Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago (2024)

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Meatloaf is a traditional American comfort food, oftentimes made with a mixture of ground beef, pork and veal. An easy meatloaf recipe is something every home chef should have in their arsenal, but for a different twist, I decided to make a meatloaf with ground chicken instead. My inspiration was the ever-popular Chicken Parmesan. Using ground chicken, I made thisChicken Parmesan Meatloafin the Instant Pot and it has now become the favorite meatloaf recipe at our house!

Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago (1)

My husband isn’t much of a meatloaf fan. His previous experience with meatloaf growing up wasn’t very good and he tries to eat beef sparingly anyway. So when I had some ground chicken to work with, I figured I’d try making a chicken meatloaf in hopes I could open his mind to meatloaf again. It’s a good thing I did! I was inspired by Chicken Parmesan – chicken, Italian spices, Parmesan cheese… how could this combination go wrong? I seasoned the ground chicken with a few dry spices, added some shredded cheese, and formed it into a loaf. Before baking, I topped it with a homemade tomato sauce. Just before serving, I topped the meatloaf with a blend of shredded Italian cheeses and baked it again until the cheese melted. It was delicious and probably a lot easier to make than chicken Parmesan itself! This dish went especially well with Scalloped Tomatoes. If you’re looking for a new meatloaf recipe to try, this may be one to consider! If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can check out my traditional cooking version here along with freezer meal directions!

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Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago (2)

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Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf

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    • 34 mini loaf pans
    • 1 lb ground chicken (ground turkey can be substituted)
    • 1 egg
    • 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 12 cloves garlic, finely minced
    • 1 small onion, grated
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
    • 1/2 cup pasta sauce (homemade or store bought)
    • 1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
    • minced parsley for garnish

    Instructions

    1. Plug in the IP with insert set in place.
    2. Lightly grease a loaf pans with cooking spray, set aside.
    3. In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, thyme, oregano, basil, garlic, onion, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese. Try not to over handle the mixture otherwise it will get tough. Place the mixture in the greased loaf pans and form into mini loaves. Top the meatloaves with pasta sauce.
    4. Press MANUAL on the IP and insert the trivet; add 1 cup of water.
    5. Place the loaf pans onto the trivet.
    6. Secure the lid of the IP and ensure the valve is set to SEALING.
    7. Press MANUAL and adjust the time to 15 minutes on HIGH pressure.
    8. The display will reflect ON while the IP comes to pressure. Allow a few minutes for your IP to come to pressure.
    9. Once at pressure, the display will reflect 15 (the number of minutes you initially set) and will begin to countdown to 0 minutes.
    10. When the IP beeps after pressure cooking for 15 minutes,allow your IP to naturally release pressure for 5 minutes. Whilenaturallyreleasing pressure (also known as NPR or NR), the display will reflect numbers counting up from 1. The numbers indicate how many minutes the IP has stopped cooking since it beeped (or how many minutes it has been naturally releasing pressure). No need to touch your IP while it naturally releases pressure.The pin at the top of your IP will drop when all pressure has been released and it’s safe to open.
    11. When the display reflects L5:00 (which is 5 minutes since the IP has beeped), turn the setting on top of your IP to VENTING. Doing so allows the IP toquicklyrelease any remaining pressure (also known as QPR or QR). I use a wooden spoon to carefully turn the setting to avoid close contact with the potential steam. You may also want to turn your IP away from cabinets to allow the released steam to escape freely. The pin at the top of your IP will drop when all pressure has been released and it’s safe to open.
    12. Preheat your broiler as you wait for the pin to drop and all pressure is released from the IP.
    13. Open up your IP when the pin has dropped (allow a few minutes for this to happen).
    14. Remove the meatloaf pans from the IP and sprinkle the top with the remaining shredded cheese.
    15. Place the meatloaves in the preheated oven and broil until the cheese is melted.
    16. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving/slicing. Garnish with parsley if desired.
    • Author: WCC

    And there you have it! Give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments.

    Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago (3)

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    Comments

    1. Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago (5)What's Cookin Chicago says

      Hi! Thank you for your comment… I have the 6 quart Instant Pot. I use the disposable foil mini loaf pans and the standard size for them is 5.75"x3.25"x2"

      Reply

    2. Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago (6)Unknown says

      Could you put some mixture in two loaf pans then put a trivet on top of them and add two more mini loaf pans? Would they cook evenly? How about one ring pan— would the cook time remain the same?

      Reply

    3. Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago (7)What's Cookin Chicago says

      Those would all work well and no need to adjust the timing!

      Reply

    4. Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago (8)Unknown says

      Could you put some mixture in two loaf pans then put a trivet on top of them and add two more mini loaf pans? Would they cook evenly? How about one ring pan— would the cook time remain the same?

      Reply

    5. Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago (9)Unknown says

      Have you ever done chicken breasts in a loaf pan? I've tried with salmon (marinating in teriyaki while cooking) and it was great. Was unsure of how to adjust the cooking time for chicken breasts when using a mini loaf pan…any thoughts?

