Introducing this cheesy broccoli pasta baby led weaning recipe! This wholesome dish combines the goodness of tender grated broccoli florets, soft pasta, and a cream cheese, offering a perfect introduction to new flavours and textures, using very simple ingredients.
As your baby explores the world of solid foods, this recipe provides essential nutrients while encouraging self-feeding and developing their fine motor skills. Get ready to witness the joy on your little one’s face as they embark on this exciting culinary adventure.
Cheesy Broccoli Pasta
Cheesy Broccoli Pasta is a baby-led weaning recipe that combines the goodness of broccoli, pasta, and a creamy cheese sauce. This dish is designed to introduce new flavors and textures to your little one’s palate while providing essential nutrients. It encourages self-feeding and the development of fine motor skills.
Why offer broccoli to your baby?
Broccoli is such an amazing food to offer to your baby and by offering it early on, you’ll make sure that they’re a fan for life. Even now at three and six years old, both my boys choose broccoli as their veg of choice. Felix even goes as far to have broccoli as a snack!
Broccoli is amazing for you because:
- It’s a good source of fibre which may help to prevent constipation – a common complaint for weaning babies
- Packed full of Vitamin C for a healthy immune system
- Also contains Vitamins A, B, E and K!
- A fantastic source of iron, something your baby needs to get from food sources after six months+
- Contains calcium – vital for bone and teeth health
- Also contains potassium, selenium and magnesium – all vital for supporting your baby’s health.
Our favourite baby led weaning products
- Easy to disassemble and carry along.
- Safety belt included.Recommended for indoor use
- MUNCHKIN SPOON SET: This essential baby feeding set of 6 spoons combines a smart baby weaning spoon design with flexible tips and long handles. Suitable for 4 months and over
- VERSATILE BABY PLASTIC SPOONS: Coming in six vibrant colours, the soft tips of the baby and toddler spoons are flexible yet strong. Featuring ergonomically designed easy-grip handles
- EASY CARE BABY FOOD SPOONS: These durable toddler and baby feeding spoons are top rack dishwasher safe and BPA-free. Great for boys or girls, for picnics, lunchboxes, at home or on the go
- THE PERFECT SIZE FOR LITTLE MOUTHS: The shallow spoon bowl is comfortable for babies and young children, and the soft tips are gentle on gums. Long handles are great for easier high chair feeding
- PART OF THE MUNCHKIN WEANING RANGE: Complete your baby weaning set with the Munchkin infant feeding and dinnerware range for babies and toddlers. Discover our matching plates, bowls and sippy cups
- Eco-Friendly Material: Baby weaning set is made from sustainable bamboo, ensuring a safe and environmentally friendly option for feeding babies and toddlers.
- Suction Base: Each bowl and plate in the set features a strong silicone suction base, preventing spills and making mealtime easier for both babies and parents.
- Complete Kit: This weaning set includes bowls, plates, and spoons, providing everything needed for a baby’s first eating experiences, whether for a boy or girl.
- Safe and Gentle: The bamboo and silicone materials are gentle on a baby’s gums and teeth, making it perfect for those crucial first months of weaning and feeding.
- Perfect Gift: The bamboo weaning set comes in a beautifully designed bundle, making it an ideal gift for new parents and a great addition to any baby shower.
- COVERALL BIBS FOR BABY WITH ADJUSTABLE SLEEVES – Our adjustable toddler bib fits any highchair perfectly, with or without trays. Simply attach your silicone feel bib to any highchair, pram or table to keep even the messiest of tots clean and dry.
- PERFECTLY SIZED FOR TODDLERS AND BABIES – Our one-size-fits-all baby bibs for eating come with adjustable sleeves for utmost comfort. With a breathable neck design, this short-sleeved bib fits children aged 6 months to 3 years and is a great long-use alternative to silicone bibs.
- EASY-WIPE & WASHABLE TODDLER BIBS – Spend more time having fun with your toddler and less time cleaning their BIBADO bibs. Just wipe off any food from the easy-wipe fabric using a clean, dry cloth or load them in your washer at 40 degrees for a thorough clean.
- HELPS TODDLER DEVELOPMENT AND BABY LED WEANING – Our coverall feeding bibs are also compatible with our BIBaDO Clip-On Handi Cutlery. They come with ‘no drop’ straps, so you won’t have to pick up spoons & forks from the floor while your little one learns how to use them. (Handi Cutlery are sold separately or as a bundle).
