In this recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Parmigiana Meatloaf, you actually cook the meatloaf in a loaf pan INSIDE the slow cooker!
I really love the idea behind this recipe – cooking a meatloaf (in a loaf pan) INSIDE the slow cooker. How fun is that?
The recipe comes from my current favorite cookbook: 365 Slow Cooker Suppers by Stephanie O’Dea. It’s totally hard to serve a decent dinner to your family when you’re not home to prepare it. And it gets tiring (and unhealthy) to pick up fast food all the time. Your slow cooker is youre best friend on busy days. I’ve tried a ton of slow cooker recipes in the past that are just duds. This cookbook is much different. I’ve tried three recipes in the book, and they have all been big successes. This recipe was one of them.
Check it out: You just mix the meatloaf ingredients together in a bowl, then stuff it in your loaf pan, then place your loaf pan in the slow cooker and press START! That’s it!
7 or 8 hours later, the meatloaf is done. It’s one of the most tender, juicy, flavorful meatloaf recipes I’ve ever tasted. I use ground turkey instead of chicken, and it is completely wonderful (and low fat)!
I enjoy the meatloaf straight out of the pan, unadorned and all by itself… served with a side salad. My husband likes a little more sauce drizzled on top (just a little marinara- easy). I recommend the recipe to try out on your family for dinner. It really is quite delicious. And I recommend that you purchase the cookbook too- lots of great, easy recipes that I can’t wait to try.
If you happen to be following the Weight Watchers WW plan, you’ll find a link to the WW Points on the recipe card below.
Here are a few more meatloaf recipes you might enjoy:
- Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
- Swedish Meatloaf
- Roasted Vegetable Meatloaf
- Turkey Meatloaf
- Cranberry Meatloaf
Slow Cooker Chicken Parmigiana Meatloaf
Recipe Details
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken or turkey (93% lean)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 small onion, diced
- ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup marinara sauce (I use Classico Tomato- Basil), divided
- 1½ cups finely shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the chicken (or turkey), eggs, onion, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, ½ cup marinara and ½ cup cheese (it's easiest to just use your hands to do this).
- Spray an 8x5 inch loaf pan with nonstick spray (metal or glass- see notes below). Scoop the meatloaf mixture into the pan and smooth the top. Spread the remaining ½ cup of marinara sauce over the top. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of cheese on top.
- Put the pan in a 6 quart slow cooker and place the lid on top. Cook for 7 to 8 hours on low (or 4 hours on high). Slice, and serve.
Notes
- Note: I used a glass pan and cooked mine on LOW. If you're opting for cooking it on HIGH, you might consider using a metal pan instead. I'm not certain the glass would work well with such a high temperature.
- If you are preparing this recipe as GLUTEN-FREE, be sure to use a sub for the regular breadcrumbs (like GF breadcrumbs), and be sure to use a brand of marinara sauce that is known to be GF (Classico Tomato Basil is GF).
- Option: Place some small potatoes around the sides of the pan so that they can be slow cooked along with the meatloaf.
This was my 11 year olds’ first attempt at cooking dinner alone. It turned out amazing. 7 hours on low was too long in my crock pot, after 4.5 hours it was done so we left it on warm. It was delicious.
Happy to hear it was a success!
loved this. I have made this a few times. the only tip I would offer is that I found out if you wait till about fifteen minutes before it’s done to add the additional cheese on top, it melts way nicer. I recommend this recipes. it is very good.
How long if you cook in the oven instead? My loaf pan would not fit in my crock pot because my crock pot is too oblong? Should I cover it with foil in the oven?
Parmigiana? Does this have parm in it and I’m just missing it? If not I’ll probably add some. 🙂
haha, yeah… that’s just the name I guess. Add Parmesan if you’d like!
Can you do this in the oven and cook it the same way you would a regular meatloaf!! 350 for an hour???
If you read through the comments, there is someone who made hers in the oven. Looks like she did it at 350 for 50 minutes.
and there was no liquid in the crock pot? and ti came out ok with no liquid? That seems weird to me….
no- no liquid needed in the slow cooker. Recipe comes from a Slow Cooker expert, so you can trust her!
That’s interesting and different! I’ve never seen a meatloaf cooked that way!! I’m going to have to try that.
I used minced garlic instead of garlic powder, also I was a smidge short for the marinara sauce on top. So I added a little red wine (poured into marinara jar to clear it out), it came out very moist. Will be making it again. I’m thinking a light pasta side next time.
My pan didn’t fit inside my crock pot, made it in the oven.
350 for 50 minutes.
I just love this idea 🙂 definitely just saved this recipe, can’t wait to make it!
Made this last night and it was soooooooo good! A big hit with the kids too!
How would you adjust cooking time for beef? My kid is allergic to chicken.
I would think it would be the same.
This was so delicious. I made it with ground turkey and added a bit of chopped green pepper. It had a lot of great flavor.
Our crock-pot is round so a loaf pan won’t fit. Would it be possible to cook the meatloaf directly in the pot?
I don’t think so… but you could use an alternate pan (maybe a round casserole dish) instead. Anything that will fit in there!