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Eyeball Pasta Salad with spooky ingredients for Halloween celebration

Eyeball Pasta Salad

A festive chilled pasta salad with spooky mozzarella eyeballs, perfect for Halloween parties. Easy to prepare and fun to eat!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Base Ingredients
  • 16 oz rotini or medium shells pasta Choose sturdy pasta that holds dressing well.
Eyeball Decorations
  • 1 cup small fresh mozzarella balls Also known as bocconcini or ciliegine.
  • 1 cup sliced black olives For the pupils.
  • 2 tbsp sriracha or hot sauce For bloodshot effect. Can also use thinned ketchup.
Crunchy Vegetables
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 1 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 1 cup sliced green onions
Optional Protein
  • 1 cup diced salami, pepperoni, or cooked chicken Use as desired.
Dressing Ingredients
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp sour cream or plain Greek yogurt For creamy dressing.
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Boil the pasta in salted water until just tender. Do not overcook, as it will become mushy when chilled. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sour cream or yogurt, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Optionally, add a splash of pickle juice or lemon for extra tang.
  3. Toss in diced celery, bell pepper, green onion, and any protein. Fold in the cooled pasta and mix well.
Decorating Eyeballs
  1. Pat the mozzarella balls dry with a paper towel. Press a slice of black olive onto each mozzarella ball to create a pupil. Use a dot of dressing to help it stick if necessary.
  2. Drizzle a little thinned sriracha or hot sauce over mozzarella for a bloodshot look right before serving.
  3. Place the mozzarella eyeballs on top of the salad just before serving for a fresh appearance.

Notes

This pasta salad can be prepared a day in advance; however, add the mozzarella eyeballs right before serving. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. If it looks dry, stir in a spoonful of mayo or yogurt.