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Creepy Halloween Meatball Pasta

This dish features tender pasta coated in a savory sauce, topped with juicy meatball 'eyeballs' crafted to look startlingly realistic. The meatballs are formed from seasoned ground meat and simmered until cooked through, while the pasta is boiled to al dente and combined with the sauce for a rich, comforting texture with fun spooky accents.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 650

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g spaghetti or any long pasta
  • 500 g ground beef or ground meat of choice
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs for binding the meatballs
  • 1 large egg to help bind the mixture
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano for flavor
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 cups tomato sauce store-bought or homemade
  • 16 pieces mozzarella balls small cheese balls for eyeballs
  • optional pitted black olives or small olives for pupils

Equipment

  • Large pot for boiling pasta
  • Mixing bowl
  • Baking sheet
  • Skillet or frying pan
  • Small spoon or toothpick for pupils

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, following package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until evenly combined.
  3. Shape the meat mixture into small, round balls roughly the size of a golf ball. Place the shaped meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  4. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a little oil. When hot, add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until they are browned on all sides and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes.
  5. Pour the tomato sauce into the skillet with the meatballs, reduce heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
  6. Arrange the cooked pasta in serving bowls, then ladle the sauce and meatballs over the top. Ensure each bowl gets a few meatball 'eyeballs.'
  7. Carefully place a small mozzarella ball on each meatball to resemble an eyeball. Use tiny pieces of black olive or small olives to create a pupil in the mozzarella for extra creepy effect.
  8. Optional: Using a small toothpick or the end of a skewer, dot the pupil onto the mozzarella, shaping it to look like a spooky eyeball.
  9. Serve immediately, and enjoy the fun, spooky presentation of the creepy eyeball pasta!