This is the most delicious, juicy, and flavorful Ground Chicken Meatloaf that’s a perfect go-to family dinner main dish! It takes just 10 minutes prep time to put together and 45 minutes to bake with no fuss at all!
Who doesn’t like meatloaf? Even if you think you don’t like meatloaf, you probably do. In fact, my Easy Beef 5-Ingredient Meatloaf without Breadcrumbs is the most popular recipe on this blog! But you may not always, or maybe ever, want beef and that’s where this healthy Ground Chicken Meatloaf without Breadcrumbs comes in! This recipe takes chicken and infuses it with huge flavor!
When using ground chicken, you really have to add lots of flavorful ingredients. The garlic and onions bring moisture and flavor since chicken has very little natural flavor. The Worcestershire brings unami, that something special. And the parmesan gives it a fantastic nutty and cheesy backdrop. It takes just minutes to put together and 45 minutes to bake with no fuss at all!
Make this for a perfectly easy and delicious main dish for family dinner. Want more tips for making busy family dinners easier? Click here for my Free Printable 5 Simple Steps to Easy Family Dinners!
Easy Ground Chicken Meatloaf with Simple Ingredients!
Fridge or Fresh Ingredients
- Ground Chicken breast – I used only white meat, but any fat content of ground chicken or ground turkey will work in this recipe. I always have ground chicken on hand in my freezer as it lasts for 6 months if stored in an airtight container or packaging. I have so many more tips for Prepping and Storing Chicken for Easier Dinners.
- Parmesan Cheese, grated – Grated is better than shredded in this recipe as it mixes through and acts as a binder.
- Onion, diced – I used yellow onion, but you can use red onion, shallot, or even scallions in a pinch.
- Egg, large
- Ketchup – check out my recipe for Homemade Sugar Free Ketchup with Honey!
- Worcestershire Sauce – if you don’t have this, you can substitute Soy sauce
Pantry Ingredients
- Salt
- Ground Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder – I like garlic powder in this recipe because it really combines throughout the meatloaf. You can use fresh garlic, but I would smash it into a paste and then whisk it into the egg to help give it the best chance of mixing through the meat.
Ground Chicken is a Lean Substitute for Beef
I’ve always looked for leaner protein options in my cooking, but it took some convincing for my husband to agree that ground chicken could be just as delicious as ground beef. When I completed my studies at Cornell for a Certification in Nutrition and Healthy Living, it gave me a bit more leverage to convince him. Ground white meat chicken has 26 grams of protein, 110 calories in a 4 ounce serving and 0 grams of fat. On the other hand, 90% lean ground beef has 32 grams of protein, but 260 calories in a 4 ounce serving and 13 grams of fat.
By the numbers, you are still getting a good amount of protein and saving half of the calories with the chicken. However, I knew that he would only truly be sold on leaner ground chicken if I could make it taste amazing!
And so, I have created many super flavorful ground chicken recipes, such as Ground Chicken Dan Dan Noodles! Or how about this Easy Tex Mex Unstuffed Peppers recipe with Ground Chicken? Another favorite recipe is for these Greek Chicken Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce. Oh, and one of my most versatile recipes that goes into so many dinners, is my Easiest Ground Italian Chicken Sausage Recipe!
Quick note! This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase from them. This commission is what helps me keep this blog afloat :). I also share these links because I have used the products, genuinely love them, and want you to know exactly what I used.
Recipe Equipment Needed
For this recipe, you need a standard loaf pan, about 9 inches by 5 inches.
Mincing garlic is made super easy with a Garlic Press.
Time Saving Prep-Ahead Steps for this Recipe
We are all extremely busy and making dinner during the week can be overwhelming. Here are steps you can prepare ahead to save time on busy nights! (See the full recipe below)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F if you are moving directly into cooking steps. Line a loaf pan with aluminum foil for easy removal of the meatloaf after it is cooked.
Finely dice the onion and mince the garlic.
In a large mixing bowl, add the raw ground chicken, diced onion, garlic powder, ¼ cup ketchup, worcestershire sauce, egg, salt, and black pepper. Mix all ingredients together with a fork in the large bowl.
Once mixed thoroughly, mix in the grated parmesan cheese.
Form a loaf in the loaf pan with the meatloaf mixture. Spread the remaining ¼ cup Ketchup over the top of the meatloaf. At this point, you can cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 4 months.
Cooking Steps for Ground Chicken Meatloaf
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F if you haven’t already done so.
Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Check the internal temperature to ensure it reaches 165 degrees F.
Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Remove from the pan, cut and serve.
What should I serve with this Meatloaf?
I love to serve something healthy, but flavorful with this Meatloaf. My favorite side for this is my Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mash! My next favorite side is my Cheesy Cauliflower Rice! Of course, you can also go with more traditional mashed potatoes. And if you want really decadent, try this Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole!
ENJOY! 😍 Carrie
Ground Chicken Meatloaf Recipe FAQS
You can store the uncooked meatloaf in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just be sure to wrap it really well to prevent air from getting in. Or freeze it for up to 5-6 months, again sealed as well as you can.
This Ground Chicken Meatloaf Recipe is Gluten Free, assuming that you check all ingredients, including the ketchup to ensure they are also gluten free. is considered low carb. It only has 11 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
You can definitely substitute ground turkey in this meatloaf recipe. The cooking time will be the same.
Parmesan cheese is added to this meatloaf recipe in place of breadcrumbs to help bind the meat mixture. If you want to use a substitute, you can of course use breadcrumbs or gluten free breadcrumbs. You can also use cheddar, manchego, or other hard cheese if you don’t have parmesan.
Sure! I tried to keep this recipe as simple as possible, but there are lots of other ingredients that would be great additions! Chopped parsley (¼ cup) is great for added brightness and color. A finely diced jalapeno would be delicious for a kick. Red or Green pepper would also be delicious. I created a delicious variation on this recipe you can check out – 5-Ingredient Mexican Meatloaf!
Have you tried this recipe? If so, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating in the recipe below! I love to hear your feedback and your rating helps others to find this recipe. Thanks so much!
Be sure to check out the web story for this Ground Chicken Meatloaf!
Ground Chicken Meatloaf
This is the most delicious, juicy, and flavorful Ground Chicken Meatloaf that’s a perfect go-to family dinner main dish! This recipe takes chicken and infuses it with huge flavor from garlic, onions, worcestershire sauce, parmesan cheese, and ketchup. It takes just 10 minutes prep time to put together and 45 minutes to bake with no fuss at all!
Ingredients
- 16 oz Ground Chicken white meat
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- ½ cup Onion diced
- 1 Large Egg
-
½
cup
Ketchup – divided ¼ for mixing in and ¼ for topping
See notes for Homemade Ketchup Recipe Link
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 3 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
Instructions
Prep Ahead Steps
-
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F if you are moving directly into cooking steps. Line a loaf pan with aluminum foil for easy removal of the meatloaf after it is cooked.
-
Finely dice the Onion.
-
In a large bowl, add the raw ground chicken, diced onion, garlic powder, ¼ ketchup, worcestershire sauce, egg, salt, and black pepper. Mix all ingredients together with a fork. Once mixed thoroughly, mix in the grated parmesan cheese.
-
Form a loaf in the loaf pan. Spread the remaining ¼ cup Ketchup over the top of the meatloaf. At this point, you can cover and store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 5-6 months.
Cooking Steps
-
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F if you haven't already done so.
-
Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Check the internal temperature to ensure it reaches 165 F.
-
Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Remove from the pan, cut and serve with roast or mashed potatoes or salad. Enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Click for Homemade Ketchup Recipe
- Storage – You can store the uncooked meatloaf in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just be sure to wrap it really well to prevent air from getting in. Or freeze it for up to 5-6 months, again sealed as well as you can.
- This Ground Chicken Meatloaf Recipe is Gluten Free, assuming that you check all ingredients, including the ketchup to ensure they are also gluten free.
- This Ground Chicken Meatloaf without Breadcrumbs is considered low carb. It only has 11 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
- You can substitute ground turkey in this meatloaf recipe. The cooking time will be the same.
- Parmesan cheese is added to this meatloaf recipe in place of breadcrumbs to help bind the meat mixture. If you want to use a substitute, you can of course use breadcrumbs or gluten free breadcrumbs. You can also use cheddar, manchego, or other hard cheese if you don’t have parmesan.
Chef Mimi says
Looks good!
Linger says
Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food but I love that you made it healthy with the ground chicken. Thanks so much Carrie for sharing!
Michael says
Is the meatloaf crumbly? Is the egg and cheese the only thing holding it together? I’ve got to try this recipe out and I’ll post my results.
Carrie Tyler says
Hi Michael! No, it’s not dry or crumbly, it’s very moist and delicious!
Please let me know how it goes 🙂
Carrie