Chef John's Zombie Meatloaf

4.8
(38)
31 Reviews
34 Photos

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.

By
John Mitzewich
Chef John
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich — aka Chef John — has produced more than 1,500 cooking videos for Allrecipes. He's the actor, director, and screenwriter whose hands and voice confidently walk you through techniques.
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Updated on July 27, 2024
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Prep Time:
45 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr 5 mins
Additional Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs
Servings:
8
Yield:
8 servings
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 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

Blood Sauce:

  • ¼ cup barbeque sauce

  • ¼ cup ketchup

  • 1 dash hot sauce, or to taste

Directions

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

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

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

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

    close up view of a Zombie Meatloaf with onion eyes on a wooden cutting board
    Chef John

Chef's Notes

For crispier bacon, cover the eyes and teeth with aluminum foil and broil until bacon is brown and crispy.

Milk may be used in place of buttermilk, if preferred.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

641 Calories
41g Fat
22g Carbs
46g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 641
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 41g 52%
Saturated Fat 18g 90%
Cholesterol 196mg 65%
Sodium 1600mg 70%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 46g 92%
Vitamin C 8mg 9%
Calcium 63mg 5%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 427mg 9%

* 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.