Best Beef Baby Food Recipe: Making Basic Beef Puree

Thinking of making beef baby food? Here’s the best beef baby food recipe. Add this basic beef puree recipe to your list for your baby’s first foods because beef is an excellent source of protein and essential nutrients.

Beef for baby?? Yes! When our daughter was around 6 months of age, we introduced her to beef through a homemade, basic beef puree.  It was one of our baby’s first foods. Why? Because beef is an excellent source of essential nutrients like iron, zinc, and protein, which are crucial for a baby’s rapid growth and development.

In this blog post, we’ll explore why beef is a great first food that aids in a baby’s proper nutrition, how to make the best homemade beef baby food, and possible recipe variations. 

When we introduced beef puree to our daughter for the first time, we were a little nervous. Why? I think we had some concerns that she may not like it, which would have been an ironic thing considering we raise grass-fed beef. However, we quickly realized we had no reason to be concerned because she loved this basic beef baby food.  

Why Beef is Great for Babies

Beef is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. It is an excellent source of protein and supplies 10 essential nutrients including B-vitamins, zinc, and iron that supports our bodies throughout all stages of life. The following is from published in the Journal of Food Science and Beef Checkoff about the benefits of beef for baby. 

1. Rich in iron

Iron is essential for growth and development, but the source and type of iron impact the amount of iron that the body can use and absorb. 

• Beef is one of the best sources of heme iron, the kind of iron the body absorbs more easily than the non-heme iron found in plant foods. Fortified infant cereal has more total iron, but the heme iron in beef is absorbed nearly 6 times better. 
• Beef stands out among other animal-sourced foods! In the early years of life, the most eaten alternatives to beef are egg, chicken, and ham. Yet, beef has up to twice the iron these other foods, and is a richer source of iron. 

2. Beef is packed with 10 essential nutrients

Yes, beef is known for being an iron-rich foods, but it’s also packed with other essential nutrients for an all-around balanced diet

• Protein: essential for physical growth and development
• Heme iron: critical for neurologic development and proper immune function
• Zinc: active in cognitive growth and development, strengthening communications between neurons in the brain, and immune function^​
• Choline: essential in every part of the body and supports healthy brain development, memory, regulating heartbeat, among other functions
• Vitamin B12: naturally found only in animal foods, B12 supports brain and nervous system development and healthy blood cells formation
• Vitamin B6: supports normal brain development and function

3. A balanced diet featuring beef supports healthy digestion 

A baby’s balanced digestive tract has a diversity of healthful (“good”) bacteria, supplied by a variety of healthful foods. Plants, grain, and iron play a role in this. Feeding a baby foods that contain iron can help boost the diversity and amount of healthy gut bacteria. Studies show that babies fed meat with its natural heme iron had greater abundance and diversity of healthful gut bacteria.

Ingredients: 

Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

• Beef: Since beef is the star of the show in this puree, start with a good piece of meat.  We use filet steak, strip steak, or chuck roast.
• Broth: A great way to ensure the beef maintains its rich flavor and is tender is to cook it in beef bone broth. If possible, we recommend homemade bone broth. Alternatively, you could use low sodium broth, vegetable broth, or water. 

How to Make Beef Baby Food Recipe:

Step 1: Cook

In a medium saucepan, bring broth to a boil over medium heat. Add beef. Turn to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until beef is cooked all the way through. Let cool slightly.

Step 2: Puree

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a blender or food processor, reserve broth. Puree the beef until you reach your desired consistency. Add a few tablespoons of the broth to help with blending. Blend until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add more beef broth or breast milk gradually until you achieve the right consistency for your baby’s developmental stage.

Step 3: Serve or Store

Serve to baby plain or added into another baby food purees for different flavors, such as broccoli puree, carrot puree, or sweet potatoes puree.

To Store: Portion into small portions, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

To freeze: Spoon the puree into ice cube trays or small silicone molds for easy portioning. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag and label with the date. Use within 3 months for best quality.

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More Beef Recipes to Try:

• Dr. Pepper Slow Cooker Beef Roast
• 10 Best Beef Rubs from Pantry Ingredients
• What everybody ought to know about beef cuts
• Buying a Cow. How Much Beef Is It?
• Easy 3 Ingredient Steak Marinade Recipe
• How We Raise Our Grass Fed Beef
• Beef Liver for Dogs: Homemade Birthday Cake or Treats
• Grass-Fed vs. Organic Beef vs. Grain-Fed: What’s Better

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