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By Anjali Shah on
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Looking for some simple baby dinner recipes that aren’t just for baby? These family recipes are simple to make, easy for baby to eat, and totally delicious for the whole family! Make mealtime simpler with one meal that satisfies everyone around the table!
As your baby gets older, and especially after 12 months – they can really just eat what you eat! Between 8-12 months, I started giving both of my kids tastes of everything we were eating (with the exception of milk, honey and nuts) to start easing them into it. They didn’t love everything at first, but now both of them are very open and excited eaters – we all eat the same thing for dinner most nights!
The only modification I make is to sometimes decrease the “heat” (mainly cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper) in the version I give my kids, but all other spices remain the same as what’s on our dinner plates!
If you’re baby isn’t quite ready for solids, be sure to check out my post about the best organic baby formulas or if you’re started making homemade baby purees be sure to check out these baby food recipes that my kids both loved when they were just starting out on solids.
Tips For Making Easy Baby Dinner Recipes
Start with Tastes: Before you jump right into feeding your baby the same meals you are eating, start by giving them small tastes of what you are eating at the dinner table. Try eating at the same time as them to start to get them interested in what you are eating, and encourage their curiosity.
Reduce the Heat: The key you first start to serve your baby the same meals that you are eating is to reduce the heat, both the temperature and the spice. If a recipe calls for cayenne pepper, or another type of hot spice, take it out of the recipe, and instead sprinkle it on your own portion. Or remove a small portion for baby, and then add the spice to the rest of the dish. It’s also important to make sure that when you serve baby their food, that it is warm but not hot. Always test the temperature before serving to your baby.
Serve Leftovers: One meal can last a long time for your baby, so don’t be afraid to serve them leftovers. Yesterday’s dinner, could be tomorrows lunch and dinner the next day!.
Muffin Tin Meals: A fun way to serve baby a perfectly portioned dinner is with muffin tin meals. Think breakfast egg bites, or use the muffin tin to portion small amounts of food for baby to try.
Freezer Meals: Baby does not need a large portion. So divide their food into small portion sizes, and freeze the rest to have as an easy dinner option on a busy night!
These helpful tools and equipment will help baby transition to mealtime with the family with ease.
- Bamboo Plates with Sections: These plates are perfect for baby as they stay put with a special suction cup on the bottom. No worries about baby throwing the plate on the floor!
- Bamboo Toddler Cups: Get baby used to drinking from regular open cup with these non-breakable bamboo cups.
- Utensils: Get baby their own set of utensils specifically designed for their small hands and a fist grip.
- Smoothie Cups: Making baby her own smoothie is a simple and delicious option. These smoothie cups designed for baby are glass mason jars covered with a silicone sleeve, and silicone straws that have their own stopper.
- Reusable Pouches: These reusable pouches are great to have to add some leftovers in after dinner. They you’ll have a meal to go the next day!
Here is the list of about 30 recipes my kids regularly will eat and enjoy. It saves me time because I don’t make them something separate for dinner (or snacks in the case of smoothies/guacamole) — we all just eat the same thing!
What Can I Make For Dinner For My One Year Old Baby?
When your baby is old enough to mash foods with their gums, or drink with a straw, they can begin transitioning from purees to more sophisticated foods! In fact, they can have most of the foods you are preparing for yourself or the rest of the family with a few modifications.
Refrain from giving your baby foods that include the following ingredients:
- Nuts or Nut Butters
- Milk or Cheese (until after 12 months)
- Honey
- Raw Fruits or Vegetables (choking hazard)
- Hard Candy or Popcorn (choking hazard)
- Fruit Juice
- Sugary Treats
- Smoked or Cured Meats
- Fish with a High Mercury Count
- Refined Grains
Smoothies
Smoothies are a great way to pack in lots of nutrition into a simple to eat meal for baby. Add vegetables, fruit, and milk when baby is over 12 months. Make sure to leave out nut butters and nut milks for allergy reasons.
Mixed Berry Smoothie
This simple mixed berry smoothie recipe is healthy, creamy, totally delicious, and has no added sugar! Naturally sweetened and full of antioxidants, this refreshing drink makes the perfect quick breakfast or afternoon snack. All you need is 2 ingredients and 5 minutes and you'll have this easy smoothie ready in no time!
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Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
This strawberry smoothie bowl is naturally sweet, filled with fruit, and so simple to make. With just 4 ingredients, you can easily customize this creamy smoothie bowl for a healthy breakfast, lunch, or snack. Vegan, gluten free, and perfect for any smoothie lover!
