45 Baby Dinner Recipes for A Happy Eater

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Looking for some simple baby dinner recipes that aren’t just for baby? These family recipes are simple to make, easy for baby to eat, and totally delicious for the whole family! Make mealtime simpler with one meal that satisfies everyone around the table!

As your baby gets older, and especially after 12 months – they can really just eat what you eat! Between 8-12 months, I started giving both of my kids tastes of everything we were eating (with the exception of milk, honey and nuts) to start easing them into it. They didn’t love everything at first, but now both of them are very open and excited eaters – we all eat the same thing for dinner most nights!

The only modification I make is to sometimes decrease the “heat” (mainly cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper) in the version I give my kids, but all other spices remain the same as what’s on our dinner plates!

If you’re baby isn’t quite ready for solids, be sure to check out my post about the best organic baby formulas or if you’re started making homemade baby purees be sure to check out these baby food recipes that my kids both loved when they were just starting out on solids.

Tips For Making Easy Baby Dinner Recipes

Start with Tastes: Before you jump right into feeding your baby the same meals you are eating, start by giving them small tastes of what you are eating at the dinner table. Try eating at the same time as them to start to get them interested in what you are eating, and encourage their curiosity.

Reduce the Heat: The key you first start to serve your baby the same meals that you are eating is to reduce the heat, both the temperature and the spice. If a recipe calls for cayenne pepper, or another type of hot spice, take it out of the recipe, and instead sprinkle it on your own portion. Or remove a small portion for baby, and then add the spice to the rest of the dish. It’s also important to make sure that when you serve baby their food, that it is warm but not hot. Always test the temperature before serving to your baby.

Serve Leftovers: One meal can last a long time for your baby, so don’t be afraid to serve them leftovers. Yesterday’s dinner, could be tomorrows lunch and dinner the next day!.

Muffin Tin Meals: A fun way to serve baby a perfectly portioned dinner is with muffin tin meals. Think breakfast egg bites, or use the muffin tin to portion small amounts of food for baby to try.

Freezer Meals: Baby does not need a large portion. So divide their food into small portion sizes, and freeze the rest to have as an easy dinner option on a busy night!

Helpful Tools for Feeding

These helpful tools and equipment will help baby transition to mealtime with the family with ease.

• Bamboo Plates with Sections: These plates are perfect for baby as they stay put with a special suction cup on the bottom. No worries about baby throwing the plate on the floor!
• Bamboo Toddler Cups: Get baby used to drinking from regular open cup with these non-breakable bamboo cups.
• Utensils: Get baby their own set of utensils specifically designed for their small hands and a fist grip.
• Smoothie Cups: Making baby her own smoothie is a simple and delicious option. These smoothie cups designed for baby are glass mason jars covered with a silicone sleeve, and silicone straws that have their own stopper.
• Reusable Pouches: These reusable pouches are great to have to add some leftovers in after dinner. They you’ll have a meal to go the next day!

Here is the list of about 30 recipes my kids regularly will eat and enjoy. It saves me time because I don’t make them something separate for dinner (or snacks in the case of smoothies/guacamole) — we all just eat the same thing!

What Can I Make For Dinner For My One Year Old Baby?

When your baby is old enough to mash foods with their gums, or drink with a straw, they can begin transitioning from purees to more sophisticated foods! In fact, they can have most of the foods you are preparing for yourself or the rest of the family with a few modifications.

Refrain from giving your baby foods that include the following ingredients:

• Nuts or Nut Butters
• Milk or Cheese (until after 12 months)
• Honey
• Raw Fruits or Vegetables (choking hazard)
• Hard Candy or Popcorn (choking hazard)
• Fruit Juice
• Sugary Treats
• Smoked or Cured Meats
• Fish with a High Mercury Count
• Refined Grains

Smoothies

Smoothies are a great way to pack in lots of nutrition into a simple to eat meal for baby. Add vegetables, fruit, and milk when baby is over 12 months. Make sure to leave out nut butters and nut milks for allergy reasons.

Soups

Another delicious meal that baby can easily enjoy are soups! Especially those that are smooth and creamy like this butternut squash soup with ginger! Baby can also eat chunkier soups as long as they are able to gum the vegetables and beans easily. If baby is under one year old leave out any dairy for their serving.

Patties and Veggie Burgers

Instead of serving baby the whole patty or veggie burger in a bun with all the toppings, simply cut a portion of the burger into bite sized pieces that they can pick up with their fingers and mash with their gums. Makes for great self-feeding baby dinner recipes!

Curry and Lentils

Curries don’t have to be spicy, so they are perfect for baby with lots of soft vegetables, and healthy plant proteins like chickpeas, lentils, and beans, served in a creamy sauce that baby will love. Serve with a side of brown rice for extra nutrition and fiber!

Vegetable Dishes

Pack in the veggies with these healthy and hearty baby dinner recipes. You may want to cook the vegetables down more so that they are softer for your baby to eat. Cut into small bite sized portions before serving.

Pasta Dishes

Pasta recipes are a delicious choice for baby! Make sure that the pasta is cooked well enough that baby can gum and chew small pieces. Prior to serving to baby, cut the pasta and any vegetables into small bite sized pieces.

Casseroles

Always a family favorite, savory casseroles are one of my favorite baby dinner recipes that are great for adults and older kids too! Cooked down, and easy to eat, make sure that it isn’t too hot before serving to baby.

I hope you were able to find some inspiration to simplify meal time for your family while feeding your baby!

More Kid Friendly & Baby Food Recipes!

• 10 Easy Baby Food Recipes for Beginners
• Zucchini Baby Food
• Pea Puree
• Healthy Recipes For Picky Eaters
• Superfoods for Babies and Recipe Ideas
• Blueberry Puree

If you have tried these baby dinner recipes or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious, healthy, family friendly food!