I had to recreate the Manager’s Favorite - Old Spaghetti Factory dish copycat recipe so that you can try it at home in the comfort of your kitchen! This is the dish I absolutely have to get every time we go to The Old Spaghetti Factory. Known for its rich, buttery flavor and savory sausage marinara, this dish combines the best of two worlds on a single plate.
This dish is delicious at the restaurant, but let’s be honest… It's a costly meal. Why not make this at home in less time and a lot less money?!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Balanced Flavor: The contrast of savory sausage marinara with the nutty, caramelized browned butter gives your taste buds a real treat.
- Easy to Make: With only 30 minutes from start to finish, this recipe keeps things simple and low-stress.
- Restaurant-Quality at Home: Save on dining out by making this deliciously nostalgic dish at a fraction of the price.
Ingredients for Manager's Favorite Old Spaghetti Factory:
- ½ pound angel hair pasta
- 1 stick butter (½ cup), cut into cubes
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 24-ounce bottle marinara sauce
- ½ cup shredded mizithra cheese
Instructions for Manager's Favorite Old Spaghetti Factory:
- Cook the Pasta
Begin by cooking the angel hair pasta according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain and set aside. - Brown the Butter
Place butter cubes in a small pot over medium heat. Stir occasionally, letting it melt and cook until it reaches a foamy, caramelized, golden brown. This should take about 6-8 minutes. Once browned, remove from heat and set aside. - Prepare the Meat Sauce
In a frying pan, brown the sausage over medium heat with minced garlic until fully cooked. Pour in the marinara sauce, stir, and let it warm up with the sausage. - Assemble the Dish
Portion out the pasta on individual plates. Spoon the meat sauce over one half of each plate and the browned butter over the other half. - Finish with Mizithra Cheese
Sprinkle each plate generously with shredded mizithra cheese. Serve immediately and enjoy the Manager’s Special at home!
Tips for Success:
- Brown the Butter Carefully: The flavor of browned butter is essential to recreating this dish, so keep a close eye on it as it cooks. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s a golden brown color and has a nutty aroma.
- Try Mizithra Cheese Substitutes: If you can’t find mizithra, you could substitute Parmesan or Romano, though they won’t have quite the same rich, buttery flavor. I find the mizithra cheese in my fancy cheese section of my local grocery store. I also know that Smith’s carries an Old Spaghetti Factory brand mizithra cheese, but I like to get the fresh stuff and grate it myself. Either are great options for this!
Serving Suggestions for Manager's Favorite Old Spaghetti Factory:
Pair this Manager’s Favorite with garlic bread, a crisp side salad, or these pepperoni and cheesy garlic bites.
Next time you’re craving Old Spaghetti Factory but want to skip the trip, try this recipe and bring those comforting flavors home. Enjoy!
Manager's Favorite Old Spaghetti Factory
A comforting, copycat version of Old Spaghetti Factory’s classic “Manager’s Favorite,” this dish combines angel hair pasta topped with savory sausage marinara on one side and rich, nutty browned butter on the other, finished with a sprinkle of mizithra cheese. It's a perfect blend of flavors for a restaurant-quality meal at home in just 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- ½ pound angel hair pasta
- 1 stick butter ½ cup, cut into cubes
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 24- ounce bottle marinara sauce
- ½ cup shredded mizithra cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Place the butter cubes in a small pot on medium heat. Stir occasionally and allow the butter to cook until it goes foamy, golden brown, and caramel color. It takes about 6 to 8 minutes to brown it. Once ready, remove from heat and set aside.
- In a frying pan, brown the ground sausage and heat with garlic until cooked through. Add the marinara sauce and stir together until warmed.
- Portion out the angel hair pasta on a plate and top it with the meat sauce on one half, and the browned butter on the other half. Sprinkle it with your freshly grated mizithra cheese and enjoy!
Leave a Reply