PARENTS
14 Winter Recipes Your Baby or Toddler Will Love
Nourish your whole family with these easy cold-weather dinner recipes.
Written by
Happiest Baby Staff
You don’t have time to mourn the seasonal loss of garden-ripe tomatoes, juicy berries, crisp asparagus, and the rest of summer, spring, and fall’s bounty. There’s a chill in the air, frost on the ground, and a hungry toddler to feed! Enter: Yummy winter recipe ideas that the whole family can enjoy together. Keep reading for comforting and in-season winter recipes for babies and toddlers that warm the soul and nourish the body all winter long.
Veggie-Packed Meatballs
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Comforting and hearty, meatballs are always a winter favorite. And this recipe—with its “hidden” carrots—from the toddler whisperer, Amy Palanjian, author of Dinnertime SOS, will surely hit the spot. Serve with whole grain penne, low-sugar/low-sodium jarred sauce, and a side of roasted broccoli. Got a baby-led weaner on hands? Cut the penne into small pieces and make sure that the meatballs are soft and easy to chew and served in small, jagged chunks.
Alphabet Soup
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A toddler-friendly soup that literally spells YUM? Yes, please! For a nostalgic alphabet soup that’s way healthier than the canned variety, try this lip-smacker from Weelicious. It’s easier than you think! Sauté your mirepoix with a chopped Yukon gold potato. You'll add broth of your choice and diced tomatoes before boiling noodles and some mixed frozen veggies. Serve with whole grain bread for dipping. For little littles, consider deconstructing the soup and serving on a plate, sans broth.
Chicken Fajita Quesadillas
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Chicken fajita quesadillas are not only a toddler-fave, they’re also easy to make and a fantastic way to utilize leftover chicken. Gather whole wheat flour tortillas, a bell pepper, onion, Mexican blend cheese, fajita seasoning, and shredded or chopped chicken. Over medium-high heat sauté sliced bell peppers and onions until tender and slightly caramelized. Add chicken and fajita seasoning and stir to evenly coat. (For detailed instructions, check out Weelicious.) This will all go inside your quesadillas. Slice and serve with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa—and a side of protein-packed black beans—for a hearty, winter toddler recipe you’ll all love. For babies, deconstruct the quesadilla, cut the tortilla into strips, and mash the black beans.
Sweet Potato Salmon Cakes
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Winter is the season when vitamin A-, potassium-, and fiber-packed sweet potatoes shine! Take advantage—and bolster your tot’s stay-healthy omega-intake to boot with Feeding Tiny Bellies’ sweet potato salmon cakes. They come together with mix of cooked sweet potato (pop your tater in the microwave to make things extra quick-and-easy), canned salmon, bread crumbs, and seasonings. Double down on your “sweets” and serve with sweet potato fries and a tzatziki dipping sauce. Yum!
Broccoli Mac and Cheese
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Another winner from Yummy Toddler Food’s Amy Palanjian: Five-star, 20-minute broccoli mac n cheese is a comforting winter recipe toddlers adore. It gives boxed mac n cheese a run for its money, not just with its nutritional punch, but also with what a cinch it is go get on the table. Craving protein? Make baked chicken tenders, too.
Skillet Butter Beans With Cheese and Spinach
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Fiber-rich beans are so good for you and your tot! Make them a delicious winter staple with this skillet recipe from Kitchen Skip. Butter beans, tomato paste, and cheese make for a hearty, belly-warming meal that's also heavy on protein and fiber. Pair with garlic bread and any veggie you like, keeping in mind Brussel sprouts and carrots are both in their prime during the winter.
Mini Meatloafs
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This award-winning meatloaf recipe from Taste of Home is perfectly portioned for smaller tummies—and perfectly delicious! Add potatoes and winter veggies to the mix to complete the meal.
White Chicken Chili
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There are few post-sledding winter dinners that are as comforting as a steaming bowl of chili! If you’re looking to explore toddler-friendly flavors beyond traditional chili, this white chicken chili is the ticket. The core recipe calls for white beans, plus green chiles, low-sodium chicken broth, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, oregano, cilantro, salt, and pepper—plus shredded rotisserie chicken. But feel free to add jalapeno or red pepper flakes for a kick, corn for some veggies, and/or cream cheese for a different texture! (For the complete recipe, go to Two Peas & Their Pod.) Got a baby at the table? Strain out most of the liquid, smash the beans, and ensure the chicken is soft and sliced into strips about the size of two of your fingers pressed together.
Pizza Stuffed Potatoes
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Shake up your winter pizza night with these pizza-stuffed potatoes that toddlers (and their grownups) go ga-ga over. Simply bake some russet or sweet potatoes. Cut each down the center, and mash the insides with a fork. Top each tater with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and any toppings you like, such as pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, and/or peppers. Put the stuffed potatoes back in the oven to melt the cheese and dig in! Consider serving with a yummy winter citrus salad, filled with oranges and pomegranate seeds to round out this spot-on winter meal for toddlers.
Air Fryer Fish Sticks
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Frozen fish sticks may scream “toddler,” but homemade fish sticks are for the whole family to enjoy! Slice 1 pound cod or pollock into 3-inch sticks. Dredge fish in breadcrumbs and seasonings before letting your air-fryer work its magic. For babies a year and under, make sure their fish sticks are about the width and length of two of your pinky fingers next to each other—or feel free to mash. Serve with in-season roasted carrots and go to Simply Recipes for an easy pickle and caper tartar sauce for dipping, too!
Roasted Garlic and Pumpkin Hummus
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Snack plate dinner is always in season! But when you include garlicky pumpkin hummus to the mix, it definitely gives off cool-weather vibes. You'll combine traditional hummus ingredients (think: chickpeas and tahini) and roasted garlic with pumpkin pie spice and blend until smooth. Serve it with snacky goodness like whole grain crackers, toddler-friendly cuts of cheese, hard-boiled eggs, sliced veggies, cut-up melon, and clementine segments.
Easy Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese
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Canned soup is easy, sure, but so is this three ingredient tomato soup recipe—and the homemade version is way healthier and tastier. To make this classic winter recipe for toddlers, melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter over medium heat in a Dutch oven. Cut 1/2 onion into large wedges and toss in the pot along with a 28-ounce can of whole peeled or crushed tomatoes (including juices), 1-½ cups water or low-sodium chicken or veggie broth, and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt. Simmer, then cook uncovered for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Next, use an immersion blender to puree the soup, keeping in mind that it doesn’t need to be super-smooth. Season as you wish and slurp it down. As for the grilled cheese, consider adding a little mashed sweet potato for an ultra-gooey, extra healthy, and delicious sandwich.
Mini Chicken Pot Pies
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A classic winter recipe, only smaller, so it’s perfect for little hands to hold! For this toddler-friendly chicken pot pie, you'll lean on toddler-parent-friendly shortcuts, combining frozen veggies with pre-cooked, shredded chicken to make your filling. Then, unroll 2 9-inch pie crusts and use a measuring cup to cut out 2.5 inches circles. Place the circles into your mini muffin pan, bake 'em, fill 'em, and top 'em with more pie crust before baking them again. If you’re craving a grownup-size pie instead, simply double the filling, proceed with a full-size crust, and bake a little longer.
Winter Vegetable Casserole
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Leeks, carrots, and sweet potatoes are stars of the winter garden—and this warms-the-tum cheesy casserole will be the star of your toddler’s dinner table (and yours). To make it, you'll bake potatoes, leeks, carrots, zucchini, and sweet potatoes with veggie broth and herbs. Once the veggies are cooked, cover with breadcrumbs and grated cheddar cheese and return to the oven for a hearty, winter vegetarian meal. Feeding a baby? Simply mash and serve!
More on Feeding Babies and Toddlers
- Decoding Your Toddler's Appetite: A Guide for Parents
- What Is Baby-Led Weaning?
- How to Cut Food for Babies and Toddlers
- How to Feed Your 1-Year-Old
- A Portion Size Guide for Toddlers 1 to 3 Years
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.
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