Description
This fun and spooky Easy Halloween Zombie Eye Meatball recipe features juicy ground beef meatballs mixed with shredded apple and sweet onion, seasoned with thyme and pepper, and topped with creepy apple and olive ‘zombie eyes.’ Served alongside gluten-free spaghetti and tomato sauce, it’s a perfect festive meal for Halloween that is both flavorful and visually striking.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meatballs
- 2 pounds Ground Beef
- 1 Egg
- 1/2 cup Shredded Apple
- 1/3 cup Shredded Sweet Onion
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
Zombie Eye Garnish
- Apple slices (small circles cut)
- Black olives or Kalamata olives (tiny pieces)
Other Ingredients
- Gluten-Free Spaghetti
- Tomato Sauce
- Avocado oil or Olive oil (for cooking meatballs)
Instructions
- Shred Apple and Onion: Begin by shredding the apple and sweet onion using a large box grater to get fine, even pieces that will blend well into the meatballs.
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, shredded apple and onion, egg, salt, dried thyme, and black pepper. Mix everything together thoroughly with your hands or a wooden spoon until well incorporated.
- Form Meatballs: Using a cookie scoop or spoon, portion out the mixture into approximately 20-25 equal-sized meatballs. Place them on a baking sheet or plate lined with parchment paper to keep them from sticking.
- Cook Meatballs: Heat avocado or olive oil in a preheated skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook them evenly, turning occasionally until they are golden brown on all sides and cooked through, about 10-15 minutes. Keep the skillet uncovered to allow excess moisture from the apple and onion to evaporate. Drain any excess water as needed.
- Cook Spaghetti: While the meatballs are cooking, prepare gluten-free spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain when done and toss with your favorite tomato sauce to coat.
- Make Zombie Eyes: Create the spooky eyeballs by cutting small circles from apple slices and topping each with a tiny piece of black or Kalamata olive in the center to resemble pupils. Make enough to top each meatball.
- Assemble and Serve: Place a zombie eye on top of each meatball. Serve the meatballs alongside the sauced gluten-free spaghetti for a fun and festive Halloween meal. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use a stand mixer on low speed to blend the meatball ingredients quickly without overmixing, which can cause toughness.
- For perfectly sized meatballs, use an ice cream scoop to portion them evenly before rounding by hand.
- The apples and onions release moisture when cooking; keep the skillet uncovered to prevent sogginess and drain excess liquid as needed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Spaghetti mixed with sauce may soften further upon storage.
- Meatballs and sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 3-4 meatballs with pasta and sauce)
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg
