How to Introduce and Serve Chicken to a Baby

Feeding your baby new foods is exciting—but it also comes with a lot of questions! If you’re wondering how to serve chicken to a baby safely and confidently, you’re in the right place. Chicken is packed with essential nutrients and can easily grow with your baby’s needs, from smooth purees to finger foods. However, a few important safety notes are worth mentioning before you start.

Always ensure chicken is fully cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to avoid food borne illness. Because raw chicken can carry bacteria, be careful with preparation surfaces and wash hands and any surfaces that touch chicken thoroughly. Lastly, if you're serving chicken on the bone (such as drumsticks for baby-led weaning), watch out for brittle bones or loose cartilage, which can break off and pose a choking hazard. With just a few precautions, chicken can be a safe, delicious, and nutritious part of your baby's diet.

When Can Babies Start Eating Chicken?

Most babies can start eating chicken around 6 months of age, right alongside other solid foods. According to pediatric guidance, introducing meats like chicken early can support growth and brain development. Chicken offers high-quality protein, iron, and zinc—all crucial nutrients to meet your baby’s expanding needs.

Important Note About Serving Chicken Drumsticks to Babies

While some parents offer well cooked drumsticks as a teething tool for babies starting solids, it's important to proceed with caution. If you choose to offer a drumstick for baby-led weaning, make sure to:

• Use a fully cooked drumstick (internal temperature of 165°F).

• Remove any brittle bones, pin bones, loose cartilage, and skin before serving.

• Test the firmness of the bone—if it snaps easily between two adult fingers, it's unsafe.

• Leave plenty of soft meat on the bone for the baby to gnaw without risk.

• Supervise closely at all times to prevent choking.

Because of the risks associated with brittle bones and loose cartilage, many feeding experts offer alternatives for babies under 12 months—like offering shredded chicken, soft flat strips about the size of two adult fingers pressed together, ground chicken crumbles, or pureed chicken for younger babies.
Always choose an age-appropriate way to serve chicken based on your baby's development.

How to Introduce Chicken to a Baby

Introducing chicken to your baby doesn't have to be complicated. Start slow, focus on safe textures, and pay attention to your baby’s cues.

Start with Single-Ingredient Purees

In the beginning, stick with plain chicken. A simple pureed chicken recipe lets you monitor for any signs of intolerance or food allergy without other ingredients muddying the waters.

Follow the 3–5 Day Rule

Introduce chicken separately from other new foods, waiting three to five days before introducing another. This helps you catch any rare allergic reactions and makes it easier to spot sensitivities when introducing animal proteins like chicken.

Watch for Signs of Readiness and Interest

Before offering chicken, make sure your baby is showing signs of readiness:

• Can sit upright well without support 

• Has lost the tongue-thrust reflex (doesn’t automatically push solids out of the mouth with the tongue)

• Has good head control (does not bob or nod when unsupported)

• Is willing and able to chew (even if he or she does not yet have teeth)

• Is developing a pincer grasp (picks up food or other objects between thumb and forefinger)

• Is interested in food and is eager to participate in mealtime (may watch you closely as you eat, lean into food, or try to grab food off of your plate)

These signs suggest your baby is ready to try foods like chicken for baby safely.

How to Serve Chicken to a 6 Month Old

At 6 months, babies are just starting their solid food journey, and textures should be easy to swallow.

Serve as a Thin, Smooth Puree

Puree fully cooked chicken breast or chicken thighs with breast milk, formula, or bone broth. The consistency should be very smooth—thin enough to easily drip from a spoon to prevent choking. Blend until no chunks remain, using a food processor or high-powered blender.

(Need a shortcut? Try our Free Range Chicken Baby Food pouch—nutrient-dense and ready when you are!)

Try Chicken as a Soft Finger Food (BLW Style)

If you’re exploring baby-led weaning style (BLW), you can offer shredded chicken or soft, thin strips of chicken, about the width of two adult fingers. Thighs tend to be a better texture for babies, plus they have more flavor and fat. Always cook until fully cooked (internal temp of 165°F) and moist so it's easy to gum and swallow.

Avoid Choking Hazards

Skip small hard chunks, dry chicken, or anything that could break apart easily. Always supervise meals, and remember that baby's mouth is still learning to manage new textures!

How to Serve Chicken to an 8 Month Old

As babies approach 8 months, their ability to handle textures improves—and so can your serving options.

Move to Mashed or Minced Chicken

Instead of fully pureeing, try mashing cooked chicken with a fork or mince it into tiny bite-sized pieces. This helps develop chewing skills and promotes independence.

Mix with Veggies

Try making a quick mash with chicken, sweet potato, and soft peas! Combining chicken meat with mashed vegetables creates a balanced, iron-rich meal perfect for an 8-month-old.

Or skip the prep with our Chicken Mexican stew pouch—flavorful, veggie-packed, and baby-safe!

Introduce Mild Seasonings & Herbs

Introduce subtle flavors like parsley, thyme, or a touch of garlic powder. These gentle herbs can expand your baby's palate with fun new flavors.

How to Serve Chicken to a 9 Month Old

At 9 months, babies can handle even more texture and variety.

Offer Bite-Sized, Shredded Pieces

Offer bite-sized shredded chicken they can pick up and feed themselves. Shredded chicken is ideal for strengthening fine motor skills while still being easy to chew with gums.

Include in Simple Family Meals

Pull baby's portion from family meals like soups or stews before any heavy seasoning is added (some flavor is great, but too much may be overwhelming). You can even incorporate chicken into baby led weaning meals with ease.

Get inspired with our Chicken Tikka Masala for babies pouch for a bold (but baby-friendly) flavor twist!

Combine with Veggies

Support your baby's development by pairing chicken with foods like spinach, sweet potato, or even mashed avocado for added nutrients.

Chicken Recipes and Serving Ideas by Stage

Here’s a quick cheat sheet of preparing chicken ideas you can use at every age and stage:

Chicken Puree (Stage 1 Baby Food - 6 Months)

• Ingredients: Boneless, skinless chicken breast, breast milk or bone broth

• Method: Steam or boil chicken until fully cooked, blend into a smooth, thin puree.

Chicken + Veggie Mash (Stage 2 Baby Food - 8 Months)

• Ingredients: Cooked chicken, sweet potato, peas

• Method: Mash together until soft but textured; ideal for babies ready to chew.

Chicken and Veggie Patties (Stage 3 Baby Food - 9 Months)

• Ingredients: Shredded chicken, finely grated zucchini, mashed carrots or sweet potato.

• Method: Form into mini patties and bake at medium heat until firm but soft.

Need more ideas? Gift a parent the convenience of Serenity Kids’ clean-label pouches!

Final Thoughts: Confidence in Serving Chicken at Every Stage

Knowing how to serve chicken to baby doesn't have to feel intimidating. Whether you start with a smooth chicken puree at 6 months, move to mashed chicken at 8 months, or offer ground chicken or shredded chicken for independent feeding at 9 months, chicken remains one of the most versatile, nourishing foods you can offer. There are many time-saving cooking methods, like instant pot or slow cooking that will make mealtime a breeze. You can also save time by picking up an organic store cooked chicken to serve chicken sliced or shredded, or batch cook ground or shredded chicken at home and freeze portions for later.

When time is short, Serenity Kids' clean, nutrient-packed chicken options—like our Organic Chicken Baby Food pouch — make it easy to still serve a healthy meal despite your busy life.

Here’s to healthy, happy eating—one delicious bite at a time!