Beef baby food puree recipe
Basic Beef Baby Food Puree (6+ Months)
This homemade Basic Beef Baby Food is a great addition to your baby’s favorite purees for extra protein and flavor! It’s an incredibly simple recipe with big flavor and nutrition! It’s perfect as a Stage One Baby Food – 4-6+ months.
Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Beef Baby FoodBeef, it’s what’s for baby’s dinner! Beef puree, that is. 😉
This beef puree is loaded with so many great nutrients that your baby needs in order to thrive – protein, iron, calcium and folate.
And while it may seem counter-intuitive and perhaps weird (or at least it did to me), beef puree 🥩 is a great first food for your baby.
Just because it’s a nutrient-dense puree doesn’t mean your baby needs bowls upon bowls of it. Since beef puree has a somewhat intense flavor, a few spoonfuls added to your baby’s favorite veggie or fruit puree should be enough.
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. The detailed article goes over all the essential information such as the best cooking tools to have on hand, safe storage, knowing when your baby is ready for solids, introducing purees, making the best first foods for baby, and more! You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes.
Beef Puree Video
Watch this video to see how easy it is to make your baby homemade Beef Puree!
Reasons to Love this Beef Puree- simple yet flavorful
- packed with protein
- great to add to any other fruit or veggie puree that baby loves
- baby food for 4-6 months and up
- stage 1 baby food
- freezer-friendly
- homemade
Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!
- Beef: Since beef is the star of the show in this puree, we are going to start with a good piece of meat.
We are going to use 8oz of chuck stew meat or cubed sirloin beef. You can also easily scale up this recipe if you want more than 12 ounces of baby food. - Broth: To get that rich, deep beef flavor, we will cook our beef in beef broth. I recommend using a low-sodium, sodium-free, or free-range beef bone broth for this recipe. You can also use any of those variations above with a vegetable broth as well. If you don’t have any of those on hand, you can use water.
- Oregano: We are adding dried oregano to give the puree a little more complex taste. This can easily be omitted if you prefer or you can substitute in dried parsley, basil, rosemary, thyme or cilantro.
Grass-Fed Beef: I recommend using grass-fed beef for this recipe, if possible. Grass-fed beef will have more healthy fats, more free Omega-3 fatty acids (healthy fats), vitamins A, E, and B as well as more antioxidants.
Health Benefits of Beef
- Protein: Beef is an excellent source of protein, which is essential for proper growth and development of all organ systems and maintaining and repairing tissues.
It is considered a complete protein, meaning it has all of the amino acids that are needed to make protein. - Iron: Beef is a good source of iron, needed for making red blood cells, neurodevelopment and preventing iron deficiency anemia, and zinc, needed for growth and development and supporting the immune system.
- B12: Beef is also high in B12, which is essential for brain development and healthy red blood cells.
- Choline: can also be found in beef, which is also important for brain growth and development.
- Boil: In a medium saucepan, bring the cubed beef, broth, and oregano to a boil over medium heat.
- Simmer: Turn the heat down to low and cover the saucepan. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the beef is just cooked through. Let it cool slightly.
- Puree: Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a blender or food processor and puree until you reach your desired consistency, adding broth in 1/4 cup increments if needed.
- Eat: Serve to your baby plain or added into another puree.
- Freeze: Store a small portion in the fridge and freeze the rest for another meal.
These tools will make it a lot easier for you to make this healthy Beef Puree. For more of my favorite kitchen tools make sure to check out my shop.
- Saucepans
- Blender or Food Processor
- Freezer Tray
- Storage Containers for Fridge
- Stasher Bag
- bib with catch pocket
- Saucepans
Frequently Asked Questions
When can baby eat beef puree?
Babies can have beef 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.
Can beef be baby’s first food?
Yes, beef can 100% be baby’s first food if you want it to be. It is recommended to wait to introduce the top eight allergen foods to 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 baby to have.
Is beef a common allergen for baby?
No, beef 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.
