Carrabba’s Spaghetti Recipe features a rich, savory tomato sauce simmered with garlic, herbs, and ground meat, served over perfectly cooked pasta. It’s a comforting Italian classic that’s easy to make at home for a hearty family dinner.
If you love classic Italian comfort food, this Carrabba’s Spaghetti Recipe is a must-try! Inspired by the restaurant favorite, it features tender spaghetti noodles smothered in a rich, savory meat sauce made with garlic, tomatoes, and herbs.
It’s the perfect dish for a cozy family dinner or a quick weeknight meal that feels a little special. With just a few simple ingredients, you can recreate that bold, homemade flavor right in your own kitchen—no reservations required!
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Authentic Restaurant Flavor at Home – Tastes just like Carrabba’s without leaving your kitchen.
- Simple, Everyday Ingredients – No hard-to-find items—just pantry staples and fresh ground meat.
- Perfect for Family Dinners – Hearty, filling, and loved by both kids and adults.
- Easy to Make and Customize – Swap the meat, add veggies, or use your favorite pasta.
- Great for Meal Prep – Makes a big batch and reheats beautifully for leftovers.
Carrabba’s Spaghetti Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients, you will need for this recipe:
- Olive Oil: You can also use high-heat oil such as avocado or grapeseed.
- Minced Onions: Finely diced, yellow, or white onions.
- Ground Beef: Another great option is ground turkey or ground chicken; lean ground beef is best in this recipe!
- Marinara Sauce: Use any of your favorite pasta sauce or tomato sauce!
- Liquid: Use Water, Chicken Stock, or Beef Broth
- Seasonings: Italian Seasoning, Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, and Red Pepper Flakes for some heat!
- Spaghetti: use any of your favorite uncooked spaghetti
- Serving: Fresh basil, and grated Parmesan cheese
How To Make Carrabba’s Spaghetti Recipe
Step One: Add olive oil to the bottom of the pot. Press the Sauté button and let the oil heat for 30 seconds. Add the diced onions and sauté for 2–3 minutes, until softened. Stir in the ground meat, breaking it apart as it cooks, and sauté until browned.
Step Two: Carefully drain any excess grease from the pot. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot and remove any browned bits to prevent a burn notice.
Step Three: Mix in the spaghetti sauce, beef broth, and broken spaghetti noodles. Arrange the noodles in a criss-cross pattern to help prevent them from sticking together. Add just enough water to make sure all the noodles are fully submerged beneath the liquid line.
Step Four: Add your Instant Pot lid, and turn the vent to the sealing position. Set manual high pressure for 10 minutes. When the time is up, do a quick pressure release, then remove the lid, allowing the remaining pressure and the pressure valve to have completely gone down, and stir right before serving. Serve with fresh herbs and grated parmesan cheese, and enjoy!
Carrabba’s Spaghetti Recipe Tips
- Brown the meat well: Take time to brown the ground beef or sausage fully—this adds depth and richness to the sauce.
- Use quality crushed tomatoes or marinara: Choose a good-quality canned tomato product or homemade sauce for the best flavor.
- Deglaze the pot: After browning the meat, scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot to avoid a burn notice if using a pressure cooker.
- Criss-cross the spaghetti noodles: Break and layer spaghetti in a criss-cross pattern so they cook evenly and don’t stick together.
- Let it rest before serving: Once cooked, let the spaghetti sit for a few minutes so the sauce thickens and coats the noodles better.
Storing & Reheating Instructions
- Storing Instructions: Store any leftover Carrabba’s Spaghetti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Let it cool completely before sealing to maintain freshness and prevent condensation.
- Reheating Instructions: Reheat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until warmed through. You can also reheat on the stovetop over medium heat, adding a splash of water or sauce to prevent drying out.
What To Serve With Carrabba’s Spaghetti Recipe
- Garlic bread: A classic side dish for spaghetti, garlic bread pairs well with the savory flavors of the pasta.
- Grilled vegetables: Grilled zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers can add some healthy veggies to your meal and complement the flavors of the spaghetti.
- Red wine: A glass of red wine can perfectly accompany spaghetti, primarily if you’re serving it with a meat-based sauce.
Carrabba’s Spaghetti Recipe Recipe Faqs
What type of meat is used in Carrabba’s Spaghetti? Carrabba’s Spaghetti typically uses ground beef or a mix of ground beef and Italian sausage for a rich, savory flavor.
Can I use fresh spaghetti noodles instead of dried? Yes, fresh spaghetti works well but adjust cooking time since fresh pasta cooks faster than dried.
How do I prevent the spaghetti from sticking together? Break the spaghetti into smaller pieces and layer them in a criss-cross pattern before cooking to keep the noodles separate.
Can I make this recipe in a slow cooker or Instant Pot? Yes, this recipe adapts well to both; just brown the meat first and then add the remaining ingredients to cook evenly.
How long can I store leftover spaghetti? Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days for best quality.
Can I freeze Carrabba’s Spaghetti? Yes, freeze in a sealed container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
More Copycat Carrabba’s Recipes
Copycat Carrabba’s Chicken Bryan
Instant Pot Copycat Carrabba’s Sausage Lentil Soup
Carrabba’s Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Carrabba’s Chicken Piccata Recipe
Carrabba’s Italian Grill Stuffed Mushrooms Parmigiana Recipe
Carrabba’s Parmesan Crusted Chicken Arugula Recipe
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Carrabba’s Spaghetti Recipe
Description
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons onions, minced
- 1 pound ground beef, lean
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 2 cups water, or beef broth
- 8 ounces spaghetti, broken in half
Instructions
- Start by adding the olive oil to the Instant Pot bowl
- Add the diced onions, and continue to saute for about 2-3 minutes, just enough time to soften the onions
- Add your ground meat, and saute until the beef is brown. Then drain the grease from the pan (carefully)
- Add the spaghetti sauce, beef broth, and broken spaghetti, and mix well. Add your lid, and turn the vent to the sealing position, set manual high pressure for 10 minutes. When the time is up, do a quick release.
- Plate, serve, and enjoy!
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Wooden Spoon
Nutrition
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