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Banana Peach Smoothie
Start your day off right with this delicious, healthy banana peach smoothie! This easy recipe is creamy, thick, perfectly sweet and takes just 5 minutes to make! It's a great breakfast for busy mornings or when you need a mid-afternoon pick me up. Refreshing, tasty, easily made vegan and family friendly too!
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Fruit and Vegetable Smoothie
A nutritious fruit and vegetable smoothie that's super tasty and refreshing and has 2-3 servings of fruits and veggies in each glass.
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Blueberry Pineapple Smoothie
This blueberry pineapple smoothie is full of healthy benefits and is ready in just 5 minutes! It packs an antioxidant punch from the frozen wild blueberries and spinach, has natural sweetness from the bananas and pineapple, and added protein from some plain Greek yogurt. This delicious smoothie is super easy, satisfying, and kid-friendly too!
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Spinach And Banana Smoothie
This healthy, creamy spinach and banana smoothie recipe is perfectly balanced, lightly sweet, and totally satisfying! Sweet bananas, nutrient rich spinach, creamy peanut butter, and your milk of choice come together in this easy recipe that's ready in just 5 minutes. It's simple to customize, vegan and gluten free friendly, and great for an easy breakfast or delicious snack!
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Soups
Another delicious meal that baby can easily enjoy are soups! Especially those that are smooth and creamy like this butternut squash soup with ginger! Baby can also eat chunkier soups as long as they are able to gum the vegetables and beans easily. If baby is under one year old leave out any dairy for their serving.
Curried Creamy Butternut Squash Soup With Coconut Milk
This curried butternut squash soup with coconut milk is healthy, easy, and packed full of flavor. With warm spices like ginger and curry powder, this is the best butternut squash soup you'll ever make!
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Ginger Carrot Coconut Soup Recipe
This incredible Carrot Ginger Soup is bursting with fall flavors that are the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. This creamy, rich soup doesn't even require any heavy cream!It's cozy and comforting, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and kid-friendly too!
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Pumpkin And Sweet Potato Soup
This comforting pumpkin and sweet potato soup recipe will warm you up, fill your belly, and tantalize your taste buds! The white beans give the soup a creamy taste, and the pumpkin delivers a rich warmth that’ll have you coming back for more. Healthy, vegan, gluten-free, delicious, and ready in 30 minutes!
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Lebanese Lentil Soup
Rich, flavorful, easy Lebanese lentil soup (shorbet adas) is warming and hearty, perfect for a family-friendly weeknight meal. Made with red lentils, vegetables, spices, and lemon juice, this easy dish is healthy, vegan, and naturally gluten free too!
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Carrot Potato Soup
Easy carrot potato soup is comforting, filling, and full of rich flavor. This plant-based soup is loaded with fresh vegetables and fragrant Italian seasoning for a delicious and healthy appetizer, side dish, or light meal. Ready in under 45 minutes, you can cozy up with a bowl of this hearty soup in no time!
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Acorn Squash Bisque
Creamy Acorn Squash Bisque gets a healthy makeover with nonfat Greek yogurt. Paired with pomegranate and cranberries this soup is full of fall flavors.
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Light and Creamy Tomato Soup
Nutritional Info Per Serving: 74 Calories, 3.7g Fat (0.4g Saturated), 177mg Sodium, 6.6g Carbs, 1.4g Fiber, 0.5g Sugar, 1.6g Protein
The Best Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
This is the BEST Instant Pot vegetarian chili ever! It’s incredibly rich and hearty, super smoky and slightly spicy.Made with three types of beans, packed with veggies, it's family-friendly, ready in 30 minutes, and will satisfy both meat-eaters and vegetarians alike!
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Patties and Veggie Burgers
Instead of serving baby the whole patty or veggie burger in a bun with all the toppings, simply cut a portion of the burger into bite sized pieces that they can pick up with their fingers and mash with their gums. Makes for great self-feeding baby dinner recipes!
Mashed Potato Fritters with Kale and Onions
These mashed potato fritters are perfect to use up things in the fridge. I also love that they fit as a snack, appetizer, or meal.
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Southwestern Pinto Bean Burger Recipe
This is one of those leftover pinto bean recipes I would have never thought of but now can't live without! These pinto bean burgers really hit the spot when you're craving that Southwestern, Tex-Mex flavor. But beware, you won't want to go back to frozen veggie patties after these!
