Preheat and Prepare: First, preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Line a large baking tray with baking parchment to prevent sticking.

Sauté the Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a small frying pan over a medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook for 5-7 minutes, until it's soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.

Combine the Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, place the chicken mince, panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, ricotta, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, the beaten egg, fresh basil, and dried oregano. Add the cooled onion and garlic mixture, along with the salt and pepper.

Mix Gently: Using your hands, mix all the ingredients together until they are just combined. It's important not to overwork the mixture, as this can make the meatloaf tough. A light touch is key here. For more information on why this is important, Serious Eats has a great explanation of the science behind it.

Shape the Loaf: Tip the mixture onto your prepared baking tray. What works best for me is using slightly damp hands to gently shape the mixture into a neat oval loaf, roughly 25cm long and 12cm wide. This prevents the mince from sticking to your fingers.

First Bake: Place the meatloaf in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.

Make and Apply the Glaze: While the meatloaf is baking, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, ketchup, and brown sugar in a small bowl until smooth. After 30 minutes, carefully remove the meatloaf from the oven and brush half of the glaze evenly over the top and sides.

Final Bake: Return the meatloaf to the oven and bake for a further 20-25 minutes. Brush with the remaining glaze in the last 5 minutes of cooking. The meatloaf is done when it's cooked through and the glaze is sticky and caramelised. The internal temperature should reach 74°C on a meat thermometer.

Rest and Serve: Let the meatloaf rest on the baking tray for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This step is vital for a juicy result!