Chef John's Zombie Meatloaf Recipe

Recipesfull introduces to you: Halloween Recipes. (Chef John's Zombie Meatloaf Recipe). After seeing various versions of this Halloween-themed meatloaf on social media over the years, I decided it was time to post my very own. I've seen many approaches to this, such as covered in 'blood', or mummified in strips of pastry, but the ones wrapped in bacon always looked the most realistic, and the most appetizing.

Brief

Prep 45 mins

Cook: 1hr5 mins

Additional: 10 mins

Total: 2hrs

Servings: 8

Yield: 8 servings

Chef John's Zombie Meatloaf Recipe

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter

1 ½ cups diced yellow onion

½ cup diced celery

1 (8 ounce) package brown mushrooms

finely chopped

1 tablespoon kosher salt

divided

3 cloves minced garlic

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

½ teaspoon dried thyme

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

3 pounds lean ground beef

¾ cup plain dry bread crumbs

1 egg

beaten

3 tablespoons buttermilk

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 onion

2 whole cloves

1 pound bacon strips

¼ cup barbeque sauce

¼ cup ketchup

1 dash hot sauce

or to taste

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Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

Melt butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Saute diced onion celery mushrooms and 1 teaspoon salt until the mixture dries out and starts to turn golden brown 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic black pepper thyme and cayenne pepper. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature about 10 minutes.

Step 3

Combine remaining 2 teaspoons salt ground beef bread crumbs egg buttermilk 2 tablespoons ketchup and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl. Add cooled vegetable mixture. Mix with your hands until thoroughly combined. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator.

Step 4

Slice 2 round sides about 1/2-inch-thick off the second onion for the zombie eyes. Push 1 clove into the center of each slice. Cut a 1-inch-wide section off the remaining onion and dice into chunks to form zombie teeth.

Step 5

Transfer meatloaf mixture to the prepared baking sheet and use damp hands to shape into a zombie skull shape that is 3 to 4 inches tall. Form indents to represent the eyes nose and mouth. Drape bacon over the face covering most of the meatloaf. Add onion eyes and teeth. Tuck in loose ends of bacon under the sides with a spatula. Cover the onion eyes with aluminum foil to prevent browning.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until the meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 155 degrees F (68 degrees C) about 1 hour.

Step 7

Stir barbeque sauce 1/4 cup ketchup and hot sauce together in a bowl to make the blood sauce.

Nutritional Information

Chef John's Zombie Meatloaf Recipe

Servings Per Recipe:8

Calories: 640.8

% Daily Value *

Protein: 46.1g 92%

Carbohydrates: 21.5g 7%

Dietary Fiber: 2.2g 9%

Sugars: 8.9g

Fat: 40.6g 62%

Saturated Fat: 18g 90%

Cholesterol: 196mg 65%

Vitamin A Iu: 581.5IU 12%

Niacin Equivalents: 5.9mg 46%

Vitamin B6: 0.2mg 15%

Vitamin C: 7.9mg 13%

Folate: 35.2mcg 9%

Calcium: 63.2mg 6%

Iron: 1.6mg 9%

Magnesium: 25.9mg 9%

Potassium: 427.2mg 12%

Sodium: 1600mg 64%

Thiamin: 0.3mg 28%

Calories From Fat: 365.3

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.