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Lentil Patties with Creamy Feta Sauce
These lentil patties are made from tiny, quick cooking beluga lentils. Sweet potato is the sneaky ingredient that beefs up these patties and gives them a slightly sweet flavor. Spices like cumin, sumac, and oregano take you straight to the Mediterranean. It's finished with a creamy feta sauce!
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High Protein Veggie Burger Recipe
This high protein veggie burger recipe with black beans and vegetables is delicious! They are hearty, healthy and the perfect comfort food. Quick, easy and ready in 30 minutes, they are perfect for a busy weeknight dinner!
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Chipotle Black Bean Burgers with Tahini Sauce
These healthy vegan chipotle black bean burgers are protein packed and perfect for summer cookouts, barbecues and easy family dinners! Simple substitutes make the patties gluten-free, and the creamy, delicious tahini sauce makes this the ultimate veggie burger!
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Black Bean Quinoa Burgers
These vegetarian black bean quinoa burgers are easy and quick to make, so they are perfect for a healthy and affordable weeknight meal. Your whole family will be impressed by how tasty and hearty the burgers are! The best part? They're ready in under 30 minutes and can easily be made gluten-free and vegan, too!
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Curry and Lentils
Curries don’t have to be spicy, so they are perfect for baby with lots of soft vegetables, and healthy plant proteins like chickpeas, lentils, and beans, served in a creamy sauce that baby will love. Serve with a side of brown rice for extra nutrition and fiber!
Vegan Thai Green Curry
This delicious vegan Thai green curry with chickpeas and fresh vegetables is so simple to make at home! It’s satisfying, comforting and nourishing – great for weeknight dinners, and tastes even better as leftovers the next day.
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Lentil Cauliflower Curry
This delicious lentil cauliflower curry is a nutritious and flavorful vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dish! It's so easy to make and leaves you with plenty of leftovers!
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Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry
Tasty chickpeas, creamy sauce, and tender sweet potatoes make the perfect blend of savory delight in this vegan sweet potato chickpea curry. You can whip it up in just 40 minutes and you will end up with a fantastic dinner for the whole family. Naturally gluten-free and vegan too!
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Chickpea And Lentil Curry
This chickpea and lentil curry features protein-rich chickpeas and tender lentils in a fragrant tomato-based sauce with creamy coconut milk. It’s warm, comforting, full of spice, andso simple to make!Naturally vegan & gluten-free!
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Butternut Squash And Chickpea Curry
This delicious butternut squash and chickpea curry is packed with Thai and Indian inspired flavors and wholesome ingredients! This vegan curry has the perfect texture, is super satisfying, and also happens to be a one-pot meal. A great, easy dinner for the whole family!
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Sweet Potato Cauliflower Curry
This Sweet Potato Cauliflower Curry is perfectly seasoned with Indian spices. It makes for a wonderful main dish served over rice, or as a side dish paired with a hearty stew or salad. It's healthy, vegan and gluten-free too!
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Chana Aloo Masala
This flavorful authentic chana aloo masala recipe is an easy Indian chickpea curry, with warm spices, hearty chickpeas and creamy potatoes! It's naturally gluten-free, vegan, and family friendly too!
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Red Lentil Dahl (aka Masoor Dal)
Indian Dal (also spelled Dhal or Daal) is a delicious plant-based, yet high protein meal. Warm, comforting, and aromatic, this lightened up red lentil dal contains all of your favorite Indian flavors, minus the oil and fat. Healthy and vegan friendly!
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Instant Pot Dal Makhani
This Instant Pot dal makhani has the most smooth and creamy texture without using any dairy products! This vegan dal features hearty lentils, kidney beans, fresh spinach, and warm spices for a healthy, decadent dish that’s super satisfying and family-friendly. It's also naturally gluten-free and dairy-free too!
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Vegetable Dishes
Pack in the veggies with these healthy and hearty baby dinner recipes. You may want to cook the vegetables down more so that they are softer for your baby to eat. Cut into small bite sized portions before serving.
Cauliflower Sabji with Peas and Carrots
Cauliflower Sabji is an Indian vegetable side dish spiced with curry flavors. It's simple to make, and full of flavor. An excellent way to get a healthy serving of vegetables into your daily diet!
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Indian Vegetables Recipe
Indian Vegetables or Vegetable Sabji is best described as sautéd veggies with roasted Indian spices to amp up the flavor.It's a delicious side dish, or can be a main meal when served with roti, daal, or spiced yogurt for protein!
