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My green bean puree baby food recipe has a smooth, creamy texture, ideal for 6-month-old babies! It’s the perfect baby starter food that’s full of healthy nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and takes just 15 minutes to prepare using a package of green beans and water.
So for the record, my kids weren’t huge fans of green bean puree when I first introduced them to it. They’d gag, cough, make faces, and look at my plate with roasted green beans and potatoes as to say, I want that instead!
Eventually though, they started liking it, and now that they’re big kids, they still enjoy a healthy green bean casserole for dinner. Baby food purees are simply veggies blended to get them used to food, and this green bean puree helps them to enjoy less sweet flavors before trying other flavors such as sweet potato or butternut squash.
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It’s so adorable watching babies try their first foods! Their cute little faces tasting each spoonful with curiosity and wonder is so amusing. My two kids sat there with open mouths waiting to discover what flavor was coming, since I used to make a variety from simple vegetables. And that’s the beauty of baby food purees. You only need to boil, bake, or steam a vegetable and blend it with water or milk to make a delicious puree. It’s such a simple task for moms that saves time and money.
This green bean baby puree recipe is a great first food for babies, packed with vitamins and fiber, and it’s so easy to prepare. All I do is steam a package of frozen green beans until tender and blend them with a touch of water until smooth and creamy, then pour the puree into ice cube trays and freeze them. Freezing purees in ice cube trays is a simple mom hack that I used until my kids were old enough to eat whole foods. Perfect-sized portions, quickly reheated, and served in minutes.
Though the first time my kids tried this green bean puree, they didn’t enjoy it, my friend’s baby, however, who also tried this puree, loved it. My trick was to mix it with whole milk organic yogurt. It sounds gross, but for some reason, they loved it! Plus, making this puree recipe provided me with enough puree for roughly 12 servings, which saved me money on grocery store puree jars and my precious time. So give the nutrient-rich green bean puree a go. It only takes 15 minutes and is the perfect first food for babies.
🥘 Ingredients
I make this green baby puree with one ingredient. Yes, that is right! Ha.
Frozen Green Beans: I recommend using 2 bags of organic green beans for less prep and easier clean-up. You can also use organic fresh green beans, known as French beans or string beans, at the grocery store. Learn how to cook fresh green beans perfectly.
Cold Water: A touch of water helps to thin out the puree to make it easy for the baby to eat.
🔪 How To Make
It only takes 15 minutes to prepare enough puree to last a week. Here’s how I do it.
Cook Green Beans and Add To Blender: I place the green beans in a steamer and cook at medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes until tender. Then, I drain the tender green beans and place them in a blender with a little water. The more water you use, the thinner your puree will be. I recommend a couple of tablespoons of water to start with; you can always add more if needed.
Puree and Store: Then, I puree the green beans until smooth and pour the puree into ice cube trays. To freeze them, I let them cool first before wrapping the trays with plastic wrap and freezing.
Thaw and Serve: When I want to serve them, I thaw a tray in the fridge overnight, or thaw by putting the ice cube in a bowl over a bowl of hot water on the counter to defrost. Serve at room temperature.
My #1 Secret Tip for making Green Bean Puree Baby Food is to blend the green beans long enough so the puree comes out completely smooth. I learned this when my little one was starting solids, because a chunky texture made it harder for them to eat and enjoy. I always let the blender run a little longer, stopping once or twice to scrape the sides, until it looks silky and creamy.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Frozen green beans: I often use frozen green beans because it saves me time in the kitchen. They still make a smooth and tasty puree for my baby.
- Organic green beans: I like to choose organic green beans so my baby is not exposed to extra pesticides. It gives me peace of mind when making homemade baby food.
- Water for blending: I never use the same water I steamed the beans in, instead I use filtered water. If I boil the beans, I use that water for blending since it holds some of the nutrients.
- Thawing baby food: When I need frozen cubes, I move them to the fridge the night before so they are ready the next day. If I am rushed, I microwave them in short bursts but I always check carefully so they are not too hot.
- Introducing new foods: I only introduce one new food every two days to watch how my baby reacts. This helps me spot any allergies before trying something new.
