3Rd stage baby food recipes

18 Stage 3 Baby Food Recipes (Easy + Delicious)

Home » Feeding Style » Baby Food Purees » Stage Three » 18 Stage 3 Baby Food Recipes (Easy, Delicious + Homemade)

These 18 Stage 3 Baby Food Recipes are easy to make, delicious for baby to eat and completely homemade! They are combination purees with soft chunks that will get baby ready for the next stage – finger foods. Great for babies 9-12 months.

Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Stage 3 Baby Food Recipes

Now that your baby has mastered Stage 1 as well as Stage 2 baby food purees, it’s time to move on to the last phase of their puree journey – Stage 3!

Stage 3, or Chunky Purees, is the last stop of the puree culinary adventure for baby – the next phase is finger foods.

What exactly are Stage 3 Baby Purees? Well, put simply, Stage 3 baby foods are a puree with small chewable chunks inside. Having small manageable chunks in a puree gets your baby ready for finger foods by having them explore similar tastes that they are used to but with completely different texture profiles.

Baby has to learn how to move the chunks around their little mouths, how to chew on those chunks and finally they have to learn to swallow them without gagging or choking. It’s a sensory and exploratory practice that takes some time, but trust me, baby will learn how to do all of these things in no time at all.

Looking for even more baby food ideas? You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes.

Reasons to Love these Homemade Stage 3 Purees

wholesome
delicious
freezer-friendly
nutrient-dense
full of whole grains – millet, whole wheat pasta, quinoa, etc
great ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinners
can be made slightly chunky or really chunky depending on where baby is at with this stage of purees
baby doesn’t have to have teeth for these chunky purees – they will be able to gnaw at any of these chunks with their gums

Frequently Asked Questions

When can you introduce baby to stage 3 purees?

You can introduce Stage 3 purees to your baby around 9 months of age. You will want your baby to have had a great deal of practice eating smooth combination purees before you serve them chunky purees.

What are Stage 3 Baby Foods?

Stage 3 baby foods are a thick puree with soft chewable pieces of food inside.

What is the difference between Stage 2 and Stage 3 baby foods?

The only difference between Stage 2 and Stage 3 baby food is that Stage 3 baby foods are slightly chunkier than Stage 2 purees. Traditionally, Stage 3 baby foods are meant to be the last step in the puree process before you start your baby on finger foods. You are giving your baby some time to practice mouthing and chewing on small pieces of cooked foods before handing them solid foods. Of course, you can always introduce finger foods at the same time as Stage 3 purees.

Why are Stage 3 Baby Foods Important?

Stage 3 baby foods are important because they will help teach baby what to do with small chunks of food in their mouths, how to move the chunks around their mouth, how to “chew” these chunks as well as how to swallow them. This stage is important because you are exposing them to a ton of different textures and taste sensations.

How to Make Stage 3 Baby Purees

You can make any homemade Stage 2 baby food puree into a Stage 3 baby food simply by not blending the produce into a smooth puree.

Cook the fruits, veggies, grains and meat according to the recipe.
Place in a food processor or blender.
Pulse the puree in 5-10 second intervals until you have small ‘pea’ size pieces and everything is incorporated.
Serve to your baby.

Can you do Finger Foods and Stage 3 Purees at the Same Time?

Yes, you can start finger foods at any age! This stage is all about texture and taste exploration, so the more you introduce to your baby now, the easier it will be for them when they start eating table foods. You can read my Ultimate Guide to Finger Foods for more information.

HELPFUL TOOLS

These tools will make it a lot easier to make homemade baby food purees. For more of my favorite kitchen tools make sure to check out my shop.

blender or food processor
baking sheet
saucepans
knives
veggie peeler
spatula
freezer tray
storage containers for fridge
stasher bag
reusable pouches
baby food maker

How to Store Baby Purees

Every recipe below has specific instructions on how to store that particular puree, but these are the general guidelines.

REFRIGERATOR

You can store the puree in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

FREEZER

Most homemade puree can be frozen for up to 4 months.

Spoon puree into a freezer storage container. Do not overfill.
Place the lid on the storage container or cover with a piece of saran wrap, and label with the date and recipe name.
Place the tray into the freezer and let it freeze completely — preferably overnight.
Pop-out the baby food cubes and place them in a ziplock baggie or stasher bag. Don’t forget to relabel the baggie or stasher bag for future reference.

