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Spooky Eyeball Spaghetti and Meatballs

A fun Halloween twist on classic spaghetti and meatballs, featuring mozzarella and olive 'eyeballs' nestled in a rich, thick tomato sauce.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Dish
Cuisine: Holiday, Italian-American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs
  • 1 lb ground beef or beef/pork mix
  • 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
  • 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil for browning
For the Thick Gooey Tomato Sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes 28 oz
  • 1 can tomato paste 6 oz
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 0.5 tsp salt or to taste
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • Pinch of sugar optional
For Assembly & Eyeballs
  • 1 lb spaghetti
  • 1 container small mozzarella balls 8 oz, bocconcini or ciliegine
  • 1 small can sliced black olives 2.25 oz
  • Fresh parsley chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • Large pot or Dutch oven
  • Large pot for pasta
  • Melon baller or small spoon

Method
 

  1. Combine meatball ingredients, form into 1-inch balls. Brown in olive oil in a large pot. Remove meatballs.
  2. In the same pot, add olive oil and sauté onion until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and optional sugar. Bring to simmer.
  4. Return meatballs to the pot. Cover and simmer sauce for at least 30 minutes until thick and gooey.
  5. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain.
  6. Add spaghetti to the pot with sauce and meatballs. Toss gently to coat thoroughly in the viscous sauce.
  7. Create eyeballs: Scoop a small hole in each mozzarella ball and press in a black olive slice.
  8. Serve spaghetti and meatballs in bowls. Arrange mozzarella eyeballs on top. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

Simmering the sauce longer will result in a thicker, richer flavor. Ensure the sauce has a good gooey consistency to coat the pasta well. Use small mozzarella balls for best eyeball effect.