Halloween Rats Baked in Blood

Bring a touch of spooky charm to your Halloween table with "Halloween Rats Baked in Blood," a delightfully creepy yet delicious dish perfect for the season. These savory meatloaf "rats," made with a flavorful blend of ground beef, pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and aromatic herbs, are shaped to resemble rodents with creative details like almond "ears," olive "eyes," and spaghetti "tails." Baked to perfection and served dramatically drenched in a rich marinara "blood" sauce, this recipe is both eerie and irresistible. Ready in just over an hour and serving six, it’s an unforgettable Halloween centerpiece that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. Whether you're hosting a haunted dinner party or a family gathering, this dish is sure to thrill (and maybe chill!) your guests.

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:25 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:70 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 500 grams Ground beef
• 250 grams Ground pork
• 100 grams Breadcrumbs
• 50 grams Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 large Egg
• 1 small Onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 2 tablespoons Parsley, chopped
• 24 pieces Sliced almonds (for rat ears)
• 6 pieces Spaghetti noodles (for tails)
• 12 pieces Black olives, cut into small round pieces (for eyes)
• 500 milliliters Marinara sauce

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, egg, chopped onion, minced garlic cloves, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, paprika, and chopped parsley. Mix until all ingredients are well combined.

Step 3

Divide the meat mixture into 6 equal portions. Shape each portion into an oval to resemble the body of a rat.

Step 4

Slice the spaghetti noodles into halves or thirds and press one piece into the back of each meatloaf body to create a 'tail.'

Step 5

Push sliced almonds into the front sides of the body to form 'ears.'

Step 6

Use two small pieces of black olives to create 'eyes' on each rat.

Step 7

Arrange the rats on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they have enough space between them.

Step 8

Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, until the rats are browned and cooked through.

Step 9

While the rats are baking, warm the marinara sauce over low heat in a saucepan.

Step 10

Once the rats are cooked, transfer them onto a serving platter. Spoon the warm marinara sauce around and slightly over each rat to create the appearance of 'blood.'

Step 11

Serve hot and enjoy your spooky Halloween feast!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1829 grams (1829.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3294

Total Fat 219.80g	282%
Saturated Fat 73.40g	367%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.00g
Cholesterol 826mg	275%
Sodium 7632mg	332%
Total Carbohydrate 144.90g	53%
Dietary Fiber 20.00g	71%
Total Sugars 23.40g
Protein 206.10g	412%

Vitamin D 54IU	269%
Calcium 1038mg	80%
Iron 24mg	131%
Potassium 1974mg	42%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 58.5%

Protein: 24.4%

Carbs: 17.1%