Description
Home cooks adore this chicken parmesan mini meatloaf muffins recipe for its clever fusion of classic Italian flavors. Crispy cheese-topped morsels deliver nostalgic comfort with modern convenience, making them perfect for quick weeknight dinners you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground chicken
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup (180 ml) marinara sauce
- ¾ cup (180 ml) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (120 ml) Romano or Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp Romano or Parmesan cheese (for sprinkling)
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1–2 tbsps water (optional)
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preparation: Ignite the oven to 400°F and generously coat a standard muffin pan with cooking spray to prevent adherence.
- Mixing: Blend ground chicken with egg, seasonings, Romano cheese (reserving a portion), and bread crumbs until achieving a cohesive texture, incorporating water if the mixture appears parched.
- Molding: Evenly distribute the chicken mixture across all 12 muffin cavities, compressing and smoothing to create uniform, compact mini meatloaves.
- Initial Baking: Slide the pan into the preheated oven and roast for 20 minutes, allowing the chicken to cook thoroughly and develop a golden-brown exterior.
- Sauce and Cheese Application: Remove the pan and lavish each mini meatloaf with marinara sauce, then crown with shredded mozzarella, creating a luscious, melty layer.
- Final Baking: Return the pan to the oven and continue baking for 10 minutes until the cheese transforms into a bubbly, slightly bronzed topping.
- Finishing Touch: Retrieve the muffin pan and dust the tops with reserved Romano cheese for an intense flavor profile, then allow the mini meatloaf muffins to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Prevent Dryness: Add a splash of water if the ground chicken mixture feels too crumbly, ensuring moist and tender meatloaf muffins.
- Cheese Distribution: Reserve some Romano cheese for a final flavor-boosting sprinkle after baking, creating a delicious finishing touch.
- Uniform Cooking: Press the chicken mixture evenly into muffin cups, promoting consistent cooking and preventing undercooked or dry spots.
- Non-Stick Tip: Generously spray the muffin pan with cooking spray to guarantee easy removal and minimal cleanup after baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg