Need dinner inspiration for what to feed a baby?
These easy weaning dinner ideas are so tasty the whole family can enjoy them!
Once you’ve worked your way through first tastes now things get exciting and by around eight months your baby will likely be enjoying at least two, probably three, meals a day.
Figuring out what to cook them can be tricky, so try these super simple dinner ideas that are perfect for babies.
These are mostly baby led weaning meals, or stage 3 meals. Not sure about the stages of weaning? Here’s a quick guide:
- Stage 1 – introducing first tastes – from 6 months
- Stage 2 – More textures and tastes – from 7 months
- Stage 3 – Wider variety and family food – 9 months onwards.
So these recipes work great for a baby who is picking up food and getting used to more textures as well as chewing their food.
However if you’re still doing purees then a couple of these – the bolognese and the shepherd’s pie – can be blended to a tasty puree.
Baby dinner ideas
A list of easy baby dinners that are simple to make and oh-so tasty for your little one.
These fluffy pancakes are simple to make and can be topped with whatever you want. I always slice up some fruit to add on my baby's meal.
A delicious and simple midweek meal for the entire family to enjoy! With the option for hidden veg for fussy eaters.
Tasty homemade chicken nuggets that your baby will love to eat!
Delicious tortilla pizzas with your choice of toppings make a simple but winning dinner idea for toddlers and babies without the fuss of making a pizza base! An ideal baby led weaning meal idea.
A toad in the hole is sausage in a batter - much like Yorkshire pudding - that tastes out of this world! This baby led weaning version features mini cocktail sausages baked in batter in a muffin tray to create mini toad in the holes your baby can pull apart and eat with their hands.
Pizza pinwheels are a huge hit with babies! They're great as a dinner served with some veggie sticks such as carrots or as a snack on the go.
Pancakes are not just for breakfast in our house! These blueberry pancakes are a great way to get some fruit into your baby's diet.
A shepherd's pie is made of lamb mince, but you could swap lamb for beef. It's cooked in a tasty tomato sauce with hidden veg and then topped with mashed potato and baked in the oven. These mini versions are made in ramekins. This is a great option for both baby led weaning and spoon-fed babies. The mince is a thicker texture than a puree but it's ideal for a traditionally weaned baby from around eight to nine months.
A cheese omelette can be whipped up in just five minutes make it perfect for a day when you just do not have time to cook.
Crepes are a thin pancake that can be rolled and topped with fruit or fruit puree, or filled with yoghurt and other fillings. They are perfect for baby led weaning.
Baby meal inspiration
Making your baby’s meals based on things you like to eat is a good idea as it gets them used to meals they will eat as they become a toddler and beyond.
Packets and jarred food can be really useful when you’re pushed for time or on the go, but making your own meals for your baby can be really convenient too.
I always tried to adapt whatever we were eating for dinner for my babies.
One of the most important things is to not add salt – babies shouldn’t have extra salt added to their meals. You can always cook the meal, take away your baby’s portion and then season to your taste.
I always use low salt stock cubes when cooking for my children.
If you love spicy food then consider toning down the spice a little in your favourite dishes to make a mild version for your baby.
You will find lots more baby meal ideas in this guide to making homemade baby food.
There are also meal plans and ideas in this weaning baby schedule and meal plan at seven months.
Plus check out this list of baby led weaning first foods.
