This is our go-to summer breakfast when there's no time and bub's already yelling from the high chair. Frozen mango, a few pantry staples, two minutes in the microwave and it's done. It tastes like a tropical holiday in a bowl and suits any baby who is ready for solids.
No added sugar, gluten free, and you can make it with whatever milk you have in the fridge.
Age Recommendation - Suitable from 6 months, or as soon as your baby is showing signs they're ready for solids.
Quick Recipe Snapshot
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Suitable from: 6 months
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Prep time: 2 minutes
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Cook time: 2 minutes
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Total time: about 5 minutes
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Makes: 1 baby serve
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Best for: breakfast, quick snack
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Texture: soft, mashed porridge
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Freezer friendly: no, best made fresh
Age & Texture Guidance
6–9 months: Mash the mango right through so it's a soft, slightly lumpy porridge. Add an extra splash of milk if it's thick. Pre-load a spoon and pass it to bub, or let them dig in with their hands.
9–12 months: Leave some soft squashed pieces of mango for more texture and let bub practise scooping with their own spoon.
12 months+: Serve as is, or top with a spoonful of plain yoghurt and some extra chopped fruit.
Every baby is different, so go at your little one's pace, and always stay close and supervise while they eat, with bub sitting upright in their high chair.
Allergens Present
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Cow's milk / dairy if you use cow's milk (ASCIA common food allergen)
There's no egg, wheat, nuts or sesame in this recipe. Quinoa flakes can carry a 'may contain' wheat or gluten statement depending on the brand, so check the label if that matters for your bub. Once a common allergen is part of your bub's diet and tolerated, ASCIA recommends keeping it going at least once a week.
Allergen Substitutions
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Dairy free: use breastmilk, formula or an unsweetened plant milk like oat or soy.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Ready in about 5 minutes, start to finish
- No added sugar, the mango does all the sweet work
- Naturally gluten free
- Uses freezer and pantry staples you probably already have
- Works for spoon feeding and baby-led weaning
Watch How We Make It
Dietitian tip
Pairing an iron-containing food like quinoa with a vitamin C food like mango helps bub absorb more of the iron. Stir really well between each 30 second burst too. Microwaves leave hot spots, and the frozen mango can hide a hot pocket underneath.
Summery Mango & Quinoa Breakfast Cereal
Makes: 1 baby serve
Prep time: 2 minutes | Cook time: 2 minutes | Total time: approx. 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 5–6 frozen mango cubes (about ⅓ cup / 60g)
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons quinoa flakes (roughly)
- 1 teaspoon desiccated coconut
- ¼ cup (60ml) milk of choice (breastmilk, formula, full-fat cow's milk or an unsweetened plant milk)
Method
- Put the frozen mango cubes in a small microwave-safe bowl.
- Sprinkle over the chia seeds, quinoa flakes and coconut.
- Pour in the milk.
- Microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring well each time, for about 2 minutes total, until the quinoa flakes are soft and the mango has thawed.
- Mash and stir well with a fork to break up the mango through the cereal.
- Stir again and check the temperature before serving. Microwaves heat unevenly, so test a little on the inside of your wrist.
Hint: For younger babies, mash the mango right through until it's smooth and add an extra splash of milk if it's thick. For older babies, leave some soft squashed pieces of mango for a bit more texture.
Storage Instructions
This one is best made fresh. Leftovers can go in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. It thickens as the chia and quinoa soak up the milk, so stir through a little extra milk and reheat until hot all the way through, then cool before serving. We don't recommend freezing it.
Nutrition Notes
Quinoa flakes give slow-release energy, some plant protein and a little iron, and they're naturally gluten free. Chia seeds add fibre and omega-3 fats. Mango brings natural sweetness and vitamin C, which helps bub absorb the iron from the quinoa and chia. Coconut adds a bit of healthy fat and flavour. Using breastmilk or formula keeps it familiar, while cow's milk adds calcium.
Parent Tip
Make up a few little jars of the dry mix (chia, quinoa flakes and coconut) on the weekend. In the morning, tip one into the Suckie Scoop Mini Bowl with the mango and milk, and breakfast is done in the time it takes to boil the kettle. Pre-load the Sticky Spoon and hand it to bub so they can feed themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can babies have chia seeds?
Yes, from around 6 months. Mixing them into a wet food like this porridge lets them soften and swell, which makes them easier for bub to manage. Avoid giving dry chia seeds on their own.
What milk should I use?
Any milk is fine. Breastmilk, formula, full-fat cow's milk or an unsweetened plant milk all work. Cow's milk is fine in cooking and on cereal from 6 months. It just shouldn't replace breastmilk or formula as bub's main drink until 12 months.
Are quinoa flakes gluten free?
Quinoa itself is gluten free. Some brands are processed in facilities that also handle wheat, so check the label for a 'may contain' statement if bub needs to avoid gluten.
Can I use fresh mango instead of frozen?
Yes. Use about ⅓ cup of ripe fresh mango. It'll heat faster, so start checking after 1 minute. Frozen mango is handy because it's always in the freezer and helps cool the cereal down.
Is coconut an allergen?
Coconut isn't one of the common food allergens in Australia. If you'd rather leave it out, the cereal still works well without it.
