From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash

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Can Babies Eat Broccolini? Yes, Cooked Soft

Also known as tenderstem broccoli, baby broccoli.

Broccolini is a sweeter, milder broccoli cousin with long thin stalks. Steam or boil soft and serve the graspable stalks from around 6 months.

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When to introduce: Around 6 months
Common allergen?: No (not a top-9 allergen)
Texture: Cooked soft, in strips or chopped small
Key nutrients: Vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, fiber

Yes, babies can eat broccolini from around 6 months. It is a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli, sweeter and milder than regular broccoli, with long thin stalks and small florets. Those long stalks are the best part for a new eater: they make a naturally graspable strip your baby can hold and gum on their own. Steam or boil it until it is soft enough to squish between your finger and thumb, and it can join the plate as one of your baby's early greens.

Prep School: how to prepare broccolini for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées

🍴 Baby-led weaning

6 monthsSteam or boil until soft, then hand your baby a whole floret-and-stalk strip. The long stalk is a built-in handle they can hold and gum. Cook it until it squishes easily so there are no crunchy pieces.

9 monthsOffer whole soft strips, or chop into small soft pieces once the pincer grasp appears so your baby can pick them up.

12 months+Serve soft-cooked short spears or small pieces from the family plate for self-feeding.

🥄 Purées

6 monthsSteam or boil until very soft, then blend the florets and tender stalk with a little water, breast milk, or formula until smooth. Broccolini can taste a bit strong, so mix with a mild base like potato if needed.

9 monthsBlend less so it stays lumpy, or mash soft-cooked broccolini with a fork for more texture.

12 months+Fold chopped soft broccolini into family meals, or keep a mashed version alongside finger pieces.

Is broccolini safe? Choking & prep

Always cook broccolini until it is soft enough to squish between your finger and thumb. Raw or crunchy pieces can break off and are a choking risk for babies. Serve it plain, without added salt or butter, and offer it on its own the first few times so you can watch how your baby does.

Once your baby has tried broccolini, log the try and whether it was a yummy, meh, or yucky, with the date, to keep a record of how the introduction went.

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Free, no account needed. Takes about 10 seconds.

Nutrition

Broccolini brings a solid mix of nutrients to your baby's plate. It is a good source of vitamin C, which helps the body absorb iron from other foods at the same meal, and vitamin K, which supports healthy blood and bones. It also carries folate, which is important for growing cells, plus fiber to support digestion. Like other greens, it offers small amounts of plant compounds and antioxidants. Cooking softens the fiber so it is gentler on a young tummy, and pairing broccolini with an iron-rich food such as meat, lentils, or beans makes a nicely rounded meal.

Goes well with

Potato · Chicken · Lentils · Salmon · Pasta · Cheese

Storage & freezing

Refrigerate cooked broccolini in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or freeze soft-cooked pieces in portions for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming, then cool to warm before serving.

More vegetables to explore

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Brussels sproutsAround 9 months

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BurdockAround 9 months

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Buttercup SquashAround 6 months

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Butternut squashAround 6 months, when baby shows signs of readiness

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CabbageAround 6 months

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CallalooAround 6 months

Common questions

When can babies eat broccolini?

Around 6 months, once your baby is starting solids. Steam or boil it until soft and serve it as graspable strips or chopped small.

Is broccolini a common allergen?

No, broccolini is not a common allergen. Still, it is a good idea to introduce it on its own the first few times so you can watch how your baby reacts.

How is broccolini different from broccoli?

Broccolini is a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli. It is sweeter and milder, with longer, thinner stalks that make an easy natural handle for babies.

Can I serve broccolini raw?

No, always cook it until soft for a baby. Raw or crunchy pieces can break off and are a choking risk. It should squish easily between your fingers.

How do I cook broccolini for a baby?

Steam or boil it until a stalk squishes easily between your finger and thumb, usually several minutes. Serve it plain, without salt or butter.

Will broccolini give my baby gas?

It can, like other cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage. This is normal and not harmful. If it seems to bother your baby, offer smaller amounts and see how they do.

Does broccolini need to be organic?

No. Any broccolini is fine as long as you wash it well and cook it soft. Choose whichever fits your budget.

My baby just gums the stalk and spits it out. Is that normal?

Yes, that is very normal at first. Babies explore new foods by mouthing them, and swallowing comes with practice. Keep offering it calmly without pressure.

Can I season broccolini for my baby?

Skip the salt, but a squeeze of lemon or a sprinkle of mild herbs is fine and can make the flavor more interesting. Babies need very little salt.

Can broccolini be a first green vegetable?

Yes, it is a great early green because the long stalk gives your baby a built-in handle. Cook it soft and it works well as one of the first vegetables you offer.

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Last updated September 2026. Next review December 2026. How we write these: built from current published guidance from the AAP, CDC, FDA/EPA, NIAID, WHO, and other pediatric and public-health authorities, with sources cited on the page. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these, and how we double-check the food advice.

This is general information, not medical advice, and is not individualized for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.

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