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Eyeball Pasta

Eyeball Pasta features oversized meatballs and mozzarella balls arranged to resemble eyeballs in a rich tomato sauce. The dish is prepared by cooking pasta, shaping meatballs and mozzarella, and assembling everything to achieve a playful, grotesque appearance with a hearty, comforting flavor.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces spaghetti noodles cooked al dente
  • 1 pound ground beef for meatballs
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg to bind the meatballs
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup mozzarella balls small individual balls
  • 2 cups homemade or store-bought tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • to taste salt and pepper

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Skillet
  • Baking sheet
  • Mixing bowls
  • Slotted spoon

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, minced garlic, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until well incorporated, then shape into large meatballs, about the size of a golf ball, and place them on a baking sheet.
  2. Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, until browned and cooked through. While they bake, cook spaghetti noodles in boiling salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
  3. Heat the tomato sauce in a skillet over medium heat until warm. Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss gently to coat, allowing the flavors to meld.
  4. Once the meatballs are cooked, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly. Carefully cut a small opening at the top of each meatball to make room for the mozzarella eyeballs.
  5. Insert a small mozzarella ball into each meatball’s opening, pressing gently to secure it in place. This creates the distinctive 'eyeball' look.
  6. Arrange the meatballs with mozzarella 'eyeballs' atop the sauced pasta on serving plates, mimicking a creepy, playful eyeball display. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil if desired.

Notes

You can add chopped basil or other herbs for extra flavor. Use larger mozzarella balls for more ocular effect.