Description
Bring Halloween fun to your dinner table with this Spooky Spaghetti & Cheesy Monster Meatballs recipe! Juicy meatballs, marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and spooky black olive eyes make this quick dinner an instant hit. Whether you’re looking for Halloween dinner ideas, creative food ideas for kids, or just an easy recipe to celebrate the season, this dish combines taste and fun. A perfect family-friendly dinner that’s festive, hearty, and memorable.
Ingredients
8 oz spaghetti
12 large meatballs (homemade or store-bought)
2 cups marinara sauce
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
12 black olive slices
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Boil salted water in a large pot. Cook spaghetti until al dente, then drain and toss with a little olive oil.
2. If using homemade meatballs, cook them until done. For pre-cooked ones, heat until warmed through.
3. Add meatballs to marinara sauce and simmer for 10–15 minutes to absorb flavor.
4. Create small nests from the cooked spaghetti on a baking sheet or oven-safe dish.
5. Place one meatball in the center of each spaghetti nest.
6. Top each meatball with shredded mozzarella, allowing some to drape over like a ghost.
7. Add two black olive slices on each meatball to form spooky eyes.
8. Broil in the oven for 2–3 minutes, just until the cheese melts and bubbles.
9. Remove, garnish with chopped parsley if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
For best results, let the cheese melt under the broiler for just a few minutes—watch closely.
You can make spaghetti and meatballs ahead of time and assemble just before baking.
Try different cheeses or swap meatballs for plant-based ones for a vegetarian twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American-Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 nest
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: spooky pasta, Halloween dinner, monster meatballs, kid-friendly meal, cheesy meatballs