CARRABBA'S ITALIAN GRILL, spaghetti with meat sauce
Whole food · Restaurant Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a classic Italian-American comfort dish: al dente spaghetti tossed in a rich, savory meat sauce made with ground beef and tomatoes. The texture is a satisfying mix of tender pasta and hearty, slightly chunky sauce, with a deep, umami-rich flavor profile. Nutritionally, it's a balanced meal offering a solid protein punch and moderate carbs, making it a filling option for an active lifestyle.
💚 Why it's loved
People adore it for its deeply comforting, familiar flavor—the perfect marriage of savory meat, tangy tomatoes, and starchy pasta. It's a versatile crowd-pleaser, easily adapted with extra veggies or different cheeses, and embodies the hearty, generous spirit of Italian-American dining.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The dish can be high in sodium and saturated fat, which may concern those managing blood pressure or heart health. To counteract, opt for lean ground meat, use low-sodium canned tomatoes, and load the sauce with extra vegetables like mushrooms or bell peppers to boost volume and nutrients without excess salt. Pairing with a large side salad can also help balance the meal.
Key benefits
- Provides a good source of protein for muscle maintenance.
- Contains iron from the meat, essential for energy levels.
- Offers a moderate amount of dietary fiber from the tomato and pasta.
- Serves as a calorie-efficient, satisfying meal for weight management.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The term 'meat sauce' is a broad American translation; in Italy, a true Bolognese ragù is a slow-simmered, complex sauce that often uses a small amount of tomato paste rather than being tomato-heavy.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 73.3 g |
| Energy | 122 kcal |
| Energy | 509 kj |
| Protein | 5.9 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 3.9 g |
| Ash | 1.2 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 15.7 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.5 g |
| Total Sugars | 2.0 g |
| Sucrose | 0.00 g |
| Glucose | 0.99 g |
| Fructose | 0.97 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 11.5 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 15.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.89 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 15.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 58.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 187 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 270 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.70 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.09 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.19 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 9.5 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.80 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.09 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.15 mg |
| Niacin | 1.6 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.28 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.12 mg |
| Folate, total | 30.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 16.2 mg |
| Betaine | 591 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.21 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 14.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 156 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 10.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 4.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 272 iu |
| Lycopene | 2458 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 112 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.68 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.08 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.15 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.07 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 3.3 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (Menaquinone-4) | 0.00 ug |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 1.1 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.67 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.28 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 1.7 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.05 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.05 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 1.6 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 1.6 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.49 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.43 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 0.42 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3i | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.07 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.06 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.06 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.01 g |
| Cholesterol | 9.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.05 g |
| Threonine | 0.18 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.18 g |
| Leucine | 0.35 g |
| Lysine | 0.23 g |
| Methionine | 0.10 g |
| Cystine | 0.09 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.24 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.14 g |
| Valine | 0.21 g |
| Arginine | 0.27 g |
| Histidine | 0.13 g |
| Alanine | 0.28 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.43 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.4 g |
| Glycine | 0.22 g |
| Proline | 0.45 g |
| Serine | 0.22 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.00 g |
FAQ
Is this dish gluten-free?
No, traditional spaghetti is made from wheat flour. For a gluten-free version, use pasta made from rice, corn, or legumes.
Can I make this dish ahead of time?
Yes, the meat sauce often tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld. Store it separately from the cooked pasta and combine when reheating.
What's the best way to store leftovers?
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The pasta may absorb some sauce, so you might want to add a splash of water when reheating.