Does beef cause constipation for babies?
No, beef itself is not known to cause constipation in babies, however it won’t really help with constipation either since it lacks fiber. If baby is eating too much meat, it could replace fiber-rich foods, which could cause constipation.
You can store this puree in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
FreezerThis puree can be frozen for up to 2 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!
Label Tip: Don’t forget to label your purees before you place them in the fridge or freezer with the name of the puree and the date you made it.
Take it from me; by the end of the week, you will completely forget what is in your freezer and how long it’s been there. 😉
While this beef baby food is great by itself, it can be a little intense for some babies. I recommend mixing it into one of your baby’s favorite purees as an introduction to the rich taste of beef. Here are some great purees to mix with the beef puree:
- Apples
- Sweet Potato
- Pear
- Carrot
- Broccoli
- Pea
- Mango
PUREE FEEDING TIPS
- Follow your baby’s lead – when feeding purees from a spoon, sometimes there’s a tendency to keep offering bites past the point of your baby being full. Always follow your baby’s cues for when they are done eating. Turning away from the spoon, closing her mouth, or pushing food away are all signs that your baby is finished with the meal.
- Try adding a little seasoning or spice to purees – babies like flavor! Or consider changing the temperature of purees from time to time, to slightly warmed or slightly chilled.
Varying these aspects adds to the sensory experience! - 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.
- Use a Slotted Spoon: When transferring the cooked beef from the saucepan to the blender, make sure to use a slotted spoon so you don’t add too much broth into the puree from the start. You only want to add broth if needed while blending. I had to add a 1/4 cup of broth to the blender while I was pureeing this beef.
- Reheat Gently: If you are freezing some of this beef puree, reheat it in 20-second intervals.
You don’t want to recook the beef.
- 8 ounce beef chuck stew meat, or cubed sirloin beef
- 2 cups beef or vegetable broth, low or no sodium
- 1 tsp dried oregano
Boil: In a medium saucepan, bring beef, broth and oregano to a boil over medium heat. Turn to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until beef is cooked all the way through. Let cool slightly.
Transfer: Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a blender or food processor, reserve broth.
Puree: starting on low and working your way up to high-speed, puree the beef until you reach your desired consistency, adding in broth in 1/4 cup increments if needed.
I had to add in just 1/4 cup of broth to get the consistency seen in this photo.Eat: serve to baby plain or added into another puree.
Freeze: store a small portion in the fridge and freeze the rest for another meal.
Age: 4-6 months and up
Yield: 12 ounces
Storage: Fridge – store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Saucepan
Blender
Bumkins Baby Bowl
Freezer Tray
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Beef + Sweet Potato Baby Food Puree with Thyme
Home » Feeding Style » Baby Food Purees » Stage Two » Beef + Sweet Potato Baby Food Puree with Thyme
by Michele Olivier on June 9, 2015 (updated Feb 4, 2022)
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5 stars (14 ratings)
This Beef and Sweet Potato Baby Puree is comfort food in a bowl – for baby! Tender, creamy, and savory, your little one will love this delicious puree for lunch or dinner.
Sara, the nutritionist from this site, texted me when I posted the Basic Beef Baby Puree and asked if I had all of a sudden started eating beef! The answer was of course, NO! It’s not a vegan/vegetarian/cultural/animalcruelty thing, beef is just not my thing.
And while those around me have tried to tease me into eating it, and granted I have been tempted on my own, I just can’t bring myself to eat it.
Buuuttttttttt, that doesn’t mean for a second that I am not going to feed beef to my baby. My personal tastes in food (thumbs down for beef, broccoli and mushrooms) does not stand in the way of having my babes be able to taste and learn to love all the food this culinary world has to offer. Plus beef is great for baby and is a packed with iron, protein and zinc!
Beside I want to see what food they will end up loving and hating on their own accord.
So far, both my girls have eaten beef like it was going out of style.
