Description
This Spooky Baked Ziti is the perfect Halloween dinner—loaded with cheese, meat sauce, and creepy mozzarella eyeballs that will delight kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium sweet onion, diced 5 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb ground beef
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp kosher salt
4 cups marinara sauce
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup grated Parmesan
8 oz cream cheese
1 lb ziti pasta
3 cups shredded mozzarella
8 bocconcini mozzarella balls
8 green olives with pimento
4 slices prosciutto
Instructions
1. Boil ziti pasta until just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Add onion and garlic; sauté until fragrant.
3. Add ground beef and seasonings. Cook until browned.
4. Stir in marinara, cream cheese, Parmesan, and heavy cream. Simmer until thickened.
5. Combine sauce with cooked pasta and half the shredded mozzarella.
6. Pour half the pasta into a greased baking dish. Add a layer of mozzarella. Repeat.
7. Top with bocconcini balls, press in olive slices, and wrap with prosciutto to make eyeballs.
8. Bake at 375°F for 25–30 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
9. Rest 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm!
Notes
You can prep this dish a day in advance and bake just before serving.
Use string cheese cut into rounds if bocconcini isn’t available.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Halloween
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 630
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg