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The Most Popular Entrees at Olive Garden

Who doesn’t love a good Italian meal? Olive Garden has been serving delicious Italian dishes for years.

Olive Garden’s entrees include pasta, seafood, chicken, vegetarian, and steak dishes.

All entrees at Olive Garden come with two breadsticks, and you can choose between their house salad or soup selection.

Their soup options include Chicken & Gnocchi, Minestrone, Pasta e Fagioli, and Zuppa Toscana.

And when you order a pasta dish at Olive Garden, you can customize it with your favorite pasta type, including spaghetti, angel hair, fettuccine, and shells.

If you can’t find a pasta dish you like, you can choose their “Create Your Own Pasta” option, which allows you to customize your choice of pasta, sauce, and toppings.

But with so many dishes available at Olive Garden, it can be difficult to choose from their extensive menu.

In this article, we’ve put together a list of the 15 best Olive Garden entrees you should try!

Chicken Alfredo

Olive Garden’s Chicken Alfredo consists of grilled chicken strips over fettuccine pasta and a creamy white sauce made with Parmesan cheese, heavy cream, garlic, butter, parsley, and salt and pepper.

The combination of these ingredients creates a rich flavor that is both savory and slightly sweet.

The pasta is cooked to perfection, and the sauce is rich.

It’s creamy but not too heavy or greasy; its subtle sweetness pairs perfectly with the saltiness of the parmesan cheese.

The grilled chicken strips add a layer of flavor to the dish and some texture.

All in all, it’s a delicious meal that will leave you feeling both satisfied and comforted.

The beauty of Olive Garden’s Chicken Alfredo is that it can be enjoyed on its own or paired with other sides to create an even more flavorful meal.

And because the sauce is too delicious to waste, I always order more breadsticks to dip in the remaining sauce!

If you are not a chicken fan or wish to order something you don’t usually cook, you can go with the Shrimp Alfredo or Seafood Alfredo instead.

Nutritional Information:

1,570 calories, 84g protein, 96g carbohydrates, 100g fat

Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara

Carbonara is an Italian pasta dish traditionally prepared with spaghetti or fettuccine noodles, eggs, cheese (typically Parmigiano Reggiano), bacon, and black pepper.

It has a creamy texture thanks to the combination of eggs and cheese, which create a luscious sauce that coats each strand of pasta perfectly.

Its rich and savory flavors make it one of the most beloved dishes in Italy.

Olive Garden added grilled chicken strips, shrimp, and bacon to their version of this classic dish to make it a more protein-enriched meal.

The smoky flavor and the delicate sweetness of the shrimp make this dish one that will have you return for more.

The cream sauce is made with roasted red pepper, Parmesan cheese, heavy cream, garlic, butter, parsley, and salt and pepper, creating a luxurious flavor that perfectly complements the pasta and proteins.

The dish is then finished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavorsome goodness.

Nutritional Information:

1,390 calories, 64g protein, 75g carbohydrates, 94g fat

Chicken Parmigiana

Olive Garden’s Chicken Parmigiana is a classic Italian-American dish with breaded deep-fried chicken cutlets topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese.

It is served over a bed of spaghetti noodles with a side of garlic breadsticks.

The ingredients that make up this dish are simple yet flavorful.

The chicken cutlets are lightly breaded and fried until golden brown and crispy on the outside while remaining juicy on the inside.

The marinara sauce is a blend of sweet tomatoes, herbs, and spices that perfectly match the melty mozzarella cheese.

All of these flavors come together to create an unforgettable experience in your mouth.

This is one of my all-time favorite Olive Garden dishes!

Nutritional Information:

1,430 calories, 65g protein, 100g carbohydrates, 80g fat

Tour of Italy

Olive Garden dedicates the Tour of Italy dish to all the customers who cannot decide whether to have Lasagna Classico, Chicken Parmigiana, or Fettuccine Alfredo.

This dish is the ultimate combination of three classic Italian dishes that will make any foodie’s heart skip a beat.

It includes all these three options in one meal.

Whether you want to savor each option or enjoy them all at once, it is an absolute must-try.

This combination platter also comes with a side of warm garlic breadstick, so if you are a fan of carbs, this is your dish!

Nutritional Information:

1,550 calories, 72g protein, 99g carbohydrates, 98g fat

Chicken Marsala Fettuccine

If you are looking for a decadent dish with a healthy amount of vegetables, the Chicken Marsala Fettuccine is a perfect choice.

This dish features fettuccine noodles cooked al dente and tossed in a creamy Marsala sauce with mushrooms, spinach, and chicken strips.

The flavor of this dish is exquisite as it combines the sweetness of marsala wine with the earthy flavors of mushrooms to create a fantastic taste.

The chicken sauteed with the sauce contrasts the cream sauce and adds some extra protein to the meal.

To top it all off, this dish is garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and herbs for an added flavor.

Nutritional Information:

1,380 calories, 71g protein, 33g carbohydrates, 58g fat

Lasagna Classico

When it comes to Italian cuisine, nothing beats the classic flavors of a hearty lasagna.

And when it comes to lasagna, no chain restaurant makes it better than Olive Garden.

Olive Garden’s Lasagna Classico is a delicious lasagna made with multiple layers of ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and ground beef, all stuffed between fresh pasta sheets cooked to perfection.

It’s then topped off with a generous helping of tomato sauce and more mozzarella cheese for added flavor.

The result is a dish that’s warm, comforting, and full of rich Italian flavors.

It all comes down to the ingredients used to make this dish.

The ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese give the lasagna its signature creamy texture, while the ground beef adds some much-needed protein.

The combination of these ingredients also creates an incredibly savory flavor that you can’t get enough of.

And let’s not forget about the tomato sauce on top to give this dish an extra level of texture.

With the extra layer of mozzarella cheese lightly browned and crispy, this dish won’t disappoint.

Nutritional Information:

940 calories, 56g protein, 76g carbohydrates, 97g fat

Spaghetti with Meatballs

Olive Garden’s Spaghetti with Meatballs is a dish composed of house-made meatballs and spaghetti noodles tossed in olive oil and meat sauce or marinara sauce.

It is then topped with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Both sauce options are made from slow-cooked fresh ingredients to bring out the flavors of the ingredients.

The meatballs are made from beef and pork and seasoned with herbs and spices to enhance the flavor.

The spaghetti noodles are cooked al dente to ensure the perfect texture.

This dish is a classic and will bring back memories of Sunday dinners with the family.

It’s hearty and comforting, and I simply can’t stop until I clean off the dish.

Nutritional Information:

1,110 calories, 62g protein, 103g carbohydrates, 50g fat

Chicken Tortellini Alfredo

At its core, Chicken Tortellini Alfredo is light tortellini pasta filled with Asiago cheese and smothered in Alfredo sauce made from a mix of Italian cheeses and breadcrumbs before it is baked to perfection.

It is then topped with grilled chicken chunks and Italian herbs for added flavor.

The combination of the Alfredo sauce, cheese-filled pasta, and grilled chicken chunks make this dish irresistible.

It’s creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor.

With its rich flavor profile and delicious ingredients, this dish will surely be a hit with the whole family.

Nutritional Information:

1,980 calories, 112g protein, 95g carbohydrates, 131g fat

Shrimp Scampi

Olive Garden’s Shrimp Scampi is a classic Italian dish that consists of succulent, asparagus, tomatoes, and wild-caught North Atlantic shrimp cooked in garlic butter, white wine, and lemon juice and served over angel hair pasta.

The flavors are simple yet complex and come together in perfect harmony.

The combination of garlic butter and white wine creates a creamy sauce with a subtle flavor that perfectly matches the shrimp’s sweet taste and the lemon juice’s sharpness.

The parsley flakes provide some color and texture to contrast the smooth sauce and bring out the flavor of the asparagus and tomatoes.

Finally, top it all off with some freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a hint of saltiness that ties all these flavors together like a culinary masterpiece! 

When I feel like having something lighter at Olive Garden, the Shrimp Scampi has always been my top choice as it is full of healthy vegetables and delicious shrimp.

Sometimes, I switch to Chicken Scampi, and the flavors are just as tasty!

Nutritional Information:

510 calories, 26g protein, 56g carbohydrates, 19g fat

Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

The Five Cheese Ziti al Forno features freshly cooked ziti noodles tossed in a creamy ricotta cheese blend with spinach and mushrooms.

