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Halloween Eyeball Pasta

This dish is a fun and spooky pasta meal featuring juicy meatballs with olive pupils that resemble eyeballs. It involves cooking pasta, preparing meatballs, and assembling the eyeball effect by placing olives into meatballs and serving over seasoned sauce, resulting in a playful and visually striking presentation.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 580
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g spaghetti or pasta of choice cooked al dente
  • 500 g ground beef or turkey/plant-based alternative
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 jar (about 24 oz) marinara sauce
  • 20 pitted green or black olives olive eyeballs used for pupils
  • as needed salt and pepper

Equipment

  • Large pot for boiling pasta
  • Baking sheet
  • Mixing bowls
  • Skillet or frying pan
  • Slotted spoon or tongs

Method
 

  1. Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside. Fill the kitchen with a gentle boiling sound and a fragrant aroma of herbs and garlic filling the air.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, minced garlic, oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix everything together gently until evenly combined and the mixture feels cohesive.
  3. Form about 12 to 15 small meatballs from the mixture, rolling each between your hands to a smooth, round shape. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment—these will cook to a perfect juicy size.
  4. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until they are browned on all sides and cooked through—about 8-10 minutes. You should hear a satisfying sizzle and see the meatballs develop a crispy exterior.
  5. Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet with the meatballs and simmer gently for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly. The sauce will bubble softly and fill the kitchen with a savory aroma.
  6. Carefully place each cooked meatball into the drained pasta, inserting an olive into the center of each as the pupil of the eyeball. Gently press the olive into the meatball so it stays in place. The olives will give each meatball a spooky eyeball appearance.
  7. Arrange the eyeball meatballs on a serving platter or plate, spoon some sauce over the top, and garnish with extra herbs if desired. The final presentation should resemble a creepy yet charming cluster of eyeballs ready to delight and amuse.
  8. Serve the Halloween Eyeball Pasta hot, allowing everyone to enjoy the playful sight and savory flavors. The meatballs are juicy, the pasta tender, and the olive pupils give a fun, spooky flair to this festive dish.

Notes

For extra creepy effect, add sliced red pepper or other edible decorations around the eyeballs. Make sure to use nice, firm olives for the pupils to keep their shape.