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Easy Olive Garden Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe (Copycat)

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This is such a delicious easy Olive Garden copycat recipe!

What makes this sauce so good is the variety of meat.

There are three different kinds. Hearty ground beef, Italian sausage, and pepperoni. I think the pepperoni adds the kicker to the sauce!

Olive Garden Spaghetti Sauce

White bowl with spaghetti noodles and tomato and meat sauce on top of noodles. There is fresh basil leaves on top of sauce. In the background there is a white plate with a green salad on it and a white cloth napkin. Items are on a light gray surface. this …

The best part of this Olive Garden version is that it is made with grocery store bought marinara and tomatoes.

It takes little time to have an incredible pasta dish the whole family will love.

I think this copycat recipe tastes just like the spaghetti sauce I order from my neighborhood Olive Garden!

Two jars of RAO'S marinara sauce, large white bowl with chopped tomatoes in sauce, large white bowl with raw ground beef and ground sausage, medium white bowl with sliced pepperoni, small white ramekin with olive oil in it. There is a yellow onion, a wooden spoon with ground Italian seasoning, and 2 cloves of garlic. All the items are on a light gray surface with a white subway tile back splash.

Simple Ingredients

  • Marinara sauce (jarred)
  • Ground beef
  • Ground Italian sausage
  • Pepperoni (chopped)
  • Chopped tomatoes (canned)
  • Onion (chopped)
  • Fresh garlic cloves (minced)
  • Olive oil
  • Italian seasoning
  • Black pepper
  • Fresh parmesan cheese (optional)
Large blue dutch oven. large gray fry pan, mesh strainer, ground meat chopper, garlic press, and a large kitchen knife. All items are on a light gray surface with a white subway time back splash.

Helpful Tools

  • Large pot or dutch oven
  • Large skillet
  • Ground meat chopper
  • Large kitchen knife
  • Garlic press
  • Mesh strainer

How To Make This Easy Recipe

Chopped onion in olive oil cooking in a large white ceramic pot
  1. In a dutch oven or large pot, saute onions in the olive oil over medium high heat until they are translucent.
Marinara Sauce with a pile of chopped pepperoni, Italian seasoning, and minced garlic on top in a white ceramic pot.

2. Add the marinara sauce, tomatoes, pepperoni, garlic, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Turn the heat to low.

Ground Beef and Sausage In gray fry pan. There is a black ground meat chopper in the pan.

3. In a large skillet combine the beef and sausage. Use a ground meat chopper to break up the meat.

4. Brown meat over medium heat.

Cooked Ground Beef and Sausage in mesh strainer.

5. Use a mesh strainer and drain the meat to remove the fat.

Ground beef and ground sausage on top of marinara sauce in a large white ceramic pot. There is a wooden spoon in the pot.

6. Stir the cooked meat into the sauce.

Spaghetti Sauce with meat cooking in a large white ceramic pot.

7. Let the sauce come to a low boil and then lower heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

8. Serve with your favorite pasta. Follow package directions for tender pasta.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Brand Of Marinara Sauce Is The Best?

Since the first time I tried RAO’s I fell in love! To me it is the best store bought sauce.

Can I Substitute Garlic Powder For Fresh Garlic Cloves?

Yes, you can use garlic powder instead of minced garlic. When substituting garlic powder for minced garlic, the ratio is: 1/4 teaspoon of powder for every 1 teaspoon of minced garlic.

What Can I Use To Breakup The Ground Beef and Sausage?

A ground meat chopper is the best tool. It does it so quickly. The good news is that if you don’t have a meat chopper, a wooden spoon or a silicone spatula will work.

What Is The Best Pasta?

According to Good House Keeping, Barilla is the best overall.

Fun Fact

The most popular pasta in the United States as well as the world is spaghetti!

White bowl with spaghetti noodles and tomato and meat sauce on top of noodles. There is fresh basil leaves on top of sauce. There is a bread stick lying on the rim of the bowl. In the background there is a white plate with a green salad on it. Items are on a light gray surface.

Helpful Tips

  • If you are feeding a lager crowd (over 10 people), use 3-4 jars of sauce. It will not be as meaty but will still have awesome flavor.
  • If you have leftovers, I recommend storing the sauce and the pasta together in an airtight container. It is easier to reheat. The sauce keeps the pasta tender and moist.

Easy Dinner Idea

Serve this pasta dish with a garden salad tossed with some Italian dressing, garlic bread sticks, and red wine.

If you’re looking for a great copycat chicken marsala, try this one from Food.com: Chicken Marsala (Olive Garden) – Official Recipe. It’s really delicious.

Love This Dish? Check Out Some Other Delicious Recipes From Join Me In The Kitchen

Yield: 10 servings

Easy Olive Garden Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe (Copycat)

White bowl with spaghetti noodles and tomato and meat sauce on top of noodles. There is fresh basil leaves on top of sauce. In the background there is a white plate with a green salad on it and a white cloth napkin. Items are on a light gray surface.

A delicious and easy Olive Garden copycat recipe. Made with jarred marinara sauce, canned tomatoes, and three different types of meat.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 48 ounces marinara sauce (2 jars)
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage
  • 3/4 cup pepperoni - chopped
  • 16 ounces chopped tomatoes (1 can)
  • 1 medium yellow onion - chopped
  • 2 fresh garlic cloves - minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional - Fresh parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. In a dutch oven or large pot, saute onions in the olive oil over medium heat until they are translucent.
  2. Add the marinara sauce, tomatoes, pepperoni, garlic, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Turn the heat to low.
  3. In a large skillet combine the beef and sausage. Use a ground meat chopper to break up the meat.
  4. Brown meat over medium heat.
  5. Use a mesh strainer and drain the meat to remove the fat.
  6. Stir the cooked meat into the sauce. Let the sauce come to a low boil and then lower heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
  7. Serve with your favorite pasta. Follow package directions for tender pasta.

Notes

Helpful Tips

  • If you are feeding a lager crowd (over 10 people), use 3-4 jars of sauce. It will not be as meaty but will still have awesome flavor.
  • If you have leftove rs, I recommend storing the sauce and the pasta together in an airtight container. It is easier to reheat. The sauce keeps the pasta tender and moist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Brand Of Marinara Sauce Is The Best?

Since the first time I tried RAO's I fell in love! To me it is the best store bought sauce.

Can I Substitute Garlic Powder For Fresh Garlic Cloves?

Yes, you can use garlic powder instead of minced garlic. When substituting garlic powder for minced garlic, the ratio is: 1/4 teaspoon of powder for every 1 teaspoon of minced garlic.

What Can I Use To Breakup The Ground Beef and Sausage?

A ground meat chopper is the best tool. It does it so quickly. The good news is that if you don't have a meat chopper, a wooden spoon or a silicone spatula will work.

What Is The Best Pasta?

According to Good House Keeping, Barilla is the best overall.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 451Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 1246mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 4gSugar: 10gProtein: 26g

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© Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Main Dishes

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