Description
Celebrate spooky season with fun and delicious Taco Meatballs resembling eyeballs, served over nutritious black bean pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup (50g) gluten-free breadcrumbs (or regular if preferred)
- 12 pimento-stuffed green olives, sliced (for eyeball decoration)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425g) tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes (optional, for extra heat)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 12 ounces (340g) black bean pasta or gluten-free pasta of choice
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare the Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the Meatball Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the ground beef, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, egg, and gluten-free breadcrumbs. Mix until just combined.
- Shape the Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 12 equal meatballs and press a slice of an olive into the center of each.
- Bake the Meatballs: Place the meatballs on the baking sheet and bake for 20-22 minutes, until browned and cooked through.
- Make the Sauce: Heat olive oil in a frying pan, sauté chopped onion until translucent, then add minced garlic. Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, and chili flakes. Simmer for 10-12 minutes.
- Boil the Pasta: In a large pot, boil water with salt, add black bean pasta, and cook according to package directions, typically about 7-9 minutes.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Toss the drained pasta with the sauce.
- Serve: Plate the pasta, top with meatball ‘eyeballs’, and enjoy!
Notes
This dish is perfect for Halloween parties and can be customized for dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Halloween, Taco, Meatballs, Pasta, Spooky, Family Dinner