This healthy, easy to make Chicken Bacon Vegetable Meatloaf came about when I was was looking to make a tasty no fuss meal that I could bake ahead and reheat later for dinner. I was planning meatballs, but wasn’t in the mood for rolling them, so decided to make this tasty meatloaf. This really nourishing meal was the delicious result. I hope you like it too?
Health benefits
Chicken provides lean protein, while the assortment of vegetables adds vitamins, fibre, and antioxidants. Using quinoa instead of breadcrumbs boosts the protein and fibre content, making this dish more nutrient-dense. All round its a healthy, nutritionally balanced meal.
Ingredients
This gluten-free chicken vegetable meatloaf recipe combines red onion, garlic, celery, carrot, capsicum, and spinach with chicken mince and smoky bacon. Flavoured with thyme and smoked paprika, the addition of rolled quinoa and eggs helps bind the ingredients together. It comes together to make a simple, healthy mid week meal that the whole family will love.
How to make this chicken meatloaf recipe
To make this chicken bacon vegetable meatloaf, start by finely chopping the vegetables and mixing them with the quinoa, egg, herbs, and spices. Mix the chicken mince in and press the mixture into a loaf tin lined with bacon rashers. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for around 30 minutes, then crisp the bacon under a grill.
Serving suggestions and how to store
Serve the meatloaf with steamed veggies, mashed sweet potatoes, or a fresh salad. Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze the cooked or uncooked loaf for future meals.
Vary chicken bacon vegetable meatloaf to suit your dietary needs
For an egg-free version, simply omit the egg—it will still hold together, though slightly less firm. You can also substitute rolled quinoa with fresh breadcrumbs for a more traditional texture.
For more quick, easy, nourishing and delicious meals, click HERE.
Ingredients
- 1 red onion/s -peeled, halved
- 2 clove/s garlic -peeled
- 1 stick/s celery -roughly chopped
- 1 carrot/s (large) roughly chopped
- 1 red capsicum/s (small) roughly chopped
- 30 g baby spinach (handful approx.)
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or 2 teaspoons of fresh)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 60 g rolled / flaked quinoa (½ cup) or fresh breadcrumbs
- 1 egg/s
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper -to taste
- 500 g chicken mince
- 4 rasher/s bacon
Method
- Preheat your oven to 180℃/350℉ (fan-forced).
- In a food processor, chop the onion, garlic, celery, carrot, capsicum and spinach finely. Place in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the thyme, paprika, rolled quinoa, egg and salt/pepper and mix to combine. Add the chicken mince and squeeze together to combine the ingredients well.
- Now line a loaf tin with your bacon rashers so they cover the base and sides of the tin.
- Press the minced mixture in the tin (so it's firmly packed) and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until cooked through.
- Once cooked, drain the delicious juices from the tin into a little jug and invert the loaf onto a tray. Place it under a moderate grill for 5 minutes or so to crisp the bacon.
- Slice with a serrated knife and serve with the reserved pan juices.
Thermomix method
- Preheat your oven to 180℃.
- In the Thermomix, chop the onion, garlic, celery, carrot, capsicum and spinach 10 seconds, speed 5.
- Add the thyme, paprika, rolled quinoa and egg and mix to combine, 10 seconds, speed 2. Add the chicken mince and mix, reverse, 20 seconds, speed 2 (you will need to scrape down the sides to help it combine fully).
- Now line a loaf tin with your bacon rashers so they cover the base and sides of the tin.
- Press the minced mixture in the tin and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until cooked through.
- Once cooked, drain the delicious juices from the pan into a little jug and invert the loaf onto a tray. Place it under a moderate grill for 5 minutes or so to crisp the bacon.
- Slice with a serrated knife and serve with the reserved pan juices.
- Note - it can also be steamed in the Varoma for 45 minutes (then bacon crisped as above).
Serve
- With steamed vegetables or a big salad.
- I also love meatloaf with mashed potato or sweet potato or this Magic Mash. To make a simple mashed sweet potato, place washed whole sweet potatoes in the oven to bake alongside the meatloaf. Once they are cooked, simply scoop the flesh out of the skin and mash with a dollop of butter and sea salt.
Make-ahead
- Re-heat in a low oven, covered until just hot.
