BBQ Chicken Meatloaf {Whole30}
on Jan 08, 2018, Updated May 14, 2024
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This BBQ Chicken Meatloaf is the perfect meal for a Sunday family dinner or prepped early for mid week deliciousness.
Happy Meatloaf Monday!! That’s right – today is the first Meatloaf Monday and it is a WINNER. Why meatloaf you ask? Well first of all, I love meatloaf. I always have because my mom always made killer meatloaf growing up. I thought I mostly only loved it back then because hers has milk soaked bread and ketchup in it… but once I started making things healthier in my life I realized what really made a good meatloaf. A – it has to be moist, a dry meatloaf is no friend of mine. B – it has to be packed with flavor. And C – it MUST be smothered with something saucy on top. If you can do these things you will have the easiest and best dinner you can make. Meatloaf is great because all you do is mix a bunch of stuff in a bowl, throw it on a pan and bake it.
When thinking up flavor ideas for this meatloaf series I was knee deep the first trimester which meant a lot of pizza was being eaten. One of my favorite pizzas is BBQ Chicken so turning that into a meatloaf was a no brainer! So I went with the essentials – BBQ Sauce, red onion and cilantro. You might be wondering what BBQ sauce I used to make it Whole30… the answer is Tessemae’s! It is the only compliant BBQ sauce I have tried and liked so you gotta get some. If you aren’t on a whole30 you can use any you like or make your own, like my Paleo BBQ Sauce. But now I should leave you because it’s Monday and reading is hard.
Ingredient Round- up
- Ground chicken
- Red onion
- Cilantro
- Almond Flour
- Barbecue Sauce
- Liquid Smoke
- Egg
- Salt
- Garlic Powder
Need a Substitute
If you don’t need this meatloaf to be Whole 30 approved there are lots of substitutes you can make.
All about that bbq sauce on top… this would also be great with a drizzle of ranch!
If you love this BBQ recipe we have more yummy BBQ recipes for you to make:
BBQ Pulled Pork with Skinny Coleslaw
Pin the photo below to save this BBQ Chicken Meatloaf recipe for later!
BBQ Chicken Meatloaf {Whole30}
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon grated red onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- ¼ cup almond flour
- 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce, I have a paleo recipe or use Tessemaes for Whole30!
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Topping:
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced red onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl combine chicken, grated onion, 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro, almond flour, 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce, liquid smoke, egg, salt and garlic powder. Mix until evenly combined. Ball up all of the meat mixture and place on a foil lined baking sheet, then form it into a loaf shape, about 8 inches x 4 inches in shape.
- Spoon ¼ cup of barbecue sauce over the meatloaf and spread evenly over the top. Sprinkle with minced red onion and chopped cilantro. Bake for 30 minutes.
Hi Kelsey,
What kind of Liquid Smoke do you use? I usually use Stubb’s Liquid Smoke, but it has cane sugar in it. I want to keep this Whole30 compliant. Thank you for your help!
I use Wright’s natural liquid smoke!
Thank you! 🙂
Could this be made without liquid smoke? I don’t usually like it and don’t want to buy it for one recipe. Thanks!
It can be, yes!
Best meatloaf I have made! I used Living Nutritional all nature pure liquid smoke from Amazon. My husband loved the recipe and he is a picky eater! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Great to hear!!
Thank you so much for this recipe! This is the best new meal I’ve ever made! The whole family loved it and wants it weekly now! I had to use parsley since there is a cilantro shortage, and used a sugar free honey bbq sauce. Amazing!!!
That is great!!
I have made this meatloaf at least a dozen times. It’s a big favorite at our house!
Even making it again tonight! I hope others come across this recipe and make it, too!
Thanks so much for the post!!!
Thanks so much!
About tho make this recipe for the 5th or 6th time!!!!! It’s so easy and beyond delicious!!!! I have made this with, and without the liquid smoke and it just as amazing with or with out!!!!!! Thank you Kelsey for this epic recipe!!!
Awesome!!
Made this tonight for dinner and it was sooo good! I’m on day 12 of my first Whole30 and have been looking for satisfying meals. We had this with a side of broccoli and sweet potatoes and it definitely delivered!
Awesome!!
A family favorite around here! We have made this recipe multiple times. It is always devoured.
Wonderful!!
Incredibly easy to make and super delicious – checks 2 of my favorite recipe boxes. I will definitely make this again!
This recipe is SO GOOD!!! Geeze where has it been all my life? It’s going in the normal dinner rotation for sure. Super easy too for a weeknight meal. Thank you Kelsey!!
You are so welcome, enjoy!