Healthy Toddler Recipe: Meatballs with Veggies

This recipe has helped me so much! My little girl was never much of an eater, and so I had to make every bite count! And this healthy toddler recipe to make meatball with veggies is just perfect for that! It is also a great healthy recipe to make for when the baby is starting with baby finger food since the meatballs are soft and can be shaped or torn apart into baby mouth friendly sizes.

Ingredients for healthy meatballs with veggies

(please consider the age of your baby and what it is allowed to eat by your pediatrician)

• ½ kg minced beef, turkey, chicken or veal meat
• 1 egg
• 2-3 slices of whole-wheat bread
• 2 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• small onion
• carrot
• red pepper
• green pepper
• zucchini
• ½ cup parsley
• salt, pepper (if your kids are old enough)

How to make this healthy toddler recipe

1. In a food processor, process the onion, the carrot, the zucchini, the peppers, and the parsley until they are very finely processed.
2. In a food processor, process the slices of bread until they are very finely processed.
3. Make sure there are no larger bread or veggie pieces. Remove anything that looks to large.
4. Put the minced meat, the egg, the olive oil, the breadcrumbs, and the finely processed vegetables and mix everything with your hands. Add oil or breadcrumbs necessary, until it has the right consistency and it can be shaped into small balls.
5. Let the mixture rest for at least half an hour in the fridge.
6. Shape mini meatballs
7. Bring water to the boil and add the number of meatballs needed. Let them boil for about 15 – 25 minutes, depending on the size of the meatballs. You can steam-cook them if you prefer it. Now my kids are older, I even bake them in the oven.

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Some tips for the meatballs with veggies to make your mom life easier

You can add whatever vegetables your kid likes to the meatballs, like eggplants, tomatoes, broccoli, and even some rice. Just keep an eye on the consistency of the mixture, so that the meatballs keep their shape.

You can freeze the rest of the meatballs for the next time. Just line a freezer container with some parchment paper, arrange the meatballs so they don’t touch each other, put the container in the freezer overnight and the next day, you can take as many as you need, or transfer them into another smaller container or freezer bag and keep them in your freezer for when you need them!

Related: Baby finger food ideas and tips – and a meatball recipe

If your kids are older and like my older one, than they might like the meatballs on a stick! It ads fun, but be careful with the sticks!

Later on, this recipe can be made for the whole family!

Related: Healthy and Fun Pizza Recipe for Kids