you will devour. For babies 6-8 months, the bigger the better, you can serve the bigger-sized florets and stem that will fit inside of their palms. For babies 8-10 months, you can serve them flatter and smaller sizes of florets. And for babies 10-12 months, you can serve them chopped pieces of broccoli so they can work on their pincher grasp.
Instructions (for the full recipe, see recipe card below): cut broccoli into large florets, and place in a steamer basket. Place over boiling water and steam for 8-10 minutes or until tender but not mushy. Take off heat and let cool. Squeeze a little lemon juice on the broccoli and toss.
Roasted Broccoli
Roasted broccoli with a pinch of garlic for warm and earthy finger food for your baby!
Instructions (for the full recipe, see recipe card below): toss broccoli florets with a pinch of minced garlic and olive oil and bake until tender with a few crispy spots.
Broccoli Ricotta Mash
Steamed broccoli and creamy ricotta come together in this delicious mash for baby! This thick and chunky mash can be served to your baby on their highchair tray, in a suction baby bowl or with a baby-led weaning friendly spoon such as the Gootensil.
Instructions (for the full recipe, see recipe card below): take a spoonful of ricotta and put it into a small bowl. Chop up a small amount of steamed broccoli and add it to the bowl. Stir the ricotta and broccoli together until well incorporated.
Broccoli Cheese Egg Muffins
These Egg Muffins are made with a few simple ingredients and a great way for your baby to explore a healthy and tasty meal that is soft and easy to chew. Serve these egg muffins cut in half, in chunks or strips.
Instructions (for the full recipe, see recipe card below): Whisk together the eggs and milk. Then stir in the chopped broccoli and cheese. Pour into a well-greased or lined muffin tin and bake.
Baby-Led Weaning Feeding Tips
- Watch for signs that your baby is ready to start solid foods, usually around 6 months of age. Look for sitting with minimal assistance, good control of their head and trunk, bringing hands and toys to their mouth, and appearing interested in what you are eating.
- Understand the difference between gagging and choking – including the signs of each and how to respond
- Be aware of changes that may be needed in your own diet. Foods prepared for adults may not always be suitable for infants, especially depending on sugar and sodium levels, seasonings used, or style of cooking.
- Serve and cut foods to help with grasp and minimize frustration – cut food into 2-3′ strips or sticks (about the size of 2 adult fingers) for babies 6-9 months old. You can shred or cut foods into pea sized pieces once baby reaches 9-12 months old to promote fine motor grasp.
MORE BABY-LED WEANING RECIPES
- Eggs for Babies – 10 Easy Recipes
- 3-Ingredient Banana Pancakes for Baby
- Sweet Potato Wedges for Baby-Led Weaning
- Broccoli, Apple + White Beans for Baby (Puree or Baby-Led Weaning)
Or watch a shortened version of this video here.
Get the recipe: Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning
Ingredients
Steamed Broccoli with Lemon
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1-2 tsp fresh lemon juice
Broccoli Ricotta Mash
- 2 tbsp whole milk ricotta
- 2 tbsp steamed broccoli roughly chopped
Broccoli Cheese Egg Muffins
Roasted Broccoli with Garlic
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 tbsp good-quality olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 pinch minced garlic or garlic powder
Instructions
Steamed Broccoli with Lemon
- In a medium saucepan, bring 2" of water to a boil over high heat. Add a steamer basket with the broccoli florest. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Remove from heat, and let cool.Squeeze the lemon juice on the broccoli and toss.
Broccoli Ricotta Mash
- In a small bowl, mix together the steamed broccoli and ricotta until well incorporated.
Broccoli Cheese Egg Muffins
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 8 muffin tins with silicon muffin molds or generously spray to prevent sticking.In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together. Add in the broccoli, cheese and stir until combined.Pour the egg mixture into the muffin tins until 3/4 the way full.Bake for 20-25 minutes or until eggs have set and the cheese is golden brown.Let cool and serve.
Roasted Broccoli with Garlic
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, silicon mat. or spray with cooking sprayPlace the broccoli florets onto the baking sheet. Drizzle the broccoli with the oil and sprinkle with the garlic. Toss until everything is well coated. Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast for 20 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Let cool and serve.
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2 Comments on “Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning”
Tried this recipe last night: success!!! My 10 month old who wasn’t liking my puréed broc enjoyed a few of these roasted bites! I was stuck in that purée rut but so glad I found your recipe! Thanks.
So glad they enjoyed this recipe! Sign up for my 5-Day Finger Food guide for even more inspiration!