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Broccolini for Babies: When and How to Serve It

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

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

When can babies eat broccolini?

Broccolini is a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli, sweeter and milder than regular broccoli, with long thin stalks and small florets. Those long stalks make it a naturally graspable early food. It can join your baby's plate around 6 months, cooked until soft.

How to prepare broccolini for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées, by age

6 monthsSteam or boil until soft, then serve the whole soft floret and stalk as a strip your baby can hold and gum. The long stalk acts as a natural handle.
9 monthsChop soft-cooked broccolini into small pieces for the pincer grasp, or continue offering strips.
12 months+Serve soft-cooked broccolini in small pieces or short spears as part of a family meal.

Is broccolini safe? Choking & prep

Steam or boil broccolini until it is soft enough to squish easily between your fingers, so your baby can gum it. Serve the soft florets and stalks as strips a baby can hold, or chopped small for older babies. It is a naturally graspable early food thanks to its long, thin stalks. Avoid serving it raw or crunchy to a baby, since firm pieces can be a choking risk.

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Nutrition

Broccolini offers vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and fiber. The vitamin C helps your baby absorb iron from foods served alongside it, while vitamin K and folate support healthy growth. Its milder, sweeter taste often goes over better than regular broccoli.

Goes well with

Chicken · Pasta · Cheese

Storage & freezing

Refrigerate cooked broccolini in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or freeze in portions for up to 3 months.

More vegetables to explore

🥬
Brussels sproutsAround 9 months
🎃
Butternut squashAround 6 months
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CabbageAround 9 months
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CarrotAround 6 months
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CassavaAround 6 months, always thoroughly cooked
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CauliflowerAround 6 months

Related reading

Frequently asked questions

When can babies eat broccolini?

Around 6 months, steamed or boiled until soft and served as graspable strips or chopped small.

Is broccolini a common allergen?

No, broccolini is not a common allergen. Introduce it on its own so you can watch how your baby does.

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 it raw?

No, cook it until soft for a baby. Raw or crunchy pieces are a choking risk.

Sources

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Last updated July 2026. How we write these: grounded in widely published pediatric guidance (the AAP, WHO, the NIAID 2017 allergen guidelines, and the LEAP study), and pending independent review by a pediatric professional. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these.

This is general information, not medical advice, and has not been individually reviewed 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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