Barbecued Rat Tails | Halloween Recipes

As Seen in Mimi, Halloween

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Spooky season is upon us, hungry reader. Which means I’m ready for my kitchen to be filled with all things haunted, creepy and downright disgusting.

BARBECUING RAT TAILS

My favorite kind of Halloween treat is one that looks gross but tastes delicious.

It shouldn’t be so disgusting looking that you have to fight mind-over-matter to eat it, but it should definitely smell good enough that people won’t question you when you tell them you are serving up rat tails for dinner.

Of course, you won’t actually be treating your guests to the tails of rats but rather, something that looks pretty close to it. The “rat tails” in this recipe are actually strips of hot dog, sliced into the shape of mouse and/or rat tails, depending on the length. Then little ridges are sliced into the tops of each strip to complete the appearance of a ratty-looking rat tail.

Feeling ghoulish?

Served up as a spooky sandwich, these barbecued rat tails will satiate even the hungriest of souls.

  • hot dogs – fully cooked, ball-park length or longer will work
  • barbecue sauce – I used Montgomery Inn Barbecue sauce (affiliate link) because it’s a hometown favorite!
  • whole grain mustard – add little bursts of mustardy-zing throughout
  • relish – sweet is best but you can swap in a spicy relish for fun too!
  • steak sauce – boost the savory flavor of the sauce
  • onion – when slow cooked, it takes on the appearance of ‘mouse entrails’ with the tails

Combined in a slow cooker, you can cook it on HIGH for four hours or on LOW for eight hours.

Barbecued Rat Tails

The Starving Chef
An easy sandwich perfect for Halloween – stuffed with barbecued RAT TAILS.
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Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 8 hrs
Total Time 8 hrs 15 mins
Course Halloween, Sandwiches
Cuisine Halloween, Slow Cooker
Servings 4

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 8 hot dogs
  • 1 cup sweet barbecue sauce
  • 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
  • 1 tablespoon steak sauce
  • 1 tablespoon relish
  • ½ onion sliced

Instructions
 

  • Cut the hot dogs in half lengthwise, then slice into tapered strips in the shape of rat/mouse tails. Slice ridges along the strips to make them bendy and add “vertebrae.”
  • Add the sliced dogs to a slow cooker along with the onion, whole grain mustard, steak sauce, relish and barbecue sauce. Stir gently with a spatula then cover.
  • Slow cook on HIGH for four hours; or on LOW for eight hours. Keep warm prior to serving.
  • Serve scoops of barbecued rat tails on your favorite style of hamburger buns and enjoy. Happy Halloween!
Keyword BBQ, Halloween, hot dogs, slow cooker
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