Spooky Spaghetti & Cheesy Monster Meatballs – A Fun Halloween Dinner Idea for Kids and Parties

Last year, I threw this dish together minutes before the neighborhood trick-or-treat chaos began. My youngest peeked at the plate and screamed, “It’s staring at me!”—then devoured two helpings. This Spooky Spaghetti with Cheesy Monster Meatballs became a Halloween tradition right then and there.

Why You’ll Love This Spooky Spaghetti & Meatballs Recipe

This recipe is all about fun, not fuss. You get classic spaghetti comfort, but with monster meatballs peeking up at you with mozzarella “eyeballs.”

It’s simple enough for weeknights but perfect for Halloween parties. My boys even requested it after October because, as they said, “scary food tastes better.”

I usually serve it with Ghost Fruit Skewers for a healthy Halloween snack to balance the spooky feast.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Let the monster magic begin. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 200g spaghetti or linguine
• Ground beef or turkey
• 1 egg
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella or string cheese cubes
• Salt and pepper
• 1 jar marinara sauce
• 150g mini mozzarella balls
• Sliced black olives (for the eyes)
• Optional: black or green food coloring for the noodles

I grab my ingredients while making Monster Mac and Cheese that’s perfect for Halloween night, so everything’s on hand.

How to Make Cheesy Monster Meatballs

One chilly October afternoon, my kids helped stuff the meatballs with cheese—little hands, big mess. Totally worth it.

Mix ground meat, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, seasoning, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Scoop and flatten small portions. Add a mozzarella cube in the center and seal it inside.

Place meatballs on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 18–20 minutes. Or pan-fry if you like crispy edges—I usually do when I’m multitasking between costume chaos and dinner.

Add the Monster “Eyes”

This part cracks up the kids every time.

Stick a sliced olive onto each mini mozzarella ball with a dab of marinara. Then gently press one onto each meatball. Bam—instant monster mayhem.

It’s like building edible Halloween decorations, just way tastier than the plastic ones.

Spooky Spaghetti Tips & Assembly

If you want to dial up the creep factor, stir in a few drops of food coloring while boiling the pasta.

Drain and rinse, then toss with warm marinara sauce. Plate it in a twisted “web” style and set your monster meatballs on top.

I like to sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the top—it melts like a spooky cheese web. And if you’re feeling festive, a side of Cheesy Pizza Skulls for a frightfully fun dinner completes the theme.

Serving Ideas for Halloween Parties

I once served this from a carved-out pumpkin “cauldron”—huge hit.

For kids, use mini forks or Halloween toothpicks. Serve it on black or spiderweb-themed plates for the full effect.

You can also pre-portion into little cups for easy grab-and-go at parties. The monster eyes still steal the show.

Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating Tips

When hosting big, messy evenings like Halloween, I prep these meatballs early in the day or even the night before.

You can refrigerate raw or pre-cooked meatballs up to 24 hours. Store leftovers (if you’re lucky to have any) in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

To reheat, I toss them with extra marinara in the oven at 350°F or zap them in the microwave. I always refresh the “eyeballs” before serving again.

This dish reheats beautifully—I’ve even tucked the leftovers into lunchboxes with a little note saying “Beware: Monster Inside.”

More Spooky Halloween Recipes to Try

If you’re already planning your haunted kitchen menu, don’t miss:

• Cheesy Pizza Skulls for a frightfully fun dinner
• Monster Mac and Cheese that’s perfect for Halloween night
• Ghost Fruit Skewers for a healthy Halloween snack

These dishes are all kid-approved, stress-free, and full of Halloween joy—just like this one.

FAQ – Spooky Spaghetti & Monster Meatballs