Looking to add variety to your baby’s meals? Then, I’ve got you! While black beans will probably not be the first food you introduce to your little one, we all know that serving your baby a wide variety of food is the name of the game for the first year. Whether you serve black beans as a puree or as a solid food for baby-led weaning, I love adding a pinch of cumin to kick up the flavor profile. Great for 6+ months.
Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
How to Feed Black Beans to Your Baby
Black beans – easy to find and easy to make!
Although I love serving black beans to babies as they are full of nutrients, I have found that black beans by themselves can be a bit lackluster. Which is why I am a huge fan of adding a bit of flavor. Some of my favorite ways are with:
😋 Cumin
🌿 Cilantro
🌶️ Mild Chili Powder (mild.. being the key here;)
🍋🟩 Splash of Lime
🥑 Avocado puree, sweet potato puree, mild salsa, plain yogurt, mild guacamole (now we’re talking!)
The first time I served my 8-month-old black beans, I mixed mashed beans along with chunks of mashed avocado, a pinch of cumin, and a tiny splash of lime! She took one bite, tossed the spoon on the floor, and then started shoveling the rest of the meal into her mouth with both of her tiny hands. She literally couldn’t get it into her mouth fast enough. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my phone nearby because the intensity with which she ate these beans was next level. To this day, she still devours black beans when it’s taco night. Score!
First time making homemade baby food? Then, I would suggest that you start by reading our very in-depth guides – Guide on how to Make Homemade Baby Food if you are starting with purees, or this Complete Guide to Baby-Led Weaning if you decide to do baby-led weaning from the get-go. And be sure to check out my best-selling cookbook, Little Foodie: Baby Food Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste for even more information and recipes!
Stage One Baby Food Puree
Dry Beans vs. Canned Beans: Both canned beans and fully cooked dried beans are great options for babies. If using canned, be sure to rinse well before cooking and look for cans that are “no sodium added.” If using dry beans, soaking them first can help reduce cooking time and make them easier to digest.
Black Beans for Baby-Led Weaning
Black beans are a great first food for your baby and an excellent source of healthy carbohydrates. Make sure to prepare black beans appropriately for babies and toddlers to minimize choking risks.
- 6+ months – pureed or mashed: Mash or blend cooked black beans into a smooth puree for your baby to scoop with their hands. You can also mash black bean puree on an infant spoon or a lightly toasted strip of bread. You can also stir pureed black beans into other soft foods and purees, such as yogurt, mashed vegetables, cooked quinoa, or guacamole.
- 9+ months – small pieces, mashed or flattened: At this age, your baby starts to develop their pincer grasp, so you can start to serve beans that have been gently mashed or flattened with a fork or your fingers. You can also continue to serve pureed black beans at this stage.
- 12+ months – whole beans: Offer whole, cooked black beans at this age, as your toddler will likely have a more refined pincer grasp, as well as practice with utensils. You can also continue to offer mashed black beans or pre-load black beans on a spoon or fork for your toddler if they need a little help.
Expert Feeding Tips
- To help your baby learn how to feed themselves, you can mash cooked black beans onto a spoon or a strip of lightly toasted bread, so that baby can grasp these items easily.
- For more flavorful black bean baby food purees, feel free to add spices such as cumin, oregano, garlic powder, chili powder or mix in some avocado, sour cream or splash of fresh squeezed lime juice.
Black Bean Baby Puree
- 1/2 cup black beans (fully cooked or canned and rinsed)
- 1/4 tsp fresh lime juice (optional)
- pinch cumin
- 2-4 tbsp water
Black Beans for Baby-Led Weaning
- 2 tbsp black beans (fully cooked or canned and rinsed)
- pinch cumin
Prevent your screen from going dark
Black Bean Baby Puree
Add the beans, lime juice, cumin, and 2 tbsp of water to a blender. Turn on the blender and on medium speed, puree for 60 seconds or until completely smooth. If the puree is too thick, add in the additional 2 tbsp of water.
Serve to baby and enoy!
Black Beans for Baby-Led Weaning
Mash, flatten, or serve whole, depending on your baby’s age Add a pinch of cumin on top and then serve to your baby.
- 6+ months – pureed or mashed: Mash or blend cooked black beans into a smooth puree for your baby to scoop with their hands. You can also mash black bean puree on an infant spoon or a lightly toasted strip of bread. You can also stir pureed black beans into other soft foods and purees, such as yogurt, mashed vegetables, cooked quinoa, or guacamole.9+ months – small pieces, mashed or flattened: At this age, your baby starts to develop their pincer grasp, so you can start to serve beans that have been gently mashed or flattened with a fork or your fingers. You can also continue to serve pureed black beans at this stage.12+ months – whole beans: Offer whole, cooked black beans at this age, as your toddler will likely have a more refined pincer grasp, as well as practice with utensils. You can also continue to offer mashed black beans or pre-load black beans on a spoon or fork for your toddler if they need a little help.
- Pick out any broken dried beans and rinse with water in a colander.
- Soak in a large bowl with water and salt for 8-24 hours.
- Drain water and rinse.
- Add soaked beans, 4 cups of water, and salt to a pot.
- Bring to a boil, simmer, cover, and then reduce to low heat.
- Cook until beans are tender, 1 to 1 ½ hours.
- Drain and serve.
- Add beans and water to an Instant Pot.
- Secure lid, press Pressure Cook — High, and set to 30 minutes. It will take about 8 minutes to pressurize and then the cooking will start.
- When the Instant Pot timer goes off, set a separate timer for 20 minutes and allow the steam to release naturally (don’t push any buttons).
- Remove lid carefully and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Black beans can be introduced to your baby as soon as they are ready to start solid foods, which is typically around 6 months of age. It is recommended to wait to introduce the top eight allergen foods to your baby once a few other well-tolerated foods have been introduced, but otherwise, foods can be introduced in any order, so choose whatever you are most excited for your baby to have.
Yes, black beans are small, round, and can be firm, especially if raw or undercooked, which can all increase choking risks. To minimize risks, prepare and serve black beans in an age-appropriate way and always provide direct supervision when your baby is eating.
No, black beans are not a common food allergen. As with any food, start with a small portion and be aware of any signs that might be an allergic reaction after introducing it.
No. Black beans are a great source of fiber, which is actually helpful for digestion. However, due to their high fiber content, it’s best to start with small portions at first, to minimize any digestive discomfort.
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