Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Using only 1 ingredient, this Homemade Baby Rice Cereal is a simple and easy recipe for your baby! Plus, it is entirely freezer-friendly, so it’s a great addition to your freezer stash of baby purees. It’s great for babies 6+ months and up as a Stage 1 baby food.
Homemade Baby Rice Cereal
Looking for an easy rice cereal for your baby that isn’t in a box?
Then, I’ve got you!
This homemade brown rice baby cereal has only one ingredient (#spoileralert: rice) and can be made in less than an hour.
While you can and should serve this puree to your baby alone, you can also mix it with their fave fruit or veggie puree. Here are some of my baby’s favorite combinations:
🥦 Broccoli Baby Puree
🍠 Sweet Potato Baby Food
🍎 Apple Baby Puree
For this recipe, we will cook the brown rice, blend it up, and then pop it into the freezer for easy-to-grab cubes of baby rice cereal. I have found that this cooking method makes the creamiest and smoothest baby cereal you can ever imagine. Besides, there is nothing like having a freezer stash of healthy baby purees at your fingertips!
Rice Cereal Video
Ingredients
Make sure to read the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and instructions!
- Rice: I recommend using organic short-grain brown rice in this recipe.
- Water: This will be added to cook the rice. You can also use sodium-free bone broth or sodium-free veggie broth.
- Liquid for Blending: While blending the rice, you’ll need to add more liquid to thin it out into a puree. You can use water, bone broth, veggie broth, fresh breast milk, or formula.
Is it your first time making homemade baby food? 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!
Let’s Get Pureeing
Other Cooking Methods
I have found that cooking the rice first and then blending, creates the smoothest rice cereal for your baby. But there are a couple of other ways to make rice cereal for your baby.
Instant Pot
You can cook small or large batches of white or brown rice in your instant pot. For white rice, you will put 1 cup of rice and 1 cup of water into the instant pot and cook for 3 minutes with a natural pressure release until the pin drops. For brown rice, you will put 1 cup of rice and 1 cup of water into the instant pot and cook for 24 minutes with a natural pressure release until the pin drops. Feel free to double the recipe if needed.
Rice Powder
- Grind Rice: Place 1 cup of uncooked rice in a coffee grinder or blender. Grind for 1-2 minutes or until you have a very fine rice powder.
- Add Hot Water: In a microwave-safe bowl, add in roughly 1 tablespoon rice powder and 1-2 tablespoons hot or boiling water. Stir until smooth adding more water if needed. Let sit until warm enough to eat.
How to Store Rice Cereal
This baby rice cereal is quick and effortless to freeze and reheat, making it convenient to have on hand. The frozen cubes are easy to grab and reheat right before mealtime.
How to Freeze
- After you blend the rice into a puree, you can pour the rice cereal into freezer-safe trays . Do not overfill.
- Place the tray into the freezer for 3-4 hours or until completely frozen.
- Transfer the cubes of frozen rice cereal into a Stasher Bag or ziplock baggie.
- This puree will last 4 days in the fridge and for up to 4 months in the freezer.
How to Re-Heat
- Take the number of frozen cubes you want to feed your baby for that meal and place them in a microwave-safe container.
- Heat in the microwave for 30-second intervals until warm, stirring after every session.
- You can also take the frozen cubes and place them in a small saucepan on the stove, heating on low and stirring continuously.
- NOTE: The puree will be thick when you reheat it. You can thin it back out by adding other purees (see the list below for some of my favorite options), fresh or frozen breast milk, formula, or water. Add a little at a time, stirring in-between.
5-Star Homemade Baby Rice Cereal
Ingredients
- 1 cup short grain brown rice
- 2 cups water
- 1-2 cups liquid for blending (fresh breast milk, formula, water)
Instructions
- Rinse Rice – IMPORTANT STEP: Place the rice in a fine-mesh colander and rinse with water until the water runs clear.
- Cook: Transfer the rice to a medium saucepan and add 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover with a lid and simmer for 35-45 minutes or until the rice is tender and the water is evaporated. Each batch of rice cooks a little differently, so taste at 35 minutes to see if the rice is tender.
- Let Rest: Remove the saucepan from the heat and let rest for 10 minutes, covered. If using fresh breast milk or formula for blending, remove the lid and let the rice cool for 15 minutes.
- Blend: Place the rice into a blender or food processor and add 1/2 cup of liquid of choice. Blend for 1-2 minutes on medium-high speed until completely smooth and creamy, adding in the additional liquid in 1/4 cup increments, if needed, until you have your desired consistency.
- Eat: Serve to baby or freeze for later.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Babies can have rice cereal 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 your baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.
Rice 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, rice 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.
Rice may cause constipation in babies since it absorbs water and may make it harder to pass stools. Switch to a different whole grain like oatmeal if your baby is having a hard time digesting rice.
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