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Chicken Meatloaf Recipe

Chicken Meatloaf Recipe: How to Make It in 1 Pan

Want a crowd-pleasing meal without the fuss? This Chicken Meatloaf Recipe is quick, flavorful, and perfect for busy nights. Learn how now!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 280 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds Ground chicken preferably a mix of white and dark meat
  • 1 cup Breadcrumbs regular or panko
  • ½ cup Milk
  • 2 Large eggs beaten
  • 1 Medium onion finely diced
  • 2 Celery stalks finely diced
  • 1 Medium carrot grated
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp Fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 tbsp Fresh thyme leaves or 1 tsp dried
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • ½ tsp Black pepper
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ cup Ketchup
  • 2 tbsp Brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard

Instructions
 

  • Step 1: Set Up Your Kitchen for Success
    ❶ Preheat your oven to a moderate 350°F (175°C) to ensure even cooking throughout your chicken meatloaf.
    ❷ Prepare your loaf pan by creating a parchment paper liner with extended sides for easy removal later. This prevents your chicken meatloaf from sticking and maintains its beautiful shape.
    Step 2: Create the Perfect Foundation
    ❶ In a spacious mixing bowl, combine your breadcrumbs and milk, then allow this mixture to rest for approximately 5 minutes. This crucial step ensures the breadcrumbs fully absorb the liquid, creating the moisture foundation that makes this chicken meatloaf recipe exceptionally tender.
    ❷ Incorporate the beaten eggs, salt, freshly ground pepper, and Worcestershire sauce into your breadcrumb mixture, stirring thoroughly to create a uniform, well-seasoned base.
    Step 3: Incorporate Aromatics and Meat
    ❶ Add your meticulously prepared aromatic vegetables—the diced onion, celery, grated carrot, minced garlic—along with the fragrant herbs (parsley and thyme) to the mixture. These ingredients not only provide flavor but also contribute essential moisture to your chicken meatloaf recipe.
    ❷ Gently add the ground chicken to the bowl and, using clean hands, blend everything together with a light touch until just combined. This gentle handling is absolutely critical to achieving the perfect texture in your chicken meatloaf recipe.
    Pro Tip: For the most tender chicken meatloaf, handle the meat mixture minimally during mixing. Over-working the mixture activates proteins that can make your finished chicken meatloaf dense and tough rather than light and juicy. Think of it as gently folding the ingredients together rather than aggressively kneading them.
    Step 4: Form and Prepare for Baking
    ❶ Transfer your perfectly mixed chicken meatloaf mixture into the prepared pan, using gentle pressure to eliminate air pockets without compacting the meat.
    ❷ Shape the top into a slightly rounded dome, which not only looks appealing but also helps the glaze distribute beautifully over the surface of your chicken meatloaf.
    Step 5: Create and Apply the Signature Glaze
    ❶ In a separate small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard until smooth and well incorporated. This tangy-sweet glaze is a hallmark of this chicken meatloaf recipe, creating a caramelized, flavor-packed exterior.
    ❷ Spread half of your prepared glaze evenly across the top of the uncooked meatloaf, reserving the remainder for later application.
    ❸ Cover the loaf pan loosely with aluminum foil, creating a tent that allows some steam to escape while protecting the surface from drying out.
    Step 6: Bake to Perfection
    ❶ Place your prepared chicken meatloaf in the preheated oven and bake, covered, for 40 minutes, allowing the interior to cook through gently.
    ❷ After this initial baking period, carefully remove the foil, apply the remaining reserved glaze, and return to the oven uncovered for an additional 20-30 minutes. This final uncovered baking creates that irresistible caramelized finish while ensuring your chicken meatloaf reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
    Step 7: Rest and Serve Like a Professional
    ❶ Once baked to perfection, allow your chicken meatloaf to rest undisturbed for 10 full minutes. This patience-testing but essential step allows the juices to redistribute throughout the loaf, ensuring every slice is moist and flavorful.
    ❷ Using the parchment paper extensions as handles, carefully lift your beautifully finished chicken meatloaf from the pan, transfer to a cutting board, and slice with a sharp knife to serve.
    Step 2: Create the Perfect FoundationStep 3: Incorporate Aromatics and MeatStep 4: Form and Prepare for BakingStep 5: Create and Apply the Signature GlazeStep 6: Bake to PerfectionStep 7: Rest and Serve Like a Professional
Keyword chicken dinner, comfort food, healthy meatloaf, weeknight meal, fall recipe, kid-friendly, meal prep, high-protein