Get the recipe: Guide on Meat for Baby: Chicken Meatballs
These soft and tender chicken meatballs are a great finger food for babies. Plus, this post has 5 more simple meat recipe ideas for baby - puree, mashed into a chunky puree, served on the bone, shredded, or served in strips as a finger food or for baby-led weaning.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground chicken or turkey
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp dried oregano or basil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Prep: If baking, preheat the oven to 400° F. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat and coat with a little cooking spray.
- Mix: In a medium mixing bowl, add all of the ingredients. Mix together with your hands or a spatula until just incorporated.
- Form: Roll the mixture into 3" long rolls – roughly 10 in total. Place on the baking sheet.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until done all the way through. Let cool and serve to baby.
Notes
Age: 6-7+ months
Yield: 10 longer meatballs
How to Cut Meat for Baby
A good rule of thumb to follow is the younger the baby, the bigger the piece of meat. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but the bigger the piece of meat, allows 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 the meat into 2-3' strips that are roughly the size of 2 adult fingers. You can slice the meat thinner for babies 9-12 months or shred it into small pieces.
Storage Instructions
- For Meat Puree: you can store meat puree in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze individual portions in a freezer tray for up to 2 months. To defrost, gently heat on the stove or in the microwave until warm.
- For Ground Meat: you can store cooked ground meat in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze individual portions in a freezer tray for up to 2 months. To defrost, gently heat on the stove or in the microwave until warm.
- Meatballs: you can store cooked meatballs in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze them for up to 2 months. To defrost, gently heat on the stove or in the microwave until warm.
- Meat on the Bone, Strips, and Shredded: can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.
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