- Preheat the oven to 200°C with top and bottom heat.
- Wash the pumpkin thoroughly (e.g., Hokkaido), halve and remove the seeds. With Hokkaido the skin can stay on; if necessary, peel other varieties. Cut the pumpkin into sticks about 1 cm thick (finger-friendly size).
- Pat dry the chicken (breast or fillet), remove skin and visible fat, remove bones completely, and cut the meat into sticks about 1 cm thick as well. For toddlers, make thinner sticks that are easy to chew.
- In separate bowls, rub the pumpkin and chicken pieces lightly with olive oil (about 5 g in total). Do not add extra salt or spicy spices for babies under one year; for 10+ months mild, very small amount of herbs optional (e.g., finely chopped thyme), but not necessary.
- Place the pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space for even cooking from all sides. Bake for about 18–25 minutes: the pumpkin is ready when it is soft to the fork but still holds its shape; the chicken is done when cooked through and no longer pink in the center (core temperature ideally 74°C, alternatively ensure there is no pink visible).
- During baking, turn the pieces once halfway to ensure even browning.
- After baking, let the pieces cool until lukewarm. For the baby, offer the chicken and pumpkin strips in suitable, easy-to-grasp finger-food sizes (if unsure, smaller, long strips that are easy to hold). Before eating, check that there are no hard edges or fibrous parts.
- Safety notes: Always supervise while eating, remove small pieces and hard seeds/shells, check the temperature. For babies under 1 year, do not give honey; handle salt and spicy spices very sparingly.
Summary
An easy, baby-led weaning-friendly dinner made of baked chicken and pumpkin in finger-friendly strips. The texture is soft enough to chew but firm enough to hold — ideal for 10+ months.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. Before serving again, reheat thoroughly and evenly and check the temperature. Not recommended to freeze long-term, as the texture changes.
Allergens and notes
Contains poultry. Check for individual intolerances or allergies to chicken. Do not include additional nuts, dairy products or salt; if you have a known allergy to chicken, do not serve. Always supervise during eating to avoid choking hazards.