      Reply

    6. Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago (10)Unknown says

      I'd much rather have traditional oven recipe. How long for 2 lbs of ground chicken breast meatloaf.

      How can you tell chicken meatloaf is done?

      Reply

    7. Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago (11)What's Cookin Chicago says

      For the traditional/standard recipe & details, please view it here: https://whatscookinchicago.com/2010/06/chicken-parmesan-meatloaf.html

      Reply

    Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago (2024)

    FAQs

    Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf | What's Cookin' Chicago? ›

    If you don't have any bread, you can substitute it for breadcrumbs, crackers, cereal grains, oatmeal, instant rice, instant barley, or even potato flakes! However, bread is still the best choice of all the potential options.

    What is the best binder for meatloaf? ›

    If you don't have any bread, you can substitute it for breadcrumbs, crackers, cereal grains, oatmeal, instant rice, instant barley, or even potato flakes! However, bread is still the best choice of all the potential options.

    Should you cover meatloaf when baking? ›

    Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

    Why do you put milk in meatloaf? ›

    Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

    Is meatloaf cooked at 350 or 375 degrees? ›

    The oven temperature is typically set at 350 degrees F for making meatloaf. That's the temperature you want to be sure to use so the meatloaf cooks and doesn't dry out. Too high, and the outer crust will burn before the interior is cooked all the way, too low and you don't get that delicious crust.

    What do you put in meatloaf to keep it from falling apart? ›

    In meatloaf, this is most commonly the eggs and breadcrumbs. Your binding ingredient is only second to the meat itself in your recipe and the reason why meatloaf crumbles. When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs.

    Is it better to bake meatloaf in glass or metal? ›

    Metal pans are great conductors of heat; in other words, they heat up quickly, but in turn, they also cool down more rapidly once removed from the heat source. Additionally, metal pans can withstand higher temperatures than glass.

    What is the basic meatloaf formula? ›

    The Basic Meatloaf Formula

    All recipes for meatloaf start with the same basic formula: 2 pounds of ground meat and a “panade” made of bread or crackers soaked in milk. Along with a few eggs, this panade helps to hold the ground meat together and adds some essential moisture to the mix.

    Is it better to bake meatloaf on a sheet pan or loaf pan? ›

    When choosing a baking pan, avoid a small loaf pan or baking dish. A tight fit means that the loaf will steam — think school cafeteria meatloaf. Instead, use a sheet pan or a large baking dish and leave some breathing room so the edges will caramelize nicely.

    Why put ketchup in meatloaf? ›

    Whether you slather a thick layer of ketchup on top of the meatloaf before it goes into the oven, add a few tablespoons to the ground meat mixture, or serve extra ketchup on the side, this tangy-sweet, umami-rich condiment balances out the richness of the beef, making it an essential part of the dish.

    What does adding an extra egg to meatloaf do? ›

    Sure, egg yolks add some rich flavor to a meatloaf, but the real reason we need eggs is for structure—to help bind the meatloaf together. This is especially important since we're making a free-form meatloaf, or one that you shape by hand, versus using a loaf pan.

    How to tell when meatloaf is done? ›

    Because it is made of ground meat, we must cook all meatloaf to 160°F (71°C). But because we don't want to dry it out, we don't want to go beyond that temperature at all, if we can help it. Using a leave-in probe thermometer like the ChefAlarm® to monitor the temperature while cooking can help guarantee success.

    At what temperature is a 1 lb meatloaf done? ›

    At 350°F a 1 lb meatloaf will take about 35 to 45 minutes for the meatloaf temperature to reach 160°F. A 2 lb meatloaf will take about 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes for the meatloaf temperature to reach 160°F.

    How long to let meatloaf rest? ›

    You can make meatloaf either in a loaf pan or free-form. Free-form meatloaves have a crust all around; loaf-pan meatloaves have a more "steamed" texture. It's strictly a matter of preference. Let your meatloaf rest for about 10 minutes after it comes out of the oven; it will hold together better when slicing.

    What unexpected ingredient makes a great binder for meatloaf? ›

    Rice Krispies works great as a binder material thanks to their plain, starchy, porous, and crisp structure. Because these rice bits are relatively tasteless, they also bulk up and soak up the flavor of the spices and meat in the meal you are cooking.

    What can I use as a binder in meatloaf instead of eggs? ›

    Extra Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs are already found in most meatloaf recipes, but an extra ¼ cup of them can make up for the loss of one egg. Olive Oil: Olive oil is far runnier and, naturally, oilier than eggs, so you'll want to add one tablespoon at a time until the consistency seems right.

    What's the best filler for meatloaf? ›

    What is the best filler for meatloaf? Panko breadcrumbs are the best filler. They soak up the milk and eggs and bind everything together. They also add tons of flavor and keep the interior of your meatloaf from going dry.

    What to use in meatloaf to bind it together besides breadcrumbs or saltine crackers? ›

    Oats are a great breadcrumb substitute when used as a binder in meatballs or meatloaf. Try them in one of Ree Drummond's favorite recipes: BBQ comfort meatballs.

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