Get ready to serve a dish that will have everyone doing a double-take with this incredibly fun and delicious Eyeball Pasta Salad! This is one of the best Halloween Pasta Recipes you can make, turning a simple, fresh pasta salad into a creepy, crawly centerpiece for your table. Featuring tender pasta and fresh veggies tossed in a zesty Italian dressing and topped with startlingly realistic “eyeballs” made from mozzarella and olives, this Spooky Pasta is a guaranteed hit. It’s the perfect main course for a Halloween Themed Dinner and one of the best Halloween Potluck Ideas For Adults.
Why This is One of the Best Spooky Recipes
This salad is the perfect blend of creepy and tasty, making it a Halloween favorite.
- Incredibly Thematic & Fun: The mozzarella “eyeballs” are easy to make and look fantastically spooky, making this a standout dish.
- Delicious and Refreshing: Beneath the spooky exterior is a classic, crowd-pleasing pasta salad that is packed with fresh vegetables and a tangy dressing.
- Perfect for All Ages: While it’s spooky, it’s not too scary, making it great Halloween Food For Teens and younger kids alike.
- Easy to Make Ahead: Pasta salad is a perfect make-ahead dish, which frees up your time on the day of a party.
Your Simple Ingredient Checklist
This recipe uses fresh, simple ingredients for a delicious and spooky result.
For the Pasta Salad:
- Pasta: 1 pound of rotini or fusilli pasta. The spiral shape is great for catching the dressing.
- Cherry Tomatoes: 1 pint, halved.
- Cucumber: 1 English cucumber, diced.
- Bell Pepper: 1 orange or yellow bell pepper, diced.
- Fresh Basil: ¼ cup, freshly chopped for garnish.
For the Mozzarella Eyeballs:
- Mini Mozzarella Balls: 1 (8-ounce) container of fresh mozzarella pearls or bocconcini.
- Black Olives: 1 (4-ounce) can of pitted black olives.
For the Zesty Italian Dressing:
- Olive Oil: ½ cup extra virgin olive oil.
- Balsamic Vinegar: ¼ cup.
- Italian Seasoning: 2 teaspoons.
- Salt and Black Pepper: To taste.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Get ready to create the spookiest, most delicious pasta salad ever!
Part 1: Cook the Pasta and Make the Eyeballs
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain it and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- Create the Eyeballs: While the pasta is cooking, make your spooky eyeballs. Drain the mini mozzarella balls. Slice the black olives into thin rings. To create the “pupil,” gently press a small piece of a black olive ring into the center of each mozzarella ball. Set your creepy eyeballs aside.
Part 2: Assemble the Salad
- Chop the Veggies: Halve the cherry tomatoes and dice the cucumber and bell pepper.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Combine the Salad: In a large serving bowl, combine the cooled pasta, the chopped vegetables, and the prepared dressing. Toss everything together until it is well coated.
Part 3: Chill and Serve
- Chill for Best Flavor: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes. This allows all the flavors from the dressing to meld together.
- Add the Eyeballs: Just before serving, gently arrange the mozzarella eyeballs all over the top of the pasta salad.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with freshly chopped basil for a final touch of flavor and color, and serve chilled!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I use different ingredients to make the eyeballs? Yes! There are many fun Eyeball Recipes and variations. Instead of a black olive pupil, you could use a green olive slice with a pimiento in the center for a bloodshot look. You can also use a food-safe marker to draw little red veins on the mozzarella for an even spookier effect.
2. What are some other fun Halloween Pasta Salad ideas? For a different take on a Halloween Pasta Salad, you could use black (squid ink) pasta for a naturally spooky base. You could also use Halloween-shaped pasta, like pumpkins or bats, which can often be found in stores during the fall season.
3. What other dishes would be good for a Halloween potluck? This salad is one of the best Halloween Potluck Ideas For Adults. Other great options include “mummy” jalapeño poppers (wrapped in strips of crescent dough), a “graveyard” layered taco dip, or a spooky “Witches’ Brew” punch.
4. Can I make this pasta salad a day ahead? Absolutely. You can make the entire pasta salad (without the eyeballs) up to a day in advance and store it, covered, in the refrigerator. Prepare the mozzarella eyeballs separately and store them in an airtight container. When you’re ready to serve, just give the salad a quick stir, arrange the eyeballs on top, and add the fresh basil.
Spooky Eyeball Pasta Salad
Equipment
- Large pot for boiling pasta
- Large serving bowl
- Small mixing bowl for dressing
- Strainer/colander
- Sharp Knife for chopping vegetables
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 lb rotini or fusilli pasta
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 English cucumber, diced
- 1 orange or yellow bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- 8 oz mini mozzarella pearls or bocconcini
- 1 can (4 oz) pitted black olives, sliced into rings
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- to taste salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside to cool.
- Prepare mozzarella eyeballs by pressing a black olive ring into the center of each mozzarella pearl to create a ‘pupil.’ Set aside.
- Chop vegetables: halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, and dice bell pepper.
- In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to make dressing.
- In a large bowl, toss cooled pasta with chopped vegetables and dressing until evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Just before serving, gently arrange mozzarella eyeballs over the top of the salad. Garnish with chopped basil and serve chilled.