Zucchini Baby Food (puree & baby-led weaning)
Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Learn how to prepare zucchini for your baby! As a mild and versatile vegetable (okay, technically, it’s a fruit), zucchini can be served to babies 6 months and up. Serve them as a baby food puree, as a solid for the finger food stage, or for baby-led weaning.
Zucchini for Baby
Zucchini is a versatile and mild-tasting member of the squash family. It’s also a great first food to offer to babies as soon as they’re ready to start solids, usually around 6 months.
Whether you are feeding your baby using traditional (spoon) weaning, baby-led weaning, or a combination of both, zucchini definitely deserves a place as one of your baby’s first foods. We’ll go over 5 delicious ways to serve zucchini to your baby and toddler, from purees to finger foods.
First time making homemade baby food? Then, I would suggest that you start by reading my very in-depth Guide on how to Make Homemade Baby Food, or if you are doing Baby-Led Weaning, then be sure to check out my Complete Guide to Baby-Led Weaning.
Zucchini for Baby Video
Watch this video to see how to prepare zucchini for your baby!
Benefits of Zucchini for Baby
Zucchini is a nutrient-dense food. In addition, it’s soft and primarily water, making it a great option for hydrating babies.
- High in vitamin C, which supports the immune system and helps with iron absorption
- Contains beta-carotene, needed for healthy eyesight
- A good source of potassium, an important electrolyte needed for fluid balance, muscle contractions and a normal blood pressure
- Contains water and fiber, which support digestion and can help with constipation
How to Pick Zucchini
When picking a zucchini, look for one that has a vibrant, rich color, and is smaller in size (6-8 inches) compared to larger ones, as smaller means more flavor. Make sure it is firm and free from cuts and bruises.
How to Serve Zucchini to Baby
There are several different ways to prepare zucchini for your baby! You can make it into a smooth puree, a combination puree, a chunky puree for stage three, mashed and spread on toast or whole for baby-led weaning or a finger food. Here are some of our favorite ways to serve them:
Stage One Puree
- Easy Zucchini Puree
Stage Two Puree
- Roasted Zucchini Cauliflower Baby Puree
Stage Three Purees
- Chunky Zucchini Pea and Broccoli Puree with Pasta
Baby-Led Weaning or Finger Foods
- Zucchini for Baby-Led Weaning or Finger Foods: thick strips, cut into small pieces or in a small wedge.
- Zucchini Pancakes
- Roasted Zucchini Cauliflower – do not puree, serve roasted and whole
- Chunky Zucchini Pea and Broccoli Puree with Pasta
Baby Feeding Tips
- You can keep the skin on zucchini, even when serving to younger babies. When cooked, the skin will help hold a zucchini spear together while your baby holds and brings it to their mouth.
- You can also roll cooked zucchini spears in crushed cheerios or breadcrumbs to help give the zucchini texture and give your baby a better grip.
- Try serving shredded zucchini mixed into other dishes, such as quinoa, chickpeas, eggs or with other cooked vegetables and offer to baby on a pre-loaded spoon.
- For babies 9+ months and toddlers, you can start to offer small, diced pieces of zucchini to work on their pincer grasp. Be sure to keep offering cooked spears or rounds from time to time, as these larger pieces are a great way for your child to develop oral motor skills necessary for biting and tearing off food.
- Around 18+ months, you can start to offer raw zucchini, which is a great as a snack or side for meals.
Steamed Zucchini Puree
Zucchini puree is quick to make and its high water content makes it a naturally thin and easy puree to swallow. Zucchini puree’s mild flavor also makes it a great option to mix in with other thicker vegetable purees or meat puree.
How to Serve: you can serve this puree as-is, mixed with an apple, pear, or broccoli puree, swirled into oatmeal, yogurt, or ricotta.
Instructions (for the full recipe, see recipe card below): chop zucchini and place in a steamer basket. Cook for 8 minutes or until tender. Place the cooked zucchini into a blender or food processor along with the cilantro (optional) and puree until smooth.
Zucchini for Self Feeding: Baby-Led Weaning or Finger Foods
Zucchini is a great food for your baby to self-feed, whether for baby-led weaning, which happens around 6 months of age, or during the finger foods stage at 9 months.
Thick Spears (cooked): great for babies 6+ months or just starting on solid foods. It’s best to start your baby with a bigger piece of cooked zucchini so your baby can chew, gnaw and take bites without them being a choking hazard.
Grated, Small Chunks (cooked) or Spiralized: you can serve baby grated, small chunks or spiralized zucchini 9 months and older.
Sticks or Small Chunks (raw): Once your baby reaches 12 months, you can serve them raw uncooked sticks or small chunks of zucchini. Great served along with your toddler’s favorite dip.
Roasted Zucchini Cauliflower Baby Puree
This nutrient-dense puree introduces your baby to the delicious flavors of both zucchini and cauliflower. You can serve it as is or add the leftover puree to soup or pasta.
Instructions (for the full recipe, see recipe card below): chop cauliflower and zucchini and place on a baking sheet. Toss with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of dried herbs (optional) and roast until tender. Place the roasted zucchini and cauliflower into a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
Chunky Zucchini Pea and Broccoli Puree with Pasta
Zucchini, Pea and Broccoli puree with pasta is a versatile dish, perfect for both babies and toddlers. You can easily adjust the thickness of the puree to your liking.
