Description
Chicken parmesan mini meatloaf muffins bring Italian comfort cuisine to bite-sized perfection. Crispy parmesan breadcrumb tops and juicy chicken centers make these muffins an irresistible weeknight dinner solution you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground chicken
Seasonings and Spices:
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Binding and Flavor Enhancers:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) Romano or Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1–2 tablespoons water (optional)
Topping Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon Romano or Parmesan cheese (for sprinkling)
- ¾ cup (180 milliliters) marinara sauce
- ¾ cup (180 milliliters) shredded mozzarella cheese
Additional Item:
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and prepare a standard-size non-stick muffin pan with cooking spray, ensuring each cavity is well-coated to prevent sticking.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly combine ground chicken with egg, seasonings, Romano cheese (keeping a small portion aside), and bread crumbs until the mixture holds together smoothly, adding a splash of water if the consistency seems too dry.
- Distribute the chicken mixture evenly across all 12 muffin cups, gently pressing and smoothing the surface to create uniform, compact mini meatloaves.
- Transfer the muffin pan to the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, allowing the chicken to cook through and develop a golden exterior.
- Carefully remove the pan and dollop marinara sauce onto each mini meatloaf, spreading it gently to cover the top.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the marinara-topped muffins, creating a melty, appetizing layer.
- Return the pan to the oven and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese turns bubbly and slightly golden.
- Extract the muffin pan from the oven and dust the tops with the reserved Romano cheese for an extra burst of flavor.
- Let the mini meatloaf muffins rest for 5 minutes, allowing them to set and cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Versatile meal prep option that freezes beautifully for quick weeknight dinners or lunch boxes.
- Ground chicken provides a leaner protein alternative to traditional beef or pork meatloaf muffins.
- Muffin pan technique ensures perfectly portioned, individually sized servings with crispy edges.
- Moisture-boosting tip: Add a splash of water if mixture feels dry to prevent tough, dense meatloaves.
- Cheese combination of Romano and mozzarella creates a rich, complex flavor profile with tangy and creamy notes.
- Quick cooking method takes less than 35 minutes from start to finish, making it an ideal busy family meal solution.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg