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Deliciously creamy and loaded with healthy ingredients, this baby pasta recipe is made with a tasty green avocado pesto pasta sauce the whole family will love! It’s made with nutritious ingredients that taste amazing and coat every noodle with tons of flavor!
Baby Pasta Recipe – So Easy!
Once your baby reaches 6 months of age and is showing signs of readiness to start on solid foods, it can be intimidating to know what to feed them!
Fortunately, there are many recipes you can make that are a great option for your baby’s diet and yours, too. This BLW pasta is one of the best first foods, and you won’t even have to make a separate meal for the rest of the family.
The noodles are the perfect soft finger food, while the green pasta sauce recipe is a great way to incorporate extra veggies and healthy fats all in one!\
For more veggie-loaded sauces, try this Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce and Roasted Carrot Pasta Sauce too!
Baby pasta recipe
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Why We Love This Avocado Pesto Pasta Recipe
- Easy: Although it takes a minute to cook the pasta, this BLW pasta recipe comes together so fast! Just toss everything into the food processor and go!
- Creamy: Thanks to avocado, this easy green pasta sauce has the most wonderful creamy texture that coats each of the pasta noodles just right.
- Healthy: Loaded with brain-healthy fats, different vegetables, and delicious herbs and spices, this BLW pasta sauce makes for such a nutritious meal! It’s a great way to get extra veggies in your little one’s diet.
Ingredient Notes
- Uncooked pasta: Choose your family’s favorite noodles. We like to use whole-grain or fibre-enriched pasta. Feel free to use an alternative pasta, like chickpea pasta or one made from red lentils, instead of wheat flour.
- Fresh basil: Most kids tend to love basil pesto, and this homemade pasta sauce is a nutritious spin on pesto your baby will love!
- Baby spinach: In the food processor, tender baby spinach will break down into a smooth sauce.
- Avocado: Avocado is the star of this show because it immediately turns into a creamy texture and can handle the other flavors and ingredients.
- Garlic cloves: You might be surprised to know that babies can eat garlic! It’s such a healthy ingredient, and will help your little one gradually expand their palate.
- Olive oil: This is one of the basic ingredients in regular pesto, and it adds a glossy richness to this spinach avocado pesto sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: Salty and savory in the best way possible, parmesan cheese adds tons of flavor and seasoning to this baby pasta recipe.
- Lemon juice: You’ll need just a little lemon juice to lighten up the pesto sauce and keep the avocado from browning.
- Salt: For babies, salt should be limited, but feel free to add a bit to the rest of the family’s portion to incorporate extra flavor.
- Black pepper: Although pepper can be a bit spicy, you’ll only need a little bit for full flavor. You can skip it if you prefer.
Step-by-Step Instructions
How to Make Green Sauce for Pasta
- In a large food processor, combine the basil, spinach, avocado, minced garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, salt (if using) and black pepper.
- Pulse until pureed and no large chunks remain.
How to Make Avocado Pesto Pasta
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain water and set aside.
- Add the prepared avocado pesto sauce to the pasta. Mix until evenly combined. You may wish to add a tablespoon or so of warm water (or reserve some pasta water) to thin out the sauce slightly to make it easier to mix. Serve warm.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
RECIPE TIPS
- If making this pasta for babies under the age of 1, skip the salt for baby’s portion to limit sodium intake.
- For an extra smooth and creamy green sauce, mix the ingredients in a powerful blender rather than a food processor.
- Older adults and children may wish to serve this pasta with a sprinkle of extra parmesan.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Pesto freezes really well and so do avocados, so this avocado pesto sauce is a great food to make in bulk and freeze for later. You can even freeze it in an ice cube tray to add just the right amount to your recipe.
The answer will depend on the age of your baby! There are so many different types of pasta to choose from. You can see in the photos for this baby pasta recipe that I used fusilli. I find that this is a great choice for babies who have developed the palmar grasp because they can hold the longer noodle in their hands and take a bite.
Babies who have developed the pincer grasp will appreciate smaller shapes they can pick up with their index finger and thumb, like ditalini. These tubular noodles are small and have a hole in the middle to prevent choking, which is perfect for baby-led weaning.
You can also use mini stars or other small pasta shapes, or you can even cut spaghetti or angel hair noodles into small pieces they can eat with their fingers.
Absolutely! Unless your baby has already shown signs of food allergies to any of the ingredients in this avocado pesto pasta for babies, this is a great baby food recipe the entire family will enjoy.
Like any new food, it can be helpful to offer your growing baby a small amount at first, then add more over time. It’s an easy way to get your baby to eat more veggies, even if they’re a fussy eater!
Storage Guidelines
- Store leftover pasta in airtight containers in the fridge for 4-5 days. You can also freeze the leftover sauce in a freezer-safe container or these Souper Cubes for up to 6 months.
Serving Suggestions
This spinach avocado pesto pasta recipe makes a great side dish. For more protein, consider offering it along with some shredded chicken, air fryer chicken nuggets, fluffy scrambled egg, or mini salmon cakes.
If your kids love pesto like mine do, you can even top this pasta with pesto chicken bites for a double-pesto flavor!
Recipe Variations
- Add walnuts or almonds: If your little one hasn’t shown any signs of being allergic to tree nuts, you can add some walnuts or blanched almonds to your pesto sauce for a nutty flavor and high-quality fat to fuel their growing brains.
- Stir in some ricotta cheese: Add a spoonful of ricotta cheese for a creamy texture and mild flavor.
- Use the pesto as a dip: You don’t have to use this avocado pesto as a sauce for cooked pasta; you can use it as a dip for pita bread, veggie sticks, chicken fingers, and more!
More Healthy Pasta Recipes
- Kale Mac and Cheese
- Vegetable Noodle Soup Recipe
- 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad
- Beef Pasta Hamburger Helper
- Chicken Pastina Soup
- 5 Ingredient Mac And Cheese
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Green Pasta Sauce Recipe for Baby {Avocado Pesto}
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups uncooked pasta (or 3 cups cooked)
- 3/4 cup fresh basil loosely packed
- 1/2 cup packed baby spinach
- 1 medium ripe avocado
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain water and set aside.
- In a large food processor, combine the basil, spinach, avocado, minced garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, salt (if using) and black pepper.
- Pulse until pureed and no large chunks remain.
- Add the avocado pesto puree to the pasta. Mix until evenly combined. You may wish to add a tablespoon or so of warm water to thin out the sauce slightly to make it easier to mix. Serve warm.
Notes
- If making this pasta for babies under the age of 1, skip the salt for baby’s portion to limit sodium intake.
- For an extra smooth and creamy green sauce, mix the ingredients in a powerful blender rather than a food processor.
- Older adults and children may wish to serve this pasta with a sprinkle of extra parmesan.
