9x Stage 2 Baby Food Recipes (8 months+)

So your little one has gotten used to solids foods. You’ve introduced some thin and runny single-ingredient purees and simple combinations. Now, your baby is ready to move on to stage 2! In this article, we tell you all there is to know about stage 2 baby food and we give you 9 recipes so you can start right away. 

What is stage 2 baby food? 

A baby usually starts stage 2 when they are aged 8 months and up. Stage 2 often offer a little more complex food combinations. 

The consistency is slightly thicker than a stage 1 recipe. It is still pureed but has a little bit more texture. 

You can now introduce foods like:

• Pasta
• Beans
• Blueberries
• Kiwi
• Cauliflower
• Broccoli
• Kale
• Zucchini
• Eggplant
• Mushrooms
• Beets
• Asparagus
• Cottage cheese
• Chickpeas
• Greek yogurt
• Egg yolk 
• Beef
• Ham
• Pork
• Tofu

How much should I give my baby? 

Fruits – 2 to 3 tbs., strained or soft mashed/2 times per day.

Vegetables – 2 to 3 tbs., strained, mashed, soft/2 times per day.

Meat – 2 to 3 tbs. of tender, chopped/2 times per day. (source)

Below, you’ll find some tasty baby recipes for stage 2. Also, you might be interested in recipes with rice, chicken or kale. 

Recipe 1 – Minced beef and apple

Go to the print version

A very easy recipe a lot of babies will like a lot!

Ingredients:

• 2.2 oz of minced beef (65 grams)
• 1 apple
• Water

Instructions:

Step 1 – Bring a saucepan with water to a boil.

Step 2 – Cook the beef in the saucepan for about 8 minutes, until done.

Step 3 – Put the cooked beef in a blender and mix until the beef is powdery.

Step 4 – Peel the apple and remove the core. Slice the apple in pieces.

Step 5 – Cook the apple for a short while. This will make the apple softer and sweeter.

Step 6 – Add the apple and some water to the blender and mix them with the beef puree. You need to add liquid necessary to make the consistency appropriate for your baby.

Recipe 2 – Blueberries, strawberries, and Greek yogurt 

A sweet and tasty recipe that your baby will love!

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup blueberries
• 1 Cup strawberries
• 2 Tablespoons Greek yogurt

Instructions:

Step 1 – Wash the blueberries and strawberries and remove the strawberry’s green crown.

Step 2 – Add the berries to a blender and add the Greek yogurt.

Step 3 – Blend the ingredients into a smooth puree.

If you want to store en freeze this recipe, simply pour the mixture into small kitchen storage containers or an ice cube form.

Recipe 3 – Tropical puree 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (64g) rolled oats
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) apple juice
• 1 banana
• 1 kiwi
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk product of your choice (breast milk, baby formula)
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) water

Instructions:

Step 1 – To make it pour apple juice and water in a saucepan and bring it to boil.

Step 2 – Peel and dice the kiwi and add it to the pan. Just right after it pours in the rolled oats.

Step 3 – Now make sure to stir everything up so it is all mixed up. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes until you get a smooth mixture.

Step 4 – Finally, pour in the milk and bananas. Give it final stirs and you have prepared breakfast for your baby! If you are doubting if your baby will be able to swallow it, put it all in a blender and blend until it is as smooth as you desire.

Recipe 4 –  Minced beef, cauliflower, and squash

View the print version.

A very healthy and tasty recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2.2 oz of minced beef (65 grams)
• 4-5 medium-sized cauliflower florets
• 1/4 of butternut squash

Instructions:

Step 1 – Bring a saucepan with water to a boil and cook the minced beef for about 10 minutes.

Step 2 – Clean the cauliflower and cut off 4-5 medium-sized florets.

Step 3 – Cook the cauliflower florets for about 10-15 minutes, or steam them in a pan for about 8 minutes.

Step 4 – Cut off the end of the butternut squash and cut off 1/4 of squash.

Step 5 – Peel the squash and chop it in pieces.

Step 6 – Cook the squash for 15-20 minutes.

Step 7 – Add all the ingredients to a blender en mix them into a smooth puree.

Recipe 5 – Baby Ratatouille 

Ingredients:

• 1 aubergine
• 1 small-sized zucchini
• 1 red bell pepper
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 finely chopped onion
• 3 tbsp homemade chicken stock (or vegetable)
• 2/3 tbsp tomato paste

Instructions:

Step 1 – Peel the aubergine and cut it into small cubes.

Step 2 – Peel the zucchini and chop it into cubes.

Step 3 – Rinse the bell pepper and cut it into tiny chunks.

Step 4 – Take a pan, add olive oil and saute all the vegetables.

Step 5 – When tender, add the tomato paste and the stock.

Step 6 – Now, add some seasoning and stir it. (optional)

Step 7 – If your baby is very young, mix it into a smooth puree using a blender or hand mixer.

