Chef John's Zombie Meatloaf

Name: Chef John's Zombie Meatloaf
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 8 Servings
Ingredients: 3 pounds lean ground beef; ¾ cup plain dry bread crumbs; 🥚 1 egg, beaten; 🥛 3 tablespoons buttermilk; 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; 🧅 1 onion; 2 whole cloves; 1 pound bacon strips; ¼ cup barbeque sauce; ¼ cup ketchup; 1 dash hot sauce, or to taste

Cost $20, save $25

Source: Recommended by CookPal

65 Min
8 Servings
$20

Chef John's Zombie Meatloaf

Cost $20, save $25

Source: Recommended by CookPal

65 Min
8 Servings
$20

INGREDIENTS

Main Ingredients
- 3 pounds lean ground beef
- ¾ cup plain dry bread crumbs
- 🥚 1 egg, beaten
- 🥛 3 tablespoons buttermilk
Vegetables and Flavorings
- 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
Garnish and Final Touches
- 🧅 1 onion
- 2 whole cloves
- 1 pound bacon strips
- ¼ cup barbeque sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 dash hot sauce, or to taste

STEPS

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

In a pan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Saute diced onion, celery, mushrooms, and 1 teaspoon of salt until golden brown (5-7 minutes). Add garlic, black pepper, thyme, and cayenne pepper. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.

Mix salt, ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, buttermilk, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl. Combine with cooled vegetable mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Prepare onion slices for the zombie eyes and teeth.

Shape the meat mixture into a zombie skull on a baking sheet using damp hands. Cover with bacon slices, add onion eyes and teeth, and secure loose ends of bacon. Cover onion eyes with foil.

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

Stir together barbeque sauce, ketchup, and hot sauce to create the blood sauce.

NUTRIENTS

Per 1 serving

🔥

641

Calories

46
Protein
22
Carbs
41
Fats

💡 Make sure the meatloaf mixture is thoroughly combined for better structural integrity.Cover onion eyes with foil to avoid excessive browning.Use lean ground beef to keep the dish balanced without excess fat.