They both love it! So while I am fine making beef puree for baby Parker, hubby is in charge of making beef for Ellie, usually while I am off doing my weekly barre session. Win for me!
Let’s get cooking shall we?
Chunks of good quality beef are simmered in beef broth with sweet potatoes chunks and a pinch of thyme until the beef is just done. Again, you do not want to overcook the beef. That will make it hard and flavorless and will result in a puree that is bland and boring. We don’t want that, now do we. Plus, it makes this puree a quick and easy puree you can whip up any night that you are short on time, which would be every night in our house!
This puree is like comfort in a bowl!
Tender and creamy this savory puree will tempt your little ones taste buds with flavorful beef and pungent thyme, rounded out with oh so creamy sweet potatoes… or so I am told;)
Other things to add to this savory puree –- mix with cooked barley for a well rounded baby dinner
- add broccoli puree for an additional boost of iron
- for a baby 3-course meal, start with green bean + parsley puree, then beef + sweet potato puree with thyme followed with roasted blueberry + cinnamon puree for dessert.
- The Ultimate Guide on How to Make and Serve Homemade Baby Foods
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- 8 ounce sirloin beef, cubed
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 2 cups beef broth, low or no sodium recommended
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
In a medium saucepan, bring the beef, sweet potatoes, thyme and broth to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, checking to see if beef is cooked through and sweet potatoes are tender.
If not, simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes. Let cool slightly.Transfer all ingredients into a blender or food processor and puree, adding extra broth in 1/4 cup increments if needed, until you reach your desired consistency.
Age: 6+ months
Yield: 30 ounces
Storage: Fridge – store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Freezer – can be frozen for up to 2 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!
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How to cook meat puree for babies
About nutrition
- Photo
- Parents
Babies will not try baby meat puree until they are 7-8 months old.
At this age, the child grows and develops intensively, and the iron reserves that he accumulated while he was in his mother's tummy and during breastfeeding are depleted in his body. It is during this period that it is recommended to introduce baby meat puree into his diet. Meat is the main source of complete animal protein, which is necessary for a growing man to protect against infections, normal development and formation of teeth and bones. Properly prepared meat puree for the first feeding contains easily digestible iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc, B vitamins. It also contains extractives that stimulate the production of digestive enzymes and the digestive system.
It is worth remembering the rules for the introduction of complementary foods. A new product is introduced gradually (over 5-7 days) starting with a small amount. It should be given in the morning to mark an unwanted reaction. Complementary foods are given from a spoon before breastfeeding or formula milk.
When feeding with mashed meat, start with a portion of 3–5 g (that’s 1/2 teaspoon), so that, gradually increasing its size, reach 60–80 g by 1 year. you can buy in the store, ready-made. Is it worth it to "fool around" with home cooking? It's up to you. There is no single answer to the question of which meat purees are best for your baby. But we think you will agree that a homemade recipe guarantees confidence in every ingredient. Yes, and cooking mashed potatoes at home is not difficult. 9Ol000
plastic or metal spoon
meat cutter
plastic cutting board (more hygienic, wood is more difficult to clean and germs can accumulate on it)
blender
actual piece of meat
1. Choosing meat
For the first feeding, it is recommended to choose hypoallergenic rabbit or turkey meat, which are easy to digest and contain little fat. Lamb and lean veal and beef are also not forbidden. Pork for babies will be too fatty and can cause a malfunction in the digestive system, chicken quite often causes allergic reactions.
It is recommended to buy meat for baby meat puree in a trusted store. Since any meat must pass veterinary control, the seller must carry a certificate confirming this procedure. Give preference to whole cuts of meat (not in cubes), fresh and juicy in appearance, not weathered. The cut of a piece of meat should be even, pink. A dark red or whitish cut indicates that the meat was either stored incorrectly, or is far from the first freshness.
To help a mother who is worried about the question “what to feed her baby”, we have prepared a material “What to feed a baby: a baby’s nutrition diary from birth to a year”
- Photo
- Parents
2. Preparing meat
Before preparing the meat puree for the first feeding, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the meat under running cold or warm water. Remove fat, veins, skin, films from it and free it from bones.
