21 Best Foods at Olive Garden To Enjoy in 2025
The best food at Olive Garden champions the nation’s love for Italian-American cuisine. The brand is known and loved for its family-style dining, with a menu that’s so full of foodie favorites that it can be hard to decide the best thing to order at Olive Garden.
Whether you have a craving for carbonara, a taste for tiramisù or want to embark on a Tour of Italy (that’s actually an item on the menu), we’re here to help you find the perfect dish. In this article, we’re exploring all the best dishes from Olive Garden so that you can get on with what’s important: eating them!
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The 21 Best Dishes from Olive Garden
1. Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara
We know, chicken and shrimp aren’t always considered the likeliest of bedfellows. Then again, with surf and turf proving such a popular menu item at other restaurants across the country, a simple swap of beef for chicken hardly seems ludicrous, does it?
In our opinion, it most definitely does not; in fact, the pairing in this contender for the best food at Olive Garden asks serious questions about why you didn’t try it sooner. Both proteins come cooked deliciously tender, with grill marks on the chicken that add a welcome textural crunch.
What’s more, the meats and pasta come glazed in a healthy serving of the chain’s indredible carbonara sauce, all flavored to sumptuous savory perfection thanks to the inclusion of bacon.
2. Chicken Parmigiana
A popular pick among the best meals at Olive Garden is truly a classic. In case you don’t know, this Italian-American favorite typically comprises a breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and cheese, like mozzarella, provolone or Parmesan.
It’s served with just the right amount of marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, which bring both vibrance and creamy richness to the dish. As standard, it comes with spaghetti, however, this is one of the best Olive Garden foods to customize to your liking. Why not swap spaghetti out for some fettuccine Alfredo?
3. Tour of Italy
Anybody hoping to get a broader taste of the country from which this renowned chain draws its inspiration needs look no further than the Tour of Italy. It’s one of the best foods at Olive Garden, and for a few reasons. One is the chicken Parmigiana. Another is the fettuccine Alfredo. Another still is the lasagna. You get the picture.
Before you ask, the flavors of the three dishes mesh beautifully together. What’s more, the crunch of the chicken Parmigiana provides a welcome reprieve from the softer noodles of its plate-fellows, meaning you won't get tired of any element of this dish.
In other words, this is far and away the best thing to order at Olive Garden if, like so many others, you struggle to make your mind up when such a tempting menu is placed before you.
4. Chicken Alfredo
As one of the chain’s signature dishes, chicken Alfredo is unsurprisingly one of the best foods at Olive Garden. Expect a smooth sauce, tender fettuccine pasta and perfectly grilled chicken, all of which combine on the fork to produce a mouthful that’s so tasty you’ll be craving the next before you’ve even had a chance to swallow.
If the classic Alfredo flavor isn’t enough to make this one of the best Olive Garden dishes for you, perhaps an upgrade to chicken Florentine is? This Olive Garden menu recommendation is ideal for anybody hoping to keep their health goals in mind. Expect all of the delicious items from the regular chicken Alfredo, plus an additional serving of spinach.
5. Shrimp Alfredo
One of the best foods at Olive Garden for pescatarians, shrimp Alfredo takes the same tasty base as its chicken-based cousin — fettuccine and delicious Alfredo sauce — but swaps out the poultry for perfectly-seared shrimp. Expect succulence in every bite of shrimp, each of which will be glazed in that inimitable Alfredo sauce.
It’s worth noting that some reviews suggest that the shrimp could do with a touch more seasoning. However, others might argue that the sauce should be allowed to do most of the singing. Either way, if you like seafood, this is surely one of the best Olive Garden foods for you.
6. Chicken Tortelloni Alfredo
As one of the most popular Italian fast food chains, it’s unsurprising that there are so many Alfredo dishes on this list of Olive Garden menu recommendations. This particular dish is one of the most filling dinner food ideas the chain has to offer, featuring large, cheese-stuffed pieces of tortelloni, a hearty helping of rich Alfredo sauce and a topping of grilled chicken.
The entire ensemble is baked, resulting in a golden brown hue that makes waiting for everybody else’s meals to arrive at the table a true test of patience. In terms of the flavor, the richness of the sauce is cut beautifully with the sharp tang of the pasta’s Asiago cheese filling. Add that to the smokiness of the chicken, and when you take your first bite, you’ll see why it makes the list of the best foods at Olive Garden.
7. Lasagna Classico
Lasagna Classico is the best thing to order at Olive Garden for those hoping for a classic taste of Italian-American cuisine. After all, it’s in the name! But how does it stack up against Nonna’s signature recipe?
The first things to note are the tangy cheese and a full-bodied meat sauce made with beef and Italian sausage, both of which combine to produce bombs of flavor. Another is the breadsticks it’s served with, which are perfect for mopping up the sauce and, in our opinion, helping to cement this dish's place on the list of best foods at Olive Garden.
8. Three-Meat Manicotti
Featuring four-cheese manicotti topped with a savory meat sauce made with pepperoni, meatballs and Italian sausage, this has to be one of the best foods at Olive Garden for carnivores. The pepperoni delivers a slight kick to the palate and, combined with the other two elements of the meaty trio, results in an explosion of flavor with every mouthful.
Baked until golden and truly satisfying, this is up there with the best Olive Garden dishes to order if you arrive with an appetite. With that in mind, we’d recommend displaying some restraint with the appetizers.
Do note that this is a limited edition item and may not be available at your local Olive Garden. However, when on the menu, it’s a must-try for meat lovers.
9. Four-Cheese Manicotti
Next up on our list of the best foods at Olive Garden is some of the best vegetarian fast food you’re likely to find on the menu. As the base for another of the best meals at Olive Garden, the three-meat manicotti, this menu order comes brim-full of Italian cheeses, plus melted mozzarella on top for good measure.