This recipe also makes a scrumptious supper for your little one, with or without accompaniments.

Recipe 6 – Chickpeas, Sweet Potato, and Spinach Puree

A dinner recipe that is both healthy and tasty!

Ingredients:

• 1 sweet potato
• 1 cup of chickpeas (soaked overnight)
• 2 cups baby spinach

Instructions:

Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put sweet potato cubes on parchment paper in a single layer. Bake for approximately 30 minutes. (or cook the potatoes for about 15 minutes in a saucepan)

Step 2 – Boil water about 1 inch deep in a pot. Put the spinach in a steamer basket and put the basket on the pot. Cover and let sit for about 5 minutes.

Step 3 – Remove the sweet potato and let it cool off. Once the sweet potato is cool, peel the skin off.

Step 4 – Cook the chickpeas in a saucepan with boiling water for about 30 minutes. 

Step 5 – Puree all of the ingredients together until smooth.

Recipe 7 – Veggie Cod Mash

For this recipe you will need the following ingredients:

• 1 medium-sized potato
• 1 small sweet potato
• 2 tablespoons of frozen peas
• 4-5 broccoli florets
• 3,5 oz of fresh cod (100 grams)
• 3 tablespoons of milk. 

Instructions:

Step 1 – Steam the broccoli until soft (about three to four minutes).

Step 2 – In a small saucepan of water, smother the cod for two to three minutes. Ensure it is cooked and flakes easily.

Step 3 – Peel and dice the potato and sweet potato.

Step 4 – Mix the diced potato and sweet potato in a saucepan, add some water, and leave it to boil. Minimize the heat and allow simmering for about five minutes.

Step 5 – Add the peas and allow another five minutes of simmering.

Step 6 – Whatever time it takes, ensure that potato and sweet potato softens up. Drain the remaining water and set aside.

Step 7 – Put the sweet potato, potato, peas, broccoli, and milk in one bowl and mash the mixture. Flake the cod and if you have cheese, stir it in the end product and serve.

Storage tip: pack any leftovers in relevant containers and freeze them.

Recipe 8 – Chicken, broccoli, and carrots 

Read the print file.

This tasty recipe is easy to make at home. 

Ingredients:

• 2.2 oz chicken (65 grams)

• 4-5 medium-sized broccoli florets

• 1 carrot 

Instructions:

Step 1 – Make sure the chicken is skinless, boneless and the muscles etcetera are removed.

Step 2 – Chop the chicken into small pieces and cook it for about 10 minutes in a saucepan with boiling water. Make sure there is no pink spot left.

Step 3 – Clean the broccoli and cut 4-5 medium-sized florets off the broccoli. Cook it for about 10 minutes or steam it for 6-8 minutes.

Step 4 – Clean the carrot and grate it or cut it into small pieces.

Step 5 – Add all the ingredients to a blender and add a little bit of water or formula.

Step 6 – Blend the ingredients into a smooth puree. If the puree is too heavy, add a little more water or formula.

Recipe 9 – Pasta with sweet potato and tuna

Ingredients:

• Baby or other small pasta (30-40 grams)
• 1 sweet potato (medium), peeled and cut into small pieces
• ½ a regular potato, peeled and cut into small pieces
• ½ of a smaller can of tuna (or the whole can) in natural juice, spring water or olive oil (drain it or leave some olive oil)
• 2 tablespoons of shredded cheddar cheese.

Instructions:

Step 1 – First, we boil the pasta and cook it for the time prescribed on the bag, drain when cooked.

Step 2 – Boil the potato separately for 5- 10 minutes and in the last 5 minutes add sweet potato (it does not require as much as the regular one).

Step 3 – Drain the potatoes and let them cool off a little. Mash them with a fork or in a blender.

Step 4 – Open the tuna and mash it with a fork or separate it into smaller pieces.

Step 5 – Mix the potato puree with pasta, shredded cheddar, and tuna. Yummy!

This meal is very nutritious and healthy. Potato, sweet potato, cheese, and tuna give it an added nutritional value, packed with calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals. You can even triple the ingredients and make this tasty recipe for the whole family.

Are these recipes freezable? 

You should store your batch of sweet potato baby meals in a refrigerator using an airtight container for up to a period of 72 hours.

You can freeze this baby food into different portions by employing ice cubes as the recipe can be prepared to make around 5-10 servings.

Which kitchen tools to use

In order to prepare these baby food recipes, you will need the following kitchen tools:

• Knife

• Tablespoon

• Vegetable peeler

• Cutting board

• Cooking pot

• Blender or food processor

• Food storage containers or an ice cube form

Final words

So for stage 2, you can offer your baby a slightly thicker puree. You can also come up with more complex and creative combinations. If you are interested in more stage 2 recipes, check out this page.