Cheesy Monster Eyes

Health score
11%
Cheesy Monster Eyes
90 min.
6
364kcal

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 dish 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 recipe a feast for the eyes, but it’s also packed with flavor and nutrition. With a balance of protein from the meatballs and cheese, along with the delightful taste of basil and garlic, each bite is a delicious adventure. The vibrant presentation, complete with olive “pupils” and colorful vegetable accents, makes it a fantastic choice for family gatherings, Halloween parties, or any meal where you want to add a touch of creativity.

In just 90 minutes, you can whip up this cheesy masterpiece that serves six, making it an ideal option for lunch or dinner. With a calorie count of 364 per serving, you can indulge without the guilt. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and prepare to impress your guests with this eye-catching dish that’s as fun to make as it is to eat!

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 
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese 
  • oz mozzarella cheese shredded

Equipment

  • bowl
  • oven
  • baking pan
  • glass baking pan

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F. 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

Calories364kcal
Protein25.45%
Fat61.22%
Carbs13.33%

Properties

Glycemic Index
24.33
Glycemic Load
3.7
Inflammation Score
-7
Nutrition Score
16.313043418138%

Flavonoids

Luteolin
0.01mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:364.18kcal
18.21%
Fat:25.02g
38.5%
Saturated Fat:12.67g
79.16%
Carbohydrates:12.25g
4.08%
Net Carbohydrates:10.09g
3.67%
Sugar:4.89g
5.44%
Cholesterol:112.22mg
37.41%
Sodium:909.29mg
39.53%
Alcohol:0g
100%
Alcohol %:0%
100%
Protein:23.41g
46.82%
Selenium:30.23µg
43.18%
Phosphorus:333.7mg
33.37%
Calcium:315.75mg
31.58%
Vitamin B2:0.42mg
24.96%
Vitamin B1:0.36mg
24%
Vitamin A:1066.62IU
21.33%
Zinc:2.91mg
19.43%
Vitamin B12:1.09µg
18.12%
Potassium:610.03mg
17.43%
Vitamin B6:0.35mg
17.31%
Vitamin B3:3.22mg
16.08%
Vitamin E:2.12mg
14.15%
Iron:2.41mg
13.37%
Magnesium:44.67mg
11.17%
Vitamin C:8.9mg
10.78%
Manganese:0.21mg
10.63%
Copper:0.2mg
10.18%
Vitamin K:10.5µg
10%
Vitamin B5:0.98mg
9.81%
Fiber:2.16g
8.65%
Folate:28.39µg
7.1%
Vitamin D:0.38µg
2.57%