Chicken Meatloaf

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Meatloaf is a classic meal made with meat, veggies, flavorful herbs, and spices. This ground chicken meatloaf recipe is a healthy twist on the traditional recipe made with lean chicken instead of ground beef or ground pork. The result is just as moist and flavorful but with less fat.

With just a few minutes of prep work, you can pop a lean ground chicken meatloaf into the oven or form the meatloaf mixture into meatballs or mini meatloaf muffins. You’ll have a satisfying dinner in under an hour, and the leftovers make a delicious sandwich. 

Chicken meatloaf is topped with a sweet glaze, making it one of the best recipes I’ve ever had. This healthy meal pairs perfectly with mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, and classic Stovetop Mac and Cheese. Yep, this is guaranteed to be a family favorite for years to come. 

And for even more family favorites, check out my Air Fryer Whole Chicken and these easy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders.

Why Make This Recipe

• It’s Healthy – Ground chicken is lower in fat than ground beef and makes for a healthy meatloaf. Skip the glaze if you want a low-carb meatloaf.  
• Fast Prep – The meatloaf takes only minutes to prepare, and the rest of the time is hands-off while baking. 
• It’s Versatile – Turn your meatloaf into mini-meatloaves, muffins, or meatballs and cut the cooking time down to about 20 minutes.  

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken – Use lean ground chicken to make the meatloaf super healthy. 
• Breadcrumbs – Gluten FRee Panko breadcrumbs help preserve moisture and add to the texture of the meatloaf. You can substitute regular breadcrumbs, panko bread crumbs, crackers, oatmeal, or almond flour. 
• Milk – Use whatever kind of milk you have on hand. You can also use cream or half and half.
• Cheese – Freshly grated or shredded parmesan cheese adds a nutty flavor. Substitute with your favorite cheese. 
• Herbs and Spices – Combine fresh parsley, dried thyme, salt, ground black pepper and ground nutmeg. 
• Aromatics – Chopped onion and minced garlic cloves add flavor and aroma. Or swap in garlic powder and onion powder if you prefer.
• Egg – The egg acts as a binder to prevent the meatloaf from falling apart. 
• Worcestershire Sauce – This adds a deep, rich, umami flavor. You can also use soy sauce. 
• Ketchup – Use your favorite ketchup or substitute tomato paste. You can also use BBQ sauce.
• Brown Sugar – Adds a bit of sweetness to the glaze. 
• Vinegar – Balances the sweetness and helps to give the glaze a nice shine. 

Ready to learn how to make this meatloaf with ground chicken? Gather your ingredients, and I will show you…

How To Make Ground Chicken Meatloaf

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F / 175 degrees C and grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
2. Combine the ground chicken and the remaining loaf ingredients in a large bowl. Mix until all the ingredients are evenly combined.
3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared loaf pan and use a spatula or your hands to shape it into a loaf.
4. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar to make the glaze. Brush some of the glaze over the top of the meatloaf. 
5. Bake the meatloaf for 45 minutes, brush with more glaze, and cook for another 15 minutes.
6. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Note: Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken meatloaf.

Pro Tips

• Your hands are the best tool for mixing the ingredients.
• Avoid overmixing, which can cause the meatloaf to be tough. 
• If you don’t have a loaf pan, you can shape the meatloaf on a baking sheet lined
• with parchment paper.
• Check the temperature with a digital thermometer to ensure the meatloaf has cooked to a minimum of 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C. 
• Let the meatloaf rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving to allow the juices to redistribute. 
• Use the leftover meatloaf for sandwiches or add it to pasta, tacos, or as a breakfast meat with eggs and hashbrowns. 

Delicious Variations

• Swap The Cheese – I love the nutty flavor of parmesan, but you can use any cheese you enjoy. 
• Add More Veggies – Add diced carrots, celery, mushrooms, or bell peppers for extra flavor.
• Low Carb Meatloaf – You can make this meatloaf low carb by replacing the breadcrumbs with almond meal and eliminating or reducing the brown sugar from the glaze.
• Ground Turkey – Use ground turkey instead of ground chicken breast to make the meatloaf mixture.

Prep And Storage

• Prep Ahead – Mix your meatloaf up to 24 hours in advance and store it in the fridge until you are ready to bake.  
• Store – Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 
• Freeze – Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. 
• Reheat – Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degrees F / 175 degrees C oven for 20-25 minutes or until warmed. You can also microwave individual slices. 

FAQs

More Recipes You May Like

• Vegan Meatloaf.
• Air Fryer Meatloaf.
• Instant Pot Chicken Chili.

Serving Suggestions

• Air Fryer Green Beans.
• Crockpot Mashed Potatoes.
• How To Cook Frozen Carrots.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 4 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Thank you for reading my meatloaf with ground chicken recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog. 

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