Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf

If you are looking for a dinner that is sure to wow, this chicken Parmesan meatloaf is just the thing. It is loaded with flavor and of course plenty of cheese. This is a special meal that the whole family is going to love.

Showing melted cheese and pesto inside marinara and cheese topped chicken meatloaf.

This chicken meatloaf combines two favorite dinner entrees, meatloaf and chicken Parmesan into one amazing dish.  It is stuffed with cheese and topped with it too, so you know it is going to be good. 

The result is a flavorful and fun twist that is sure to get your family to the table. Serve with a little pasta and a salad for a hearty family meal or something worthy of company.

Meatloaf is one of those family dinner classics.  It reminds me of diner plates, mashed potatoes and dinner around the table.  It is filling, meaty and reminiscent of childhood.

Whole chicken parm meatloaf topped with marinara and melted cheese, ready to be sliced and served.

Chicken Parmesan is one of those dinners that everyone I know loves.  It is full of flavor and oddly a comfort food in it’s own right.

There is melty cheese, tomato and chicken goodness.  It is not something I make at home often, but it inspires meals we have.

Twists on that theme are always popular on our dinner table.  Slow cooker chicken parmesan sandwiches are a staple on our menu rotation and the no boil chicken pasta bake is a great way to stretch chicken to feed a crowd.

Slice of cheese and pesto stuffed chicken meatloaf, ready to eat.

For a fun twist on a chicken parm and pasta mash up, try chicken Parmesan stuffed shells. They are fancy enough for guests, but really pretty simple to put together.

So of course putting them together is going to be a hit!  This meatloaf is stuffed with cheese, so there’s that to look forward to.  It’s flavored with pesto, so you know it’s going to be flavorful.

Instead of ketchup or BBQ sauce on top, you get the goodness of spaghetti sauce.  This is an easy way to add loads of flavor with almost no work.  And of course a little more cheese never hurt a thing!

Side Dish Ideas

You could serve this with mashed potatoes like a traditional meatloaf if you’d like.  But we like it with some simple pasta tossed in butter, garlic salt and sprinkling of Parmesan.

Add a side salad with some of Aunt Ellen’s homemade Parmesan dressing and it’s a meal fit for a king! If salads aren’t your thing, a little steamed or roasted broccoli would also be amazing.

Knife slicing chicken meatloaf topped with marinara and melted mozzarella cheese, about to show the melted cheese and pesto inside.

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If you are making this for a special occasion, be sure to serve it with something fun for dessert like MiMi’s Italian Lemon Bundt Cake. 

If you like the idea of stuffed Italian goodness, try the stuffed meatball meatloaf which is similar to this, but made with ground beef instead.

Now that you’ve got this on the menu for dinner, just imagine the meatloaf sandwich the next day. Make some garlic toast and put on a slab of this goodness for an out of this world lunch!!

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a meatloaf fall apart?

If you don’t use enough binding ingredients, like eggs and breadcrumbs, the meatloaf can crumble and fall apart. This recipe uses seasoned bread crumbs and eggs to hold it together. Plus there is plenty of gooey cheese to keep it succulent and delicious.

Lifting slice of chicken parmesan meatloaf out of the loaf showing the melted cheese center with bits of pesto mixed in.

Can you freeze meatloaf to bake later?

Yes! You can freeze a raw meatloaf to be baked later. Leave the toppings off, but assemble meatloaf over a plastic wrapped lined sheet pan.

Freeze the meatloaf until it is solid then wrap with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost meatloaf in the refrigerator overnight before baking according to the recipe directions.

How do I store leftover meatloaf?

Store any meatloaf leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can freeze leftover slices for up to 3 months.

Showing melted cheese and pesto inside marinara and cheese topped chicken meatloaf.
4.84 from 18 ratings

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf

Author: Carlee
Servings: 12 Servings
If you are looking for a dinner that is sure to wow, this chicken Parmesan meatloaf is just the thing! It is loaded with flavor and of course plenty of cheese!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 55 minutes
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup pesto
  • 2 pounds ground chicken
  • 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • 2 eggs slightly beaten
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • 2 cups marinara sauce

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • In a large bowl mix chicken, bread crumbs, eggs, parmesan cheese.
    2 pounds ground chicken, 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Place a piece of plastic wrap on the counter. Dump meatloaf mixture onto wrap and pat into a 9" x 13" rectangle.
  • Spread the pesto over the meatloaf mixture. Leave an inch on the long side farthest from you and the two ends. Top with 2 cups of mozzarella.
    1 cup pesto
  • Using the plastic wrap to help, roll the meatloaf into a log. Lightly press on the ends and along the seam to seal in the yummy goodness,
  • Place on parchment paper lined rimmed baking sheet, seam side down.
  • Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and top with marinara and remaining 1 cup of mozzarella. Bake until cheese is melty and the internal temperature reads 165°F on a meat thermometer.
    2 cups marinara sauce

Notes

Ground turkey is a great alternative if you can't find ground chicken.

Video

YouTube video

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Nutrition Information

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 722mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g
“Cooking With Carlee” is not a dietitian or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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4.84 from 18 votes (16 ratings without comment)

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71 Comments

  1. Love this meatloaf! That melting cheese is taking my breathe away! Also, love the combo of pesto and marinara!

    1. Melty cheese makes the world go round 😉 Thank you!

  2. The Saucy Southerner says:

    This looks great, Carlee! I'm going to make this! Pinned! <3 P~

    1. I hope you love it! Thank you <3

  3. Ah, never mind, I re-read it and understand now. Duh lol

    1. =) It definitely helps keep it together, but you don't want to cook it! I hope you enjoy the meatloaf!

  4. Nobody else asked this question so, I suppose I'm reading this wrong but – do you leave this loaf wrapped in plastic wrap when it goes into the oven? The recipe says to wrap it in plastic and then place it on the pan 'seam side down'. I didn't think you could put plastic wrap in a 350 degree oven. Excuse my ignorance but, that's why I'm asking. lol

    1. Definitely take it off. It just makes it a bit easier to roll the meatloaf around the cheese if you use the plastic wrap to keep it all together. There is a video above the recipe card that may help show how it's done as well. 🙂

  5. I'm a beginning cook … Is ground chicken just cooked chicken that you put in the food processor ?

    1. That would work, but getting the right texture might be a challenge. You should be able to find it in the meat case or your grocer's butcher could grind some for you. Otherwise ground turkey would work and we are planning to try a ground beef version tomorrow, kind of like a stuffed meatball!

  6. Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice says:

    Two great classics together…YUM!

  7. It really is a winner, thank you!

  8. I can't wait to try making this for dinner! It sounds amazing!

  9. Oh yeah my boys are going to LOVE this!

    1. It is a family pleaser! Thank you!

  10. Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies says:

    This sounds fantastic! So much flavor! I will be trying this one 🙂

    1. Yay! I hope you love it!