Spooky Halloween Eyeballs

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.



Spooky Halloween Eyeballs

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, if desired
Breadstick dough

Directions

1.  Heat oven to 350°.  Grease a 13x9” baking dish.  Cook pasta as directed on package; drain.  Rinse with cold water to cool; drain well.

2.  Reserve 1 Tablespoon of pasta sauce for garnishing later.  Pour remaining sauce into baking dish. In medium bowl, mix egg, ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, and garlic powder.

3.  Fill each cooked pasta shell with about 2 Tablespoons cheese mixture.  Arrange filled shells, cheese mixture up, in sauce in baking dish.  Press 1 meatball into each shell to resemble an eye. Place cheese “pupils” on each meatball, if using.

4.  Bake 45 minutes or until bubbly.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

5.  Cut breadstick dough into triangle shapes to be used for noses and eyebrows.  Take longer pieces of dough and shape into “smiles” (or frowns upside down!) before baking.

6.  Arrange eyeballs on a plate and use the baked breadsticks for decoration.  If desired, place 1 sliced olive on each eyeball with a dot of reserved tomato sauce in the middle.

Makes 6 servings (3 shells each)

Photo credit: Pillsbury

Adapted from Pillsbury, Halloween 2005

Spooky Halloween Eyeballs

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