Spaghetti & Meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs is the quintessential Italian-American comfort food. House-made meatballs are served over spaghetti with a rich marinara sauce. The meatballs are seasoned with Italian herbs and garlic, and the marinara is slow-simmered for deep, developed flavor.

Spaghetti & Meatballs is the most straightforward order on the menu and one of the easiest to underrate. House-made meatballs over spaghetti in marinara, with no cream, no baking and nothing to go wrong between the kitchen and the table.

At 960 calories and a lower price than most of the Classic Entrees, it is quietly one of the better-balanced things you can order here. The marinara keeps it from sitting heavily, the meatballs supply real protein, and unlike the cream dishes it is genuinely as good the next day.

It is also the reliable order for children, for anyone unadventurous at the table, and for anyone who has been disappointed by a more complicated dish before. Nothing about it is exciting, and that is precisely why it works.

What does Spaghetti & Meatballs taste like?

Bright tomato acidity with savoury, herby meatballs and a clean finish. The marinara is mild rather than sharp and the meatballs are soft rather than dense. It does not coat the palate the way the alfredo dishes do, so it stays easy to eat all the way through.

Who should order Spaghetti & Meatballs?

Children, cautious eaters, anyone wanting a lighter tomato-based plate, and anyone planning to take half home. It is the default order for a table that cannot agree.

Is Spaghetti & Meatballs worth $16.29?

One of the better-priced entrees on the menu, and the portion is generous enough to split or carry over to a second meal. Combined with the unlimited first course it is among the strongest value orders here, and unlike the cream pastas the leftovers actually justify the box.

How to order Spaghetti & Meatballs at Olive Garden

• One of the best items here to take home, since there is no cream to split.
• Reheat on the hob or in a microwave. Both work, which is unusual on this menu.
• Dine in for the unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks.
• Ask for extra sauce if you have found it dry before, which happens when pasta sits.

Olive Garden Spaghetti & Meatballs price in 2026

The Spaghetti & Meatballs is listed at $16.29 on the Olive Garden menu we track. That figure is a guide rather than a guarantee: most italian chains let individual franchises set their own prices, so the same dish can cost noticeably more in high-rent city centres than in smaller markets, and airport or stadium locations sit higher again. Menu boards and the official app are always the final word for your specific restaurant. We re-check the full Olive Garden menu and refresh this page when prices move.