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
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?
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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!
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
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.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 169Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 101mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 5g
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!