Ingredients:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup dry bread crumbs
- 1 (1.25 oz) packet meatloaf seasoning mix
- 1 cup cubed Cheddar cheese
- 3 (10 oz) cans tomato sauce
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ounce uncooked spaghetti, broken into 4 pieces (for tails)
- ½ carrot, cut into ⅛-inch thick slices (for ears)
- 1 tablespoon frozen green peas (for eyes)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a baking dish.
- Mix the meat: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, chopped onion, egg, bread crumbs, and meatloaf seasoning. Mix until well blended.
- Shape into “rats”: Take a handful of meat mixture, flatten it slightly, and place a cube of cheddar in the center. Shape it around the cheese into an oval “rat” body with a pointy nose and rounded back end.
- Add tails: Push one piece of uncooked spaghetti into the back of each “rat” to make the tail.
- Bake: Place the rats in the prepared baking dish. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Make the bloody sauce: While baking, combine tomato sauce, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce in a saucepan. Simmer for about 10 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Add sauce: Pour the sauce over the baked rats and return to the oven, uncovered, for another 15 minutes.
- Decorate:
- Use carrot slices for ears (press into the top of each rat).
- Add two peas for eyes.
- Spoon extra “bloody” sauce on top before serving!
Serving Idea:
Serve these creepy little “rats” over mashed potatoes or spaghetti “guts” for a full Halloween horror effect. Perfect for kids’ parties or adults who love spooky fun!