Stuffed Mushroom Eyeballs Recipe
These Stuffed Mushroom Eyeballs are a spooky and savory appetizer perfect for Halloween or themed parties. Large mushroom caps are filled with a creamy mixture of cream cheese, cooked beef, Parmesan, garlic, and herbs, then topped with a pitted olive to resemble an eyeball. Baked until golden and bubbly, they are both delicious and visually fun with an optional ‘bloodshot’ garnish of red bell pepper or Sriracha.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 16 stuffed mushroom eyeballs 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Mushrooms
- 16 large white or cremini mushrooms
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup cooked beef, crumbled
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Chopped mushroom stems from the 16 mushrooms
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Topping & Seasoning
- 16 small olives, pitted
- Cooking spray or olive oil for brushing
- Optional: tiny slivers of red bell pepper or Sriracha for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Mushrooms: Gently wipe the mushrooms clean with a damp cloth. Carefully remove the stems and finely chop them to use in the filling. Lightly scrape the gills from the mushroom caps using a spoon. Brush the inside of each cap lightly with olive oil or cooking spray, then season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Make Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, cooked crumbled beef, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped mushroom stems, fresh parsley, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well incorporated and form a thick filling mixture.
- Stuff & Assemble Eyeballs: Generously fill each prepared mushroom cap with the savory filling, mounding it slightly above the rim of the cap. Press one pitted small olive firmly into the center of each filled mushroom cap to simulate an eyeball pupil.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Arrange the stuffed mushrooms on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is golden brown and bubbling around the edges.
- Garnish & Serve: For an optional spooky ‘bloodshot’ effect, add tiny slivers of red bell pepper or delicate lines of Sriracha sauce around the olive on each mushroom. Serve the stuffed mushroom eyeballs warm or at room temperature as a festive appetizer.
Notes
- Use cremini mushrooms for a meatier texture and deeper flavor if desired.
- The cooked beef can be substituted with cooked ground turkey or completely omitted for a vegetarian version.
- Make sure to thoroughly soften the cream cheese for easy mixing.
- To prepare ahead, stuff the mushrooms and refrigerate them until ready to bake.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially the salt and pepper, based on the saltiness of the Parmesan cheese.
- For a vegan version, substitute cream cheese and beef with plant-based alternatives and omit Parmesan.
Keywords: Stuffed mushrooms, Halloween appetizer, savory stuffed mushrooms, creamy stuffed mushrooms, party appetizer, mushroom eyeballs, spooky appetizer
Find it online: https://zarameals.com/stuffed-mushroom-eyeballs-recipe/
