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Loaf of baked meatloaf with a glaze and parsley sprinkle on top.
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Ground Chicken Meatloaf

Ground Chicken Meatloaf is juicy, flavorful, thick and tall restaurant-style meatloaf that slices beautifully and proves that healthier comfort food doesn't have to be boring. The best part is the sweet tangy ketchup glaze on top. 
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken meatloaf, ground chicken meatloaf
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 8
Calories 382kcal
Author Jessica - Together as Family

Ingredients

Chicken Meatloaf

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup finely diced yellow onion
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced or pressed, chopped, or paste)
  • 2 pounds ground chicken (not super lean, use one with fat in it)
  • cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Meatloaf Glaze

  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly spray a 9-inch x 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. Then line the pan with parchment paper, pressing it into the corners so it fits snugly. 

Ground Chicken Meatloaf

  • In a skillet, over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the finely diced onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, until well softened and translucent. 
    1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 cup finely diced yellow onion
  • Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove the skillet from the heat and let cool slightly. 
    2 cloves garlic
  • In a large bowl, add the ground chicken, Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, large eggs, whole milk, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and the dried seasonings. Stir together gently just until combined. 
    2 pounds ground chicken, 1½ cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, 3 large eggs, 3/4 cup whole milk, 1/4 cup ketchup, 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon paprika
  • Add in the slightly cooled onion mixture along with the grated parmesan cheese, then gently mix just until combined. The meatloaf mixture should look cohesive but still light. 
    1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • Transfer the ground chicken mixture to the prepared loaf pan, and gently press it down to fit in an even layer. 

Meatloaf Glaze

  • Stir together the glaze ingredients in a small bowl. Spoon the glaze on top of the meatloaf inside the loaf pan, and gently spread it out into an even layer. 
    *My family likes a slightly sweeter glaze so I do 2 heaping tablespoons of packed light brown sugar.
    1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Bake The Meatloaf

  • Bake uncovered for 85-95 minutes. The center of the meatloaf needs to be at 165°F and the glaze will have darkened slightly and look sticky and caramelized. 
  • Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes so it can firm and set before serving. Slice it thick and enjoy!

Notes

  • I like lining the pan with parchment because it makes lifting the meatloaf out simple and keeps the glaze looking nice when it's time to slice. You don't have to line with parchment and could just use nonstick spray if wanted. 
  • The meatloaf is done when it has reached the safe internal temperature of 165° and it should feel firm but still slightly springy in the center, and the juices run clear. 
  • Make sure you have an instant read thermometer when making meatloaf - it's the only way to ensure it has reached the proper internal temperature of 165°F.
  • Stirring in the parmesan cheese at the end prevents clumping and helps keep the meatloaf moist, while still adding seasoning and structure so the chicken holds together without becoming dense. Use the cheaper, shelf-stable parmesan cheese, in the fine crumbs.  
  • Avoid overmixing the meat mixture, as this can make the loaf tight and dry once baked. I also like to crumble the ground chicken into the bowl (using clean hands) instead of just dumping the piece of ground chicken in from the container. Crumbling it into the bowl makes it easier to mix everything together gently. 
  • Resting time is essential here because slicing too soon will cause the loaf to crumble and lose moisture. 
  • I recommend using the higher fat percentage of ground chicken and not the super lean ground chicken (such as 98/2 or 96/4). You want some fat for the flavor and moisture. Ground chicken is already super lean so stick with the regular, higher fat percentage of ground chicken and not the extremely lean one. 

Nutrition

Calories: 382kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 176mg | Sodium: 1193mg | Potassium: 891mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 425IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 168mg | Iron: 3mg