Why you’re going to love this casserole
With a little prep work beforehand, this dish will come together so easily Highly customizable Makes a lot so you’ll have plenty of leftovers to enjoy later in the week or freeze LOADED with iron, an essential nutrient for babies and toddlers
Best Iron Rich Foods for Babies and Toddlers
Ingredients
Chicken – feel free to use breast or thigh meat. Can use store-bought rotisserie chicken as well. How to cook chicken PERFECTLY for babies and toddlers Quinoa – While you can use other variety, I recommend yellow quinoa for this recipe. Vegetables – Sweet potatoes for flavor and texture (You can mash and combine it with other ingredients for baby. Helps prevent tiny quinoa from flying everywhere. Can we say amen to less mess?) Serving spinach to babies can be tricky. Adding it to casseroles works great! Black Beans – Look for low or no-salt-added. Rinsing will also help get rid of a lot of sodium. You may also be interested in this creamy Greek yogurt black bean dip!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Tips for Success
If able, I highly recommend that you cook the chicken and quinoa ahead of time. That way you can whip up this quinoa casserole easily on the day of. As for chicken, make a big batch so you can enjoy throughout the week in sandwiches, lentils, oatmeal, toast, etc! Sweet potatoes – Cooking in water along with the aromatics will not only help build flavor but will ensure they won’t be crunchy once baked. Be sure to cook until softened not mushy since they will go into the oven to cook more.
A note about cheese
This is one of the best “tricks” to making a casserole for the ENTIRE family, including your baby. I like to load up on cheese, but that’s not ideal for babies as their kidneys cannot handle too much sodium. So leave it out for baby’s portion (can add a little bit, if you wish) and add as much as your heart desires to the rest. Related Post: Salt/Sodium for babies
Storage Suggestions
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. If freezing, Transfer to freezer-safe container and store for up to 3 months. I like to freeze in individual portions. When reheating a small portion, microwave in 30-60 second increments until warmed to your liking. For larger portions, place casserole in a small dish and heat at 350°F.It’s absolutely delicious cold too!
Quinoa Casserole for Babies
For 6-8 month old:
Finely chop the chicken and mash the beans and sweet potatoes. Serve with mashed avocado or yogurt to not only boost nutrition but also to make it easier for baby to scoop with their hands or to preload onto a spoon. This one is my absolute favorite for this age! Less is also more at this age as seeing too much food can be overwhelming for them. You can always serve more following your baby’s lead.
For 9+ month old:
Finely chop chicken. There’s no need to mash anything. Related Post: Baby led weaning – how to serve the right food size and texture
More Baby and Kid-friendly Quinoa Recipes
Vegan vegetable quinoa muffins Roasted cauliflower lasagna Overnight oats or quinoa Healthy Korean Ground Beef and Broccoli Quinoa Meatballs Loaded Southwestern Quinoa Sweet Potatoes
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