Chicken for Babies Recipes
Chicken is one of the greatest food choices to include in our diet as it contains many good vitamins, and It’s a perfectly tasty, protein-packed option to introduce to your baby’s diet too.
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. Aside from containing a great source of protein, it also has potassium, selenium, and vitamin B3, including chicken in babies diet has the following benefits: Muscle growth, enhances the circulatory system, boosts immunity.
If you need inspiration, check out some delicious chicken for babies recipes for your baby’s next meal.
1. Chicken for Babies Recipes: Chicken and Butternut Squash
Rich in: Vitamin A and C. Boosts eye health, supports the immune system and strengthens the bones.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil,
50g onion, finely chopped,
300g butternut squash, peeled and diced,
125ml very low salt chicken stock,
100g chicken breast, diced.
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and sauté the onion until soft.
Add the chicken and cook until browned – about 5 minutes.
Add the butternut squash, pour over the stock, cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes. Blend or mash to the required consistency.
2. Chicken for Babies Recipes: Chicken and Courgette Mash
Rich in: Vitamin A and Calcium. It helps your baby’s bones to be strong.
Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil,
1 coarsely chopped skinless chicken breast,
1 small courgette, cut into chunks,
2 tbsp of your baby’s usual milk,
25g cheddar cheese.
Directions
Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
Add the chopped chicken and courgette. Cover the pan for 10 minutes while stirring occasionally. Take off the heat when the chicken is cooked through and the courgette soft.
Add the grated cheese to the mixture, followed by your baby’s usual milk.
Puree with a blender or mash the mixture to the correct consistency for your baby.
3. Chicken for Babies Recipes: Chicken and Couscous Hotpot
Rich in: Protein, Calcium, and fibre. All this helps prevent infections and improves the health of your baby’s heart.
Ingredients: 50g chicken mince,
0.5 whole carrot, peeled and diced,
0.5 whole courgette, peeled and diced,
0.5 whole parsnip, peeled and diced,
0.25 chopped onion,
100g couscous,
1 pinch mixed herb.
Directions: Bring a pan to the boil and cook the carrot and parsnip until tender.
Put the couscous in a bowl and add boiled water until just covered. Cover with a plate and leave for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile fry the onion in a little oil, add the courgette, the herbs and the chicken and stir until cooked. When the vegetables are cooked, add to the chicken, onion, and courgette, add half the couscous and mash to the desired consistency.
Add the rest of the couscous.
4. Chicken for Babies Recipes: Lentil and Chicken Curry
Rich in: Protein, Vitamin A and C, and potassium. Lentils are a good choice for a healthy immune system as well as a healthy brain development.
Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil,
½ onion, diced,
1 clove garlic, crushed,
2 tsp mild curry paste,
20g red lentils,
1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes,
100g chicken stock,
75g butternut squash, diced,
1 chicken breast, diced,
½ tsp mango chutney.
Directions
Heat the oil in a saucepan.
Add the onion and garlic and fry for 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste and lentils, then blend in the tomatoes.
Cover with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the chicken stock, squash, chicken and mango chutney and simmer for another 10 minutes until tender.
5. Chicken for Babies Recipes: Sweet and Sour Chicken
Rich in: Protein and Vitamin C. It helps fight bacterial infections and strengthening the immune system.
Ingredients
250g skinless chicken fillet, diced into small chunks,
1 tbsp vegetable oil,
0.5 whole red pepper,
0.5 whole green pepper,
3 whole green beans,
0.5 tbsp cornflour,
2 tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce,
0.5 tbsp rice wine vinegar,
0.5tsp ginger.
Directions
Heat the oil in a wok and add the chicken until thoroughly browned.
Add the peppers, beans and garlic and stir fry for a further 2 minutes.
In a bowl mix together the soy sauce, cornflour, vinegar, and ginger.
Add to the wok and bring to the boil.
Simmer for a couple of minutes and serve.
6. Chicken for Babies Recipes: Chicken and Apple
Rich in: Protein, antioxidants, and Fibre. It helps cure constipation and diarrhoea.
Ingredients
0.5 tbsp olive oil,
0.5 whole small onion, peeled and diced,
1 whole carrot, peeled and diced,
100ml very low salt chicken stock,
100g chicken breast,
1 whole small apple, cored, peeled, and diced.
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and fry the onion till softened.
Add the carrots, pour over the stock, and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the chopped chicken and the apple to the carrot and onion mixture and continue to cook for 10 minutes.
Mash to the desired texture.
7. Chicken for Babies Recipes: Chicken and Lentil Stew
Rich in: Protein and Vitamin A and C. Lentils are a good choice for a healthy immune system as well as a healthy brain development.
Ingredients
1 drizzle light olive oil or vegetable oil,
1 whole onion, finely chopped,
2 cloves garlic, crushed,
2 sticks celery, diced,
200g baby potato, cubed,
150g lentil,
200g chicken breast, cut into pieces,
1l very low sat chicken or vegetable stock,
1 tbsp fresh thyme,
0.5 tsp dried tarragon,
1 squeeze lemon juice,
Directions
Warm the oil in a large saucepan and add the chicken pieces, cooking them for five minutes or until lightly browned. Next, add the onion, garlic and celery and sauté until they start to become translucent.
Add the lentils, followed by the potatoes, stock, thyme and tarragon and bring to a steady boil for five minutes before simmering on low heat for 20 minutes.
Add the lemon juice at the end and stir through. Chop or mash to desired texture.
8. Chicken for Babies Recipes: Rainbow Pepper Chicken
Ingredients
¼ whole red pepper, cut into strips,
¼ whole yellow pepper, cut into strips,
¼ whole green pepper, cut into strips,
100g chicken, cut into strips.
Directions
Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan and add the chicken.
Fry for 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Add the peppers and cook for a further five minutes or until the peppers are tender.
9. Chicken for Babies Recipes: Chicken Dippers and Tomato Sauce
Rich in: Protein, Vitamin A and antioxidants, which are essential for your baby’s diet, and Vitamin K, which builds stronger bones.
Ingredients
100g skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips,
100g breadcrumbs, (2 slices crustless white bread),
1 whole egg,
2 tbsp plain flour, (you can season the flour of leave plain),
0.5 whole red pepper, finely chopped,
0.5 whole onion, finely chopped,
0.5 tbsp tomato puree,
1 tbsp olive oil,
1 tsp balsamic vinegar,
250g tomato, finely chopped,
200g canned tomato,
150ml water.
Directions
Heat the oven to 190C/Gas Mark 5.
Pop the slices of bread in a blender and blend until you have fine breadcrumbs.
Lightly beat the egg and place it in a shallow bowl.
Dip each chicken dipper in the flour, then the egg and finally cover in the breadcrumbs.
Place on a lightly prepared baking tray. Bake for around 20 minutes– but make sure the dippers are cooked right through.
Chop into small pieces that are manageable for your baby.
Heat the oil in a large pan and add the onions.
Cook until soft (about 10 -15 minutes) on medium heat. Add peppers and puree.
Stir in chopped tomatoes and tinned tomatoes.
Add 150ml water and Balsamic vinegar.
Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
Allow to cool and then blend to the required consistency.
