In this recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf, you actually cook the meatloaf in a loaf pan INSIDE the slow cooker!

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf serving on plate

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 your best friend on busy days!

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf in slow cooker

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!

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf in pan

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)!

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf serving on plate

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.

Here are a few more meatloaf recipes you might enjoy:

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmigiana Meatloaf
4 from 2 votes

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmigiana Meatloaf

You actually cook this meatloaf in a loaf pan INSIDE the slow cooker!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 7 hours
Total: 7 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients

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 8×5 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 273kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 149mg, Sodium: 573mg, Potassium: 617mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 490IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 196mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!
4 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate This Recipe




53 Comments

  1. KayleneP @ The Links Site says:

    Our family love meatloaf and chicken parmigiana so this recipe sounds great!

  2. jan koshinsky says:

    Can u use any meatloaf recipe for this?????

    1. Lori Lange says:

      Maybe! I haven’t tried…

  3. Paula – bell’alimento says:

    What a great idea to use the slow-cooker to make a meatloaf for after a long day of driving the kids around!

  4. Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures says:

    What a fun idea to cook meatloaf in a slow cooker! Looks moist and delicious!

  5. Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says:

    I haven’t had meatloaf in forever! This looks so good!

  6. Stephanie says:

    Can this recipe be made in a Ninja Cooking system? If so would I cook it on low for the same amount of time? I just got the Ninja and don’t know how to use it with other recipes. Thanks for your help

    1. Lori Lange says:

      I’m not familiar with the Ninja cooking system, so I’m not sure!

  7. Teresa says:

    One question…I don’t have an 8×5 pan, only 9×5, which is that larger loaf size. Do you think I could still use that pan size for this recipe?

    1. Lori Lange says:

      It would work fine- as long as the pan fits inside your slow cooker. The 9×5 loaf pan did not fit in mine.

  8. Sarah S says:

    Sounds delicious! So you don’t need a water bath or anything, you just put the pan in the slow cooker? I never would’ve thought of that.

  9. Jersey Girl Cooks says:

    I love this and am going to try it soon. I never knew you could do this.I am going to try it with ground turkey too.

  10. danielle says:

    Quick question: no water at fhe bottom of the slowcooker pot? Isn’t there a risk that it might crack?

    1. Lori Lange says:

      The author did not call for water in the pan, and I didn’t put any water. Turned out fine!