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Updated September 9, 2026
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Olive Garden Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

$13.99 640 cal Classic Entrées

Our homemade meat sauce served over spaghetti.** **Our meat sauce is made with pan-seared beef and Italian sausage.

4.2 · 10 ratings
Olive Garden Menu View on OliveGarden.com

About This Dish

Olive Garden Spaghetti with Meat Sauce is the least expensive dinner entrée on the Classic Entrées menu at $13.99, with 640 calories, 22 grams of fat and 1,050 milligrams of sodium. It is exactly what the name says: spaghetti topped with the homemade meat sauce Olive Garden makes with pan-seared beef and Italian sausage, the same sauce used in the Lasagna Classico. Because dine-in orders include unlimited breadsticks and a choice of soup or salad, it is the cheapest full meal on the menu and the most common order for kids who have outgrown the kids menu and for guests who want a plain, familiar plate.

It is a dinner-only item; the lunch menu offers a smaller Spaghetti at $11.49 instead, and there is no Lighter Portion because the dish is already under 650 calories. Meatballs or Italian sausage can be added, which is what turns it into the Spaghetti & Meatballs that starts at $18.28. The vegetarian counterpart, Spaghetti with Marinara, is the same $13.99 at 490 calories. For groups, a family-size pan of spaghetti with meat sauce that serves 4 to 6 starts at $46.99 on the family-style and catering menus, or $56.99 with meatballs or Italian sausage added.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving

640 Calories
22g Total Fat
1050mg Sodium

* Nutritional values are approximate and may vary. Last updated Sep 9, 2026

How to Copycat Olive Garden Spaghetti with Meat Sauce at Home?

Prep: 10 min Cook: 40 min Total: 50 min Easy

Olive Garden's meat sauce is not a simple marinara with ground beef stirred in. The restaurant uses a combination of pan-seared beef and Italian sausage cooked at high heat before the tomato base is added, which creates a caramelized, deeply savory foundation. This technique is the most commonly missed step in copycat recipes, which often produce a pale, loose sauce instead of the thick, rich version the restaurant serves.

The copycat Olive Garden Spaghetti with Meat Sauce recipe works because it replicates two key elements: the dual-protein base and the long simmer time. Ground beef adds body, while Italian sausage brings fennel and herbs that define the sauce's distinct Italian-American character. Simmering for 30 minutes concentrates the tomato and allows the fats from the meat to fully incorporate into the sauce.

Ingredients

6 servings

Meat Sauce

Pasta

Instructions

0 / 6

  1. Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven over high heat. Add ground beef and Italian sausage. Break into small pieces and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until deeply browned with caramelized edges. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.

    10 min

    High heat and patience are essential here. Stirring too often prevents the caramelization that gives the meat sauce its deep, rich flavor.

  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and stir for 60 seconds until fragrant.

    5 min

  3. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, letting it darken slightly. This step removes the raw tomato paste flavor and adds depth.

    2 min

  4. Pour in crushed tomatoes. Add Italian seasoning, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.

    3 min

  5. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the fat rises slightly to the surface.

    30 min

    If the sauce looks too thick after 20 minutes, add a splash of pasta water. If it looks too thin, increase heat slightly and cook uncovered for 5 more minutes.

  6. Cook spaghetti in heavily salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and serve topped with meat sauce and extra Parmesan.

    10 min

Pro Tips

  • Use 80/20 ground beef, not lean. The fat renders into the sauce during cooking and carries flavor you lose with leaner beef.
  • Italian sausage is not optional for the authentic Olive Garden flavor. It provides the fennel and herb notes that separate this from a basic meat sauce.
  • Make a double batch of the sauce and freeze in portions. The sauce improves significantly after freezing and reheating as the flavors fully meld.

Variations

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Form 1-inch meatballs from a mix of ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, and herbs. Brown in olive oil, then finish cooking in the simmering meat sauce.

Spicy Arrabbiata Meat Sauce

Add 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes with the garlic for a spicy version that works well with the sausage's natural heat.

Serving Ideas

  • Top with freshly grated Parmesan and torn basil leaves
  • Serve alongside garlic breadsticks for dipping in the extra sauce
  • A classic Caesar salad pairs well with the heartiness of the meat sauce
  • A glass of Chianti Classico is the traditional Italian pairing for meat-based pasta sauces
  • Leftover meat sauce works on pizza, stuffed peppers, or baked ziti

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Find Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Near You

Visit one of Olive Garden's 900+ locations to enjoy the Spaghetti with Meat Sauce at $13.99.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce is $13.99 for the dinner portion, which makes it the cheapest dinner entrée at Olive Garden, and it includes unlimited breadsticks and soup or salad when you dine in. A family-size pan that serves 4 to 6 starts at $46.99. Prices vary slightly in New York, Alaska and California.
One dinner portion has 640 calories, 22 grams of fat and 1,050 milligrams of sodium, which is among the lowest of any Olive Garden pasta entrée. Adding meatballs raises it to roughly 970 to 1,120 calories.
Olive Garden's homemade meat sauce is made with pan-seared ground beef and Italian sausage simmered in a tomato sauce with garlic and herbs. The same sauce goes into the Lasagna Classico and is sold as a large side. It contains beef and pork and is not vegetarian.
Yes. Meatballs or Italian sausage can be added to the dinner portion for a charge, or you can order Spaghetti & Meatballs, which starts at $18.28. On the family-size pan, meatballs or sausage raise the price from $46.99 to $56.99.
Brown ground beef and Italian sausage together, add onion and garlic, then simmer with crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano and basil for at least 30 minutes. Serve over spaghetti with grated parmesan. The full recipe on this page takes about 45 minutes and freezes well.

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