This is the best ground chicken meatloaf recipe! It's moist, juicy, and packed with flavour. You will love how easy this meatloaf is to make and it's made with simple ingredients including ground chicken, applesauce, and spices. This healthy meatloaf is also gluten-free, dairy-free and made without breadcrumbs.
If you love easy ground meat recipes like my gluten-free burgers recipe, ground duck burgers, blueberry sweetened meatloaf, cranberry turkey meatballs and the best gluten-free meatloaf then you are going to love the meatloaf recipe I am sharing with you today!
Table of Contents
Why you will love this recipe:
- The taste! This homemade chicken meatloaf is moist and tender and packed with flavour. It's never dry or boring like so many other meatloaf recipes.
- It's quick and easy to make and only requires a few minutes of hands on time.
- It freezes really well and makes great leftovers so is great for meal prep.
- Not only is this meatloaf healthy and delicious but it is also gluten-free and dairy-free and can easily be made paleo and Whole30 compliant, just like my healthy ho bean chili.
If you are looking for more delicious chicken recipes you need to try my healthy chicken pad Thai, gluten-free chicken stir fry and mango chicken curry.
Ingredients and substitutions:
For the full ingredient list and exact measurements refer to the recipe card later in this post.
Jump to the Recipe Card.
- Ground chicken - I recommend using ground dark chicken meat if possible for more moisture and flavour rather than white chicken meat. If you don't have ground chicken meat you could use ground turkey instead.
- Applesauce - the secret ingredient to this moist meatloaf. Not only does it add a bit of natural sweetness to this ground chicken meatloaf but it also pairs nicely with the chicken to give this easy meatloaf so much flavour!
- Mustard - this helps add both moisture and more flavour to this loaf. You can use any type of mustard that you like including dijon mustard, grainy mustard or yellow mustard.
- Eggs - eggs are used as a binder and to help add moisture to meatloaf. I do not recommend omitting the eggs or trying to use an egg replacement.
- Spices - sea salt, ground black pepper, dried rosemary and herbes de provence spice blend work perfectly in this meatloaf. You could easily swap the herbs de Provence spice blend for Italian seasoning and turn this into Italian chicken meatloaf.
- Almond flour - to help bind the meatloaf together.
- BBQ sauce - this is optional but I personally love topping meatloaf with bbq sauce to give it even more flavour and turn this into a bbq chicken meatloaf!
Recipe variations and add ins:
- Instead of almond flour you could use bread crumbs, almond meal, oatmeal or crushed crackers to bind this ground chicken meatloaf.
- Instead of bbq sauce you could top this meatloaf with ketchup.
- To make this chicken meatloaf Whole30 compliant: be sure the applesauce and bbq sauce you use is Whole30 compliant - or make your own Whole30 bbq sauce!
- To make it paleo: use a paleo safe bbq sauce to top this meatloaf.
- If you are serving a crowd or want leftovers you can double this recipe and make two loaves.
How to make ground chicken meatloaf:
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and add all the meatloaf ingredients (except the bbq sauce) to a large bowl.
- Step 2: Mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined.
- Step 3: Now transfer the meat mixture to a lined or greased bread pan and bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes or until the loaf is cooked though.
- Step 4: Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Then top the meatloaf with barbecue sauce or ketchup and serve while warm.
Top Tips:
- Use your hands rather than a spoon to mix the meat mixture.
- Line the bread pan with parchment paper to make it even easier to get the meatloaf out of the pan.
- Ground turkey is fully cooked with it reaches an internal temperature of 165 ºF when checked with a meat thermometer so if you aren't sure if your meatloaf is done this is an easy way to check.
- Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes after cooking to allow it to become even more tender and to help it hold its shape better. If you cut it too soon it will be more crumbly.
- To store: store any leftover meatloaf in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
How to serve:
This ground chicken meatloaf pairs well with many different side dishes. Some of my favourites include air fryer baked sweet potatoes, low carb coleslaw, dairy free broccoli salad, air fried roasted potato wedges and cherry tomato soup. You can also pair meatloaf with almond flour biscuits or cornbread without gluten.
You can also use this meatloaf to make a meatloaf sandwich!
Ground chicken meatloaf FAQs:
Yes! To freeze this the meatloaf, I suggest freezing it before you cook it. Just wrap up the uncooked meatloaf and pop it in the freezer in an air tight container or bag. When you’re ready to make it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight, then cook like normal.
I don't recommend using ground beef for this recipe but you can use ground turkey. If you’re looking for a meatloaf recipe that uses ground beef, try healthy gluten free meatloaf instead.
You do not need to cover your meatloaf when cooking it in the oven. It bakes perfectly even if it’s uncovered.
To keep meatloaf from falling apart it needs binding agents. The most common binders for meatloaf are eggs and breadcrumbs but other binding options include almond flour, almond meal, crushed crackers, or oats.
No this meatloaf is not keto or low carb.
Yes, this meatloaf freezes really well for up to 3 months. If you are going to freeze it, don't top it with bbq sauce or ketchup before doing so. Add the toppings after it has been thawed.
Other meat recipes you will love:
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Recipe
Ground Chicken Meatloaf
Equipment
- Loaf pan
Ingredients
Meatloaf ingredients
- 2 lbs ground chicken
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped (3/4 cup)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3/4 cup applesauce
- 2 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon herbes de provence spice blend
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 2 eggs
Meatloaf topping
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F.
- Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and stir everything well until combined.
- Transfer the meatloaf mixture to a bread pan and bake for 45-50 minutes, until cooked through.
- Top with the barbecue sauce and allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Nutritional values are an estimate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
- Instead of almond flour you can use breadcrumbs or crushed crackers for this recipe.
- Instead of bbq sauce you could top it with ketchup instead.
- Store this meatloaf in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
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