To top it off, it is layered with mozzarella, Romano, Fontina, and Parmesan cheeses.

The final product is then baked until golden brown perfection.

As the name implies, this dish is all about cheese!

All those cheesy flavors combine to create an irresistible combination of creamy decadence that will make your taste buds sing.

It has just enough richness without being overwhelmingly heavy or greasy.

Nutritional Information:

1,220 calories, 45g protein, 103g carbohydrates, 71g fat

Cheese Ravioli

If you’re looking for a fast and delicious meal, look no further than Olive Garden’s Cheese Ravioli.

This Italian-style dish combines the best of two worlds – the cheesy goodness of ravioli and the mouthwatering flavor of Olive Garden’s signature marinara sauce or meat sauce.

For vegetarians, the marinara sauce is made with vine-ripened tomatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs.

And for meat lovers, the sauce is prepared with ground beef, pork sausage, and a blend of spices.

The ravioli is stuffed with creamy ricotta cheese, giving it its signature flavor.

To top it all off, each dish is garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and Italian herbs.

This dish will surely please everyone at the table, whether you’re a fan of classic Italian cuisine or want something satisfying and easy to prepare.

Nutritional Information:

780 calories, 50g protein, 65g carbohydrates, 46g fat

Eggplant Parmigiana

The Eggplant Parmigiana from Olive Garden is the vegetarian version of their Chicken Parmigiana.

It is made of lightly-breaded eggplant fried and layered with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.

The dish is then topped off with Italian herbs and served over a bed of spaghetti.

The eggplant is crunchy and flavorful on the outside, while its center is soft and creamy.

The marinara sauce brings a sweet and savory flavor that pairs perfectly with the cheese.

This dish will satisfy even the most discerning vegetarian appetites!

Nutritional Information:

1,070 calories, 30g protein, 113g carbohydrates, 54 fat

Grilled Chicken Margherita

Not everyone wants to pile on the carbs every time they go out for dinner, and Olive Garden’s Grilled Chicken Margherita is the perfect choice for those looking to cut back.

This hearty dish consists of grilled chicken breast topped with a fresh tomato and mozzarella cheese blend, along with basil pesto and a lemon garlic sauce.

Along with a healthy bed of parmesan garlic broccoli, this dish will satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

The bold flavors of the pesto and lemon garlic sauce come together superbly, while the melted cheese gives each bite a creamy finish.

Nutritional Information:

540 calories, 65g protein, 14g carbohydrates, 27g fat

Herb-Grilled Salmon

If you’re a fan of seafood, then you’ll love Olive Garden’s Herb-Grilled Salmon.

This delicious dish is made with fresh salmon filets seasoned with rosemary, thyme, and oregano and grilled to perfection.

It’s served with steamed broccoli for an incredibly tasty meal.

This is the lowest calorie option on the Olive Garden menu, and it’s also one of the healthiest dishes.

The herbs bring out the natural sweetness of the salmon, while the broccoli contrasts with its crunchy texture.

Nutritional Information:

540 calories, 43g protein, 8g carbohydrates, 28g fat

6 oz. Sirloin

Olive Garden dedicates the steak to all meat lovers and those who want to stay on their low-carb diets.

This mouthwatering 6 oz. Sirloin steak is the perfect balance of juicy, tender, and savory.

It’s served with garlic herb butter that adds a delicious flavor to the steak and a bed of fettuccine alfredo.

However, you can always request broccoli instead if you want to cut out the carbs completely.

This steak is an excellent option for anyone who loves flavorful and juicy cuts of beef.

Nutritional Information:

610 calories, 49g protein, 15g carbohydrates, 37g fat

Conclusion

Olive Garden has a delicious dish for everyone, no matter what your dietary preference is.

Whether you’re looking for pasta, seafood, chicken, or vegetarian dishes, the Olive Garden entrees are always fresh, flavorful, and sure to satisfy your cravings.

So the next time you’re looking for a tasty meal that won’t break the bank, head to Olive Garden and try one of the entrees on our list. Happy eating!

For more information about Olive Garden, check out the articles below.

About the Author

Lianne Fachetti is a content writer who adores food from all cultures. When she’s not working, she’s busy creating new recipes, trying out new restaurants, playing with her German Shepherd Max, and tending to her vegetable garden.

 

July 17, 2023