Description
Eyeball Pasta is a fun and festive pasta dish featuring juicy baked meatballs topped with cheese and olives to resemble spooky eyeballs. Served over perfectly al dente spaghetti and warm marinara sauce, this recipe is perfect for Halloween or any time you want a playful yet delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
- 1 large egg, beaten
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Ciliegine mozzarella cheese, cut into rounds
- Black olives, sliced crosswise into rounds
Pasta & Sauce
- 1 lb. spaghetti
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce, warmed
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, finely chopped onion, Panko bread crumbs, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and beaten egg. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix everything well using a rubber spatula or your hands until evenly combined.
- Shape and Bake Meatballs: Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spaced evenly. Bake the meatballs for 13 minutes until they are cooked through.
- Create Eyeball Toppings: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and top each meatball with a slice of ciliegine mozzarella and a slice of black olive to create the ‘eyeball’ effect. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for an additional 2 minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly gooey.
- Cook Spaghetti: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a serving platter.
- Assemble the Dish: Pour the warmed marinara sauce over the spaghetti, then scatter the baked eyeball meatballs on top. Serve immediately for a fun and flavorful meal.
Notes
- For a spicier twist, add red pepper flakes to the meatball mixture.
- Use fresh herbs like basil or oregano to enhance the marinara sauce flavor.
- For a lighter option, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- Make sure not to overcook the meatballs to keep them juicy.
- The ciliegine mozzarella and olive slices are key for the eyeball aesthetic—don’t skip them!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 63 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
