Spaghetti and Meatballs Costume
A delicious, crowd-pleasing DIY food costume that is easy to assemble.
The Spaghetti and Meatballs costume is a classic, lighthearted choice for Halloween, food festivals, or Purim. It is a highly creative, budget-friendly look that relies on simple craft supplies to mimic a giant bowl of pasta. The outfit typically consists of a red base layer, yarn or fringe 'noodles,' and painted foam 'meatballs' arranged inside a wearable bowl or plate.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~60 min
- Budget
- $15–45
Try it on
See yourself as Spaghetti and Meatballs
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
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Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Spaghetti and Meatballs costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Spaghetti and Meatballs costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Red shirt and pants
A solid red sweatshirt, t-shirt, or sweatpants to represent the tomato sauce base.
DIY: Use any plain red clothing you already own.
Off-white or cream yarn
Thick, chunky cream-colored yarn or chenille trim to act as the spaghetti noodles.
Brown styrofoam balls
Three-inch to four-inch styrofoam balls painted dark brown to look like meatballs.
DIY: Roll up brown felt, brown socks, or brown paper into tight spheres.
Red fabric paint
Glossy red fabric paint or acrylic paint to drizzle over the noodles as extra tomato sauce.
Large plastic tub or laundry basket
A wide, shallow plastic tub or basket painted silver or black to act as the pasta bowl, with straps attached.
DIY: Cut a large circle out of cardboard, paint it like a ceramic plate, and cut a hole in the center for your waist.
Colander hat
A lightweight plastic or metal kitchen colander worn on the head as a humorous hat.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Spaghetti and Meatballs costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Paint the styrofoam balls with dark brown acrylic paint and let them dry completely to create the meatballs.
- 2
Cut the bottom out of your plastic tub or cardboard circle so it can slide up to your waist, then attach suspenders or elastic straps to hold it up over your shoulders.
- 3
Cut long strands of the cream-colored chunky yarn to represent spaghetti noodles.
- 4
Drape and hot-glue or safety-pin the yarn strands in messy loops across your red shirt and around the inside rim of the wearable bowl.
- 5
Glue or pin the painted brown meatballs nestled among the yarn noodles on your shirt and inside the bowl.
- 6
Drizzle red fabric paint over the yarn noodles and meatballs to look like fresh tomato marinara sauce.
- 7
Put on the red pants, step into the wearable bowl harness, put on the decorated shirt, and top off the look by wearing the colander as a hat.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup simple and clean. For a fun touch, use red face paint to dab a small spot of 'marinara sauce' on one cheek.
Spaghetti and Meatballs for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One person goes as Spaghetti and Meatballs, and the other dresses as a Chef holding a giant fork or parmesan shaker.
- group
- A family can dress as a full Italian dinner, with members going as spaghetti, a bottle of red wine, a garlic bulb, and a chef.
- kids
- An adorable toddler version uses a white laundry basket as the bowl, filled with cream yarn noodles and brown pom-pom meatballs.
- Plus size
- Use a wide, flexible cardboard ring painted like a plate instead of a rigid plastic tub for a comfortable, custom-sized fit around the waist.
- pet
- A dog can wear a red harness covered in cream yarn noodles and brown plush balls, topped with a tiny foil-wrapped bowl hat.
Tips
- Use lightweight materials like styrofoam or hollow plastic play balls for the meatballs so the costume doesn't weigh you down.
- If using a real colander as a hat, line the rim with foam tape or wear a beanie underneath to keep it comfortable on your head.
- Make sure the shoulder straps on your wearable bowl are wide and secure to distribute the weight evenly.
- Use hot glue sparingly on synthetic yarn, as high heat can melt certain fibers and styrofoam.
Spaghetti and Meatballs costume FAQ
- How do you make a cheap DIY spaghetti and meatballs costume?
- Use a plain red t-shirt, glue cheap cream-colored yarn across the chest, and safety-pin brown painted styrofoam balls or brown socks rolled into spheres onto the shirt.
- What is the best way to wear the 'bowl' part of the costume?
- Cut the bottom out of a lightweight plastic tub or laundry basket, drill two holes in the front and back, and thread sturdy ribbon or elastic over your shoulders like suspenders.
- Can I make this costume without hot glue?
- Yes, you can use safety pins or fabric glue to attach the yarn noodles and lightweight felt meatballs directly to a red sweatshirt.
Did you know? While spaghetti and meatballs is widely considered the ultimate Italian comfort food in America, it was actually created by Italian immigrants in the United States between 1880 and 1920 to make the most of affordable local meat.