These healthy meatballs are made with just 5 simple ingredients and are egg free and dairy free. Tender and flavorful, these are perfect for babies and kids of all ages!
This post is a collaboration with Beef Loving Texans. Thank you for supporting brands that I believe in and keeps this space running. As always, all opinions are my own!
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Meatballs for 6 months and up
Research is clear! Nutrition in the first 1000 days (the period beginning at conception to two years of life) has a profound impact on a child's brain development, lifelong health, and eating habits.
This is why The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Women Infants and Children’s Program and now for the first time ever, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend introducing solid foods, like beef, to infants and toddlers to make every bite count during this critical time of rapid growth and development.
Beef is a wonderful first complementary food for many reasons, one being it's a source of many essential nutrients that babies need to grow optimally, such as high quality protein, iron, zinc, and choline.
Here's a great resource for learning more about beef as a complementary food for babies as well as baby-friendly recipes for the whole family.
And now, let me introduce you to these healthy meatballs!
As a fellow busy, tired parent, here's my gift to you ;). They're super EASY to make, nutritious, and safe for babies! Made with ground beef, butternut squash, and peanut butter, it’s a simple way to again, make every bite count! I can't emphasize this enough.
Meatball Ingredients
Ground beef - this is such a convenient and versatile ingredient! Most definitely a freezer staple for us. Nutrients in beef, like iron and zinc, are critical for optimal development as babies grow. You can use lean ground beef, but for moist and flavorful meatballs, I wouldn't go leaner than 85% meat and 15% fat.
Butternut squash - In addition to it being a good source of vitamins A, C (helps enhance the absorption of iron), and fiber, it provides moisture to these meatballs.
It also helps hold them together without the use of eggs, breadcrumbs, cheese, tofu (commonly used in Asian cooking), etc.
How to cook butternut squash perfectly!
Peanut butter - I know this may sound really strange. But give it a try! I like coming up with unique ways to incorporate this ingredient as research shows that introducing peanuts to your baby early and often can help prevent them from developing a peanut allergy later on.
To learn more - peanuts, nuts, and seeds for babies
Step-by-step Instructions
Mash cooked butternut squash with a fork. I like to roast this incredibly flavorful and versatile vegetable ahead of time so it's one less thing to do on the day of.
You can also purchase frozen squash for a quick prep option.
Combine mashed butternut squash with smooth peanut butter.
In a large bowl, combine the mixture with ground beef. Add garlic powder (can also use fresh garlic) and ginger. Mix using your hands, taking care not to overwork the meat! Shape into 1 ½ inch sized balls.
Place in single layer on baking sheet lined with parchment paper or mat for easy clean up. In a small oven-safe dish, add some water and place in the pan alongside the meatballs.
Bake!
Tips for making the best homemade meatballs
- Combine the butternut squash and peanut butter before adding to the ground beef. This will allow you to gently mix in the meat.
- Don’t overwork the meat mixture. Your hands are seriously the best tools for mixing meatballs. You just want to mix until everything is combined. Otherwise, the meatballs will turn out tough.
- When shaping the balls, work with slightly wet hands to prevent them from sticking to your hands. Otherwise, you may accidentally overwork them.
- Flip halfway through to prevent the bottoms from browning.
- Don't forget to add the oven-safe dish filled with water. this helps create steam resulting in tender meatballs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! You can also use ground chicken, bison, pork...any ground meat will work.
You should also try these moist turkey meatballs with rice! It's one of the most beloved recipes on my blog.
The peanut butter imparts a nutty flavor and creamy texture to these meatballs. If you don’t want these elements, then you can substitute with 1 egg.
If there's a peanut allergy or the daycare/school has a nut-free policy, swap with a seed butter (e.g. sunflower, pumpkin) or tahini.
You can substitute with pumpkin or sweet potato.
You can, although it will be more time-consuming and messy. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs to the pan and cook on all sides for about 10-12 minutes.
Easy Meatballs for Babies
For babies 6-8 months, you can serve these baby meatballs whole or halved so they can grab easily using their palmer grasp. Once they start developing the pincer grasp (around 8-9 months and will continue to get refined), you can start cutting into bite-sized pieces.
P.S this plate is AMAZING! It's so spacious, allowing plenty of room for small hands to explore, and the suction is so powerful! My baby has not once been able to remove from the table.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy as is or with your favorite sauce, like veggie-loaded tomato sauce, marinara sauce, sweet potato sauce, or Thai coconut sauce.
For a well-balanced meal, serve them alongside vegetables, fruit, avocado, pasta, yogurt, toast, oatmeal....all easy, nutritious accompaniments.
