Baby's First Chilli Con Carne

Suitable from 6+ months and a family favourite - Perfect for weaning, BLW, big kids and toddlers.

A question I am often asked is when can I start to give my baby spices, and the answer is straight off the bat from 6 months, which is why this dish is perfect for your baby's first chilli con carne.

This is great news for the spice lovers amongst us, as your child gets older you can gradually increase the amount of chilli powder or start to add fresh chillies. My son is now 3 and has spicier food than his dad!

If your child is over the age of 1 you can crumble in a beef stock cube when you pour in the the water, and add the secret ingredient at the end…a small piece of dark chocolate - just trust me.

This baby's first chilli con carne is such a good meal for the whole family, everyone will be coming back for seconds! I always serve mine with some grated cheddar cheese, guacamole or avocado and greek yoghurt. And we always have fresh coriander, delicious.

You can of course use kidney beans instead of mixed beans, just make sure they're cooked until they are soft whatever you choose to use. You can also use a fork to lightly squash the beans in the chilli con carne if your baby is very young, although they aren't officially listed as a choking hazard just be mindful and as always never leave your baby unattended when feeding..

If you like the look of this recipe then check out Baby's First Chicken Curry for another family recipe packed with delicious flavours!

Serves a family of 4

Baby's First Chilli Con Carne

Ingredients

• 500g quality beef mince (5-12% fat)

• 1 400g tin of chopped tomatoes

• 1 tin of mixed beans or kidney beans

• 1 large bunch of coriander leaves

• 200ml water

• 1 red onion finely chopped

• 2 bell peppers finely chopped (any colour)

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

My Baby Mexican Spice Mix

• 1 tsp garlic power

• 1/2 tsp paprika

• 1 tsp oregano

• 1tsp cumin

• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 pinch cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp turmeric

• 1/4 tsp chilli powder

Method

Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium/high heat then once hot add the chopped onion and bell peppers

Fry for around 5 minutes stirring continuously until they start to soften

Add the beef mince then use your spoon to break it up, continue to do this as it starts to brown

After around 7 minutes cooking your mince should be nicely brown, add the spice mix and stir continuously making sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom until it’s well mixed in with the beef and vegetables

Add the tin of tomatoes and pour in the water, then give it all a good mix and leave to simmer on a low heat without the lid for 30 minutes

Drain your tin of beans then pour them into the pot and give everything a good stir

Allow the chilli to simmer for another 5-10 minutes until the beans are cooked through and soft

Remove from the heat and stir in the fresh coriander

Serve with cooked basmati rice

I also offer sides of Greek yoghurt, cheese and smashed avocado