About the Recipe
Equal parts creepy and comforting, this Monster Meatloaf proves that dinner can walk the fine line between gross-out fun and downright delicious. Shape your seasoned meat mixture into monstrous feet (complete with onion “toenails” and ketchup “blood,” of course), and watch as everyone both gasps and goes back for seconds. Whether you call it Monster Meatloaf or Zombie Feetloaf, it’s hearty, hilarious, and hauntingly good comfort food. Easy to make, terrifying to look at, and guaranteed to raise a few appetites from the dead.
Ingredients
½ cup unsalted butter
1 ½ cups diced yellow onion
½ cup diced celery
8 oz brown mushrooms, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp kosher salt [divided]
3 lb lean ground beef
¾ cup plain dry bread crumbs
1 beaten egg
3 tbsp buttermilk
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 lb bacon strips [for the “face”]
Onion slices and whole cloves for “eyes” & “teeth”
“Blood” Sauce:
¼ cup barbecue sauce
¼ cup ketchup
Dash of hot sauce, to taste
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 325 °F [165 °C]. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Step 2
Melt butter; sauté onion, celery, mushrooms & part of the salt until golden and moisture reduced [≈5-7 mins]. Add garlic, pepper, thyme, cayenne; remove from heat.
Step 3
In large bowl, combine remaining salt, ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, buttermilk, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and cooled veggie mix; mix thoroughly.
Step 4
Shape mixture into a skull-like loaf on baking sheet, making indentations for eyes, nose, mouth. Press onion slices + cloves for eyeballs/teeth. Drape bacon strips over the “face”.
Step 5
Bake until internal temperature reaches ~155 °F [68 °C], about 1 hour.
Step 6
Mix the “blood” sauce. Brush over loaf [especially around “eyes”/“mouth”].
Optional: broil briefly for crisp bacon.
Step 7
Let rest a few minutes, carve & serve with sides [mashed potatoes, roasted veggies].