Store
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Can also be frozen (either raw or after cooking). Fully defrost before cooking/ re-heating.
Variations
Egg-free
Just omit it. It won't be quite as firm, but still delicious.I love to receive comments and questions about my recipes. It really helps me to shape what I share with you in the future. Share you comment below.
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Elisa James says
Made this tonight. I thought it was delicious and it was a total hit with my son but unfortunately it wasn’t a winner for my 2 girls. So easy to make and looks really great when you slice it. Thanks Georgia.
Georgia Harding says
Sorry only half of you liked it, I have it in the oven now g x
Sue says
This is one of the easiest and most delicious meals I’ve cooked in a long time. My four absolutely loved it, even the fussy toddler! Thanks so much, Sue
Georgia Harding says
Yay – so pleased and thanks for taking the time to comment, G x
Nicole Bartlett says
Made this the other night everyone loved it except mr 3 who just hasn’t developed the taste for different texture, but will continue to make as I loved preparing it the night before and could just pop in oven for 30 mins. Please continue with your delicious recipes I love them all. Thanks G
Georgia Harding says
Glad you liked it Nicole, yes it is very easy and convenient, on of my go-to’s for busy afternoons G x
Rachel Smoker says
Hi Georgia,
Do you think it would freeze ok?
Georgia Harding says
I haven’t myself, but I can’t see why not G x
Kelly Berghella says
Hi Georgia, I made this yesterday for the first time. So simple to prepare and it looked very appealing on the plate (my guests thought I had purchased it 🙂 )
I didn’t find mine a little soggy though, but I think it is because when I grated my veggies I might’ve blitzed them a bit too much and they went watery (I don’t have a great food processer). Next time I think I will absorb some of the liquid a bit, so the loaf is a bit firmer (yours looks much firmer in the picture than mine).
Will make again for sure, interested to hear how anyone goes freezing it as I always try to make double batches.
Georgia Harding says
That’s great Kelly – yes I have over processed vegetables before with meatballs and they went a bit soggy. Either wring it more or add extra binder (breadcrumbs / rolled quinoa). I can’t see why you couldn’t freeze it – I have with meatballs, but not this exact recipe. G x
Sandra Schwennesen says
Yum yum we tried this for dinner last night & it was delicious! The kids loved it too..my son (6) had a bit of sweet chilli sauce on the side & called it “Thai Meatloaf” 🙂 Thanks for the great recipes x
Georgia Harding says
Glad you all liked it Sandra – love your sons Thai twist G x
Trisha says
Silly question but is ‘rolled’ quinoa just cooked quinoa?
Georgia Harding says
Hi Trish. No it is actually rolled – like rolled oats (which you can sub with if you don’t have rolled quinoa) G x
Lisa says
Is that the same as quinoa flakes? Thanks!
Georgia Harding says
Yes that’s right Lisa x
Peta says
Do you cook the flakes before adding..
Georgia Harding says
No the quinoa flakes are just like rolled oats, very soft (they’ve been steamed and rolled) so they don’t need to be cooked at all. Enjoy Georgia x
Sophia Lagastes says
I am definitely going to make this. Do you think I can substitute with other mince and if I do should I alter any of the other ingredients to complement?
Georgia Harding says
Hi Sophia. Yes you can sub with another mince for sure – all other ingredients can stay the same for sure. Enjoy G x
Laura says
Would this work without quinoa or bread crumbs??
Georgia Harding says
Sorry for the delay in responding Laura- my hubby has had a bad accident this week and is in hospital so I’m just behind in everything. It will work flavour wise, It just might not hold together quite as well. Enjoy G x
Laura says
Family comes first so Thank you so much I’m dying to try but don’t like quinoa and am doing no bread now …
Anna George says
Can you use oats? They work great in meatloaf.
Georgia Harding says
Absolutely, no problem Anna G x
Claire Hill says
Would this recipe work with substituting different veggies? I have some cauliflour, carrot and pumpkin in the fridge, could I use those instead?
Georgia Harding says
Hi Claire
You could certainly try, I personally haven’t tried that exact combo but I have played around a little with other veggie. The worst that will happen is it may not hold together as well but will still be edible. Love to hear how it goes G x
Claire Hill says
Hi Georgia! So I tried carrot, caulifour, spinach and red onion. It was good but I think your combo with the red capsicum is yummier ????