Instructions (for the full recipe, see recipe card below): cook pasta according to the directions on the package. Meanwhile, chop zucchini and broccoli and place in a steamer basket, and cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender, adding in peas for the last 2 minutes. In a food processor, add the cooked zucchini, broccoli, peas, olive oil, parmesan, and sesame seeds and make it into a chunky puree or into a thin puree. Toss with pasta and add a sprinkle of parmesan on top.
Zucchini Pancakes
These zucchini pancakes are an easy and yummy option for breakfast, lunch, snack or dinner. Serve them with butter and syrup, a smear of cream cheese, or cut into strips and dipped in yogurt.
Instructions (for the full recipe, see recipe card below): place all of the dry ingredients into a medium bowl and whisk. Add in wet ingredients and stir until just incorporated. Spoon onto a hot skillet or griddle and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side.
Get the recipe: Zucchini Baby Food: Puree & Baby-Led Weaning
Ingredients
Zucchini Baby Puree
- 2 medium zucchini, roughly chopped
- 2-3 sprigs cilantro (optional)
Zucchini for Baby-Led Weaning
- 1 medium zucchini
Roasted Zucchini Cauliflower Puree
- 1 medium zucchini, roughly chopped
- 2 cups caulilfower, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/8 tsp dried oregano (optional)
Zucchini Broccoli & Pea Pasta
- 1 medium zucchini, roughly chopped
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup peas
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp parmesan (optional)
- 1 tbsp roasted unsalted sesame seeds (optional)
- 2 cups cooked pasta
Zucchini Pancakes
- 1 1/2 cup flour all-purpose, white whole wheat for a gluten-free blend
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup grated zucchini squeezed in towels until dry
- 1 1/4 cup milk
Instructions
Zucchini Baby Puree
- In a medium saucepan, bring 2″ of water to a boil over medium heat. Place the zucchini into a steamer basket, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender. Reserve steamer water. Let cool slightly.
- Place the cooked zucchini into a blender or food processor and add a pinch of dried oregano, or any spice/herb you are using. Turn on the blender or food processor and puree for 1-2 minutes on medium. If the puree is too thick, add in 1/4 cup of liquid at a time, until you achieve desired consistency.
- Serve and enjoy, or store some for later.
Zucchini for Baby-Led Weaning
- Steamed: In a medium saucepan, bring 2" of water to a boil over high heat. Add a steamer basket and add the large spears of zucchini into the basket in a single layer. Cover and cook for 3-5 minutes or until just tender when pricked with a fork. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Roasted: Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, silicon mat or spray with cooking spray. Place the zucchini spears onto the baking sheet and cook for 15-20 minutes or until just tender. Let cool.
- Slice or chop the carrots to be age-appropriate for your baby. Serve and enjoy.
Roasted Zucchini Cauliflower Puree
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, silicon mat or spray with cooking spray. Place the zucchini and cauliflower onto the baking sheet and toss with the olive oil and oregano.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast for 25-30 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Let cool.
- Place the cooked zucchini and cauliflower into a blender or food processor and puree on high for 1-2 minutes, adding in liquid (fresh breastmilk, formula or water) if needed.
- Serve and enjoy, or freeze some for later.
Zucchini Broccoli & Pea Pasta
- In a medium saucepan, bring 2″ of water to a boil over medium heat. Place the zucchini and broccoli into a steamer basket, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes or until just tender. Add in the peas, and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Reserve steamer water. Let cool slightly.
- Place the cooked zucchini, broccoli and peas into a blender or food processor and add in the olive, parmesan (if using), sesame seeds (if using) and pulse for a chunky puree or run for 1-2 minutes for a smooth puree. If the puree is too thick, add in 1/4 cup of the reserved liquid at a time, until you achieve desired consistency.
- Toss with the pasta and add an optional pinch of parmesan cheese.
Zucchini Pancakes
- In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and ground nutmeg.
- Add in the melted butter, maple syrup, egg, vanilla extract, grated zucchini and milk.
- Stir until incorporated, do not overmix.
- Heat a non-stick pan or pancake griddle over medium to medium-low heat. Pour 2-3 tablespoons of batter onto the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes or until tiny bubbles appear on the outside of the pancake. Flip and cook for an additional 2 minutes. If the batter gets too thick, add in a tablespoon at a time of milk and stir until you have the right consistency.
- Transfer pancakes to a cooling rack and repeat the process until you have used all of the batter.
Notes
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Frequently Asked Questions
Zucchini can be introduced when your baby is ready for solid foods, usually around 6 months of age. When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-6 months of age. Some of the developmental milestones babies need to reach in order to start solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). Before you start your baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready for purees.
Zucchini is not known to be a common choking hazard. It is usually served cooked, which gives it a soft consistency, but always serve it in an age-appropriate form and supervise your baby when eating.
No, it is not a common allergen, however, as with any food, start with a small portion and be aware of any signs that might be an allergic reaction after introducing it.
Zucchini does not usually cause constipation in babies, and it can actually help alleviate constipation due to its fiber and water content.
