Craving Red Sauce? 8 Pennsylvania Chains With Spaghetti & Meatballs

Food & Drink Travel
By Amelia Brooks

Pennsylvania is home to countless Italian-American eateries where red sauce flows freely and meatballs are always on the menu. Whether you’re craving comfort food after a long day or looking for a family-friendly spot that won’t break the bank, these chains deliver classic spaghetti and meatballs across the Keystone State. From Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and everywhere in between, you’ll find these reliable restaurants ready to satisfy your pasta cravings.

1. Olive Garden

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When hunger strikes at lunchtime, Olive Garden’s Spaghetti & Meatballs hits the spot every single time. You get to choose between meat sauce or marinara, plus the famous unlimited salad and breadsticks that make every visit feel like a celebration.

With locations scattered throughout Pennsylvania—from the bustling streets of Philadelphia to the steel city of Pittsburgh, and north to Erie and east to Lancaster—you’re never too far from a plate of comfort. The meatballs are hearty and generously portioned, swimming in rich tomato sauce that clings perfectly to each strand of pasta.

It’s the kind of meal that reminds you why simple Italian-American classics never go out of style.

2. Carrabba’s Italian Grill

© Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Carrabba’s takes a slightly different approach by offering Spaghetti and Meatball—singular by default, though you can absolutely add more if one just won’t cut it. Their menu also features a Family Bundle Spaghetti option that you can top with as many meatballs as your crew desires, making it perfect for feeding everyone at once.

Multiple Pennsylvania locations, including Mechanicsburg and Allentown, serve up this Italian-American staple with Carrabba’s signature touch. The atmosphere feels a bit more upscale than typical chain restaurants, yet the prices remain family-friendly.

Whether you’re dining solo or bringing the whole gang, Carrabba’s delivers consistent quality and generous portions.

3. Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings

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Most people walk into Anthony’s thinking only about coal-fired pizza or crispy wings, but the menu holds a pleasant surprise: Spaghetti & Meatballs. The restaurant operates several Pennsylvania locations, including one in Allentown and another at Settlers Ridge in Robinson Township near Pittsburgh, so you have options depending on where you’re traveling.

The pasta benefits from the same attention to quality ingredients that makes their pizza so popular. You’ll find the meatballs tender and flavorful, paired with a robust tomato sauce that tastes like it’s been simmering for hours.

Next time you visit for wings, consider switching things up with this underrated pasta dish.

4. Fox’s Pizza Den (PA-born)

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Born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, Fox’s Pizza Den represents true local flavor that’s been serving communities for decades. Many Fox’s locations still honor old-school pasta traditions, offering Spaghetti & Meatballs as a dinner option—like the St. Marys, PA location that proudly lists it on their menu.

This isn’t fancy or trendy; it’s the kind of straightforward, satisfying meal your grandparents would have ordered. The portions are generous, the sauce is tangy and sweet in that classic American-Italian way, and the meatballs are seasoned just right.

Supporting a Pennsylvania original while enjoying a timeless comfort food? That’s a win-win situation worth celebrating.

5. Pat’s Pizza & Pasta (Philly area)

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Neighborhood charm meets Italian-American classics at Pat’s Pizza & Pasta, a Philly-area chain that knows its customers well. The full pasta section includes a Spaghetti Dinner with meatballs or sausage, giving you options depending on your mood—though honestly, the meatballs are hard to resist.

The South Street Philadelphia shop serves up this dish with the kind of consistency that keeps locals coming back week after week. You won’t find pretentious plating or fussy presentations here, just honest portions of well-seasoned pasta topped with sauce and protein.

It’s the kind of place where everyone knows your name, and the food tastes like home cooking.

6. Marzoni’s Brick Oven & Brewing Co. (Central/Western PA)

© Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau

Where Italian-American comfort food meets craft brewing, you’ll find Marzoni’s Brick Oven & Brewing Co. serving up happiness on a plate. The menu lists Spaghetti & Meatball under the pasta section, making it an easy choice when you want something hearty alongside one of their house-brewed beers.

Located throughout Central and Western Pennsylvania, Marzoni’s creates a casual atmosphere where families and beer enthusiasts can both feel welcome. The meatball is substantial and well-seasoned, resting atop a generous mound of perfectly cooked spaghetti.

Pairing your pasta with a locally-brewed IPA or lager adds a unique twist to this traditional meal that you won’t find at most chains.

7. Original Italian Pizza (OIP) (statewide family of shops)

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Across dozens of Original Italian Pizza locations scattered throughout Pennsylvania, the classics never disappoint—and Spaghetti and Meatballs sits proudly on the pasta list. The Berwick menu PDF explicitly shows this dish, but you’ll find it at most OIP shops statewide, making it a reliable choice no matter where you’re traveling.

OIP represents the kind of family-owned chain that understands what Pennsylvania diners want: generous portions, fair prices, and flavors that taste like tradition. The meatballs are homestyle and comforting, swimming in sauce that’s neither too sweet nor too acidic.

It’s the kind of meal that makes you grateful for local chains that keep quality consistent.

8. Bertucci’s (Greater Philly)

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Even after downsizing in 2025, Bertucci’s still maintains a Pennsylvania presence with one remaining location that continues serving their signature Italian dishes. Spaghetti with Meatballs remains a menu staple, offering a reliable red-sauce fix for anyone near the surviving PA store.

Known originally for their brick-oven pizzas, Bertucci’s has always treated their pasta dishes with equal care and attention. The meatballs are tender and flavorful, served over al dente spaghetti with a tomato sauce that balances sweetness and acidity beautifully.

If you’re fortunate enough to live near the remaining Pennsylvania location, it’s worth visiting before this classic chain disappears from the state entirely.