Feeding Baby Chicken & Turkey – Easy Poultry Baby Food Recipes

Learn About Chicken and Turkey for Baby Food & Make Some Tasty Recipes

When can I introduce Chicken or Turkey to my baby?

As mentioned above, most pediatricians in the United States recommend that chicken and turkey, and other meats and proteins be introduced to a baby when he is between 8-10 months of age. This recommendation is changing however. In many European countries and the UK and Canada, national health services and many pediatricians recommend meats as one of baby’s first foods due to the level of heme iron in meats. The premise is that offering your baby’s meats earlier rather than later helps him maintain proper levels of iron and ensures adequate levels of zinc and protein too.

The Goodness of Chicken & Turkey for Baby Food

Chicken is high in protein and iron. It is one of the most easily digested of the meats you will feed to your baby. Chicken is most often recommended to be baby’s first meat. Turkey, like Chicken, is high in protein and iron. Turkey also makes a great first meat for baby.

 Chicken and Turkey are amazing sources of protein. If you’re looking for lots of Iron, use the dark meat.

How to select and store Chicken and Turkey for baby food

The light meat of both turkey and chicken, such as the breast, is considered higher in protein and

lower in fat. The darker meat of chicken and turkey, such as thighs and legs, is higher in iron and higher in fat. It might be a good idea to offer your baby the darker meat of either turkey or chicken. The fat content makes this meat easy to puree into a relatively smooth texture; the higher iron makes this portion of the turkey and chicken an excellent choice.

The best way to cook Turkey and Chicken for Baby Food

A yummy way to make chicken and turkey is to boil pieces in a scant amount of water with added veggies and a dash of spice such as basil or garlic powder. I always recommend cooking any food by baking it. Baking helps retain the most nutrients with steaming being another method to retain nutrients.

Using a crock pot to cook and stew meats is another great way to cook turkey or chicken. Keep in mind that nutrients will leach into the liquid that you add to the crock pot so try to make use of the liquid by adding it back into baby’s food whenever possible.

If your baby is not used to the taste of chicken or turkey, using the juice/liquid from the crock pot may make the flavor too strong. Strain the liquid if need be and use water to make a turkey or chicken puree instead.

Poach:

Step 1: To poach chicken, it is easiest to first cut the chicken into dices – use boneless chicken.

Step 2: Add water or broth to a sauce pan – enough to cover the meat.

Step 3: Bring the contents of the saucepan to a boil and then turn heat down to simmer.

Step 4: Simmer for approximately 15-20 minutes. Meat will turn white and juices will run clear.

Bake/Roast:

Step 1: To bake chicken, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Step 2: Lightly grease a baking sheet with olive oil

Step 3: Add chicken to baking sheet, lightly season if desired and if your baby has had spices – no salt!

Sometimes I rub the chicken with a bit of olive oil and then season it – mostly if I am cooking skinless breasts.

Step 4: Place baking sheet in the oven and bake until the juices run clear – baking times will vary depending on the size of the chicken portions you are cooking.

A general rule is that you should cook meat for 20 minutes per pound.

Chicken breasts may bake in 25 minutes while legs or thighs may take a shorter time.

Crockpot:

Chicken Pieces – You may braise the chicken prior to adding it to the crockpot if you wish. This is not really necessary and if you are pressed for time, you may just skip it.

Step 1: Add chicken to the crockpot and cover in liquid – broth, water or a combination of the two. Using a bit of apple juice is nice as well.

Step 2: Turn crockpot to low and simmer for 4-6 hours.

Whole Chicken – Wash the chicken with cool water then transfer the chicken to your crockpot. If you like, stuff the chicken with a halved lemon or orange.

Step 1: Set crockpot on low and simmer for 8 hour or longer. Be sure to check the chicken and look for the juices to run clear.

Turkey and Chicken Baby Food Recipes

Chicken and Turkey Baby Food Purée (Basic)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cold and cooked boneless turkey or chicken – chopped into no bigger than 1 inch pieces
• 1/4 c cooking juice or plain water

Directions:

Step 1: Place turkey or chicken chunks in blender or food processor and puree until a powdery mix is formed. Slowly add water and puree further until a smooth consistency is created.

Step 2: Add as much liquid as needed to make a consistency appropriate for your baby. You may add veggies or fruits to this puree as you like.

Apples & Chicken/Turkey

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup chopped & cooked boneless chicken/turkey*
• 1/4 cup cooked apple (no skin or seeds), very soft You can also use a 1/4 cup of Natural applesauce

Directions:

Step 1: Puree chicken/turkey with cooked apple in a food processor or blender until desired consistency for baby is achieved.

Simmering Sweet Apples & Chicken or Turkey

Ingredients:

• 1 chicken breast or 1 turkey breast filet – uncooked and diced
• 1 or 2 medium sized apples (try Macintosh), peeled, cord and diced
• 1/2 cup peeled and diced sweet potato
• 2 cup water or chicken or vegetable stock

Directions:

Step 1: Combine all ingredients in a medium sized pot

Step 2: Bring to a slow boil and then turn the heat down.

Step 3: Simmer until the meat pieces are cooked; approximately 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the liquid level when simmering.

Step 4: When meat is fully cooked and the apples are mushy, remove contents to a bowl and allow to cool. Puree, mash or chop for your baby.

Variation:

Add 1/4 cup uncooked brown rice before cooking

Add 1/4 uncooked cous cous or quinoa before cooking

Brown Rice Chicken or Turkey & Peach Stew

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c cooked boneless turkey or chicken – chopped
• 1/4 c cooked brown rice
• 1 ripe peach, pitted, peeled and steamed or baked
• 1 tb peach juice (white grape or apple juice may be used or juice may be left out)
• 1 tb milk and 2 ts wheat germ

Directions:

Step 1: Mix all ingredients together, transfer to blender/food processor and puree or chop to make textured for older babies.

Variations:

Cook chicken/turkey pieces and peach together in a pot with a scant amount of water – simmer until chicken/turkey pieces are cooked; approximately 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the water level when using small amounts of water and simmering. Add the rice to the cooked turkey/chicken and peach and then process as needed for your baby’s texture preference.

Substitute the peach for mango, papaya or apricots or combine them all.

 Cheesy Turkey/Chicken Sweet Potato Mash with Carrots

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cooked diced chicken or turkey
• 2 medium sweet potato
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 1/4 cup grated cheddar or colby cheese

Directions:

Step 1: Peel and dice the sweet potato and carrots

Step 2: Boil or steam the potato and carrots until tender. You may also bake the carrots & sweet potato together for a more yummy taste.

Step 3: Mash the sweet potato and carrots and then add the cheese; mash some more.

Step 4: Add the chicken or turkey and then chop, mash or puree as needed for your baby.

Turkey/Chicken Cheesy Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cooked diced chicken or turkey
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup pasta – ditalini or pastina; slightly cooled
• dash of pepper, garlic powder and basil
• 1/4 cup steamed broccoli

Directions:

Step 1: Mix all ingredients together and serve – serve as is for those accustomed to lumps & textures or chop down or puree if needed.

Variation:

Add some carrots or sweet potato cubes for more color and fun.

Some Foods Good to Mix With Chicken and Turkey

• Apples
• Grapes
• Mango
• Papaya
• Peaches
• Pears
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Eggplant
• Green Beans
• Peas
• Sweet Potato
• White Potato
• Winter and Summer Squash
• Barley
• Lentils
• Millet
• Pasta
• Rice