Baby food spaghetti recipe

Iron-rich Baby Pasta - MJ and Hungryman

By Min On November 9, 2021

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A baby pasta recipe that is loaded with iron and vegetables! You’ll also find answers to the most commonly asked questions regarding pasta for babies, such as when to introduce and which types are best.

Jump to:

Which type of pasta are best for babies?
Which pasta shapes are best?
What makes this the perfect baby pasta?
Ingredients
Step-by-Step Instructions
Frequently asked questions
More baby-friendly pasta ideas
Iron-rich baby pasta

Which type of pasta are best for babies?

Generally speaking, all pastas are great! They are great sources of carbohydrates, which babies need to support their rapid growth and development.

Legume-based pasta (such as chickpea, lentil, edamame) have the added benefit of providing more iron, protein, and fiber compared to rice and wheat-based pasta. However, they are more expensive so rotate through.

Always focus on offering as much variety of foods as possible from the start.

And just like toast and oatmeal, pasta is such a great vehicle for introducing your baby to all kinds of nutritious ingredients.

Which pasta shapes are best?

It may sound counterintuitive, BUT bigger is better and safer for babies who’ve just started solids. Fusili, rigatoni, ziti, penne, egg noodles, and lasagna cut into strips are all great options.

I personally love fusili for this recipe because the sauce really clings to the grooves.

If you’re spoon-feeding or encouraging your baby to use a spoon, small pasta like orzo, mini stars, or chopped angel hair/spaghetti will work well.

Once they develop their pincer grasp (usually around 9-10 months), you can serve smaller shapes, like macaroni, orzo, orecchiette, or cut up large pasta.

What makes this the perfect baby pasta?

This simple tomato-based pasta sauce is:

Made without salt and sugar
Rich in iron - an extremely important nutrient for babies
A very forgiving recipe - you don’t have to be super exact with the ingredient measurements and can swap out any vegetables you wish
Perfect for both baby led weaning and spoon feeding approaches
Delicious enough for the whole family to enjoy together. As you can see in the image above, you can set aside a portion for baby and blend while serving the sauce as is (thick and chunky) for everyone else, unless you prefer a smooth sauce.
Thick in texture so will be easier for your baby to scoop with their hands

Related Post: Best Iron-Rich Foods for babies and toddlers

If you are looking for a tomato-free pasta sauce, try this creamy sweet potato sauce!

Ingredients

Vegetables: you really can use whatever vegetables you have on hand! I do recommend adding some type of sweeter vegetable to help counterbalance the tartness from the tomatoes. Extra bonus if it’s rich in vitamin C to boost iron absorption
Tomato paste: did you know that this is actually a great source of iron? Not only that, it will really help to enrich the flavor to the sauce.
Red lentils: I love using this variety, especially if planning to blend as the color stays red. But feel free to use yellow or green lentils if desired.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Chop all the vegetables
Cook onion first and then the rest of the vegetables
Add tomato paste and Italian seasoning
Be sure to stir well until well incorporated
Add tomatoes, water, and lentils
Cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can enjoy as is or blend.

Frequently asked questions

When can babies have pasta?

It can be introduced as soon as your baby is developmentally ready to start solids, usually around 6 months.

If you are unsure, grab this FREE handout. You'll also receive a ton of helpful expert tips to set you on the right path

Is pasta safe for babies?

Yes, although it can cause a lot of gagging when first starting solids. Serving it with a sauce, like the one I'm sharing here, helps make pasta more manageable.

Just note that if you’re introducing pasta that contains wheat and/or egg, they are two of the top most common allergens. It’s recommended to introduce these early AND often, but if it’s your first time, then proceed with caution.

You can introduce more than one food at a time but make sure there aren’t two major allergens in the same meal. That way, if your baby does have a reaction, you’ll know exactly what was responsible.

How long to cook pasta for babies?

Cook several minutes longer than what the package instructions say so that the pasta will be soft enough for your baby to mash with their gums.

Again, there’s no need for teeth, but you do want to make sure it’s texturally-appropriate. If your family prefers pasta al dente, like mine, then simply remove portion for family once pasta reaches desired doneness and cook baby’s portion a bit longer.

Does pasta make babies constipated?

Before you start suspecting that a specific food is to blame for a lack of bowel movement, I encourage you to consider their diet as a whole.

Overall, is your baby getting enough fiber-rich foods? If you are serving refined pasta every single day, then perhaps. Here’s yet another reason why you should vary the types of pasta.

Can I blend pasta?

I would highly advise against it. Pasta contains a lot of starch and when you blend it, you’ll end up with a very unappetizing, sticky texture, that can actually become a choking hazard.

If you’ve been doing purees, I can understand your anxiety in moving forward with texture. However, it’s really essential that in minimizing texture aversion and picky eating down the road. If you feel like you’re stuck on purees, I’ve got incredible resources for you!

Can I freeze the pasta sauce?

Absolutely! I recommend freezing in single-serving portions. This tray is really great! Once frozen, you can pop the molded sauce out and transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container.

More baby-friendly pasta ideas

All of these meals were introduced to my baby during our first 3 months of starting solids. For 150+ veggie-loaded meal ideas and recipes, 80+ cooking videos, 100+ videos walking you through how to serve the meals to baby and the rest of the family, time and money-saving tips, and so much more, check out my Baby Led Feeding Journey Program.

Do you want to minimize picky eating and set a solid foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating habits?

Check out this 3 month mastering self-feeding program! It’s the closest thing to me being in your kitchen

Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!

Iron-rich baby pasta

A baby pasta recipe that is loaded with iron and vegetables!

5 from 39 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 8

Author: Min | MJ and Hungryman

▢
Dutch Oven
▢
Blender
▢
Freezer Tray

▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 1 small yellow onion, diced
▢ 2 teaspoons minced garlic
▢ 1 medium zucchini, chopped
▢ 1 medium carrot, chopped
▢ 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
▢ 3 tablespoons tomato paste
▢ 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
▢ 28 ounce can no-salt-added crushed tomatoes
▢ 2 cups water
▢ 1 cup (190g) red lentils

Heat oil in a large quart pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add the rest of the vegetables and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add tomato paste and Italian seasoning and stir until well-incorporated.
Add the tomatoes, water, and lentils, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
In the meanwhile, place a pot of water on the stove, bring to a boil, and cook pasta. Set aside.
Once sauce has cooled, transfer to a blender and blend until smooth. You can also keep it chunky depending on your preference.

Serving suggestions

For beginner eaters, puree the sauce. It will stick nicely to the pasta and be easier for baby to eat. Serve a small portion at a time as seeing too much food can be overwhelming.
For older babies and toddlers, skip the extra step of blending. It will be great texture exposure.
For older children and adults, you can season with salt and add some cheese. Small amounts are fine for babies and toddlers. You just want to watch their sodium intake.

Storage suggestions

This recipe makes a lot. I recommend freezing in food storage trays. Once frozen, pop them out and transfer to a freezer-safe bag/container. Will keep for 3 months.

Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 2g

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

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About Min

Thank you so much for stopping by! I am Min, a Registered Dietitian, a Christ follower, a wife, and a mom to our two miracle babies! Currently, I’m having a ton of fun feeding their tummies and sharing our baby led weaning journey! Follow me on Instagram if interested in seeing daily menu as well as tips and tricks.

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Easy to make baby pasta recipes for different stages from 6 months

Chances are pasta is already a staple food in your house: it's cheap, versatile, easy to cook, and appeals to just about everyone. And your baby is no exception.

You can serve pasta to your baby in many different ways. If you're weaning your baby with purees, it's actually simple to puree pasta within a sauce.

If you're doing a Baby Led Weaning approach, you can chop regular pasta into tiny pieces (scissors make light work of this task), or buy special baby pasta shapes from the supermarket.

Full-sized pasta shapes also make great finger food, either plain or with a sauce.

Remember pasta contains wheat and so gluten - unless it's gluten-free pasta. If there's a history of these allergies in your family, watch carefully for any signs of allergy when you first give your baby pasta. You can use rice-based or gluten-free pasta if your baby does show allergic symptoms.

We've rounded up some of the best pasta recipes for babies aged 6 to 12 months, organised by age suitability, including sauce ideas, pasta bakes, easy-cook pasta dishes and so much more.

1. Easy cheesy pasta sauce

A lunchtime recipe that takes under 10 mins to prep and only 12 mins to cook. Suitable from 6 months.

2. Simple tomato pasta sauce

Simple, but effective. Suitable for babies aged from 6 months.

3. Easy salmon pasta

A clever way of introducing fish to your baby's diet. Suitable from 6 months.

