Monster Eyeball Pizza

This monster eyeball pizza is the perfect spooky treat for your next Halloween party or a fun activity with kids at a birthday bash. With storebought pizza dough, marinara sauce, melty mozzarella cheese, and playful black olive eyeballs, it’s both easy to make and a huge hit with hungry little monsters. One chilly Halloween, my daughter and I spent the afternoon in our costumes making monsterinspired snacks and giggling at every creepy creation—it remains one of my favorite holiday memories.

I first made this pizza during a Halloween gathering, and now it’s the star of every spooky celebration in our house. It brings out everyone’s playful side and makes dinner feel like a festive event.

Ingredients

• Pizza dough: One ball of pizza dough storebought for convenience and consistent taste
• Marinara sauce: Half a cup of marinara sauce for that classic tangy tomato base
• Shredded mozzarella: One and a half cups shredded mozzarella cheese for a melty, creamy texture
• Mozzarella bocconcini: Six mozzarella bocconcini to form the monster eyeballs because their size and shape are perfect
• Black olive slices: Six slices of black olives pitted to create the eyeball pupils making the pizza fun and spooky
• Olive oil: Olive oil for brushing adds extra crispiness and flavor to the crust

Instructions

Prepare the dough:

Preheat your oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit or 245 degrees Celsius and place a pizza stone or a heavy baking sheet inside. This ensures the base gets crispy like a pizzeria crust. On a piece of parchment paper, stretch or roll out the pizza dough to about 12 inches across. Brush the surface lightly with olive oil to help crisp the crust beautifully during baking.

Sauce and cheese the base:

Spread marinara sauce evenly over the pizza dough, carefully leaving a half inch border to prevent overflow while baking. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese liberally over the sauce, covering it thoroughly for that gooey cheese pull in every bite.

Assemble monster eyeballs:

Arrange the mozzarella bocconcini evenly across the pizza surface. Place one slice of black olive on top of each bocconcini gently pressing it in to keep it in place and to mimic eyeballs. This pressure helps the olives stay put during baking so the eyes stay creepy and intact.

Bake the pizza:

Carefully slide the pizza on the parchment paper onto the preheated stone or baking sheet. Bake the pizza for ten to thirteen minutes until the cheese melts fully and bubbles and the crust turns a beautiful golden brown.

Serve and enjoy:

Take the pizza out of the oven and allow it to cool for a minute. Slice and serve hot to enjoy those monstrous gooey eyes and crispy crust.

Fresh mozzarella bocconcini is my favorite ingredient because it melts just right and holds shape enough to create those memorable monster eyes that delight kids every time. Making this pizza with my daughter is one of those rare kitchen moments filled with laughter and creativity that feel as special as the food itself.

Storage tips

Store any leftover pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To enjoy leftovers crispy, reheat in a hot oven or air fryer instead of a microwave. This keeps the crust crunchy and the cheese melty without getting soggy.

Ingredient substitutions

If you cannot find mozzarella bocconcini, use larger mozzarella balls cut in half. They melt beautifully and keep the eye effect. For a bit of extra kick, consider adding some Italian seasoning to the marinara sauce before spreading it on the dough.

Serving suggestions

Drizzle with fresh basilinfused olive oil or scatter torn basil leaves on top just before serving. This adds an aromatic freshness that balances the rich cheese. Pair the pizza with a robust Italian soda or a bright berry punch to keep the party mood alive.

This monster eyeball pizza turns any dinner into a festive event and is perfect for sharing with kids. Have fun with the assembly and enjoy the spooky results.

Common Questions About Recipes

→ How can I prevent pizza dough from sticking?

Dust the hands and parchment paper lightly with flour or semolina when stretching the dough to avoid sticking and make transferring easier.

→ What’s the best way to keep mozzarella balls in place?

Press each mozzarella ball gently into the shredded cheese and top with olive slices before baking so they stay anchored.

→ Why did the cheese brown too quickly before the crust was done?

If your oven is very hot, tent the pizza with foil near the end of baking to protect the cheese from over-browning while the crust finishes cooking.

→ Can I prepare this pizza in advance?

You can assemble the pizza a few hours ahead (without baking) and keep it refrigerated. Add a couple extra minutes to baking time when ready.

→ How do I get a crispier pizza crust?

Preheat a pizza stone or heavy baking sheet in the oven before baking to mimic a pizzeria oven effect and enhance crust crispiness.