Need more information on how to store your baby foods? Head over to my Best Baby Food Storage Containers – Plus 6 Tips on Freezing and Thawing post!

FEEDING TIPS

Have a spare spoon (or three!) – even very young babies often want to be involved in feeding themselves as much as possible. Giving your baby an extra spoon to hold can be helpful in giving her a sense of control and also promotes hand-eye coordination. Allow your baby to use spoons as a teether during the meal. There are many great options out there but a few we particularly love include the Olababy 3 Piece Set, the NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils, and the ChooMee FlexiDip Baby Starter Spoons.
Purees are great to keep in your baby’s regular rotation of foods – but if you start feeding with traditional weaning using purees, make sure to progress beyond eating ONLY purees. Once your baby can safely and comfortably swallow purees (usually by 7 or 8 months) it’s time to introduce other textures, such as teething biscuits and soft-cooked finger foods. Moving onto additional textures in a timely manner may help prevent feeding difficulties at a later age.
Throwing spoons is a common phase that all babies go through at one point or another. One of the best ways to handle spoon throwing is to ignore it and keep feeding your baby as usual (with an extra spoon you already have at the table). If your baby ends up also throwing back up spoons #2 AND #3, simply encourage your baby to eat with their hands until they appear to be finished with the meal. ***Give baby plenty of opportunities to practice putting items in and taking items out of containers outside of mealtimes.

Chunky Summer Veggie Pasta

5 stars (4 ratings)

This Chunky Summer Veggie Pasta for Baby and Toddler combines all the flavorful tastes of summer into one bite-size dish!

Get the recipe

Oatmeal with Beets + Carrots

5 stars (8 ratings)

Yummy healthy oatmeal gets mixed with beets and carrots, spices, and raisins for a veggie packed breakfast your toddler won’t be able to resist.

Get the recipe

Green Baby Puree with Chicken

5 stars (7 ratings)

Green Baby Puree with Chicken is a delicious chunky puree that can be made in under 30 minutes! It is loaded with healthy green vegetables, lean protein and topped off with some apple sweetness.

Get the recipe

Blueberry Chickpea with Rosemary Baby Food Puree

5 stars (38 ratings)

This puree is packed with antioxidants, fiber, Vitamin A and C from the blueberries and protein, zinc, manganese, folate and iron from the chickpeas. All of that goodness packed into a super simple and delicious puree!

Get the recipe

Avocado for Baby – Puree & BLW

5 stars (16 ratings)

Avocados are a superfood and great first food for babies 6 months and up. Serve them pureed, smashed, or as a finger food for baby-led weaning.

Get the recipe

More Recipes Baby will Love

8 Baby-Led Weaning Meal Ideas for Baby + Toddler
4 Baby-Led Weaning Snack Food Ideas
6 Baby-Led Weaning Breakfasts
The Ultimate Guide of Fingers Foods for Baby
15 Healthy Finger Foods for Toddlers (that they will love!)

2 cups sweet potato, peeled and chopped (roughly 2 small sweet potatoes)
2 cups strawberries, trimmed and chopped
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup cooked farro

Steam: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 inches of water to a boil. In a steamer basket add the sweet potatoes, cover and steam for 15 minutes. Add the strawberries and sprinkle with cinnamon and steam for 3 more minutes. Let cool slightly. Reserve steamer water.
Blend: Transfer the cooked sweet potatoes and strawberries as well as the cooked farro into a blender or food processor. Pulse in 5-10 second increments until all of the ingredients are combined and you have small pieces of food.
Eat: Serve to baby and enjoy.

Age: 8+ months

Yield: 20 ounces

Storage: Fridge – store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freezer – can be frozen for up to 4 months.

Notes on Strawberries: in the spring time when strawberries are not at their juiciest, I find that giving them a quick steam helps make their flavor more impactful. If you are making this at the height of strawberry season and your strawberries are bursting with flavor, feel free to skip the steaming step and you can add them straight to the blender before pulsing.

Blender

Reusable Pouches

Bumkins Baby Bowl

NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @babyfoode on Instagram and hashtag it #babyfoode!

Pin Recipe Email a Friend

Strawberry, Sweet Potato + Farro Baby Food (stage 2 or 3)

First time visiting? Start Here!

Home » Feeding Style » Baby Food Purees » Stage Two » Strawberry, Sweet Potato + Farro Baby Food

by Michele Olivier on May 3, 2016 (updated Feb 26, 2021)

Jump to Recipe

5 stars (6 ratings)

This chunky Strawberry, Sweet Potato + Farro Baby Food is a delicious meal for baby! You can either leave chunky or puree and serve as a puree. Great for stage 2 or 3 baby food.

This post is sponsored by Babymoov but my love for this product is all my own! Thank you for supporting the brands that support Baby FoodE!

Strawberry, Sweet Potato + Farro Baby Food

Oh man! Sweet potatoes, strawberries and cinnamon <——- this is a match made in baby puree heaven!

This puree is a little sweet and a little savory – a deep rich taste from the sweet potatoes, a little summer fun kick from the strawberries and a little spicy wholesome cinnamon for a complimentary flavor kick, are all blended together before being swirled in with nutty and chewy farro.

You can serve this as a chunky puree with a little cooked farro, or you can puree the farro along with the sweet potato mixture for a smooth puree for baby. Either way, this puree has it going on!

I spooned this puree into reusable pouches for the girls and they couldn’t get enough! They went through 6 pouches in 2 days!! I probably should monitor their pouch intake but when they are eating pouches full of beta carotene, vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber and protein for a snack, I always cave.

2 cups sweet potato, peeled and chopped (roughly 2 small sweet potatoes)
2 cups strawberries, trimmed and chopped
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup cooked farro

Instructions for Nutribaby

In the large basket, place the sweet potatoes and start a 15 minute steam cycle.
In the small basket, place the strawberries and sprinkle with cinnamon. When the first 15 minutes for the sweet potatoes are done, add the small basket of strawberries ontop of the sweet potato basket and start a 3 minute steam cycle. Let both cool slightly.
Transfer both the sweet potatoes and strawberries to a blender and puree until smooth, using the juices from the cooking process if needed.
Mix the puree with the cooked farro. For a chunky puree, mix the puree and whole farro and serve. For a smooth puree, add the farro to the blender after pureeing the sweet potatoes and puree or pulse until you reach your desired consistency.

Instructions for Regular Cooking Method

In a medium saucepan, bring 2 inches of water to a boil. In a steamer basket add the sweet potatoes, cover and steam for 15 minutes. Add the strawberries and sprinkle with cinnamon and steam for 3 more minutes. Let cool slightly. Reserve steamer water.
Transfer all ingredients to a blender or food processor and puree for 1-2 minutes or until smooth, adding cooking water in if needed in 1/4 cup increments.
For a chunky puree, add in the farro and mix until incorporated. For a smooth puree, add the cooked farro to the blender and puree unitl smooth.

Age: 6+ months

Yield: 20 ounces

Storage: Fridge – store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Freezer – can be frozen for up to 4 months (this and this are my favorite freezer storage containers).

Favorite Kitchen Tools: Get a list of my favorite kitchen tools to make the best baby food here!

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @babyfoode on Instagram and hashtag it #babyfoode!

Pin Recipe Email a Friend

free guide when you subscribe! How to Feed Your Baby

« Previous PostYellow Squash + Thyme Baby Food Puree

Next Post » Beet Chocolate Muffins for Toddler + Kids

Recipes for children from 3 years old - what to cook for a child of 3 years old

Oatmeal with milk 4.

Your attention - a recipe for oatmeal with milk. Many do not like oatmeal because it is viscous, thick and heavy. This is because it is immediately cooked in milk. Try cooking differently! ...more

Added by: Erich 06/14/2013

4.4

Rice milk porridge is an ideal option for a very tasty and incredibly healthy breakfast. Even those children who do not like milk and do not want to eat porridge will like my cooking option. ...more

Added by: Marina Sofyanchuk 06/14/2016

3.2

How to make cookies with infant formula. After all, not only your baby deserves a treat: moms should also treat themselves to delicious sweet cookies! It cooks quickly and is very tasty! ...more

