American ItalianMedium · Hot
Mini Chicken Parm Meatloaf Muffins
Individual chicken meatloaf muffins with hidden veggies, topped with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Fun, portion-controlled, and kid-friendly for the whole family.
Prep
15 min
Cook
25 min
Rest
5 min
Total
45 min
Method
Prep
1
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin with olive oil or non-stick spray.
Prepare Meat Mixture
2
Dice the yellow onion (60g). Mince the garlic cloves (6g). Set aside 1/4 of the onion and 1 clove of garlic for the sauce.
3
In a large bowl, combine the diced chicken breast, egg, breadcrumbs, grated parmesan, remaining onion, remaining garlic, salt, and black pepper.
4
Mix gently until all ingredients are just combined. Do not overmix.
Prepare Tomato Sauce
5
6
Add the tomato sauce and stir well. Let simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
Assemble and Bake
7
Divide the meat mixture evenly among the 12 muffin cups, pressing gently to shape.
8
Spoon about 1 tablespoon of tomato sauce over each muffin.
9
Top each muffin with a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese.
10
Bake for 20-25 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and cheese is melted and lightly golden.
11
Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
Serve
12
Carefully remove muffins from tin using a spoon or fork. Garnish with fresh basil and serve warm.
B
Nutri-Score
Good balance
A–E · lower is better · score 0
Calories
474
per serving
High in protein · 45gLow sugar · 7g
Protein
45g
Carbs
22g
Fat
23g
Sat. fat
13g
Fiber
7g
Sugar
7g
Sodium
1021mg
High ProteinLow Carb FriendlyDiabetes FriendlyHeart HealthyMuscle GainWeight Loss
Nutri-Score is a general nutritional-balance guide, not medical or dietary advice.
C
Environmental impact
Moderate impact
A–E · lower is better · includes estimates
kg CO2e
1.7
per serving
CCarbonAEU all-round· carbon sets the grade
Water
0.6m³
Land
47Pt
Runoff
0.1g P
Chicken Breast drives 51% of this recipe’s estimated footprint.
Carbon from Poore & Nemecek 2018; water, land & runoff from Agribalyse — modelled averages for comparing recipes, not a measurement of your groceries.
Flavor Profile
7
Umami
3
Sweet
6
Salty
2
Sour
1
Bitter
1
Spicy
Textures
CrispyTenderJuicyChewy
Aromas
HerbalSavoryAromaticCheesy
Kitchen Equipment
Primary Tool
Muffin TinMuffin TinOvenSaucepanMixing BowlCutting BoardChef KnifeMeasuring CupsMeasuring SpoonsOlive OilNonstick Spray
Counter FootprintMedium
Safety & Storage
Cooking Temperature
Bake until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) to ensure safe consumption of poultry. Use a food thermometer inserted into the center of the muffins.
Handling
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling raw chicken. Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meat and ready-to-eat foods.
Cross Contamination
Keep raw chicken separate from other ingredients like cheese and sauce during prep. Store raw chicken on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking. Store in airtight containers and consume within 3-4 days. Reheat to 165°F before eating.
High Risk Population
Ensure thorough cooking for young children, elderly, pregnant individuals, and immunocompromised persons. The internal temperature must reach 165°F (74°C) throughout.
Allergen Warning
This recipe contains eggs, milk, and wheat. These allergens are present in the egg, breadcrumbs, parmesan, and mozzarella ingredients.
Pro Tips
Technique
Don't overmix the meat mixture—you're looking for just combined, not worked. Overmixing makes these tough, and we want them tender enough for even the littlest eaters at the table.
Substitution
No chicken breast on hand? Ground turkey works beautifully here too. The texture is actually slightly more forgiving for holding the muffin shape, and my kids never noticed the swap.
From the chef
These little beauties have saved me on more weeknights than I can count. My middle one won't touch anything that looks like baby food, but call it a muffin and suddenly she's asking for seconds. The parmesan keeps everything juicy while the melted mozzarella on top gives them that crispy, cheesy edge that makes even my oldest put down his phone.
TagsKid FriendlyHidden VeggiesPortion ControlledWeeknight DinnerFamily FriendlyBakedHigh ProteinCheesy
AllergensEggsMilkWheat
Source: generated · June 10, 2026