Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce For Baby (Great Grandma’s Recipe)

This tomato pasta sauce for baby and toddlers is a very easy one to make. 

This recipe has been in my family for generations. It was given to me by my kid’s great-grandma.

It has a mild and sweet flavor that appeals to both kids and adults. 

It requires very few ingredients and can be made in less than 30 minutes.

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Why I Love This Tomato Sauce Recipe For Baby & Toddlers

As I mentioned above, this recipe has been in the family for generations. 

It was passed down to me by my kid’s Italian great-grandma (yes, she’s still alive, and we call her G-ma).

She likes making her sauce with a little bit of sugar to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. 

She was taught how to do so by her mother and now I’m using her recipe to make tomato sauce for my kids.

Important Recipe Notes on Baby Tomato Paste Sauce 

You need to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes

Tomatoes are naturally acidic, which also gives them a tangy taste.  

If you don’t find a way to balance out the acidity, your baby will not like this tomato sauce. 

In this recipe, I used sugar to balance out the acidity just as our great-grandma taught me.

Do not use tomato paste for this recipe

Tomato paste won’t work for this recipe because it’s just too thick. Its concentration also makes it more sour. 

So it’s best to use tomato puree to make this tomato pasta sauce for baby.

Tip for Cooking Tomato Spaghetti Sauce 

Use a splatter screen to prevent splashes

Since you’ll be cooking the pasta sauce in an open pot, you should use a splatter screen like this one on Amazon to prevent splashes. 

A splatter screen will allow the pasta to reduce (letting out the steam) without splashing the sauce all over the stove. 

Cook the pasta sauce on low heat until it reduces

Cooking the pasta sauce on low will allow it to reduce without burning. This will give it time to absorb the flavor of the spices and the sugar.

Cooking on high heat will do the opposite, and result in bitter-tasting pasta sauce that is very acidic.

Ingredients For BLW Tomato Pasta Sauce 

Tomato puree – It’s better to use tomato puree to make tomato pasta sauce because you won’t have to add too much water. If you use diced tomato, you’ll have to puree it using an immersion blender. 

Onion – chop them small so they cook quicker. You must saute the onion on low until they’re soft and fragrant. This way, your spaghetti sauce will taste better. 

Canola oil – I prefer to use canola oil because I find it easier to saute onions. You can use a different type of oil if you want. Make sure you put enough to cover the bottom of the saucepan. 

Water – I only use the water to rinse out the can of tomato sauce so that I can then pour it back into the pot. 

Seasoning – my preferred seasoning for baby-led weaning tomato paste sauce are parsley flakes, Italian seasoning, and pepper.

Sugar – sugar is pretty important in this recipe so don’t skip it. I know that this recipe is made for babies and toddlers so you may be hesitant to use sugar. 

The problem is that without sugar, your pasta sauce will be very sour and acidic tasting. That’s how my pasta sauce used to taste until my kids’ great-grandmother told me to start adding sugar to the recipe. 

That made a world of difference.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Cooking Directions For Tomato Sauce for Baby

• Heat a pot or saucepan on medium heat. Add the oil when the pot is hot. 
• Let the oil heat up for 3 minutes. Add the onion and saute. Reduce heat to medium-low, and saute until it softens and starts to brown slightly.
• Pour the tomato puree into the pot. Add the water into the empty tomato can and shake to get all the remnants into the water. Pour the tomato water into the pot.
• Add the seasoning and the sugar into the pot and stir to combine. 
• Taste the tomato sauce and adjust the seasoning to taste. Cover the pot and cook the tomato sauce until it starts to boil hard. 
• Reduce the heat to low when it starts to boil. Remove the cover and cook the sauce in an opened pot for 25 – 30 minutes until the tomato sauce reduces slightly. Stir occasionally.
• Serve over pasta and enjoy.

What To Serve With Tomato Sauce For Baby and Toddlers

Serve with pasta 

The best way to serve tomato sauce for baby and toddlers is with pasta.

Pasta comes in many varieties but the easiest ones for babies to eat are spaghetti, farfalle, and penne.

Those are large enough for babies to scoop them with their hands to feed themselves.

Serve with meatballs 

Nothing goes better with tomato pasta sauce than meatballs. 

It’s a classic dish in every household.

I like to make homemade meatballs for my family because I can add vegetables to them to make them healthier.

I have a recipe for turkey veggie meatballs that would go great with this baby-led weaning tomato pasta sauce.

Serve it with some breaded chicken breast 

Another protein that would go great with this baby tomato pasta sauce is breaded chicken breast. 

I learned this breaded chicken breast recipe from my Italian husband when we first started dating. It’s very easy to make and taste delicious.

Serve it with tofu balls for baby

If you’re vegetarian and prefer not to eat meatballs, you can use my tofu meatballs recipe to make it instead.

It pairs well with the flavor of tomato sauce.

Why Tomatoes Are Good For Babies and Toddlers

Tomatoes are great for babies and toddlers because they contain important vitamins and minerals.

One key vitamin that tomatoes contain is vitamin A, which helps maintain proper vision development in children (Source).

Tomato Sauce For Baby Storage Tips

Can I refrigerate baby-led weaning tomato sauce?

You can refrigerate tomato sauce for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. I suggest placing it in the coldest part of your fridge in a Pyrex or other airtight container.

The natural acidity in the tomato will prevent bacteria growth and keep the sauce good for a long time. 

I do suggest freezing your tomato sauce if you’re not going to use it up in a week.

Can I freeze tomato pasta sauce for a baby?

You can freeze your tomato pasta sauce for as long as you want. 

I’ve successfully frozen tomato sauce for up to 5 months in the freezer before. 

It stays fresh because of the coldness of the freezer and the acidity of the tomatoes. 

Reheating BLW sweet potato tots For Baby

You can either reheat the pasta sauce on the stove or in the microwave.

If it’s frozen, allow it to defrost on the countertop before reheating.

This way, you don’t end up with unevenly heated pasta sauce.

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 Tofu Balls For Baby They Will Love
• Easy Turkey Veggie Meatballs For Baby & Toddlers + No Egg Option
• Easy Baby-led Weaning Breaded Chicken Breast 

Did you make this baby-led weaning dinner recipe? 

Let me know in the comments how it turned out!