Description
A festive, savory pasta salad featuring mozzarella ‘eyeballs’ and colorful veggies, perfect for Halloween parties and potlucks. This easy, kid-approved side dish is as delicious as it is spooky, and can be made ahead for stress-free entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rotini or fusilli pasta (tricolor preferred for festive look)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced (orange or yellow)
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives (some for mixing, some for ‘pupils’)
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup mini mozzarella balls (ciliegine size, for eyeballs)
- Mini mozzarella balls (ciliegine, as above)
- Sliced black olives (for ‘pupils’)
- Optional: small pieces of roasted red pepper or pimento (for ‘bloodshot’ effect)
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Optional: 1/2 cup cooked, chopped bacon
- Optional: 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- Optional: Fresh parsley or basil, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions (8-10 minutes) until al dente.
- Drain pasta in a colander and rinse briefly with cold water to cool. Shake off excess water.
- While pasta cooks, chop cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, cucumber, and any optional add-ins. Set aside.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss cooled pasta with cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, cucumber, and half the black olives. Pour dressing over and toss gently to coat.
- Prepare the ‘eyeballs’ by pressing a sliced black olive into each mini mozzarella ball. For extra spookiness, add a tiny sliver of roasted red pepper or pimento.
- Transfer pasta salad to a wide serving platter or bowl. Arrange mozzarella ‘eyeballs’ evenly across the top. Scatter extra olives, tomatoes, or herbs for color.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors blend. Add ‘eyeballs’ just before serving for best texture.
Notes
For best results, add mozzarella ‘eyeballs’ just before serving to prevent drying out. Use tricolor pasta and orange/yellow peppers for maximum Halloween effect. Salad can be made gluten-free or vegan with simple swaps. Chill for at least 30 minutes for best flavor. Toss leftovers with a splash of olive oil or vinegar before serving again.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 8
Keywords: Halloween, pasta salad, party food, kid-friendly, spooky, mozzarella, olives, vegetarian, easy, potluck