If you’re looking for the perfect halloween pasta recipe, I GOT YOU! This cheesy beefy baked ziti recipe with mozzarella eye-balls is EYE-CONIC! It’s packed with so much beefy goodness, it looks amazing, and it’s so fun to make with the kids!

Why You'll Love it
If you're looking to serve up some spook-tacular vibes this Halloween, look no further! This Beefy Baked Ziti with Mozzarella Eyeballs is not only terrifyingly delicious, but it's also a total crowd-pleaser that’ll have everyone asking for seconds. (Trust me!)
We start off with a rich, creamy, beefy sauce packed with flavor. Ground beef gets all cozy with onions, garlic, and Italian seasoning. While marinara, cream cheese, and heavy cream join the party to make the sauce extra luxurious.
After a quick simmer, toss that saucy goodness with al dente ziti and layer it up with ooey-gooey mozzarella for a cheesy pasta bake that’s hearty and satisfying.
But the real magic? THE EYES!
Mozzarella balls stuffed with green olives and wrapped in prosciutto give this dish a creepy, festive touch. It's perfect for a Halloween feast that’s just as fun as it is delicious.
Bake until golden, then top with those spooky mozzarella eyes before serving! The kids will LOVE helping with this part, and let's be real—you’ll love how easy it is, too. Halloween pasta dinner? Nailed it.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Olive Oil – I love using olive oil here for that rich, fruity flavor, but you could totally swap in avocado oil or even butter if you're feeling it!
- Sweet Onion– Sweet onions give a nice, mild flavor that balances out the garlic and beef, but if you only have yellow, white or red onions, no worries, they’ll work just fine!
- Fresh Garlic– Fresh garlic is key for that bold flavor, but if you're short on time, 1 ½ teaspoons of garlic powder or jarred minced garlic will get the job done.
- Ground Beef – I prefer 80/20 grassfed ground beef for the perfect balance of flavor and fat, but ground turkey or chicken can be used if you're looking for a lighter option. For a veggie-friendly twist, use plant-based ground meat.
- Italian Seasoning – This blend brings all the cozy, herby goodness! If you don’t have Italian seasoning on hand, mix up your own with equal parts oregano, basil, and thyme.
- Kosher Salt– Kosher salt is my go-to for its flaky texture, but table salt works, too—just use a little less since it’s finer.
- Marinara Sauce– A good-quality store-bought sauce is perfect here. No marinara? Use your favorite tomato sauce or homemade if you're feeling fancy!
- Heavy Cream – Heavy cream makes this dish extra rich and creamy, but half-and-half or whole milk can work in a pinch, though the sauce won’t be quite as luxurious.
- armesan Cheese, grated – Parmesan adds that salty, nutty flavor we all love. You can sub Pecorino Romano for a sharper kick!
- Cream Cheese – Cream cheese makes the sauce super creamy and smooth. If you don’t have it, mascarpone or ricotta would be a great swap!
- Ziti Pasta – Ziti is a classic here, but any tube-shaped pasta like rigatoni or penne would work just as well!
- Low-Moisture Mozzarella, shredded – Low-moisture mozzarella melts beautifully without being too watery. If you only have fresh mozzarella, just pat it dry before shredding. Or, try a blend of mozzarella and provolone for extra flavor!
- Mozzarella Balls – Bocconcini is perfect for making those creepy eyeballs for this halloween pasta! If you can’t find Bocconcini, you can use Ciliegine (smaller mozzarella balls) or even cut a large fresh mozzarella ball into pieces.
- Green Olives with Pimento – Green olives add the perfect pop of color for your spooky eyeballs! If you’re not an olive fan, you can swap these out for sliced cherry tomatoes or even roasted red peppers.
- Prosciutto – Prosciutto gives the eyeballs a deliciously creepy texture, but you could also use thinly sliced salami or omit it for a vegetarian option.
How to Make it
Making this spooky pasta recipe is a pretty easy process. Here's how you do it:
Preheat & Prep the Pasta: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti a few minutes short of the package instructions. You want it al dente since it'll keep cooking in the oven. Drain and set aside.
Make the Sauce Base: While the pasta is cooking, heat up 2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion with a pinch of salt and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Next, throw in the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes until fragrant.
Brown the Beef: Toss in the ground beef, Italian seasoning, and kosher salt, and break it up with a spatula. Cook until browned and fully cooked through (165°F internally). If there’s extra grease, feel free to drain it.
Add the Creamy, Cheesy Sauce: Stir in the marinara sauce and let it warm through. Then, add the heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and cream cheese. Simmer everything for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce is creamy and all the cheese is melted into the beefy goodness.
Assemble the Ziti: Now combine the cooked pasta with the sauce and mix it all together. Grease a baking dish and layer half of the pasta, top with half of the shredded mozzarella, then add the rest of the pasta and the rest of the mozzarella on top.
Bake It: Pop the ziti in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. For a perfect crispy crust, broil for the last 2-3 minutes until it’s golden and bubbly.
Make the Spooky Eyeballs: While your ziti is baking, it’s time to make those spooky mozzarella eyeballs! Take each mozzarella ball and cut out a small circle from the center. Push a green olive into each hole, and then wrap the bottom of the mozzarella balls with half a strip of prosciutto for extra creepiness.
Serve: Once the baked ziti is hot and bubbling, pull it out of the oven and place the mozzarella eyeballs on top before serving. Get ready for some serious Halloween fun at the dinner table!
What goes with it?
This beefy baked ziti recipe is perfect for halloween night! Here are some other tasty dishes I'd serve with it:
- Miso Caesar Dressing without Anchovies
- Creamy White Lasagna Soup with Veggies
- Easy Italian Grinder Salad Recipe (Viral on Tiktok!)
- Pretzel Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce
Recipe
Beefy Baked Ziti with Mozzarella Eyeballs (Spooky Halloween Pasta Recipe)
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 medium Sweet Onion finely diced
- 5 cloves Garlic finely diced
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt plus more
- 4 cups Marinara Sauce (about 1.5 jars)
- ½ cup Heavy Cream
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- 8 oz Cream Cheese
- 1 lb Ziti Pasta
- 3 cups Low Moisture Mozzarella shredded
FOR THE EYES
- 8 medium-small Mozzarella Balls (about 14 oz of Bocconcini)
- 8 medium Green Olives with Pimento
- 4 slices Prosciutto halved lengthwise
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add pasta. Cook a few minutes short of the recommended time to account for it cooking more in the oven. Strain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, add olive oil, onion and a pinch of salt to a large sauce pan over medium heat. Once softened, about 3 minutes, add garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Now add ground beef, Italian seasoning, and kosher salt and use a spatula to break it up into crumbles. Drain the beef if needed.
- Once the beef is cooked through to 165 F, add marinara sauce to the beef and stir. Then add heavy cream, parmesan cheese and cream cheese. Let this mixture simmer, stirring often, until all the cheese has melted and is incorporated in the sauce; about 5 minutes.
- Now combine the sauce and the al dente pasta and stir.
- Grease a baking dish and then layer half of the pasta, half of the mozzarella, the rest the pasta and the rest of the mozzarella.
- Place in the oven for 20 minutes. Then broil for the last 2-3 to get a crispy crust.
- While the ziti is baking, make the eyeballs. Cut a small circle into each piece of mozzarella then remove the inner circle. Shove a green olive into the hole then wrap the bottom of the eyeball with prosciutto.
- Once the baked ziti is cooked and bubbling, remove it from the oven and add the mozzarella eyes on top before serving.