Then cut a piece of about 10 cm from the whole piece of meat. Meat puree, like other foods for babies, should not be stored. For this reason, at one time you will need a very small piece of meat. The remaining meat can be cut into larger pieces and put in the freezer. Just keep in mind that any food for babies can only be thawed once. A defrosted product cannot be re-frozen: temperature changes create a favorable environment for the reproduction of pathogens. So every time, intending to prepare meat puree for feeding, we take out 1 piece of meat from the freezer. For the first time, this amount is more than enough.
3. Rules for cooking meat for baby puree
Put the meat in a pot of cold water (remember, it must be filtered or bottled) and wait until it boils. After 5 minutes, drain the water (this is necessary to get rid of fat and extractives that make digestion difficult) and fill the meat with new water, it should cover it. Cook the meat until tender over low heat for about 2 hours (turkey, veal and lamb should be cooked until tender for 1-1.
5 hours). If the water boils away, add it again. And remember that kids do not need to salt and add spices to the meat.
Find out how to make a menu for a one-year-old baby here: “Almost an adult menu: what to feed a child from one to two years old”
- Photo
- Parents
cut it into small pieces. Then grind the pieces in a blender.
To make puree a homogeneous consistency, similar to thick porridge, add a few tablespoons of mixture or vegetable broth to it (meat broth is not allowed for babies!).
Ready-made meat puree can be mixed with vegetable puree, which is already familiar to the baby. So the child will more easily accept the new product. You can also pour a few drops of vegetable oil into the meat puree (7-month-old children are entitled to 5 ml).
The first serving of meat puree should be 0.5 teaspoon.
Pay close attention to your child's reaction. If everything is in order, after a week you can increase the portion. By the year the child should already consume portions of 60-80 g of meat. It is best to feed baby meat puree at lunchtime.
Read also: “When a child begins to chew and how to prepare for this”
- photo
- Parents
Each mother has his own recipe for making meat puree for infants . We will present some of them.
Homemade meat puree for babies with beef
Needed: 40 g beef, water, 1 teaspoon butter
Cleaned meat, free of bones, membranes and sinews, cut into small pieces. Stew the pieces in a small amount of water until fully cooked, about 2 hours.
Cool the finished meat and scroll twice through a meat grinder, and then chop in a blender. This way you will achieve a uniform consistency. Add a little vegetable broth to the resulting puree and bring to a boil. Thoroughly mix everything, add butter.
You can also add some breast milk to the meat puree. But in this case, boiling mashed potatoes is no longer required.
Turkey meat puree recipe
You will need: 100 g turkey fillet, 0.5 cup of water.
Meat can be cooked on the multicooker rack, steamed or boiled in a pot of water on the stove. We cook in a slow cooker by setting the “steam” mode for 40 minutes. We cut the boiled meat into pieces, which we grind with a blender until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. Dilute with water. Since the turkey puree is a little dry, you can pour a few drops of vegetable oil into it. Ready-made meat puree can not be stored in the refrigerator for more than a day.
How to choose the right meat puree for babies in the store? We figured out the issue together with a nutritionist: “Ready-made meat puree for a baby: analysis of the composition”
Svetlana Lyuboshits
Baby puree from beef and vegetables at home - a recipe with a photo step by step
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14.
06.2020 13:20 3 thousand
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About recipe
Difficulty: average
I want to tell you and offer to cook mashed beef and vegetables for your crumbs at home. Very tasty and healthy mashed beef and vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes and cauliflower. Your kid will be very happy with such a yummy.
Add to shopping list or
Portions
- 3 +
beef beef
200 g
boiled potatoes boiled potatoes
1 pcs
frozen broccoli frozen broccoli
100 g
cauliflower cauliflower
100 g
carrots carrot
100 g
water water
1 l
1
Prepare all the necessary ingredients.