Added by: Dasha Petrova 09/26/2015

Millet porridge in a slow cooker 4.4

Fast, tasty, healthy - these are the associations that arise in everyone who tries millet porridge cooked in a slow cooker at home. The porridge is really very good - worth making. ...more

4.4

Do you want to feed your baby with healthy cottage cheese, but he is not going to eat it in any way? Prepare him a cottage cheese casserole, and he will gladly gobble it up for both cheeks! And I'll tell you the recipe. ...more

Added by: Daria Vakulova 07/24/2016

3.7

Many people cook porridge by eye and never keep the proportions, the porridge turns out either liquid, or vice versa - similar to pudding. I’ll tell you how to cook semolina porridge with milk, the taste of my children is perfect. ...more

Added by: Daria Vakulova 07/23/2016

Hercules porridge with milk 4.6

The most delicious, healthy and nutritious porridge is oatmeal, and it cooks faster and easier than other porridges. It can be boiled in water, but to make the taste more tender, it is better to make this porridge with milk. ...more

Added by: Dashuta 01/17/2015

4.0

Hercules porridge is a great way to start a new day and get a supply of vivacity and energy! Learn how to cook herculean porridge in a slow cooker. ...more

Added by: Bamby 08/09/2013

4.3

For those who want to start their morning with the right breakfast, I offer a simple recipe for millet porridge with milk. It turns out incredibly tasty and nutritious, especially if you add fruits to it. ...more

Added by: Dashuta 01/23/2015

Semolina porridge in the microwave 4.0

Semolina porridge, familiar to all of us from childhood. We will combine classical traditions with the latest advances in technology and speed up the process. ...more

Added by: Arina Volskaya 04/28/2014

Puff pastry with cottage cheese 4.2

Since my childhood I love cheesecakes, but I don't want to mess around with the dough for a long time, and there is not always enough time. A great option in this case is puff pastry cheesecakes. ...more

Added by: Marina Sofyanchuk 03/05/2016

Classic potato casserole 4.6

Every mother should know how to cook a classic potato casserole, because this hearty and tasty dish can be given even to small children. They will definitely love it! Try to cook! ...more

Added by: Marina Sofyanchuk 10/24/2016

Cake pops in the style of "Apple Pie" 5.0

Today I want to offer you an original recipe for making cake pops in the style of "Apple Pie", which will especially appeal to children due to its unusual appearance. Try! ...more 4.2

Creamy vegetable soup is the perfect lunch for kids and adults. It is prepared very simply and quickly enough, but it turns out tasty, satisfying and healthy. What else do our children need for active growth? ...more

Added by: Marina Sofyanchuk 03/16/2017

Red bean soup 3.6

Red bean soup is a very tasty dish. The beautiful and bright color of the soup whets the appetite. In addition, it has a lot of vitamins and fiber, which gives the body useful substances. You will definitely like it! ...more

Added by: Vitalia 04/29/2014

Meat casserole for children 4.5

Feeding children is always difficult, but this casserole recipe is the most successful and they love it. ...more

Added by: Evdokia Antonova 06/05/2015

Vegetable and fruit chips (master class) 4.4

Everyone loves chips - both adults and children! True, it is better not to eat fried potatoes with additives often, especially for children. But in our recipe, we cook homemade healthy chips! Let's see the recipe! ...more

Added by: Tsibulskaya Natalia 11/15/2017

Simple semolina porridge 4.6

Here is a simple recipe for making semolina porridge. Cook it for breakfast. It is very useful not only for the little ones, but also for the big ones. The best breakfast is porridge, athletes say. Be healthy! ...more

4.0

I usually cook this porridge in 5 minutes at home for breakfast. Tasty, healthy and very satisfying, because cereals energize us for a long time! And because we take millet porridge, then very quickly! ...more

Added by: Dasha Petrova 09/11/2014

Buckwheat porridge with milk 4.6

In my opinion, buckwheat porridge with milk is quite different from ordinary buckwheat, because it has a milder taste, and the porridge itself, cooked in this way, is much more nutritious and satisfying. ...more

Added by: Dashuta 01/16/2015

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies 4.7

These cranberry biscuits are easy to make at home. It can be called "contrasting": soft inside and crispy outside, with sour cranberries and sweet chocolate drops. ...more 3.3

