# Oversized Meatball Entrees Olive Garden is Now Serving a 12-Ounce Giant Meatball By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2018-04-04 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/giant-meatball References: [foodandwine](http://www.foodandwine.com/news/olive-garden-new-giant-meatball-we-tried) & [olivegarden](https://www.olivegarden.com/specials/big-italian-classics) As part of its all-new Big Italian Classics line, [Olive Garden](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/create-your-own-pasta) is now serving a 12-ounce Giant Meatball & Four Cheese Manicotti. The [handmade jumbo meatball](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meatball-plate) is served atop [oversized manicotti](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fazolis-lasagna-rolls) that's stuffed with four kinds of cheese, all served with a generous helping of marinara and alfredo sauce. This menu item will only be available from Olive Garden for a limited time throughout the spring season. As the oversized meatballs are freshly made by hand on a daily basis, they are also only available in limited quantities each day. Some of the other options on the Big Italian Classics line include: Giant Four Cheese Manicotti with Meat Sauce, Stuffed Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and Stuffed Fettuccine Alfredo with Shrimp. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.5/10 - Popularity: 4% | Activity: 2% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Oversized Entrees:** There is an opportunity for restaurants to offer oversized menu items that provide a unique dining experience and attract customers looking for indulgent meals. - **Limited Time Offerings:** Restaurants can create hype and boost sales by introducing limited-time menu items that create a sense of urgency for customers to try them before they are gone. - **Handmade Specialty Items:** Businesses can capitalize on the demand for artisanal and handcrafted food items by offering handmade specialty dishes that showcase skill and quality. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Restaurant Industry:** This trend presents an opportunity for restaurants to innovate their menu offerings and create unique experiences to attract customers. - **Food and Beverage Industry:** Businesses in the food and beverage industry can explore the creation of oversized and indulgent menu items to cater to the growing demand for extravagant dining experiences. - **Artisanal Food Industry:** The handmade specialty items trend highlights an opportunity for artisanal food businesses to showcase their expertise and craftsmanship with unique and high-quality food products. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Oversized Seasonal Meatballs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/turkeysized-meatballs.md) - [Artisan-Inspired Pasta Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/create-your-own-pasta.md) - [All-You-Can-Eat Pasta Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/never-ending-pasta-bowl.md) - [Meatball Menu Additions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meatballs-and-marinara.md) - [Value-Packed Pasta Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olive-garden-never-ending-pasta-bowl.md) - [Triple Cheese Manicotti Pastas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/three-meat-manicotti.md) - [Meatball-Shaped Easter Eggs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meatballshaped-easter-egg.md) - [Meatball-Stuffed Calzone Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meatball-calzone.md) - [Sharable Fried Shrimp Appetizers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shrimp-fritto-misto.md)