Our easy garlic chicken parmesan meatloaf recipe is delicious!! A healthy meatloaf with ground chicken, breadcrumbs, spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese baked at 400F is a delicious melt in your mouth dinner idea we love.
We. Love. Meatloaf!! For years and years I made it the same way my mother did while I was growing up. I mean that was good but over the years I thought I should try to combine my favorite flavors together with this favorite dish, this is one of our new faves!
The key to the best result when it comes to this Old Fashioned dish are a few things, the first being how long to cook meatloaf. Too long and it will dry out, which is no good. You want it to stay as moist as possible.
Adding as much flavor as possible is another key to transforming 1 pound of meat into something delicious. Adding sauce into the mix AND on top is your best bet. You can make your own sauce or use bottled like we did for an easy peasy meal.
Ingredient Notes
This one is based on 1 lb. of ground chicken as the meat base, for obvious reasons. When making this classic dish you would normally use whole breasts, like our slow cooker chicken parmesan. In order to mix everything together it needs to be ground though.
Italian breadcrumbs provide the binder for this mixture. There are other options as far as this goes, crushed butter crackers like Ritz (or a gluten free variety) would be your best bet if you need a substitution.
What can you use other than eggs to make meatloaf?
In this case I skip the eggs entirely and instead just use a jar of spaghetti sauce! It is just as effective, adding moisture and is even better because it adds the classic flavors to this dish you want.
Shredded mozzarella cheese is always found on top so we added that too, as well as some in the mixture itself. It melts a lot easier if it is shredded vs. sliced.
I like to add some minced garlic and a pinch of salt in there too for added flavor but those are optional really.
Variations
You could make this into a spicy meatloaf recipe by adding some red pepper flakes, chili powder and/or dry Sriracha powder into the meatloaf mixture and/or on top as well. A pinch would make it medium heat, 1 tsp would make it spicier. It could be adjusted to your liking.
How Long to Cook Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf
This is a quick meatloaf recipe because ground chicken takes less time than ground beef. For 1 lb. it takes 35-40 minutes to cook all the way thru, and melt the cheese on the top. Some oven temps vary a bit so there is a range. Ours took 37 minutes to the dot.
How Long to Bake Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Muffins
We have made a meatloaf in muffin tins where they cook faster in a muffin tin. Kids love these because they are small, “so cute”, and have a tasty crust all the way around the outside. These take 12-15 minutes at 350F.
What should the internal temperature be?
Ground chicken needs to reach a safe 165F to be done. I have a meat thermometer so I can insert it into the center. You should always test once it is removed from the oven to get the most accurate read.
FAQ
#1 – Do NOT bake chicken parmesan meatloaf too long or it will dry out! Yes you need to make sure it reaches 165F but beyond that you’ll lose moisture. #2 – Keep a close eye on it at the end. You want the cheese on the top to melt and get lightly browned but not beyond that, keep it ooey gooey.
It is best to leave it in the pan once removed for at least 5 minutes to allow it solidify a bit more and stay as moist as possible. A bit of time before slicing will allow the juices to absorb into the meat instead of immediately leaking out when you cut it.
The most popular would be mashed potatoes. You can make these from scratch or use a bag of instant taters. Vegetables are a great idea with meatloaf since typically there are not any included inside. And some like a side salad to add a fresh crunch to the meal.
You don’t have to but it is recommended to keep it as moist as possible. Your best bet is to bake in the oven covered for the first half of the cook time, and then remove. Once removed I like to add a sauce for added moisture and flavor.
Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf
Equipment
- 1 9×5 loaf pan
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 1/4 cup spaghetti sauce, divided
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, divided, shredded
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Spray loaf pan with non stick spray.
- In a bowl combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, garlic, 1/2 cup of sauce, 1/4 cup shredded cheese, and a pinch of salt in a bowl until combined. Dump into loaf pan and spread out evenly.
- Cover pan with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove pan, uncover, spread remaining spaghetti sauce on top followed by shredded cheese on the top. Bake for another 12 minutes or until the middle reaches 165 degrees F and cheese is melted and lightly browned.
- Rest for 5 minutes in the pan, slice and serve with additional spaghetti sauce on top if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
