This ratloaf (Halloween meatloaf) recipe is a fun, spooky riff on meatloaf that trick-or-treaters can grab and go! Use your favorite recipe or the basic one provided here. Swap olives for pearl onions for a different look, and coat with crushed French-fried onions for a burnt fur effect. When sliced, the "guts" ooze out for a creepy touch!
Ingredients
- 3 pounds ground beef
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups dry bread crumbs
- 1 onion , chopped
- 2 large eggs
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 1 package shredded Cheddar cheese , 8 ounce
- 0.75 bottles BBQ sauce , 12 ounce
- 3 cups French-fried onions , divided
- 3 large black olives
- 3 spaghettis noodles , broken in half
- 2 slices red potato
Instructions
-
1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
-
2
Mix ground beef, milk, bread crumbs, onion, egg, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until well combined to make rat body.
-
3
Mix Cheddar cheese, 2/3 bottle of BBQ sauce, and 1 cup French-fried onions together gently in a separate bowl to make rat guts.
-
4
Put about 1/2 of the rat body mixture onto a sheet of waxed paper and form into rat body shape. Spread a thick layer of cheese mixture on top, leaving 1/2 inch space around outer edge.
-
5
Put remaining rat body mixture on top of cheese mixture. Continue forming body, sealing cheese mixture completely inside so guts don't ooze out while baking.
-
6
Place a rimmed pan on rat body and carefully flip it over. Reshape rat body as needed. Use olives for the eyes and nose, spaghetti for the whiskers, and potato slices for the ears. Spread remaining 1/3 bottle BBQ sauce over body of rat. Crush remaining 2 cups French-fried onions and sprinkle on top of and around rat body.
-
7
Bake in the preheated oven until cooked through and cheese melts, about 1 hour. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Allow ratloaf to cool 5 minutes before slicing to serve.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving
Want to cook this?
Open in the PantryLink app to scale servings, check your pantry stock, and generate a shopping list.
Sign In to Save Recipe Create Free AccountSuggest an Edit
Help improve this recipe's categorization, image, or dietary info. Earn points and badges!
Suggest Changes in AppPrefer a printed copy? Use our print-friendly view with adjustable servings and font size.
Open Print ViewMore Italian Recipes
Italian Sushi
This Italian sushi, or prosciutto rolls if you like, are trending on TikTok and are nothing more than Italian favorites wrapped in prosciutto to resemble a sushi roll. They make a delicious, easy appetizer.
Homemade Cavatelli Pasta
Cavatelli noodles are a typical Southern Italian pasta made out of just durum wheat semolina flour, water, and salt. The starch contained in the durum gives this pasta its distinctive and firm texture, perfect to go with a simple tomato sauce or with a rich Bolognese. Make sure to use very fine semolina (called durum or semola rimacinata) or the dough will be too stiff.
Summer Fruit Brunch Pizza
This savory fruit pizza recipe is gorgeous, unusual, and very pleasing. It is good warm, room temperature, or slightly chilled. It makes a lovely centerpiece for brunch, an appetizer, or side dish. Perhaps it could be drizzled with honey or warm orange marmalade for an adult dessert. I am eager to read your reviews and variations on this recipe! Cheers!