Easy Turkey Veggie Nuggets For Baby & Toddlers + No Egg Option

These turkey veggie nuggets for baby or toddlers taste so good it will have everyone asking for seconds. These nuggets are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside just like it’s supposed to be. 

The best part of this recipe is that you can make it with fresh, canned, or frozen vegetables. You can also make it with chicken or turkey meat. 

If your baby has an egg allergy, you can make them without eggs as well. Keep reading because I give you a simple egg substitute below. 

Why I Love This Turkey Veggie Nuggets Recipe

I love making these turkey nuggets for babies and toddlers because I can add whatever kind of vegetable I want into it.

Carrots and peas have tons of vitamins and minerals that kids need to grow (source).

My oldest toddler loves chicken nuggets and dislikes vegetables (like some toddlers do). 

Since I became a stay-at-home mom, I’ve been trying to make more home-cooked meals. 

So when we ran out of chicken nuggets one day, I was forced to make my own. 

I wanted to make a healthier version of chicken nuggets that contained a lot of vegetables., so that’s how this recipe was born. 

I used turkey for this recipe but you can use chicken.

Important Recipe Notes on BLW Veggie Turkey Nuggets 

You can make them with no eggs

The good news about this turkey nugget recipe is that you can make them without eggs by using an egg substitute. 

I know that a lot of babies have sensitivities or an egg allergy so I made sure to include an alternative for those that need it.

Egg Substitute For Turkey Veggie Nuggets

• 1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons of water (Make sure you whisk them together until they are gelatinous and creamy in texture)
• 1 Tablespoon chia seed (ground is better) + 3 Tablespoons of water (stir and let it rest for 5-10 min until gelatinous. Use immediately) 
• 1 tablespoon agar + 1 tablespoon water (mix and use immediately)

You can make them with chicken 

Even though this recipe is made with turkey, you can follow the same recipe using chicken. 

You can use your preferred vegetable 

I chose to use peas, carrots, and spinach as the main vegetable for this recipe, but you can use anything you want. Just make sure to roughly puree them before using them.

Baby Turkey Nuggets Tips and Tricks 

Use Panko breadcrumbs 

I recommend using panko breadcrumbs because they’re seasoned. This will give the nuggets more flavor. 

Make the outside crispy 

If you’re going to pass these turkey nuggets off as authentic, then you better make sure the outside is crispy like store-bought ones. 

Here’s my trick to do so

Set out three bowls. To the first one, add some all-purpose flour, to the second add some breadcrumbs, and to the third bowl, whisk up some eggs and put it in.

Then after you mold the nuggets, you should dip them in the flour first, then dip them into the egg, and then finally dip them in the breadcrumbs. 

After this, you can finally bake them in the oven. This will give you perfectly crispy nuggets that are juicy on the inside.

Ingredients For Baby-led Weaning Turkey Nuggets

Carrots – carrots help add a sweet flavor to the meatballs, appealing to younger children. 

Spinach – I used spinach to give the meatballs some color. It is optional. 

Sweet peas – I used sweet peas to add some sweet flavor to the meatballs. You can use whatever veggies you prefer.

seasoning – I added some Italian seasoning and dried parsley flakes to the recipe to season the meatballs. You can use any seasoning you prefer. 

Breadcrumbs – breadcrumbs help the meatballs bind with the rest of the ingredients. I prefer to use panko breadcrumbs for more flavor but you can use any type you want.

Ground turkey – try to get ground turkey with some fat in it. I used one that was 80% lean meat and 20% fat. The fat helps to keep the meatballs moist. 

Egg – eggs help the breadcrumbs and turkey meat bind together better. If you choose not to use egg, note that your meatballs may not form as well. 

Jump to Recipe

Cooking Directions For Turkey Veggie Nuggets

• Set the oven to 370 degrees Fahrenheit.

Preparing the turkey nugget mixture 

• Chop the carrots into large pieces and place them in a bowl submerged in some water. Cook in the microwave for 3 minutes on high.
• Place carrots and peas in a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer contents into a bowl. Add in the spinach and mix everything with a fork to combine.
• Add the breadcrumbs, seasoning, and eggs into the same bowl. Mix with a fork to combine.
• Mash the mixture together with your fist to fully combine them all (they should be glumped together when you’re done). 

Baking the nuggets 

• Place the oil on a baking tray, and place in the oven for 2-5 minutes until hot.
• While you wait, set out 3 small bowls. place ½ cup of breadcrumbs into the first. ½ cups all-purpose flour in the second and 1 whisked egg in the third (see tips and tricks section above for pictures).
• Mold the turkey mixture into nugget shapes. Dip them in the flour to coat the outside, then in the egg to coat them, and lastly in the breadcrumbs (see step-by-step pictures).
• Remove the baking tray from the oven and place the turkey nuggets on it while it’s still hot.
• Place the tray back in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Step-by-step Instructions 

Place in the pan with the hot oil and bake

What To Serve With Veggie Turkey Nuggets For Baby

Sweet potato wedges

Sweet potatoes go well with turkey or chicken nuggets for baby. 

You can make the potatoes in wedges or sticks depending on the age of your child.

Check out my sweet potato wedges recipe here 

Peanut butter on toast

My kids love eating nuggets with peanut butter toast on the side. 

The carb from the peanut butter sandwich helps kids stay full for longer.

Serve it with some fruits

Fruits of any kind go very well with chicken or turkey nuggets for kids. 

The sweetness of the fruit provides a nice balance to the flavor of the nuggets 

How To Cut Turkey Nuggets For Baby-led Weaning

6-9 Months old

Shred nuggets into small pieces for babies between 6-9 months old to scoop up with their hands.

Do not serve babies small round pieces of chicken or turkey nuggets because it could cause them to choke.

10 -12 months old

For babies between 10 and 12 months old, you can cut the turkey nuggets into small flat pieces easy enough for them to chew. 

We make the pieces flat to avoid rounded pieces that can cause choking.

12-24 months and older

Babies in this age group can be served chicken or turkey nuggets whole for them to bite off on their own.

Baby Turkey Nuggets Storage Tips

Can I refrigerate turkey nuggets for a baby?

You can refrigerate turkey nuggets for your baby for up to a week in the fridge. 

If you don’t plan to use up all the nuggets by the end of the week, then consider freezing them instead.

To refrigerate, place them in a ziplock bag or an airtight container. Make sure to place them in the coldest part of the fridge.

Can I freeze turkey nuggets for baby-led weaning?

The best way to store chicken or turkey nuggets is to freeze them. You can freeze them in an airtight container or a ziplock bag for as long as you want. 

Reheating BLW Turkey Nuggets 

It’s best to reheat them frozen so that the nuggets don’t get soggy. 

In the oven

Place turkey nuggets on a baking sheet and set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat for about 20 minutes or until the nuggets are hot inside. 

In the microwave 

Place 4 nuggets on a plate and heat on high for 2 minutes. Flip them over and heat them for another 30 seconds. 

Take them out of the microwave and allow them to cool down in the open air. Make sure to flip them over periodically so both sides cool down evenly. 

Related recipes 

• Easy Turkey Veggie Meatballs For Baby & Toddlers + No Egg Option
• Simple Ground Beef Pasta For Baby (Only 1 pan needed)
• Easy BLW Butter Chicken – Tikka Masala (Indian Style)
• Easy Baby-led Weaning Breaded Chicken Breast 
• Baby-led Weaning Garlic Chicken Breast Bites

Did you make this baby-led weaning lunch recipe? 

Let me know in the comments how it turned out!