Description
This creepy Eyeball Pasta Salad is your new Halloween potluck favorite! Easy to make with a fun, spooky twist, perfect for work parties and family fun.
Ingredients
Scale
- Base Ingredients:
- 1 lb small pasta (like ditalini, small shells, or orecchiette)
- 1 (12 oz) container small fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine or bocconcini), drained
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 (6 oz) can pitted large black olives, halved
- Flavor Boosters:
- 1/2 small red onion, very thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup good quality Italian dressing
- Finishing Touches:
- A few drops red food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta (and Don’t Forget the Salt!):: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil – and yes, salt the water, I always forget! Add your pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. This is where I always get distracted and almost overcook it, so set a timer! Once done, drain it well and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and cool it down. We want a chilled eyeball pasta salad, not a warm one.
- Prep Your Creepy Eyeballs:: While the pasta cools, let’s get those eyeballs ready. Drain your mozzarella balls. For each mozzarella ball, gently press a halved black olive onto one side to create the ‘pupil.’ If you’re feeling extra spooky, dip a toothpick into a tiny bit of red food coloring and draw a few squiggly ‘veins’ on some of the mozzarella balls. It’s messy, but oh-so-worth-it for the ultimate creepy eyeball pasta salad!
- Chop and Slice Your Veggies:: Halve your cherry tomatoes and slice that red onion as thin as you possibly can. I swear, a mandoline makes this step so much easier, but a sharp knife and patience work too. Roughly chop your fresh basil. The kitchen smells so good right now, like a fresh garden, which is a funny contrast to the creepy theme, honestly.
- Combine Everything in a Big Bowl:: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and chopped basil. Give it a gentle toss to distribute everything. This is where the colors start to come together, even before the dressing, it looks vibrant.
- Dress Your Eyeball Pasta Salad:: Pour the Italian dressing over the pasta and veggie mixture. Toss everything together until it’s well coated. Make sure every strand of pasta and every tomato gets a good drenching. This is what brings all the flavors together, making your eyeball pasta salad sing. Taste it here, maybe you want a little more pepper?
- Gently Add the Eyeballs and Chill:: Finally, carefully add your prepared mozzarella ‘eyeballs’ to the bowl. Gently fold them in so they don’t get lost or squished. I like to arrange some on top for maximum visual impact. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Chilling allows the flavors to meld and ensures your creepy eyeball pasta salad is refreshingly cool when served.