- MULTIPLE DESIGNS AVAILABLE – Offering lots of different designs to make eating more fun for your babies as they explore the animals and characters on our bibs
Why offer pasta to your baby?
Pasta is such a versatile ingredient, you can make such a huge range of different meals with all sorts of tastes using vegetables, herbs and spices to give baby that flavour sensation.
If you’re looking for a quick lunch or evening meal, boiling up some pasta and throwing it together with a quick baby led weaning pasta sauce recipe couldn’t be any simpler!
Can babies have cream cheese?
Cream cheese, such as Philadelphia, can be given to babies from the age of 6 months. It’s worth noting that some brands of cream cheese may contain lower sodium levels and few additional ingredients, therefore it’s always wise to check the label before purchasing.
Cheese is a great food choice for baby led weaning and can form part of a healthy balanced diet – just be sure to avoid offering it in excess as the high fat content and low fibre levels can cause stomach upsets.
Related Post: Can babies eat Philadelphia?
More Pasta Recipes:
What pasta shapes are best for this recipe?
During my days of baby led weaning two babies, I think I’ve probably tried every common type of pasta including:
- Spaghetti noodles
- Tagliatelle
- Rigatoni
- Fusilli
- Penne
- Ravioli
- Lasagne
- Macaroni
- Tortellini
- Farfalle
For this recipe I used Rigatoni as the tubes are super easy for baby to pick up.
What do you use to chop the broccoli?
I really recommend investing in a decent food processor when beginning your baby led weaning journey. It makes chopping, slicing and grating veggies so much easier and will save you a ton of time.
I use the Kenwood food processor which also doubles up as a smoothie maker. I love the chopping and grating attachments and use it to cut up all sorts of things!
![Kenwood Food Processor, 2.1L Bowl, 1.2 L Blender, Emulsifying, Knife Blade, Reversible Slicing and Grating Discs, 800 W, FDP301WH, White [Energy Class A]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41xaWWm4YpL._SL160_.jpg)
- POWERFUL: 2 speeds plus pulse food processor for making many types of recipes and ensuring your a master of your kitchen.
- GRATE AND CHOP: Multi-mill chops and grinds herbs, spices and nuts. Reversible slicing and shredding discs are ideal for grating cheese and potatoes.
- EMULSIFYING: Make use of the faster setting to make drinks such as milkshakes and smoothies. Use the pulse setting to blast food in short bursts to ensure a perfect blend every time.
- STABLE AND SECURE: Rubber feet for added stability while chopping and pureeing at any speed you choose.
- VARIETY OF DISHES: This food processor comes with a wide variety of attachments to help you create an array of dishes.
Can adults enjoy this recipe too?
Absolutely! You may want to add a little salt or parmesan cheese your portion – but sharing this meal alongside your little one is highly recommended!
Cheesy Broccoli Pasta Baby Led Weaning Recipe
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 2 portions 1x
Description
Introducing this cheesy broccoli pasta baby led weaning recipe! This wholesome dish combines the goodness of tender grated broccoli florets, soft pasta, and a cream cheese, offering a perfect introduction to new flavours and textures, using very simple ingredients
Ingredients
- 50 grams cream cheese
- dash milk
- 100 grams grated broccoli
- 70 grams pasta tubes
- garlic powder
- dried basil
- black pepper
Instructions
- Boil around 70 grams of pasta tubes as per the pack instructions
- Meanwhile grate the broccoli either by hand or by using a food processor
- Just before the pasta is ready, add the broccoli with a little oil to a saucepan. Saute for a couple of minutes.
- Add the cream cheese and a dash of milk and stir to combine until a sauce is formed.
- Once cooked, drain the pasta and add the tubes to the cream cheese mix. Stir together until the tubes are coated in the sauce. Add dried basil, garlic powder and black pepper to taste.
- Leave to cool fully before serving to baby.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Additional Time: 0 hours
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Baby Led Weaning
- Cuisine: Baby Led Weaning
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 169
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 101
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 25
Author: Nicola Hughes
Nicola has weaned both of her boys using the baby led weaning method. She loves nothing better than creating simple recipes that anyone can recreate, using as few ingredients as possible. All of her recipes have been tried and tested by both Dexter and Felix and have their seal of approval!