Kate Koger says
I have just put this in the oven for one of our dinners this week!! So can’t wait. I used Quinoa flakes as that’s all I had on hand! So can’t wait to try this! I so enjoy all your posts and recipes. I still feel connected to the awesome foodies back home.
Thank you xxx
Georgia Harding says
Hi Kate, thrilled you are enjoying my recipes and thanks so much for taking the time to comment/rate this one G x
katie says
This was easy to make. Bit like a massive sausage roll in taste. I have never made a meatloaf because the sound of it has put me off but his was enjoyed by fussy eaters and has lots of veg….. winning
Katie
Georgia Harding says
Hi Katie, that’s a great explanation for sure – big sausage roll, love it G x
Sarah says
Thanks for another yummy one! I loved this dish but it was a bit too ‘vegatabley’ (my son’s word!) for my smallest children. Hard to judge how much salt to put in – I went for a level tsp and it was pretty tasty with the flavour of the bacon as well. I like salt though ?
Always keen to find recipes the whole family will eat together. Will try it as meatballs next time.
Love your recipes
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Sarah – you can always reduce the veggies next time if that will make it more enjoyable for him G x
Aneta says
I had a bit of a trouble telling if it’s done or not, so I baked it longer but it turned out ok, not dry at all. It was first time making meatloaf or even eating one. I was pretty happy with the result but will need to add more salt next time?
Georgia Harding says
Hi Aneta, I find the best way to tell it’s done is it gets a very slight rise and feels as firm in the middle as the edges. Glad you enjoyed it al the same G x
Cheryl Riding says
Loved this meatloaf.. Super easy to make.. Used the Thermomix method. It smelt divine while cooking. Will be making again….
Georgia Harding says
So glad you enjoyed it Cheryl – thanks for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe G x
Karen says
Thank you for a great recipe! My fussy 5 year old devoured this tonight and I agree that it is delicious!!!!
Georgia Harding says
Whoo hoo! It’s very tasty, I’m glad he loved it Karen. You’ve motivated me to make it again myself next week, it’s been a while. Thanks for the 5? too) Georgia x
Deborah A says
The method doesn’t add the ingredients salt & pepper. This might seem obvious to some, but when trying a new recipe, and being a busy mum, it’s easy to overlook.
It definitely needs the salt. I probably won’t make this one again as it wasn’t a hit (my father didn’t even eat it), but it tasted a lot better with salt. It’s quite “vegetabley” which I didn’t mind, but some kids might.
Also the bacon didn’t crisp up for me, just dried out.
Georgia Harding says
Thanks for pointing out that Deborah, I’ve just corrected the method, Georgia x
Paula says
Best meatloaf I’ve ever made, certainly ticks every box. Easy to make, so delicious, nutritious and all three fussy kids loved it. Your recipes are the best, thanks so much.
Kaye says
Made it last week, so delicious, whole family loved it. I loved how easy it was. ? K
Georgia Harding says
So glad you and your family loved it Kaye, Georgia x
Eleni says
Easy Healthy and delicious! This was a great family meal.
Georgia Harding says
So glad you enjoyed it Eleni, cheers for the 5 ?’s, Georgia x
Kristy B says
Nice recipe. I changed it up a bit with the veggies I had on hand. Added some tmx chicken stock paste also, and used a combo of almond meal and rice flour instead of rolled quinoa. I made a nice glaze that I basted it with also.
Georgia Harding says
Sounds fabulous, glad you enjoyed it Kristy G x
Catherine Charlton says
Hi Georgia, what can I substitute the quinoa flakes and breadcrumbs for? I need it to be grain free. Would almond flour work?
Thanks in advance for your advice ?
Georgia Harding says
I haven’t tested it but I’m fairly sure it will be just fine G x
Tanya Sholl says
More of your alchemy that works on my fussy 9 year old! Thanks Georgia :). I subbed the quinoa for breadcrumbs, and over cooked it a bit as I was worried about under cooking (insert eye roll)…. but it was very forgiving and very tasty.
Georgia Harding says
Oh yay, so glad it was enjoyed Tanya ☺️ G x