📖 Variations
If you want to mix up the flavor to get your babies to enjoy this nutrient-rich green bean puree, here a few of my favorite variations.
Add Other Greens: To boost the nutrients, I used to blend the green beans with a handful of cooked spinach or broccoli florets. The flavor will be more intense, but my kids liked the different flavors, rather than just pureed green beans.
Add Healthy Fats: For a creamier puree, add in half an avocado to the puree to increase healthy fats.
Add Breastmilk or Baby Formula: It’s totally fine to mix this green bean baby food with formula or breastmilk immediately before serving. My kids used to love this variation. But do not add formula or breastmilk to the puree before freezing it, since formula or breastmilk can’t be frozen. If you choose formula, I recommend using one of these best organic baby formulas for the cleanest ingredients, and a close formulation to breastmilk.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
If you want to give your little one something extra with their meal or for a tasty dessert, I have some delicious, easy puree recipes that your little one will fall in love with.
Pairing options: The first puree I gave my kids was this butternut squash puree. They loved it so much that I paired it with green bean puree to give them a contrast of sweet and earthy flavors. Another favorite was a savory and sweet zucchini baby food puree, made with carrot and apple.
Dessert options: Even at 6 months old, my kids used to sit there with their mouths open. They waited in anticipation for something sweet after the first course. They loved nothing more than the sweet taste of simple pear baby food puree. Sometimes I made a delicious blueberry puree with a variety of fruits such as apples, bananas, and mangoes. It was slightly more expensive to make, but it was a treat they absolutely loved.
🧊 Storage Directions
Refrigeration: I let the puree cool, then transfer it to baby airtight containers, and chill them for 3-4 days.
Freezing: Once the puree has cooled, I pour the puree into ice cube trays / baby food trays, cover them with plastic wrap so they are airtight, and freeze them for up to 4 months.
Reheating: I let the cubes thaw in the fridge overnight before I intend to warm them up, or I put the small cubes in a bowl over a bowl of hot water on the counter to defrost. You can also defrost them in the microwave on the defrost setting. It’s important to warm the puree to body temperature so it’s not too hot for the baby.
❓Recipe FAQs
If your baby is not a fan of green beans at first, don’t give up! Neither of my kids liked green beans the first few times I served them it. However, I stirred in a bit of whole milk yogurt to add more flavor and give it a creamy texture that they both enjoyed. You can also add breast milk or formula instead.
I first started my babies during the first stage of introducing solids (around 6 months of age).
No. Foods that are higher in fiber and lower in starch (like green beans) can cause constipation in some children. This is typically because fiber, without enough water, can cause constipation. However, not all babies react the same way to the same foods. In my experience, when served with a sippy cup of water to drink, green beans did not cause gas or constipation. Although I recommend paying attention to how your baby reacts to each food you introduce them to, and adjust accordingly.
Green Bean Puree: Baby Food Recipe
My green bean puree baby food recipe has a smooth, creamy texture, ideal for 6-month-old babies! It’s the perfect baby starter food that’s full of healthy nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and takes just 15 minutes to prepare using a package of green beans and water.
Servings: 32 ounces
Calories: 23kcal
- My #1 Secret Tip for making Green Bean Puree Baby Food is to blend the green beans long enough so the puree comes out completely smooth. I learned this when my little one was starting solids, because a chunky texture made it harder for them to eat and enjoy. I always let the blender run a little longer, stopping once or twice to scrape the sides, until it looks silky and creamy.
- Frozen green beans: I often use frozen green beans because it saves me time in the kitchen. They still make a smooth and tasty puree for my baby.
- Organic green beans: I like to choose organic green beans so my baby is not exposed to extra pesticides. It gives me peace of mind when making homemade baby food.
- Water for blending: I never use the same water I steamed the beans in, instead I use filtered water. If I boil the beans, I use that water for blending since it holds some of the nutrients.
- Thawing baby food: When I need frozen cubes, I move them to the fridge the night before so they are ready the next day. If I am rushed, I microwave them in short bursts but I always check carefully so they are not too hot.
- Introducing new foods: I only introduce one new food every two days to watch how my baby reacts. This helps me spot any allergies before trying something new.
Calories: 23kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 160mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 522IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
