1. Preheat the oven to 200°C with top and bottom heat.
2. 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).
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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).
6. During baking, turn the pieces once halfway to ensure even browning.
7. 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.
8. 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.