Best Halloween Jack O Lantern Meatloaf Recipes

THE BEST MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
• Whisk the eggs, milk, Worcestershire sauce and 2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl until completely combined. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender and lightly golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add 3 tablespoons of the ketchup and cook until most of the moisture has evaporated and the mixture is thick and brick red colored, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the onions cool slightly. Then add them to the beaten eggs and mix to combine.
• Add the beef to the egg and onion mixture. Break up the meat with a fork or wooden spoon, and then mix to thoroughly combine; you don't want to see any lumps of raw beef. Add the panko and mix to combine. Stir the meat vigorously with a wooden spoon for about 7 seconds; it will become more homogenous and tackier.
• Transfer the meat to the prepared baking sheet and shape into a 9-by-5-inch loaf. Smooth the top and evenly spread the remaining ketchup over top. Bake for 5 minutes, and then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Continue to bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf registers 150 degrees F, 30 to 35 minutes. Allow the meatloaf to rest for 20 minutes before slicing.

PINEAPPLE JACK-O'-LANTERN

Steps:

• Lay the pineapple down horizontally on a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut off the top 1 1/2 inches, leaving the leafy crown intact. Set top aside.
• Place the pineapple upright, with the flesh exposed on the top. Center the pineapple corer-slicer directly over the center core and push down slightly. Hold the pineapple with your left hand while twisting the handle of the corer-slicer clockwise with your right hand, with a slight downward pressure. Continue until you reach the bottom, making sure that you do not cut through the skin at the bottom of the pineapple.
• Pull up on the handle of the corer-slicer while pulling down with your left hand to remove it from the pineapple. Remove the handle from the corer-slicer and remove the sliced pineapple to a serving plate. Pour any juice that has collected in the bottom of the pineapple into a glass or container for another use.
• Using a paper towel to get a firm grip, reach into the pineapple and wrap the paper towel around the core that remains inside. Place a firm grip on the core, and twist slightly to detach the core from the bottom of the pineapple. Discard core.
• Using a large spoon, scrape any remaining pineapple from the bottom of the pineapple to create a level surface for the candle.
• Using a small flexible paring knife, carve out eyes, nose and a scary grin. Replace the top of the pineapple and refrigerate until ready to display. When ready to display, place a tea light candle inside and illuminate.

JACK-O'-LANTERN STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Oil a baking dish with olive oil.
• Use a small knife to cut eyes, nose, and mouth into the flattest side of each pepper, just like a jack-o'-lantern. Cut around the seedpods and remove the tops, trimming and discarding any seeds from under the stems. Trim the white membrane from the inside of each pepper and shake out any seeds. Place in the prepared baking dish.
• Mix together ground beef, salt, pepper, cayenne, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, green onions, melted butter, ketchup, Cheddar cheese, and rice in a bowl until well combined.
• Stuff mixture evenly into peppers and cover with the pepper tops. Wrap the baking dish loosely with foil and place on a sheet pan.
• Bake in the upper center of the preheated oven for 1 hour. Remove the foil and continue baking until peppers are tender and ground beef is cooked through, 10 to 15 more minutes.
• Place stuffed peppers on a few tablespoons of warm tomato sauce. Serve immediately with more sauce on the side.