Cheesy Monster Eyes

Health score
25%
Cheesy Monster Eyes
90 min.
6
384kcal

Suggestions


Get ready to delight your family and friends with a fun and whimsical dish that’s perfect for any occasion! Introducing Cheesy Monster Eyes, a playful twist on traditional pasta that will have everyone smiling at the dinner table. This recipe combines the comforting flavors of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses with hearty meatballs, all nestled inside jumbo pasta shells that resemble little monster eyes.

Not only is this dish visually appealing, but it’s also packed with flavor and nutrition. With a balance of protein from the meatballs and cheese, along with a medley of colorful vegetables for garnish, Cheesy Monster Eyes is a meal that satisfies both the taste buds and the eyes. The addition of vibrant red bell peppers, crisp lettuce, and sweet green grapes creates a fun and interactive dining experience, making it a hit with kids and adults alike.

Whether you’re hosting a family dinner, a Halloween party, or simply looking to add some creativity to your lunch or dinner routine, this recipe is sure to impress. With a preparation time of just 90 minutes, you can easily whip up this cheesy delight and serve it with a side of laughter. So gather your ingredients, unleash your inner chef, and get ready to serve up some monster-sized fun!

Ingredients

  • teaspoons basil dried
  •  eggs slightly beaten
  • 0.3 teaspoon garlic powder 
  • 18 jumbo shells (from 12-oz package)
  • 18  meatballs frozen italian-style cooked (from 16-oz bag)
  •  olives pitted ripe sliced
  • 0.3 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 26 oz pasta sauce 
  • servings bell pepper 
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese 
  • oz mozzarella cheese shredded

Equipment

  • bowl
  • oven
  • baking pan
  • glass baking pan

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350F. Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook pasta as directed on package; drain. Rinse with cold water to cool; drain well.
  2. Meanwhile, reserve 1 tablespoon pasta sauce; pour remaining sauce into baking dish. In medium bowl, mix egg, ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, the basil and garlic powder.
  3. Fill each cooked pasta shell with about 2 tablespoons cheese mixture. Arrange filled shells, cheese mixture up, in dish over sauce. Press 1 meatball into cheese mixture in each shell to resemble eye.
  4. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until bubbly.
  5. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Use drop of reserved pasta sauce to attach ripe olive slice to each meatball to resemble pupil of eye. To create a face, arrange eyes on each plate with red pepper mouth, grape nose, lettuce and sugar snap peas eyebrows and green onion hair.

Nutrition Facts

Calories384kcal
Protein24.71%
Fat58.15%
Carbs17.14%

Properties

Glycemic Index
29.67
Glycemic Load
4.64
Inflammation Score
-10
Nutrition Score
25.112608878509%

Flavonoids

Luteolin
0.47mg
Kaempferol
0.01mg
Quercetin
0.17mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:383.55kcal
19.18%
Fat:25.25g
38.84%
Saturated Fat:12.71g
79.44%
Carbohydrates:16.75g
5.58%
Net Carbohydrates:13.02g
4.73%
Sugar:8.02g
8.91%
Cholesterol:112.22mg
37.41%
Sodium:912.27mg
39.66%
Alcohol:0g
100%
Alcohol %:0%
100%
Protein:24.15g
48.29%
Vitamin C:104.26mg
126.37%
Vitamin A:3399.22IU
67.98%
Selenium:30.3µg
43.29%
Phosphorus:353.07mg
35.31%
Calcium:320.97mg
32.1%
Vitamin B2:0.49mg
28.68%
Vitamin B6:0.56mg
28.15%
Vitamin B1:0.4mg
26.68%
Vitamin E:3.3mg
22%
Potassium:767.23mg
21.92%
Zinc:3.1mg
20.67%
Vitamin B3:3.95mg
19.73%
Vitamin B12:1.09µg
18.12%
Folate:62.66µg
15.67%
Iron:2.73mg
15.15%
Fiber:3.73g
14.91%
Manganese:0.3mg
14.8%
Vitamin K:14.15µg
13.48%
Magnesium:53.61mg
13.4%
Vitamin B5:1.22mg
12.17%
Copper:0.22mg
10.81%
Vitamin D:0.38µg
2.57%