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Spooky Eyeball Spaghetti

This dish features tender meatballs that resemble creepy eyeballs, served over a bed of tangled spaghetti coated in savory tomato sauce. The meatballs are garnished with small centers to mimic pupils, creating a playful, spooky presentation perfect for Halloween. The final dish combines comforting pasta textures with a fun, eerie visual effect.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef or turkey, chicken, or plant-based alternative
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs preferably plain or seasoned
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • ½ cup parsley chopped, for flavor and garnish
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 jar marinara sauce about 24 ounces
  • 12 small black olives pitted, sliced for pupils
  • 1 package spaghetti preferably dry, about 16 ounces

Equipment

  • Large pot for boiling pasta
  • Mixing bowls
  • Baking Sheet
  • Cooking skillet or frying pan
  • Melon baller or small spoon
  • Toothpick
  • Wooden spoon or tongs

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, minced garlic, beaten egg, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix everything until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
  2. Shape the mixture into 12 small, round meatballs using your hands or a scoop. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
  3. Bake the meatballs for about 20 minutes, or until they are browned and cooked through. The edges should be slightly crispy and golden.
  4. While the meatballs are baking, cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  5. Heat the marinara sauce in a skillet over medium heat until bubbling. Add the cooked meatballs to the sauce and let simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the meatballs to soak up the sauce.
  6. While the sauce and meatballs simmer, cut small round centers for the eyeballs using a melon baller or small spoon from a black olive. These will serve as the pupils.
  7. To assemble, place cooked spaghetti on a serving platter or bowls. Spoon the saucy meatballs over the pasta, arranging them so they look like creepy eyeballs peering out.
  8. Stick a small slice of the sliced black olive into each meatball to resemble the pupil. Use a toothpick to help position the olive if needed, creating a spooky eyeball effect.
  9. Garnish with additional chopped parsley or herbs for a fresh touch. Serve immediately while hot and bubbling for the best spooky visual impact.

Notes

For extra creepiness, you can add more olive slices for veins or use cheese bits for a more dramatic eyeball effect.