Mom’s Monster Foot Meatloaf

Do you love meatloaf? How about Halloween? In this spooky dinner, I’m bringing both to the table. This comfort meal is perfect to prep the night before the festivities and goes into the oven once the tricks and treats are done.

Like most busy moms, I don’t enjoy driving to three stores for fancy ingredients or special pans. We stretch our grocery budget as far as possible, and meatloaf is one of those meals that helps me do it. It’s my favorite way to use up any leftover vegetables before they grow fur, switch up the sauces with what’s on hand, and sneak in extra nutrition for picky eaters.

Ground beef makes the perfect medium for sculpting all kinds of gross body parts. We shaped ours into a monster “foot” fit for a horror movie. For the ankle bone, I used a large carrot and shaped the ground beef mixture around it, which added flavor and a subtle sweetness to the finished product. You can find my recipe below which includes my signature ingredient swap: crushed butter crackers instead of breadcrumbs.

To complete the look, bell pepper “toenails” added a whimsical touch to a rather grotesque display. You could swap them for onions for an even more realistic look. Broiling the meatloaf for the last five minutes of cook time gives the “foot” a charred, scaly look. In fact, my teenager found the result positively repulsive. The possibilities to customize and create your own edible body parts are endless.

Spiderwebbed baked mashed potatoes were the perfect friendly companion to the gruesome main dish. Meat and potatoes are my husband’s favorite comfort food, so of course I had to dress up the spuds with some whimsy. After boiling and assembling the mashed potatoes, I topped them with smoked sausage and cheese and popped them in the oven just until the cheese melted. Once the dish was cooled, I piped on the spider web pattern using sour cream.

Lastly, and my kids’ favorite part: homemade corn nuggets, inspired by their beloved Chicken Express ones. To stay on theme, I added some spooky sour cream “eyes.” The iris was a drop of food coloring applied with a toothpick, and they were the first to disappear.

This dinner was a hit with the kids and a fun way to celebrate Halloween through food. The reactions from the little (and not so little) ones made the food taste even better. Getting creative with what’s on hand reminds us that you don’t have to break the bank or your back to add a little whimsy to your world.

Recipe

Mom’s Monster Foot Meatloaf

Ingredients

2 lbs ground beef

Salt and pepper, to taste

Garlic (fresh, minced, or powder — whatever you have on hand)

1 onion, any color, diced

One sprinkle of rosemary

One sprinkle of thyme

A dash of Tony’s Creole seasoning

3 packs of round butter crackers, crushed (instead of breadcrumbs)

2 eggs

2 bell peppers, any color (for “toenails”)

Any leftover veggies you need to use up (finely chopped)

1 large carrot (for the “ankle bone”)

A splash of Worcestershire, barbecue sauce, A1, and/or your sauce preference

1/2 cup of ketchup to coat the top of the “foot”

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment for easy cleanup.
2. Mix it all up: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, seasonings, onion, crushed crackers, eggs, and any leftover veggies. Use your hands to mix until everything is evenly combined.
3. Shape the monster foot: Place the carrot on your baking sheet to act as the ankle bone. Mold the meat mixture around it into the shape of a large foot, pressing gently to form toes.
4. Add the toenails: Cut small pieces of bell pepper and press them onto the tips of each “toe.”
5. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes to help the “foot” cook evenly and keep its texture.
6. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes or until cooked through.
7. For extra texture, broil for the last 5 minutes to create a charred, scaly look.
8. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving to help it hold its shape.

Tips & Tricks

• The “foot” may fall apart a bit after cooking, but that only adds to the spooky, fresh-from-the-grave effect!
• For an even eerier look, spoon a little ketchup or barbecue sauce around the edges before broiling.
• Onions can be used instead of bell peppers for a more “realistic” look.