This creamy soufflé is so delicate, so airy, melting in your mouth… just like a vanilla cloud! Treat them to your little gourmets, and they will kiss you on both cheeks. And, of course, they will ask for more! ...more

Added by: Daria Vakulova 10/10/2016

Barley porridge with pumpkin 4.9

Porridges with pumpkin are excellent breakfasts! Especially in autumn, while the pumpkin is sweet and juicy. Cook barley porridge by adding pumpkin to it and start the morning with benefit! ...more

Added by: Oksana Gorshkova 10/12/2018

Rice milk porridge in a slow cooker 4.3

Start your morning with a tasty and healthy breakfast - rice milk porridge. Well, a miracle stove - a slow cooker will help you save time and effort. A simple recipe for rice porridge in a slow cooker is for your attention. ...more

Added by: Glasha 04/02/2013

3.7

Creamy Cauliflower French Soup will look great on your dinner table, and perfect for festive occasions. This is not only delicious, but also very healthy soup - try it! ...more 4.7

This soup is not just fast, it is also dietary, without fat, suitable for diet or baby food. The recipe is very simple, it will take no more than 30 minutes. ...more

Added by: Vikulia 05/07/2015

Corn grits soup 4.4

Sunny healthy soup for children and diet food. The recipe can serve as the basis for a more nutritious corn soup if you add fried bacon or smoked meats to it. ...more

Added by: Vika Vasilenko 4.9

To make the soup dietary, you need to exclude fats and potatoes. It is this soup that I propose to cook with zucchini and rice. It is satisfying, and ideal for a dietary children's table. ...more

Added by Vika Vasilenko 4.2

This recipe will make tender and soft candy-flavored pancakes. I don't know where it comes from, but the combination of apple and pumpkin gives that feeling. ...more

Added by: Vika Vasilenko 09/26/2015

Pancakes from pumpkin and zucchini 4.6

Vegetable pancakes for breakfast or an afternoon snack are incredibly tender and soft, they are delicious even when cold. Be sure to try cooking. ...more

Added by: Vika Vasilenko 09/28/2015

Fluffy cottage cheese pancakes 4.4

There is nothing easier than making fluffy cottage cheese pancakes at home. This dish will appeal even to those who have never made syrniki before: they are simply prepared, but they turn out very tasty. ...more

Added by: Dasha Petrova 10/07/2015

5.0

Sweet and airy millet porridge with pumpkin pieces and creamy taste is always tasty thanks to boiling with milk. ...more

Added by: Vika Vasilenko 10/21/2015

Lazy dumplings for children 4.4

Children are our everything. I want to feed them both tasty and healthy food, and this is very difficult. Children either eat what they should not eat, or eat nothing at all. Moms run around looking for food and recipes. ...more 3.8

Carrot cutlets are not only tasty, but also healthy. And if your children do not really like to eat vegetable cutlets, then we will help you make excellent cutlets with a surprise inside - the children will be delighted. ...more

Added by: Dashuta 10/10/2013

4.4

There are two useful products in fish casserole for children - buckwheat and fish. You can make a casserole when you have buckwheat left, or you can boil it specifically for the casserole. The best fish is salmon! ...more

Added by: Galate 02.10.2014

Corn porridge with milk 4.0

Having tried this wonderful porridge for the first time, I immediately fell in love with its amazing, incomparable taste, so now my day almost always starts with this healthy dish. ...more

Added by: Dashuta 01/19/2015

4.4

You can make porridge in different ways, for example, for children it is better to boil it in milk, and if you want to get crumbly rice, then you should cook it in water, and the recipe for such a side dish is described below. ...more

Added by: Dashuta 01/16/2015

4.8

Delicious cottage cheese doesn't have to be sweet. Here is a recipe for a very tasty cottage cheese with an abundance of greens, which can be served as a snack. ...more

Added by: Evdokia Antonova 04/16/2015

Cabbage soup in a slow cooker 3.1

Light and low-calorie soup suitable for family meals and baby food from one year old. The cooking process is very simple. ...more

Added by: Vikulia 06/27/2015

Pea soup without smoked 4.8

When it comes to feeding children, it is best to cook soup without smoked meats. Everyone knows about the negative impact of smoked on the children's body, today I have pea soup without smoked meats on my menu.