Description
Chicken Meatloaf delivers comfort right to your dinner table with a lean, flavorful twist on classic comfort food. Packed with herbs and baked until golden, this hearty dish brings warmth and satisfaction to your evening meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs ground chicken
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¾ cup breadcrumbs
Binding Ingredients:
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and coat a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray or butter.
- Pour ½ cup whole milk over ¾ cup breadcrumbs in a small bowl. Allow mixture to absorb liquid for 20 minutes until soft and mushy.
- Combine 2 pounds ground chicken, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, 2 large eggs, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 finely chopped onion, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Incorporate the soaked breadcrumbs into the meat mixture. Gently fold ingredients together without overmixing to keep the texture tender.
- Transfer the meat mixture into the prepared loaf pan. Use a spatula to smooth the surface evenly across the pan.
- Spread ½ cup marinara sauce over the top of the meatloaf, creating an even layer that covers the entire surface.
- Slide the pan into the preheated 375°F oven. Bake for 45-50 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F when tested with a meat thermometer.
- Optional: Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese over the meatloaf during the final 10 minutes of baking.
- Remove from oven and let the meatloaf rest for 8-10 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Slice into 1-inch thick portions. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired and serve warm.
Notes
- Choose ground chicken with a bit of fat content to keep the meatloaf moist and tender, preventing dryness.
- Gently mix ingredients to avoid compressing the meat, which can make the meatloaf tough and dense.
- When checking internal temperature, insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meatloaf for accurate reading.
- For a gluten-free version, swap breadcrumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or almond flour to maintain the binding texture.
- Prep Time: 28 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 368 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg