Whether you're planning a haunted house party or a frightening feast, no table is complete without an eye-catching main course. 👀 This recipe for Halloween Eyeball Meatballs is just the thing to take your spooky spread to the next level!
Read on to learn how with a few creative tricks, you can transform a classic meatball recipe into a creepy culinary creation.
Looking for more Halloween recipes to keep an eye on your party guests? Check out our Monster Eye Cookies for a Halloween treat!
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Ingredients
- ground beef: Use 85/15 ground beef for a delicious flavor!
- egg
- breadcrumbs: I like to use plain, panko breadcrumbs. You can use a seasoned variety if you prefer for extra flavor!
- parmesan cheese: Use freshly finely shredded or grated parmesan cheese for maximum meltyness and flavor.
- spices: Flavor the meatballs with classic comforting spices, garlic, onion powder, salt, and dried parsley.
- mozzarella slices: Use small mozzarella slices. I get the 8 oz BelGioioso Fresh Pre-sliced log at the grocery store. The mozzarella makes the "white" of the eye.
- black olives: Use pitted olives and slice them into three pieces so that each round has a missing centerpiece. These make up the "iris" of the eye.
Please see the recipe card below for exact quantities and measurements.
How to Make Halloween Meatballs
This meatball recipe is made in just a few steps and then popped in the oven for 30 minutes.
Add the ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, and spices to a mixing bowl.
Mix everything together until well combined.
Use an ice cream scoop to scoop out nine, equal meatballs.
Use your thumb or the back of a tablespoon to create a well in the center of each meatball.
The mozzarella cheese will sink a little into the well as the meatballs bake and it will help keep it in place as it melts down the sides.
TIP: Try to slightly nestle the mozzarella slice into the well if possible. If the slices are too large, use a small, round cookie cutter to cut out smaller pieces. You can see in the pictures below that they don't need to fit in the indentation perfectly!
Top each meatball with a slice of mozzarella.
Add an olive slice to the center of each "eye".
Bake for 30 minutes. The cheese will melt down the sides of the meatball which will add to the macabre appearance of the meatball eyeballs. Check on the meatballs about 15 minutes into the bake to see if the olive slice is sliding down the side with the cheese. If it is, take the tray out of the oven, and carefully use a fork or knife to lift and nudge it back to the center. Press down slightly with the utensil to secure it in the center of the cheese.
How to Serve Halloween Meatballs
Depending on what kind of Halloween feast you're having, you can serve these meatballs in a variety of ways!
- On a Platter: Serve the Halloween meatballs on a festive platter. If they're part of a spread, place a jar of toothpicks on the side or spear each one so they're ready to go for your guests!
- Halloween Meatballs and Spaghetti: Turn spaghetti dinner into a petrifying pasta night your friends and family won't forget! Nestle the meatballs in some red sauce on a bed of spaghetti.
- Spooky Meatball Sub: Make a meatball sub with the eyes peeking out of the loaf. Add some extra mozzarella, fresh basil, and red sauce to complete the dish! Add in some spaghetti noodles to look like "brains" spilling out.
How to Store Leftover Meatballs
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Pop them back in the microwave for about a minute or so (depending on how many!) to reheat.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup finely shredded parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 9 small mozzarella slices about 1.5" in diameter
- 9 black olive slices
Please note, Holiday Sweets N Treats isn't a professional nutritionist. Any and all nutritional information shared is an estimate. If you're following a specific diet or counting calories, we suggest you use the nutrition calculator of your choice. Calories can vary depending on the brands and products used.
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