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    Easy Homemade Quinoa Baby Cereal

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Wanting to mix it up from the usual baby cereals?! A homemade quinoa baby cereal is a great option! This recipe is so easy to make and gives a great boost of protein and iron from the quinoa.

    Quinoa baby cereal in 4 bowls with different toppings.

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    When can a baby start having quinoa?

    Babies can have quinoa as soon as they are showing readiness to start solids, such as being able to hold their head steady, show interest in food, and sit with minimal support. For more information on signs of readiness to start solids, check out this article here.

    The great thing about this recipe, is you can puree the quinoa baby cereal into a smooth consistency, or you can leave it slightly lumpier for a more textured option!

    Table of Contents
    • When can a baby start having quinoa?
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tip
    • FAQ
    • Recipe
    • Related

    Ingredients

    • water or coconut milk
    • quinoa
    • breast milk or formula
    • optional - any additional mix-ins (berries, banana, steamed apple, applesauce, yogurt, smooth nut butter, leftover soft veggies)

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Step one of baby quinoa cereal, adding quinoa into a rice cooker with water.

    Add the quinoa and water or coconut milk to either a rice cooker or prepare the quinoa on stove top according to package instructions.

    Step 2 of baby quinoa cereal. Bending quinoa with liquid of choice in a blender cup.

    Once you have the cooked quinoa, add the quinoa and liquid of choice (water, breastmilk, formula) to a blender and blend until smooth.

    Step 3 of quinoa baby cereal with banana on top served in a bowl.

    Dish out into a bowl and mix in any desired toppings. Be sure to modify toppings to a safety consistency and size depending on your baby's age.

    Serve to your little one!

    Substitutions

    • Quinoa - You can use any colour quinoa for this recipe

    Variations

    There are so many variations you can do with this recipe!

    • Fruity - add some chopped strawberries, flatten some blueberries, or add in some mashed bananas.
    • Cinnamon apple - Add in 2 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce or some mashed steamed apples (with peel removed) and a pinch of cinnamon.
    • PB and banana - add 1 teaspoon of smooth nut butter (peanut or almond) and 2 tablespoons mashed banana
    • Yogurt - add 2 tablespoon full fat Greek Yogurt and a dash of cinnamon or 1 teaspoon of ground flaxseed

    Equipment

    I love making quinoa in a rice cooker. It is so easy and you don't have to worry about any overflowing water in any pots or keeping an eye on a stove top. Of course if you don't have one, a stove top pot will work just fine!

    Storage

    The quinoa baby cereal can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months! I suggest only adding the toppings right before serving.

    Top tip

    This can be a great recipe to batch cook and store in individual portions. A silicone freezing tray is a great option for portioning out, popping in the freezer, and then when ready to use, you can just pop the serving out of the tray and thaw overnight!

    FAQ

    Is it ok for babies to have quinoa?

    Yes! Babies can start to have quinoa once they are showing signs of readiness to start solids (generally around 6 months of age). Quinoa is such a great food for babies, providing iron, protein and those wonderful omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for the brain! Quinoa actually has double the protein of other whole grains such as rice.

    Can you make baby cereal out of quinoa?

    Yes! This recipe shows you how! It is so simple, and such a great option to include as a morning breakfast.

    Is quinoa a common allergen?

    No, quinoa is not considered one of the common allergens. If you do have concerns regarding your baby having allergies to whole grains, please speak to your child's doctor or an allergist.

    Recipe

    Image of Baby Quinoa Cereal in 4 different bowls with various toppings including cinnamon apples, yogurt and hemp seeds, banana and peanut butter and blueberries.

    Baby Quinoa Cereal

    An easy, high-protein breakfast option for your little one.
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    Print Pin
    Course: Breakfast
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
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    Ingredients

    • ½ cup quinoa
    • 1 cup water or coconut milk
    • ⅓ cup breast milk or formula
    • 2 tablespoons optional toppings (mashed or flattened blueberries, strawberries, banana)

    Instructions

    • Add the quinoa and liquid to a rice maker or a pot on the stove top. Prepare the quinoa according to package instructions.
    • Once the quinoa is cooked, blend the breast milk or formula with the quinoa until smooth or desired consistency.
    • Mix in your toppings of choosing! Flattened blueberries, mashed banana, or yogurt are all great options.

    Save this recipe!

    Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll receive new recipes and feeding tips from me each week!

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • Soft sauteed cinnamon pears for toddlers on polka dot toddler plate
      Easy Sautéed Cinnamon Pears (for Babies and Toddlers)
    • Homemade Yogurt Pouches for Toddlers (Easy DIY Recipe)
    • Banana Spinach Toddler Muffins in a bowl on the counter.
      Banana Spinach Toddler Muffins
    • Banana Chia Seed Muffins for Toddlers in white bowl with toddler baking spoon and banana to the side on the counter.
      Banana Chia Muffins for Toddlers (No Added Sugar!)

    More Breakfast

    • Berry Smoothie Bowl for Toddlers (Thick & Spoon-Friendly)
    • Chunky Monkey Baked Oatmeal (Easy Toddler Breakfast)
    • iron-rich French toast on a polka dot toddler plate with bananas, yogurt and blueberries.
      French Toast For Toddlers {Iron-Boost}
    • Gingerbread Baked Oatmeal - Yummy Toddler Breakfast

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    Hi! I'm Ali.

    Welcome to The Toddler Kitchen, I am so glad you are here! I am a registered dietitian with a master’s of science in health promotion, passionate recipe developer and mama. Feeding kids is hard. It can be stressful.

    Learn more about me →

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