Meatball Creepy Crawlers
Transform your next Halloween party or family dinner into a spook-tacular affair with these playful and delicious Meatball Creepy Crawlers! This fun recipe combines tender, oven-baked meatballs, seasoned with Parmesan, garlic, and oregano, with creative spaghetti "legs" and mozzarella-and-olive "eyes" to resemble creepy crawly critters. Perfect as a kid-friendly Halloween treat or a whimsical appetizer, this dish is as fun to make as it is to eat. Serve these edible creatures with warm marinara sauce for a flavorful dip that complements the savory meatballs. Ready in under 45 minutes, this recipe strikes the perfect balance between tasty and terrifying, making it a must-try addition to your spooky season menu!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs
- 0.25 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Dried oregano
- 1 tsp Salt
- 0.5 tsp Ground black pepper
- 1 Large egg
- 4 oz Cooked spaghetti
- 12 Mozzarella cheese balls (ciliegine-size)
- 6 Black olive slices
- 1 cup Marinara sauce
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, oregano, salt, pepper, and egg. Mix thoroughly until the ingredients are evenly combined.
Roll the mixture into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter, and place them onto the prepared baking sheet.
Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 15–18 minutes, or until they are fully cooked and browned on the outside.
While the meatballs are baking, cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain and let it cool slightly.
Cut the cooked spaghetti into roughly 2–3 inch pieces. These will be the 'legs' of the creepy crawlers.
Once the meatballs are done and cooled slightly, carefully insert 6–8 pieces of spaghetti into each meatball to create legs, ensuring they stick out evenly on both sides.
For the 'eyes,' cut the mozzarella balls in half and place two halves on each meatball. Use a small piece of black olive to create the pupils by pressing it onto the mozzarella.
Heat the marinara sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave until warm.
Serve the Meatball Creepy Crawlers on a platter with a drizzle of marinara sauce or as a dipping sauce on the side for added flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2749 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 187.9 g | 241% | |
| Saturated Fat | 80.1 g | 400% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 687 mg | 229% | |
| Sodium | 5929 mg | 258% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 105.9 g | 39% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 9.7 g | 35% | |
| Total Sugars | 9.6 g | ||
| Protein | 168.4 g | 337% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.0 mcg | 5% | |
| Calcium | 1623 mg | 125% | |
| Iron | 16.6 mg | 92% | |
| Potassium | 1553 mg | 33% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
