Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Looking for a green veggie to serve to your baby? Then be sure to try this Green Bean Baby Food recipe! While I’m sure this crush-worthy broccoli baby puree will probably be the first green veggie puree you serve your little one, this green bean puree should definitely be the second! Steamed until just tender, this nutritious and smooth puree features a mild taste for your baby’s emerging palette. It’s a great Stage 1 Baby Food for 6 months and up.
Green Bean Puree
Hold on ’cause I’m about to tell you something shocking. 😲
This homemade green bean puree is not only full of essential nutrients, but it is also delicious!
I know, this seems hard to believe because pureed green beans as baby food get a pretty bad rap.
But it’s 💯 true! This green bean puree will knock your baby’s socks right off!
We start with fresh or frozen green beans that are gently steamed to bring out the freshness. Then, we blend them into a velvety and creamy puree for your baby. I add a pinch of cilantro, parsley, or basil to this puree to round out the flavor profile, but you can skip that step if you prefer. Because we are using this gentle way of cooking the green beans 💚, their taste doesn’t get aggressive, making it the perfect light puree for your baby’s first bite.
Green Bean Baby Food Video
Ingredients
Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!
- Green Beans: You can use fresh or frozen green beans for this recipe.
- Herbs: You can add a pinch of cilantro, basil, parsley, mint, or chives to this puree to enhance the flavor profile. While I love the boost of flavor that herbs add to the puree, putting in herbs is completely optional.
Green Bean Tip: You can use either fresh or frozen green beans for this recipe. If you want to use organic but are on a budget, try looking for frozen organic green beans in the freezer aisle, which are cheaper than fresh conventional green beans.
To the Kitchen We Go!
Is it your first time making homemade baby food? If you answered yes, then I suggest you start this journey by reading my in-depth Guide on How to Make Homemade Baby Food. You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes.
Other Cooking Methods
While I love the crisp and fresh flavor of steamed green beans, there are several ways you can cook green beans for baby food.
Skillet
Trim the green beans and then add them to a large skillet that has been preheated with 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes, add 2 tablespoons of water, cover, and cook for 2 more minutes. Puree in a blender as directed below.
Roasted
If you want the baby puree to have a dense, earthy taste, then roast the green beans instead.
Trim the green beans and then toss with 1-2 tsp of olive or avocado oil on a baking sheet. Cook 425 degrees F for 18-20 minutes, tossing halfway through baking time or until tender when pricked with a fork. Puree in a blender as directed below.
Green Bean Combination Purees
While Green Bean Baby Food is already tasty by itself, you can also easily mix and match it with other nutrient-dense baby food purees. For a Stage Two puree, give these fun flavor combos a try!
Green Beans for Baby-Led Weaning: Green beans are also a great food to serve to your baby whole for baby-led weaning (6+ months) or as a finger food (9+ months). You can always serve baby a combination of purees and finger foods right from the start.
Scrumptious Green Bean Baby Puree (Stage One)
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans, fresh or frozen
- 1 big pinch of fresh basil, cilantro or parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Trim: roughly trim the green beans and roughly chop the herb (if using).
- Steam: fill a medium saucepan with 2” of water and bring to boil over medium heat. Place the green beans (fresh or frozen) into a steamer basket over the boiling water, cover, and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Let cool slightly. Reserve steamer water.
- Puree: transfer the green beans and herb to a blender or food processor and puree for 1-2 minutes or until smooth, adding liquid in 1/4 cup increments if needed until you reach your desired consistency.
- Eat: serve to baby or freeze for later.
Video
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
Babies can have green beans as one of their first foods. When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-6 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 baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.
Green beans 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, green beans are 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.
Green beans do not usually cause constipation in babies, and may actually help alleviate constipation due to their high fiber content.
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