These yummy Chicken meatballs for baby (8 month+) are fun to munch on. Great for toddlers & kids too, with hidden carrot and wholewheat bread
Round things attract babies
My toddler, Kai’s first word with meaning was BALL. Of course, he said mum and dada prior to this, but he did not know what it meant.
Kai was in my sister, Nara’s bedroom when he spotted her large purple exercise ball and said ball whilst trying to climb it. When my sister told me I was squealing with excitement! My baby is now verbally communicating with us.
At one stage we were worried that Kai wasn’t speaking much, but nowadays we can’t get any quiet next to him. What’s this, what’s that? Daddy fix my toy! Mummy turn on YouTube. He also discovered how to sing, and he does so while shrieking loudly. My husband Tomi would take turns teasing each other that Kai has inherited our awful singing voices.
Kai still loves all kinds of round things. Balls, balloons, peas (although he refuses to eat them) and meatballs.
I often made these Chicken Meatballs for Baby for Kai when he was over 8 months old. When Kai was a baby he would clasp them in his cubby little hand and gnaw on them like they were apples.
These meatballs encouraged him to use his hands and feed himself independently, which I loved. They’re also big meatballs, so they won’t end up feeling frustrated when they’re trying to pick them up.
Meatballs are great for mixing in healthy stuff!
Forget that I thought Kai was a fussy eater when he was younger. At least he ate no-sugar custards and fruit purees. These days he won’t touch any of this stuff or anything green. He has developed a fear of green food. If it’s green, it must taste bad!
Sometimes I feel guilty about introducing him to the good stuff like chocolate and crackers.
However, we don’t want him to miss out on the joy of having treats as we did when we were kids and as we do now. It’s just a little challenging to balance his diet and make sure he also gets the good stuff in too!
That’s why I love meatballs. With meatballs, I can get away with mixing in some healthy nutritious ingredients and Kai would still devour them!
Why do we need to process the breadcrumbs and onions together?
Meatballs tend to be a little dry. Processing the breadcrumbs and onion together before combining the rest of the ingredients makes the meatballs more tender. If you don’t have a food processor, just skip this step by finely chopping the onions and combining them with the rest of the ingredients.
What can I swap chicken mince for?
You could swap chicken mince for turkey, pork, beef, lamb or plant-based mince for these meatballs.
Looking for something yummy to serve these meatballs with?
Pasta Veggie Soup
Beans & Veggies Mash
Lentils Veggie Mash
Broccoli Mac & Cheese
Ingredients for Chicken Meatballs For Baby
Chicken mince (ground chicken) – You could swap chicken mince for turkey, pork, beef, lamb or plant-based mince.
Breadcrumbs – I used day-old multigrain bread, but you could use brown, whole wheat or wholemeal bread. To make your own breadcrumbs, pulse them in a food processor 3 to 4 times or until you get breadcrumbs.
Mozzarella Cheese – Any variety of melting cheese would work. Swiss, Monterey Jack, and all cheddars are great choices. It’s worth the effort to grate your cheese rather than buying store-bought shredded cheese. Most pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents, which may not melt properly when heated.
Salt and pepper (optional) – Omit for babies under 12 months and if preferred, toddlers too.
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How to make Chicken Meatballs For Baby
Step-by-step guide with photos
Preheat oven to 220°C (430°F) or 200°C (390°F) for fan-forced ovens. Line a large tray with non-stick baking/parchment paper.
Place the breadcrumbs and onions into a food processor and whizz for 30 seconds or until the breadcrumb are moist.
Transfer the breadcrumbs to a large bowl and add the remaining ingredients, then mix well to combine.
Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to make the meatballs. Release the meatballs onto the prepared baking tray, then bake for 15 to 20 minutes. To check if the meatballs are done, slice one open in the middle.
Leftovers – Allow the chicken meatballs to cool completely at room temperature, then transfer them into a sealed container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. They also freeze well for up to 3 months.
I’ve used a third-party application to calculate the calories and nutritional information, so please use this as an approximate guide only.
Cooking measurements are in Australian standard spoon and cup measurements. For specific details and conversions, visit our Australian Cooking Measurements page.
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Cheers – Cat T
Watch my Broccoli Fritters Video
Chicken Meatballs For Baby
Ingredients
- ½ cup day old wholemeal/whole wheat bread crumbs (NOTE 1)
- ½ small brown/yellow onion (peeled, chopped roughly)
- 500 gm chicken mince (ground chicken) (NOTE 2)
- 1 large egg
- 1 medium carrot (approx. 120gm/4oz, peeled & grated)
- ¼ cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese (NOTE 3)
- 1 tbsp mild/light olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt & pepper (optional, omit if child under 12 months) (NOTE 4)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 220°C (430°F) or 200°C (390°F) for fan-forced ovens. Line a large tray with non-stick baking/parchment paper.Place the breadcrumbs and onions into a food processor and whizz for 30 seconds or until the breadcrumb are moist.
- Transfer the breadcrumbs to a large bowl and add the remaining ingredients, then mix well to combine.
- Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to make the meatballs. Release the meatballs onto the prepared baking tray, then bake for 15 to 20 minutes. To check if the meatballs are done, slice one open in the middle.
