In the title compound, [MnCl2(C3H7NO2)2], the MnII ion is bound to two Cl atoms and to four O atoms from two lactamide molecules which act as bidentate ligands, giving rise to a highly distorted octahedral coordination geometry. The axial positions are occupied by one Cl atom and one O (hydroxy) atom. The values of the cis bond angles at the Mn atom are in the range 72.33 (5)–100.17 (6)°. Of the two possible coordination modes (N,O- or O,O-bidentate) in metal complexes with lactamide or its derivatives described in the literature, the title compound exhibits the O,O-bidentate mode. In the crystal structure, monomeric manganese(II) complexes are linked by several N—H⋯Cl, O—H⋯Cl and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating a three-dimensional network