These 4 delicious Broccoli Recipes for Baby-Led Weaning are the perfect first food for your baby! They are healthy, easy to make, and can be served in a variety of ways. Great for 6 months and up!
Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning
Looking to serve your baby nutrient-dense broccoli right from the start? 🥦
Then you’ve come to the right place!
In this post, you will find 4 of my all-time favorite ways to serve broccoli to babies!
These recipes were made to be delicious to babies’ taste buds so that it will (hopefully) lead to a lifetime love 💚 for broccoli.
First time making homemade baby food? Then, I would suggest that you start by reading my very in-depth Complete Guide to Baby-Led Weaning. You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes!
Watch the Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning Video
How to Make Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning
There are several different ways to prepare broccoli for your baby. Here are 3 of my favorite ways:
- Steamed Broccoli with Lemon
- Roasted Broccoli with Garlic
- Broccoli and Ricotta
- Broccoli Cheese Egg Muffins
The goal is to cook the broccoli until it is soft enough for your baby to eat (or gnaw on) yet still firm enough for your baby to be able to pick and self-feed. For babies 6 months and up using their palmar grasp, you can serve steamed broccoli florets, steamed broccoli chopped up and mixed with ricotta, or broccoli mixed with cheese and eggs and cooked into a muffin.
Broccoli Puree: You can offer purees and still allow your baby to lead the way with self-feeding by offering thee puree on a self-feeding spoon, by placing a few spoonfuls of the puree directly on the tray or in a bowl for your baby to dip their fingers into, or you can even use the puree as a dip for solid foods such a banana or piece of toast.
How to Serve Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning
A good rule of thumb to follow is the younger the baby, the bigger the piece of food. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but the bigger the piece of food, allows your 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 food into 2-3′ strips or sticks roughly the size of 2 adult fingers. For babies 9-12 months, you can shred or cut food into ‘pea-size’ pieces.
6-8 Months: steam or roast bigger florets until tender.
8-10 Months: smaller florets or chopped pieces of steamed or roasted broccoli.
10-12 Months: chopped pieces of steamed or roasted broccoli.
Steamed Broccoli with Lemon
This steamed broccoli with lemon is a simple and flavorful recipe that baby, toddler and even you will devour. For babies 6-8 months, the bigger the better, you can serve the bigger-sized florets and stem that will fit inside of their palms. For babies 8-10 months, you can serve them flatter and smaller sizes of florets. And for babies 10-12 months, you can serve them chopped pieces of broccoli so they can work on their pincher grasp.
Roasted Broccoli
Roasted broccoli with a pinch of garlic for warm and earthy finger food for your baby!
Broccoli Ricotta Mash
Steamed broccoli and creamy ricotta come together in this delicious mash for baby! This thick and chunky mash can be served to your baby on their highchair tray, in a suction baby bowl or with a baby-led weaning friendly spoon such as the Gootensil.
Broccoli Cheese Egg Muffins
These Egg Muffins are made with a few simple ingredients and a great way for your baby to explore a healthy and tasty meal that is soft and easy to chew. Serve these egg muffins cut in half, in chunks or strips.
Baby-Led Weaning Feeding Tips
- Watch for signs that your baby is ready to start solid foods, usually around 6 months of age. Look for sitting with minimal assistance, good control of their head and trunk, bringing hands and toys to their mouth, and appearing interested in what you are eating.
- Understand the difference between gagging and choking – including the signs of each and how to respond
- Be aware of changes that may be needed in your own diet. Foods prepared for adults may not always be suitable for infants, especially depending on sugar and sodium levels, seasonings used, or style of cooking.
- Serve and cut foods to help with grasp and minimize frustration – cut food into 2-3′ strips or sticks (about the size of 2 adult fingers) for babies 6-9 months old. You can shred or cut foods into pea sized pieces once baby reaches 9-12 months old to promote fine motor grasp.
Broccoli for Baby-Led Weaning
Equipment
Ingredients
Steamed Broccoli with Lemon
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1-2 tsp fresh lemon juice
Broccoli Ricotta Mash
- 2 tbsp whole milk ricotta
- 2 tbsp steamed broccoli roughly chopped
Broccoli Cheese Egg Muffins
Roasted Broccoli with Garlic
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 tbsp good-quality olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 pinch minced garlic or garlic powder
Instructions
Steamed Broccoli with Lemon
- In a medium saucepan, bring 2" of water to a boil over high heat. Add a steamer basket with the broccoli florest. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Remove from heat, and let cool.Squeeze the lemon juice on the broccoli and toss.
![Steamer filled with steamed broccoli with a hand squeezing lemon on to them.]()
Broccoli Ricotta Mash
- In a small bowl, mix together the steamed broccoli and ricotta until well incorporated.
![Hand holding a baby spoon with some broccoli ricotta mixture.]()
Broccoli Cheese Egg Muffins
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 8 muffin tins with silicon muffin molds or generously spray to prevent sticking.In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together. Add in the broccoli, cheese and stir until combined.Pour the egg mixture into the muffin tins until 3/4 the way full.Bake for 20-25 minutes or until eggs have set and the cheese is golden brown.Let cool and serve.
![Silver muffin tin with colorful silicone liners filled with broccoli cheese egg cups.]()
Roasted Broccoli with Garlic
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, silicon mat. or spray with cooking sprayPlace the broccoli florets onto the baking sheet. Drizzle the broccoli with the oil and sprinkle with the garlic. Toss until everything is well coated. Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast for 20 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Let cool and serve.
Video
Frequently Asked Questions
Baby can have broccoli as one of their first foods. When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes around 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.
Broccoli 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, broccoli 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.
Broccoli does not usually cause constipation in babies, and it can actually help alleviate constipation due to its high fiber content.
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