Spooky Halloween Eyeballs

Spooky Halloween Eyeballs

Spooky Halloween Eyeballs – Fun Halloween Dinner Idea

Make Halloween dinner frightfully fun with these Spooky Halloween Eyeballs! 

Our Halloween tradition since 2005 when I found this recipe has been to eat these Spooky Eyeballs every year before going trick-or-treating!  They are so much fun (and delicious!)

They are really just stuffed shells… but when you make them this way they really do look spooky!

The original (pictured below) had a more elaborate funny face.  I like using breadsticks because it’s easier and they go so well with the shells!

I used slices of cheese and cut them with a small circle to make the pupils (I actually used a Wilton piping tip for the cutting).  You could also use sliced olives, as pictured below.

These can also be made in advance for an easy pre-trick-or-treat meal.  Just assemble the shells, cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.

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Ingredients

• 18 jumbo pasta shells (from a 12 oz. package)

• 1 recipe Easiest and Best Spaghetti Sauce (or 1 jar)

• 1 egg, slightly beaten

• 1 container (15 oz.) ricotta cheese

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

• 18 frozen meatballs (Make-Ahead Meatballs)

• Sliced cheese or sliced olives, for pupils (optional)

• Bread or pizza dough, for decoration

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 13x9-inch baking dish. Cook pasta shells according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water.

2. Prepare sauce and filling: Reserve 1 tablespoon of sauce for garnish. Pour remaining sauce into baking dish. In a medium bowl, mix egg, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and garlic powder.

3. Assemble the eyeballs: Fill each pasta shell with about 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture. Place shells in the sauce, filling side up. Press one meatball into each shell to resemble an eyeball. Top with cheese or olive “pupils,” if using.

4. Bake for 45 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

5. Make the faces: Shape breadstick dough into triangles for noses and eyebrows, and curves for smiles or spooky frowns. Bake according to package directions.

6. Decorate and serve: Arrange “eyeballs” on a platter, add breadstick faces, and dot with reserved sauce or olive slices for a truly spooky effect.

Serves: 6 (3 shells each)

These eerie eyeballs make the perfect Halloween dinner — spooky to look at, but comforting and delicious to eat!

Photo credit: Pillsbury

Adapted from Pillsbury, Halloween 2005

Spooky Halloween Eyeballs