You can add this homemade Basic Beef Baby Food to your baby’s favorite purees to give them more protein and flavor. It’s a very easy recipe that packs a lot of flavor and nutrition! It’s great for Stage One Baby Food (4-6 months).
Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
High in protein, iron, calcium, and folate, this beef puree is full of all the good things your baby needs to grow and do well.
And even though it might not make sense (or at least it did to me), beef puree is a great first food for your baby.
Just because it’s a nutrient-dense puree doesn’t mean your baby needs bowls upon bowls of it. Because beef puree has a strong taste, adding a few spoonfuls to your baby’s favorite fruit or vegetable puree should be enough.
Watch this video to see how easy it is to make your baby homemade Beef Puree!
Beef can be an excellent first food for babies, providing key nutrients like protein, iron, zinc and vitamin B12 for growth and development. However, not all cuts of beef are created equal when it comes to making baby food purees. The cut you choose can make a big difference in the texture and flavor of your homemade beef puree.
So what is the best cut of beef to use for baby food? Here is a complete guide to help you choose the right beef for your little one.
Guidelines for Choosing Beef for Baby Food
When selecting beef for homemade baby food there are a few key things to consider
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Tenderness – The meat should be very tender and easy to chew or puree. Tough chewy cuts don’t work well.
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Fat content – Leaner cuts of beef work best. Too much fat can lead to digestive issues.
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Flavor – Milder beef flavor allows baby to get used to the taste Strongly flavored cuts may be overpowering
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Budget – Opt for affordable cuts that meet the other criteria. No need for premium steaks.
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Preparation – Cuts that work well with moist cooking methods tend to puree better.
Keeping these factors in mind will help you pick the right beef for successful baby food making.
The Best Cuts of Beef for Baby Food
Based on the guidelines above, here are the top recommended cuts of beef for baby food:
1. Eye of Round
This super lean and tender cut from the rear leg is ideal for baby food. With very little marbling, it has a mild beefy flavor. It remains tender through slow moist cooking. Eye of round is very affordable and easy to find.
2. Top Round
Also from the rear leg, top round is lean, mild in flavor and becomes very tender when braised or simmered in liquid. It’s another budget-friendly option. Slice across the grain before cooking for maximum tenderness.
3. Top Sirloin
Taken from the hip region, top sirloin offers great tenderness and a mild flavor profile that babies love. Look for the petite top sirloin cut if possible. Marinate before cooking for added moisture.
4. Bottom Round
This lean, moderately tender cut near the rear leg benefits greatly from braising. Cook until very soft, then puree with cooking liquid for a smooth, easy to swallow texture. Bottom round is very inexpensive.
5. Chuck Roast
Chuck comes from the shoulder region and contains more fat than other cuts. Choose a leaner chuck roast and cook low and slow until fall-apart tender. Shred or dice very small before pureeing. The meat shreds beautifully.
6. Ground Beef
High quality, very lean ground beef is another option. Brown it fully then braise with liquid to make it tender enough to puree. Use 90% lean or higher to limit fat content.
Cuts to Avoid for Baby Food
On the flip side, here are some beef cuts that don’t work as well for baby food purees:
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Steaks – Ribeye, strip, filet mignon and other premium steaks are too expensive, tend to be fatty and often cook up chewy. Save these for your plate instead!
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Brisket – While delicious when slow smoked, brisket has too much fat and connective tissue for babies. Stick to leaner cuts.
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Flank steak – This flat cut from the abdominal area is too fibrous and chewy for little ones, even when properly sliced against the grain.
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Skirt steak – Skirt steak is grilled quickly over high heat, which doesn’t break down its tough fibers. It’s also rather fatty.
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Hanger steak – With its robust beef flavor, this cut from the diaphragm is too intensely flavored and chewy for most babies.
Choosing cuts with more marbling may yield purees that are greasier and more unpalatable to baby. Tougher cuts also tend to be difficult to break down into a smooth texture.
Tips for Cooking Beef for Baby Food
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Cut beef into 1-inch cubes before cooking for faster, more even cooking.
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Braise, simmer or stew beef in broth, milk, water or juice until extremely tender.
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Add aromatics like garlic, onion, herbs and spices for flavor (but remove before pureeing).
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Let cooked beef cool slightly before pureeing for safety.
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Start with a ratio of 1 cup liquid to 1/4 pound beef. Add more as needed for pureeing.
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Puree with cooking liquid for smooth, easy to swallow texture.
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Combine with iron-rich veggies like sweet potato, spinach, peas or green beans.
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Freeze extra portions in ice cube trays for quick, healthy snacks and meals.
Sample Puree Combos with Different Beef Cuts
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Eye of round beef + carrots + quinoa
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Top sirloin beef + applesauce + cinnamon
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Ground beef + butternut squash + nutmeg
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Chuck roast beef + avocado + peas
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Bottom round beef + sweet potatoes + paprika
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Top round beef + bananas + oats
Mixing and matching tender beef cuts with vegetables, fruits and grains creates balanced purees with new flavors and textures for baby to discover.
Health Benefits of Beef for Babies
When included as part of a varied diet, beef provides some fantastic nutrition for growing babies including:
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Protein – For building muscles, organs, skin, blood and more. Beef is a complete protein containing all amino acids.
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Iron – For oxygen transport through the blood and proper brain development. Prevents anemia.
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Zinc – Supports immune function, growth, development and digestion.
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B Vitamins – For converting food into energy. Also aids brain health and development.
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Choline – Important for brain and nervous system growth in babies.
Red meat like beef is one of the best sources of iron and zinc, making it an excellent choice over other proteins like chicken, turkey or fish. Always serve beef with an iron-rich fruit or vegetable to maximize absorption.
How Much Beef to Feed Baby
When introducing beef, start slowly with 1-2 teaspoons mixed into other familiar foods. Gradually increase serving size and frequency as tolerated.
Here are general serving size guidelines based on your baby’s age:
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6-8 months: 2-4 tablespoons beef puree per day
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9-12 months: 4-6 tablespoons beef puree per day
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1 year+: 1/4-1/3 cup beef puree or finely chopped beef per day
Monitor baby’s fullness cues and avoid overfeeding. Combining beef with produce boosts nutrition. Focus on variety, texture progression and fun!
Safety Tips for Beef and Baby
To safely give beef to your little one:
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Choose high-quality, fresh beef and cook thoroughly to well done.
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Cool cooked beef quickly in fridge before pureeing. Toss if left out over 2 hours.
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Don’t give whole pieces until age 1+ to prevent choking hazard.
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Check for allergies or intolerances by offering just a small amount at first.
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Store homemade purees in the fridge for up to 3 days or freezer for 2-3 months.
Following safe food handling, storage and prep tips reduces any risks. Always supervise baby during feeding time.
FAQs About Beef for Baby Food
Q: Can I use beef broth instead of water when cooking beef for purees?
A: Yes, beef broth adds great flavor. Opt for low-sodium varieties and limit added salt.
Q: Should I remove all the fat from the beef before pureeing it?
A: Trimming most visible fat before cooking is a good idea. Some marbling is ok. Too much fat may upset baby’s tummy.
Q: Is pre-minced or pre-ground beef ok for babies?
A: Pre-minced beef works, but check labels for any added ingredients or seasonings. Plain ground beef is best.
Q: Can I use a beef roast or pork roast for baby food?
A: Yes, blade or chuck roast works well. Braise until incredibly tender then puree with the juices.
Q: Can I freeze extra homemade beef puree?
A: Freezing in ice cube trays is perfect! Thaw before serving. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Discover More Fun Meat and Protein Purees
Beef is just one of many healthy meat and protein options for baby! Try these other nutritious homemade purees:
- Turkey or chicken
- Pork
- Fish like salmon or cod
- Beans, lentils and chickpeas
- Tofu
- Eggs
Health Benefits of Beef
- Protein: Beef is a great source of protein, which is needed for all organ systems to grow and develop properly and for tissues to stay healthy and heal. It’s a complete protein, which means it has all the amino acids your body needs to make protein.
- Iron: Beef is a good source of iron, which is needed to make red blood cells, support brain development, and keep you from getting iron deficiency anemia. Zinc: Zinc is needed for growth and development and to keep your immune system strong.
- B12: Beef also has a lot of B12, which is important for brain growth and healthy red blood cells.
- Choline is also found in beef and is important for brain development and growth.
- Boil: Put the beef cubes, broth, and oregano in a medium-sized saucepan and set it over medium-low heat.
- Bring the heat down to low and cover the pot. Let it cook on low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the beef is almost done. Let it cool slightly.
- Puree: Move the beef to a blender or food processor with a slotted spoon and puree it until you get the texture you want. If necessary, add more broth by 1/4 cup at a time.
- Eat: You can give your baby this puree by itself or mix it with another puree.
- Freeze: Put some in the fridge and freeze the rest for another meal.
These tools will make it a lot easier for you to make this healthy Beef Puree. For more of my favorite kitchen tools make sure to check out my shop.
Babies can have beef as one of their first foods. Your baby’s rate of development will determine when they are ready to start solids. Usually, this is between 4 and 6 months of age. Among the developmental milestones babies must reach before they can start solids are being able to fully control their head and neck, having gained twice as much weight, and reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). Before giving your baby purees, you should talk to your child’s pediatrician to make sure they are ready for it. Can beef be a baby’s first food? Yes, beef can be a baby’s first food if you want it to be. It is best to wait to give baby the top eight allergen foods until they have already tried a few other foods that they can handle. Other than that, you can give baby foods in any order you want, so pick the one you are most excited for them to try. Is baby allergic to beef all the time? No, baby is not allergic to beef all the time. But, as with any food, start with a small amount and watch for any signs that could mean an allergic reaction after introducing it. Does beef make babies constipated? No, beef doesn’t normally make babies constipated, but it won’t help either because it doesn’t have enough fiber. If baby is eating too much meat, it could replace fiber-rich foods, which could cause constipation.
Great Beef Combination Purees
While this beef baby food is great by itself, it can be a little intense for some babies. I suggest adding it to one of your baby’s favorite purees to help them get used to the rich taste of beef. Here are some great purees to mix with the beef puree:
- When feeding your baby purees from a spoon, it can be tempting to keep giving bites after they’re full. But, pay attention to what your baby says. Always pay attention to your baby’s signs that they are full. When your baby is done eating, she will turn away from the spoon, close her mouth, or push the food away.
- You could add some seasoning or spice to the purees—babies like taste! You could also try changing the temperature of the purees every so often, to slightly warm or chilled. Varying these aspects adds to the sensory experience!.
- The stage of throwing spoons is something that all babies go through at some point. One of the best ways to deal with your baby throwing spoons is to ignore it and feed them as usual (with an extra spoon you already have on hand). If your baby ends up also throwing back up spoons #2 AND #3, simply encourage your baby to eat with their hands until they appear to be finished with the meal. ***Give baby lots of chances to practice putting things in and taking things out of containers when they are not eating.
- If you don’t want to add too much broth to the puree at the beginning, make sure you use a slotted spoon to move the cooked beef from the saucepan to the blender. You only want to add broth if needed while blending. I had to add 1/4 cup of broth to the blender while this beef was being pureed.
- Warm up slowly: If you want to freeze some of this beef puree, heat it up for 20 seconds at a time. You don’t want to recook the beef.
