Timesaver Butternut Squash Risotto For Baby & Toddlers (No Stirring required)

If you love risotto but hate stirring it endlessly on the stove, then this recipe is for you.

My easy Butternut squash risotto for baby and toddlers can be made in under 30 minutes when you prepare the ingredients in advance. 

You don’t have to endlessly stir the risotto because I make it with precooked brown rice, which helps to cut the cooking time in half.

This butternut squash risotto has the same smooth silky texture and rich flavors as traditional risotto recipe, but without all the hassle.

Why I Love This Butternut Squash Risotto For Babies and Toddlers 

I love making butternut squash risotto for my baby and my toddler in the fall. 

It’s a great way to use up some of the excess butternut squash we have at home. 

I used to make it a lot when my little one was just starting baby-led weaning. The risotto was soft enough for him to scoop with his hands.

Butternut squash risotto is also great for helping toddlers learn to use a spoon because it sticks to the spoon and doesn’t fall easily. 

Tips On Making A Great Butternut Squash Risotto For Kids

Cook the rice beforehand 

I know pre-cooking the rise isn’t the traditional way of making risotto but it helps to cut down on the cooking time.

When I’m planning to make risotto, I try to prep the rice a day before or a few hours before. That way, I can jump into the recipe without worrying about stirring the rice for hours.

Half-cooked Rice Works Better 

To ensure that the rice absorbs all the juices from the pot, you need to make sure it was only half-cooked previously.

If you cook the rice the whole way prior, it won’t soak in a lot of the liquid when you start making the risotto. 

You’ll end up with liquidy mushy rice that doesn’t taste good. 

Use Brown Rice 

Brown rice is the best budget-friendly option to use for making this butternut squash risotto for a baby. 

It is naturally starchy so you will get the same texture and flavor that traditional risotto rice like Arborio gives you.

Arborio rice is also very expensive and isn’t an option for a household like mine that’s on a budget.

Cook the rice in some chicken broth for the best results 

This step is completely optional but when done right, it makes this butternut squash risotto taste amazing.

When precooking the brown rice, try using as much chicken broth as possible. It will give the rice a much better flavor before you even start making the butternut squash risotto.

Jump to Recipe

Ingredients For Baby-led Weaning Butternut Squash Risotto 

Butternut squash – you can pre-cook the butternut squash if you prefer by roasting it. 

This will help release more of its flavor. When in a hurry, you can just add the raw butternut squash to the risotto mixture to cook like I did in this recipe.

Carrots – I used the carrots to add more color to the risotto. It’s optional so you don’t have to use it. 

Precooked brown rice – make sure you only cook it halfway to allow it to absorb the chicken broth when using it in the recipe.

Chicken broth – you can use chicken, turkey, or vegetable broth.

Bell peppers – use different colors of bell peppers to give the risotto a nice contrasting color.

Onion and garlic – great to add flavor to the dish.

Seasoning – I used parsley flakes, Italian seasoning, and bouillon cubes to enhance the flavor of the butternut squash risotto.

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Cook until everything has softened

Why Butternut Squash Is Good For Babies and Toddlers

Butternut squash has a ton of nutrients that are good for kids. 

They contain a lot of vitamin A which helps in proper eye health. They also contain vitamin C and other B vitamins (source).

Overall, butternut squash is great for feeding babies and toddlers. 

What To Serve With Butternut Squash Risotto For Baby

Serve with a protein

Proteins like strips of breaded chicken, tofu, and beans go well with butternut squash risotto.

I also love serving butternut squash risotto with my veggie turkey nugget or veggie turkey meatball recipe. 

My baby loves munching on the meat, whose texture makes a great contrast to the smooth risotto. 

Serve with some fruits 

When in doubt, serve risotto with a side of fruits. Babies and toddlers appreciate having their favorite fruits as a part of the meal.

How To Serve Butternut Squash Risotto For Baby-led Weaning

6-9 Months old

For babies between 6 and 9 months, risotto can be served directly on the high chair tray or in a bowl for them to scoop up with their hands.

9-12 months old

For babies between 9 and 12 months, you can preload a spoon for them to self-feed with. 

12- 24 months and older

You can either continue to preload the butternut squash risotto on a spoon or allow your toddler to practice scooping by themselves.

Cooking Directions For Butternut Squash for Baby & Toddler

• Place a pan on medium heat. Add the oil and saute the garlic and onion until fragrant. 
• Add the pepper and carrots and continue to cook for 2 minutes. 
• Add the precooked rice and mix to combine. Cook for another 2 minutes.
• Add the butternut squash, bouillon cube, parsley, and Italian seasoning. 
• Add 1 ½ cups of the chicken broth to the rice mixture. Reduce heat to low. Cook until the liquid is almost absorbed. Continue to add the remaining chicken broth ½ cup at a time until you’ve used them all. Cook until liquid is reduced. 
• Make sure the butternut squash, rice, and all other veggies are completely soft before turning off the heat. Allow the meal to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Storage Tips For Butternut Squash Risotto 

Can I refrigerate baby-friendly butternut squash risotto?

You can refrigerate this baby-friendly butternut squash risotto. It will last for up to a week in the fridge. Store in a Pyrex container to refrigerate.

Can I freeze this toddler-friendly butternut squash risotto?

You can freeze this butternut squash risotto for as long as you need. 

I suggest freezing it in individual servings to avoid defrosting the whole container when you need to eat a small portion.

Reheating BLW Butternut Squash Risotto 

Ensure you defrost the risotto before heating it in the microwave. This will prevent uneven heating. 

Tips for Picky Eaters

Don’t pressure

Give your baby or toddler a chance to say no. It’s okay if they don’t like what we serve them. Keep trying. 

It takes at least 30 exposures for a baby to begin liking a food, so don’t give up.

Make it into a game

Sometimes I create games around the food I serve to get my kids interested in eating. 

A game we’ve played in the past is called “Here comes the airplane… open the garage”. This encourages them to open their mouth as I bring the food in like an airplane.

Sometimes my kids will try new foods this way.

Related recipes 

• Easy Butternut squash Mac and Cheese Pasta For Babies & Toddlers

Did you make this baby-led weaning dinner recipe? 

Let me know in the comments how it turned out!