Zombie Eyes (Halloween Meatballs)

5.0
(3)

These homemade meatballs are a must for your Halloween party! Not only are they fun, they're super-moist and flavorful.

3
Prep Time:
45 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 15 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
16 meatballs

Ingredients

  • 1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti

  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • cup panko bread crumbs

  • 1 large egg

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon parsley flakes

  • 1 teaspoon dried basil

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1 pound lean ground beef

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 8 black olives, halved

  • 1 (1 ounce) stick string cheese, cut into 16 slices

  • 1 (16 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce

Directions

  1. 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.

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

  3. Whisk Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, egg, garlic, parsley, 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.

  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.

  5. Bake browned meatballs in the oven for 8 minutes.

  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."

  7. Remove meatballs from the oven; set aside until cool enough to handle.

  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.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

337 Calories
14g Fat
33g Carbs
20g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 337
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 71mg 24%
Sodium 448mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 20g 40%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 114mg 9%
Iron 3mg 16%
Potassium 408mg 9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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