Description
These Halloween Meatball Eyeballs are the ultimate spooky party appetizer — juicy, flavorful meatballs “staring” back at you with mozzarella and olive eyes. Tested twice to nail both texture and bake time, this version guarantees tender meatballs that hold their shape and stay saucy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground turkey or beef (450 g)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (or gluten-free crumbs)
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup marinara sauce (or tomato sauce)
- 12 mini mozzarella balls, halved (or dairy-free cheese cubes)
- 12 sliced black olives
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). In a bowl, mix ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, Parmesan, and seasonings. Roll into 24 small balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake 12–15 minutes or until cooked through (165°F / 74°C internal). Spoon marinara over the top and bake 3 more minutes.
- Place half a mozzarella ball on each meatball, then top with a sliced olive “pupil.” Return to the oven just 1–2 minutes to melt slightly. Serve warm.
Notes
Use gluten-free breadcrumbs for a GF version. Dairy-free mozzarella works great too. Try using a mini-muffin pan to keep meatballs perfectly round. Make ahead and refrigerate raw meatballs up to 24 hours before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 eyeball
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: halloween meatball eyeballs, spooky appetizer, halloween recipe, meatballs