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Healthy Mashed Potatoes
This healthy mashed potatoes recipe is the ULTIMATE comfort food! Russet potatoes, cauliflower, garlic, and fresh herbs come together to make creamy, rich, dairy-free, vegan mashed potatoes that are the perfect side dish any time of the year!
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Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole
Enjoy this easy vegan sweet potato casserole during the holiday season or any time of year! It is perfectly sweet, filled with plump golden raisins, maple syrup, crunchy pecans, and fall spices. Complete your holiday dinner or add it as a side dish to any meal!
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Pasta Dishes
Pasta recipes are a delicious choice for baby! Make sure that the pasta is cooked well enough that baby can gum and chew small pieces. Prior to serving to baby, cut the pasta and any vegetables into small bite sized pieces.
Pasta alla Formiana (or a healthified baked “ziti”)
This baked pasta dish gives you all the comfort of cheesy pasta but with added veggies and pretty presentation.
Vegan Pasta Primavera
Delicious vegan pasta primavera will knock your socks off with its incredible flavors. Tender pasta is combined with loads of fresh veggies, tossed in a rich marinara sauce, and is seasoned to perfection. The best part: you can whip up this family-friendly meal in just 25 minutes!
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Red Lentil Pasta Recipe
This lentil pasta recipe is the ultimate easy vegetarian meal that is filled with protein and ready within minutes! Red marinara sauce is mixed with tender nutritious vegetables and superfoods for a wholesome balanced meal that is bold in flavor.
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Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce with Whole Wheat Pasta
This easy and delicious Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce with hidden fresh veggies, served over whole wheat pasta, makes for a quick and satisfying meal.
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Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe
This homemade whole wheat pasta recipe is a healthy twist on your regular pasta. Made with whole wheat flour, this pasta not only tastes great but also packs a nutritional punch.
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Lasagna Roll Ups
These easy lasagna roll ups (vegetarian pasta rolls) have all of the flavors of a classic lasagna, but they are ready in less time and are a healthier option. Covered in a rich marinara sauce, these healthy lasagna rolls are family-friendly and are an easy make-ahead meal!
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Vegan Bolognese
This hearty vegan bolognese has a meaty texture from the lentils, walnuts, and celery! It's simple to make, family-friendly, and ready in less than 30 minutes. Scoop it onto your favorite pasta for an easy weeknight meal.
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Casseroles
Always a family favorite, savory casseroles are one of my favorite baby dinner recipes that are great for adults and older kids too! Cooked down, and easy to eat, make sure that it isn’t too hot before serving to baby.
Cheddar Vegetable Au Gratin
This vegetable au gratin features crisp, tender vegetables smothered in a cheesy sauce, then topped with crispy breadcrumbs and parmesan. You're going to love this easy side dish or main meal that is ready in less than an hour! Kid-friendly & vegetarian.
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Black Bean Casserole with Quinoa
A lightened-up, healthy black bean casserole that you can enjoy completely guilt-free. Reminiscent of enchiladas, slightly spicy and super satisfying, full of black beans, veggies, quinoa, and cheesy goodness.
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Pinto Bean Casserole
Our healthy, easy pinto bean casserole is a well-balanced meal the whole family will enjoy! This delicious and healthy one-pot meal is ready in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for when you need to get something on the dinner table in a hurry.
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Chilaquiles Rojos
If you love Mexican food, then you’re going to adore chilaquiles rojos! This classic Mexican dish is filled with black beans, peppers, tomatoes, and spices with layers of corn tortilla smothered in a rich tomato sauce. It’s a vegetarian-friendly Mexican casserole the whole family will love!
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Layered Taco Casserole With Tortillas
This layered taco casserole makes a quick and easy weeknight meal. Layers of corn tortillas, salsa, refried beans, and veggies transform this Mexican-inspired casserole into a hearty meal! Taste-tested and kid-approved!
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I hope you were able to find some inspiration to simplify meal time for your family while feeding your baby!
More Kid Friendly & Baby Food Recipes!
- 10 Easy Baby Food Recipes for Beginners
- Zucchini Baby Food
- Pea Puree
- Healthy Recipes For Picky Eaters
- Superfoods for Babies and Recipe Ideas
- Blueberry Puree
If you have tried these baby dinner recipes or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also FOLLOW ME onFACEBOOK,TWITTER,INSTAGRAM, andPINTERESTto see more delicious, healthy, family friendly food!
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