Mama’s Veggie-Packed Chicken Meatloaf
User Reviews
5
Mama’s Veggie-Packed Chicken Meatloaf
Description
Mama’s Veggie-Packed Chicken Meatloaf starts with lean ground chicken mixed thoroughly with shredded zucchini and carrot, finely minced bell pepper and onion, and seasoned with garlic powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Panko breadcrumbs and a beaten egg act as binders to keep the mixture cohesive without drying it out. The mixture is formed into a loaf on a foil-lined baking sheet, then layered with shredded cheddar cheese in the middle, ensuring a creamy, melty center after baking.
The loaf is topped with ketchup or BBQ sauce, which caramelizes slightly during cooking to add sweetness and moisture. The vegetables add moisture and texture, preventing the lean meat from becoming dry. This recipe yields a balanced and tasty weeknight meal with extra veggies incorporated quietly inside the meatloaf.
Properly draining the shredded zucchini is critical to avoid excess water in the loaf. Using your hands to mix ingredients thoroughly ensures the cheese stays enclosed. This meatloaf can be sliced and served alone or with sides like mashed potatoes or steamed greens. It also freezes well for future meals.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken 93% lean, or ground turkey
- 1 zucchini small, shredded (about ¾ cup shredded
- 1 carrot medium, peeled and shredded
- 1 red bell pepper small, very finely diced (minced
- ½ yellow onion very finely diced (minced
- 1 egg large
- ½ panko breadcrumbs heaping cup, gluten-free if desired
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt or adobo seasoning
- black pepper freshly ground
- 3 tablespoons ketchup or bbq sauce, preference
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese shredded, about 1 cup
- For the topping
- ¼ cup ketchup or bbq sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- First, use a cheese grater to shred the zucchini, then place shredded zucchini in a clean dish towel or cheese cloth and squeeze out ALL of the moisture/water. This is very important to get all of the excess moisture out and discard the ‘zucchini water’ first!
- In a large bowl combine chicken, shredded zucchini, shredded carrot, bell pepper, onion, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, turmeric, ketchup, salt and pepper. Use clean hands or a large spoon to mix until well combined. (I find that it's much easier to combine the ingredients if you use your hands.)
- Place half of the meat mixture on a foil-lined pan and shape into a 10x6 inch rectangle/oval type of shape with round edges. Top meat half with cheddar, leaving about an 1/2 inch of room on the sides. Top with the remaining meat mixture, enclosing the cheese completely and smoothing/sealing the sides/edges together with your hands.
- Use a pastry brush to spread ¼ cup of the ketchup or bbq sauce on top of the meatloaf.
- Bake the meatloaf for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the meat thermometer reads 160-165 degrees F. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting into slices. We love eating this with mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes and a side salad/veggie for a full meal.
Notes
- Make sure to thoroughly squeeze moisture out of the shredded zucchini to prevent a soggy meatloaf.
- Mix ingredients well by hand to fully incorporate vegetables and seasonings and keep the cheese enclosed.
- You can freeze this meatloaf after shaping or after baking for convenient meal prep.
- Adjust the ketchup or BBQ sauce topping according to your preferred flavor and sweetness level.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 327 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving (based on 4) | |
| Calories | 327cal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 21.4g | 7% |
| Protein | 36.6g | 73% |
| Fat | 12.1g | 19% |
| Saturated Fat | 5.8g | 29% |
| Fiber | 2.2g | 9% |
| Sugar | 10.8g | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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