Zombie Eyes (Halloween Meatballs)

These are a must for your Halloween party! Not only are they fun, these meatballs are super-moist and flavorful. Use disposable forks for easy clean up.

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 337 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 large egg
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (16 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti
• ⅓ cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
• 8 black olives, halved
• 1 (1 ounce) stick string cheese, cut into 16 slices

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 2

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

Whisk Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, egg, garlic, parley, basil, and oregano together in a large mixing bowl. Fold in ground beef and mix with your hands until blended. Form 16 equal-sized meatballs using a cookie scoop.

Step 4

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs for 3 minutes on each side. Transfer cooked meatballs to a baking sheet using tongs.

Step 5

Bake browned meatballs in the oven for 8 minutes.

Step 6

While meatballs bake, use a plastic straw to punch a hole through each olive half to create a circular 'pupil.' Use the same straw to punch a hole through the center of each string cheese slice. Insert the round olive piece inside the hole in the string cheese slice to create 'eyes.'

Step 7

Remove meatballs from oven and let cool until safe to handle.

Step 8

Assemble zombie eyes by twirling a few strands of cooked spaghetti around each of 16 forks. Spear a meatball onto each fork and arrange forks on a serving platter. Spoon a dot of spaghetti sauce onto each meatball where you want to place the 'eyes.' Apply the olive-cheese 'eye' over the sauce. Spoon remaining spaghetti sauce over the twirled spaghetti on the forks.