If you've been spoon-feeding purees and are feeling anxious about transitioning to more textured foods (acknowledge that and go at your comfort level), I suggest serving the meatballs alongside thicker purees or mashes. You can also mash the meatball and mix it into purees/mashes.
Try preloading the spoon (we absolutely LOVE these!) and hand it to your baby or place on the table/plate. I know it can feel scary and overwhelming but I highly encourage you to start giving your baby opportunities to self-feed.
Storage Suggestions
- Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Freeze for up to 3 months. I personally flash freeze all my baked goods.
To reheat, place in a skillet with a splash of liquid (e.g. water, broth, sauce, etc.). Cover and heat over medium-low heat until warm, 2-3 minutes or so. This is to ensure meatballs don't get dried out.
More ground beef recipes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
Healthy Beef Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ cup (110 g) mashed cooked butternut squash
- 3 tablespoons (60g) smooth peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Farenheit. Lightly oil a baking sheet or line with parchment paper.
- Combine mashed butternut squash with peanut butter.
- In a large bowl, combine the mixture with ground beef and the seasonings. Mix gently using hands, taking care not to overwork the meat. Shape into 1 ½ inch balls.
- Place on baking sheet. In a small oven-safe dish(es), add some water and place in the pan alongside the meatballs.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Inserted thermometer should read 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container for 3-5 days in the fridge.
- Freeze for up to 3 months. I personally flash freeze all my baked goods.
April says
Oh my goodness! This recipe is AMAZING! It is so easy as well! Today, I made it with Turkey, sweet potato, and an egg! It is so soft and moist. I had to restrain myself from eating all of my nine-month old’s meatballs.
Min says
Aww yay!! I'm so glad to hear this!!
Andrea says
Can I use sweet potato instead of butternut squash?
Min says
Sure!
Farzana says
Can you put this in the air fryer instead of oven?
Min says
I don't own one so not sure, but I've heard a lot of people finding success with using an air fryer to make meatballs so worth a try!
DB says
Can you use tofu and omit nut butter?
Min says
I haven't tried but I want to say it will work. Let me know if you try!
BH says
My baby’s favorite meatball recipe! Super easy and healthy!
Min says
I'm so glad!! Thanks for sharing!
Erin says
My 10 month old absolutely loves these!! They are a great texture for easy eating and incredibly flavourful. I love that they are packed with nutrients by including both the squash and PB. Thank you for this recipe! It is now a freezer staple for us
Min says
Woohoo! I love how easy this is to whip up too! thank you for sharing
Julie S says
This looks great! Can you substitute the peanut butter for something else?
Min says
Any nut butter or tahini will work!
Amanda says
Love making your recipes for my 9 month old!
Do you use natural smooth peanut butter?
Thanks!
Min says
I do!
Amanda says
Perfect! Making these this weekend! And thanks so much for the quick response!! 🙂
Stacey says
Hi, hope you’re well. Thanks for the recipe, so do you defrost before cooking or cook from frozen.
Thanks x
Min says
I would thaw in the fridge overnight and cook briefly before serving
Jane Hong says
These are sooooo easy to make and super delicious! Even hubby approved. My baby chows them down like no tomorrow
Min says
So glad to hear!!
Elaine says
My son loves this meatball recipe so much! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Min says
So happy to hear!
Cynthia says
Hi! Can I get some clarification for step 4? Where does the dish with water go exactly? Does it go in the (same) pan with the meatballs? If so, do I leave some space in the baking pan to put that bowl of water in? Sorry if this is a stupid question!
Min says
Hi yes! Place water in an oven safe dish and put it in the middle of the pan alongside the meatballs. Refer to this post as it includes a picture of how this is done - https://www.mjandhungryman.com/asian-turkey-rice-meatballs/
Cynthia says
Got it. Thank you!
Annette Krivacek says
Hi! You might have stated this somewhere, but I couldn’t find it and figured I’d ask! What type of ground beef do you recommend? Lower or higher fat? I know babies need the fat, but wasn’t sure if 80/20, etc would make these too greasy? Excited to try these!
Min says
Yes 80/20 would be too greasy. I like to use 90% lean!
Saira says
Delicious!!! And so unbelievable moist. Used sweet potato in lieu of butternut squash since I had it at home already. Also added some oregano and basil to some and it was also tasty 🙂
Min says
yay!! So glad you enjoyed these!!
Ankitha says
Hi , these look great, is there a substitute for ground beef ?we take chicken shrimp fish but don't consume beef often
Min says
You can do chicken or turkey!
Heather says
I whipped these up and had them in the oven in less than 10 min. So easy and good. My picky almost 2 year old approves! These will be perfect to freeze and heat up for lunch. Thank you for the quick and yummy recipe!
Min says
So so glad to hear! It really doesn't get any easier than this, right? 😉