4. Sweetcorn and sweet potato pasta

Easy to prep, and suitable for children 7 months and older. Perfect way to serve pasta as a finger food.

5. Annabel Karmel's hidden vegetable sauce

A great recipe for reluctant veggie eaters - this sauce contains carrot, leek, red pepper, courgette, onion as well as tomatoes. Suitable from 8 months+

6. Cheesy pasta with broccoli

Try with peas or green beans! Suitable for 7 months+

7.

Pasta, carrot and lentil soup

A yummy way to use pasta for your baby's mealtimes a bit differently. Suitable from 8 months

8. Green pasta bake

Courgette, leek, peas and broccoli are a healthy green pasta accompaniment. Suitable from 8 months

9. Spaghetti bolognese

Italian baby food at its best. Chop up the spaghetti into small little strips (around 5cm). Suitable from 8 months

10. Pasta with cream cheese and peas

Add mushrooms or ham if you want to experiment with flavours for your child. Suitable from 8 months+

11. Baby pesto pasta sauce

Just blend it together and you've got an unusual pasta sauce for your baby. Suitable for 8 months+

12. Chicken pasta bake

Delicious and oh-so-easy pasta dish that can serve the whole family. Suitable when mashed or chopped from 8 months

13. Meat-free spaghetti bolognese

Tasty bolognese sauce made from soya mince, a nutritious vegetarian alternative suitable for babies from 9 months

14.

Macaroni cheese with broccoli and cauliflower

Perfect for lunch, great for experimenting with different vegetables, and suitable for 9 months and above.

15. Traditional lasagne

You can experiment with other mince meat or soya. Suitable from 10 months

16. Rigatoni with 5-veg pasta sauce

An easy way to make sure little ones get a healthy mix of veg in their diet. Suitable for 10 months+

17. Spinach and parmesan spaghetti

You can use this recipe with courgette spaghetti, too. Suitable for 10 months+

18. Cannelloni

Makes enough for a baby, a toddler and 2 adults. A lovely family meal - with your choice of filling. Suitable from 10 months+

19. Vegetarian lasagne with green lentils

A fab way to give your veggie baby some protein. Suitable for 11 months+

20. Tuna pasta bake

A delicious tuna and sweetcorn pasta dish with cheese sauce and a cheesy topping. Suitable from 11 months

21. Beef and kale lasagne

Kale is a great source of essential vitamins. A great meal for the whole family. Suitable from 11 months

22. Pasta with tomato and ricotta sauce

A tasty tomato and cheese sauce that's a big children's pasta favourite. Suitable from 11 months

23. Trout and broccoli pasta

Oily fish trout is a rich source of protein and full of nutrients, including vitamins B1, B6, potassium and omega-3 fatty acids. Mix with the high fibre and vitamin A offered by the broccoli, and this a healthy pasta dish. Suitable from 12 months

More recipe ideas:

28 easy-cook baby recipes for kids over 10 months
Our complete guide to weaning and baby food
18 inspirational weaning Instagrams to follow now

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Garlic can be baked by wrapping it in foil, but then the temperature should be higher, wrapped in foil. It's the season, and if you have fresh green beans, then I can only envy! Instead of

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The sauce here resembles pesto, but we will not add cheese to it, and if you are afraid of the aggressiveness of basil, then mix it with neutral parsley - the sauce will turn out softer. Pistachios can also be salted,

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Why are there three types of cheese? Of course, you can get by with one, but if we are talking about pasta, which is nice to treat both your loved ones and guests, then, of course, each cheese will give its own note! Goat cheese can

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9000 . I have prepared a lot of wonderful and quick dishes for kids from there. My daughter is 1 year and 8 months old, and it is an eternal problem what to cook for a child))) my daughter eats such a pasta with pleasure, I experiment and add a little bit of basil or parsley. I use salted cheese, so I don't add anything extra.

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Ingredients

,200 g of tomatoes (these are 3 average tomatoes)

75 g of tsukkini or zucchini 9000 put 1.5 tbsp.)

25 g butter

25 g cheese of your choice

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Step by step recipe with photo

Boil pasta as instructed. For babies, it is better to cook for 1-2 minutes longer.

Scald the tomatoes and remove the skin. Remove seeds and cut into cubes.

who do not have scales, 75 g of zucchini is about as much)

or so much)

Cut the zucchini into cubes and stew in melted plums. oil for 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Finely grate the cheese.

Remove from heat, add cheese and stir until cheese is melted.

Blend everything with a blender until smooth and mix with pasta.

This amount is for 2 servings. Bon appetit!!!

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Macaroni and cheese recipe for children

Published: October 19, 2020, 11:34

Macaroni and Cheese: Pixabay will please even even the most exacting does not want. How to prepare their ? Read in the article.

Macaroni and cheese recipe

Everyone loves macaroni and cheese: both adults and children. To make such pasta yourself, it is not necessary to be a professional chef and have delicacies on hand.

Photo: whitemouse.ru: YouTube / Simple recipe

To implement this recipe you will need:

durum wheat pasta or baby pasta - 0.3 kg;
Dutch cheese - 150 g;
butter - 2 tbsp. l.;
milk - 30 ml;
salt.

Modern pediatrics, contrary to popular belief, calls pasta dishes not only desirable, but also a necessary product for a children's menu.

Durum wheat pasta contains carbohydrates, amino acids valuable for the child's body, vitamins A, E and group B, which are involved in the formation of bones, teeth, joints, nervous tissue and increase the skin's resistance to infections.

In addition, pasta is a valuable source of calcium, potassium, sodium, which are so necessary for a growing body.

Photo: gotovkin.su: Pixabay

Age from the 1st year is considered ideal to start introducing complementary foods from pasta. However, now there are special children's pasta on sale, approved for use from 8–9 months.

Due to the high content of carbohydrates, vitamins and animal proteins, cheese does not lag behind meat or fish in terms of usefulness, especially when the child does not like and does not eat them. But due to the high fat content, it is recommended to give it only from the age of one.

Before making macaroni and cheese, many mothers wonder when they can start introducing their baby to this dish. It is difficult to give an unequivocal answer to it, because it depends on a number of factors:

Ability to chew.

If the baby does not chew food even at the age of 1.5–2 years, it is better to postpone this moment.

Pasta sizes.

Large feathers or horns are more difficult for a child to chew than ordinary small vermicelli or spaghetti.

Avoid macaroni and cheese altogether if your baby:

suffers from constipation;
is allergic to dairy products or gluten, which is found in cereal flour products;
is diabetic or obese.

In the absence of contraindications, feel free to take note of this prescription. Let's talk about how to cook delicious macaroni and cheese further.

How to cook macaroni and cheese for children

Macaroni and cheese is often included in the menu of kindergartens. In order to feed at home and at the same time please the child with pasta in the same way as for an afternoon snack in his kindergarten group, do the following:

Take a thick-walled saucepan and pour 3 liters of water into it, assuming that for every 0.1 kg of pasta you need a liter of liquid.
As soon as the water begins to boil, add a pinch of salt.
Add the pasta to the boiling water and stir well so that it does not stick to the bottom. Some housewives at this stage pour a tablespoon of sunflower oil into the water with pasta so that they do not stick together in finished form and better retain their original shape.
Lower the flame and, without covering the pot, cook the pasta a few minutes less than indicated on the package. Slightly undercooked, they still have time to cook and do not turn into flour puree.
Drain and rinse the boiled horns or shells with hot boiled water through a colander.
When the pasta has drained, return it to the cooking pot and add the softened butter. If the baby eats ghee well, use it: in terms of nutritional value, it is no worse than regular butter and is allowed from 8 months.
Stir to evenly coat the pasta with the dressing and pour in the amount of milk indicated in the recipe.
Bring pasta with milk and butter to a boil over low heat. Don't forget to stir constantly.
After that, turn off the heat and add the last ingredient to the pan - hard cheese, chopped on a fine grater.
Close the lid and shake the contents. Wait 5-7 minutes and serve: during this time, the cheese will have time to melt and become like a delicate milk sauce.

Similar ingredients can be used to make macaroni and cheese in the oven. To do this, mix the boiled pasta, butter, milk, cheese and transfer everything to a greased baking dish.

This dish takes longer to cook, about 25 minutes, at 180-190°C.

If you want to make the dish richer and more flavorful, add an egg to the recipe. Moreover, beat the yolk into the pasta itself, and beat the protein with a mixer until foamy and cover the side dish with it.

Whether you cook macaroni and cheese in the oven or the classic way, eating it can always be turned into a fun game. Take, instead of the usual ones, pasta in the form of animal figures or letters and show your imagination.