Simple Ground Beef Pasta For Baby (Using Impossible Meat)

Ground beef pasta for baby is a favorite in my home. Even though I created this recipe for baby-led weaning, everyone in my home loves it.

You can either make it with vegetables, without vegetables, with vegetarian meat like the Impossible Meat, or real ground beef. 

The possibilities are endless. 

Some people call this beef pasta Homemade hamburger helper. Regardless of what you call it, know that your kids will enjoy this deliciously easy dinner.

We usually keep frozen Impossible Burger patties in our freezer. So If I need to make a burger or another simple recipe, all I have to do is defrost it and cook.

You can use real ground beef for this recipe or a vegan alternative like the Impossible Burger or Beyond Meat. 

They will come out tasting just as good. 

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Table of Contents 

Important Recipe Notes on BLW Ground Beef Pasta

You don’t need to use real beef

I know it sounds crazy, but you can make this ground beef pasta for your baby without using real beef. 

I used Impossible Burger meat for this particular recipe because I ran out of ground beef. You can also use a different brand called Beyond Beef. They are both vegan options.

It was too late to run to the store so this was the best alternative in my fridge. It came out tasting way better than ground beef in my opinion.

Recipe Tips and Variations 

You can use ground turkey or chicken 

I know how expensive ground beef can be. In my home, we rarely eat beef due to its price and environmental impact.

So if you prefer, you can make the same recipe with ground turkey, chicken, or even pork.

As long as you follow my recipe, your pasta will still taste just as delicious.

You can add mixed vegetables to the recipe

I like cooking a balanced meal by adding vegetables to my ground beef pasta for babies.

The first time I made this recipe, I didn’t use any mixed vegetables.

I’ve since added mixed vegetables as part of my ground beef pasta recipe because it’s more healthy for my baby.

I use canned or frozen mixed vegetables but you can use fresh ones as well.

Just make sure you saute them first to soften them up before you proceed with the steps of the recipe.

Jump to Recipe

Ingredients For BLW Ground Beef Pasta

Pasta – I use rotini pasta for this recipe. Short pasta such as rotini, farfalle, and elbow pasta are better for this recipe. They’re easier for babies who are doing BLW to grab them. For a healthier option, use whole wheat, protein pasta, or veggie pasta to make this recipe. 

Onion and garlic – these help to enhance the flavor of this recipe.

Ground beef – you need to get ground beef with some fat percentage for this recipe. This will help make the pasta more moist. 

You could also use vegan beef substitutes like Impossible Burger or Beyond Meat. They taste just as good as regular burgers. 

Diced tomatoes – Diced tomatoes help provide more moisture and flavor. If you don’t have dice tomatoes then you can use tomato puree instead.

Tomato paste – I only used two tablespoons of tomato paste. It helps to give the pasta a deeper red color. You can skip it if you don’t have it. 

Seasonings – this helps enhance the flavor of the ground beef. I used Italian seasoning, dried parsley flakes, and bouillon powder for this recipe.

Oil – I used canola oil but you can use whatever type you prefer.

Cooking Directions For Ground Beef Pasta for Baby

• Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Set aside.
• Add the oil to a skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion and garlic and saute it for 1 minute.
• Add the beef and cook until it’s brown (about 2-3 minutes). Drain excess grease.
• Add the bouillon powder, parsley flakes, and Italian seasoning. Add extra seasonings to taste. Cook for 1 minute.
• Add the tomato paste and diced canned tomatoes along with the liquid. 
• Add the pasta and mix gently to combine. Cover and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and serve when cooled. 

Saute the onion and garlic

Add the beef or Vegan Beef

Add the diced tomatoes

Add the tomato paste

Mix and add the pasta

Why Beef Is Good For Babies and Toddlers

Beef is a great source of protein for babies and toddlers.

Beef contains Vitamin B12 which is important for blood formation and brain development. 

Beef is also high in Iron, Zinc, selenium, and Niacin. All important nutrients that babies and toddlers need to grow (source).

What To Serve With Ground Beef Pasta For Baby

Serve with mixed vegetables 

If you didn’t add any vegetables to the ground beef pasta, you can serve some on the side.

My favorite vegetables to feed my baby and toddler are mixed vegetables. 

You can saute some fresh or frozen vegetables to add to your pasta for a more balanced diet.

Serve with some fruit

Fruits make a great addition to ground beef pasta for baby-led weaning.

They provide a different texture from the beef and pasta. 

How To Serve Ground Beef Pasta For Baby-led Weaning

6-9 Months old

Babies between 6-9 months can enjoy ground beef pasta from a bowl. Allow them to scoop the pasta out with their hands to feed themselves. 

You can serve the pasta directly on the high chair tray as well.

9-12 months old

Babies between 9-12 months can begin practicing using a fork to eat their pasta. Serve them a preloaded fork of pasta for them to eat.

If they become frustrated, it’s okay to let them scoop with their hands.

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.

Ground Beef Pasta For Baby Storage Tips

Can I refrigerate ground beef pasta for a baby?

You can refrigerate ground beef pasta for babies for up to a week in the fridge. Just make sure you store them in an airtight container. 

Store the pasta on the top shelf of the fridge where it’s coldest. This will ensure that it stays fresh for longer.

Can I freeze ground beef pasta for baby-led weaning?

You can freeze ground beef pasta for baby-led weaning. Freeze medium-sized portions in a Pyrex container and keep them in the freezer for later use.

Separating them into smaller portions will prevent you from defrosting everything each time you need to eat.

Reheating ground beef pasta For Baby

Reheating frozen ground beef pasta

To reheat frozen ground beef pasta for BLW, make sure that you defrost it first.

Leave it out on the counter overnight or for a few hours until it’s defrosted.

Then heat in the microwave.

Reheating cold ground beef pasta

It’s easier to reheat ground beef pasta for a baby in the microwave. 

To reheat, scoop out a portion into a microwave-safe bowl, and heat on high power until it’s hot. 

How long you heat it depends on the portion size of the plate. 

Did you make this baby-led weaning lunch recipe? 

Let me know in the comments how it turned out!