It also comes topped with marinara sauce — just enough to complement the cheesy base without overpowering it. Baked until golden, the edges of the noodles are allowed to crisp in the oven, providing a welcome crunch against the softer backdrop of the wider dish.
10. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Who doesn’t love spaghetti and meatballs? It’s one of those meals that always delivers, especially for big appetites in need of a serious feed. As one of the best foods at Olive Garden, the portion size is generous, to say the least. It’ll certainly make you doubt whether your hefty appetizer order was a good idea.
Expect tender meatballs, a hearty tomato sauce and perfectly cooked pasta. Choose between a meat sauce and a marinara sauce, both of which have their merits. The meat version arguably brings more flavor thanks to the seasonings in the protein. However, the marinara sauce version, ordered without meatballs, is still delicious and one of the best vegan fast food options at Olive Garden.
11. Toasted Ravioli
By now, we have covered a number of the best foods at Olive Garden from the chain’s main course menu. But what about appetizers? Well, we can think of few better options to start with than toasted ravioli. While definitely more of an American food than an Italian street food, it’s still a must-order.
Filled with seasoned beef and served with the chain’s famous marinara sauce for dipping, a plate of these meaty morsels is unlikely to last long. And don’t worry, the frying process means that while they are every bit as crisp as anything with “fried” in the name ought to be, they are by no means oily. Just be sure to take your first bite with caution, as they tend to come out hot!
12. Lasagna Fritta
If you’re in the mood for lasagna but can’t wait for your course of entrées to arrive, be sure to order a plate of these delicious appetizers for the table. Essentially Parmesan-breaded lasagna that’s fried, topped with more Parmesan and meat sauce and laid on a bed of creamy Alfredo sauce, this is one of the best foods at Olive Garden for fans of all-out flavor.
The Alfredo brings balance to the punchy flavors of Parmesan and the well-seasoned meat sauce, while the bites themselves — fried to crispy perfection — are by no means oily, providing the perfect vessels for the sauces they’re sandwiched between.
13. Shrimp Scampi
Featuring shrimp sautéed in a garlic sauce before being tossed with asparagus, tomatoes and angel hair pasta, this is one of the best foods at Olive Garden for fans of seafood. Expect succulent shrimp and tiered levels of flavor from the tomatoes and asparagus, all brought together with a delectable garlic sauce.
Some reviews suggest that, while this is designed as a lighter take on a classic recipe, it could benefit from a little butter. However, if you’re looking for light lunch food ideas that won’t bog you down for the rest of the day, this will be near, if not at the top of your list of the best foods at Olive Garden.
14. Stuffed Chicken Marsala
If your vote for the best food at Olive Garden is reserved for those that offer comfort, flavor and hunger-busting portion sizes, let us introduce you to the stuffed chicken Marsala. Sure, mashed potatoes are hardly what you’d call “quintessentially Italian,” but when they taste this good, who cares?
The Marsala mushroom sauce that comes atop the grilled chicken breast — itself stuffed with a blend of sun-dried tomatoes and Italian cheeses — provides a sumptuously savory pairing for the moist chicken and pillowy mashed potatoes. Together, they combine to form one of the best foods at Olive Garden and certainly one of the most filling.
15. Chicken Marsala Fettuccine
Next on this guide to the best foods at Olive Garden replaces the usual rice or potatoes that traditionally go with chicken Marsala with toothy fettuccine. The chicken is perfectly tender and, when paired with a creamy sauce that works deliciously with the mushrooms and spinach, is almost guaranteed to leave the plate quickly.
Now, if you have other types of pasta in mind as better bedfellows for that impossibly creamy sauce, that’s fine. Swap in your favorite rigatoni, tortellini or indeed any other shape of noodle. Whichever you choose, you’ll quickly taste why we’ve included it in this guide to the best foods at Olive Garden.
It is important to note that this is a limited edition dish. However, it returns to the menu frequently. You also have the option to order the stuffed chicken Marsala with fettuccine instead of mashed potatoes.
16. Zuppa Toscana
While the name translates as “Tuscan soup,” the version of the dish you’ll find on the list of best foods at Olive Garden is not quite the same as the classic dish and notably leaves out cannellini beans. That said, it’s still absolutely delicious.
It’s packed with color, creamy beyond belief and brimming with potatoes, spicy Italian sausage and fresh kale. As do other contenders for the title of best food at Olive Garden, it also comes with soft, fluffy breadsticks, perfect for mopping up the last of the soup.
17. Ravioli Carbonara
Whether you love ravioli or have a craving for carbonara, this contender for best food at Olive Garden is sure to appeal to your palate. Expect pillowy pieces of cheese-stuffed pasta coated in carbonara sauce that's flavored with a blend of cheeses and oh-so-savory bacon. Everything is combined and then baked.
We know, it sounds great as it is, so why mess with a winning formula? Well, when you could take advantage of the menu and add on delights like shrimp, onions and peppers, it’s hard to find a reason not to. On its own or embellished with your choice of adornments, it’s sure to become your new pick of the best foods at Olive Garden.
18. Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
Reviewed by some as the very best food at Olive Garden, it’s easy to see why. Picture soft gnocchi, tender chicken and a sumptuously savory broth that brings it all together. Throw in a dash of color from the spinach and it’s tough to believe that this is, in fact, an appetizer.
You’ll want to bear the portion size in mind, especially if you intend to enjoy several courses of the best food at Olive Garden. While the soup is seriously tasty, it’s also on the heavy side (gnocchi is potato, after all), meaning it can pay to order a smaller entrée to avoid wasting food.
19. Five-Cheese Ziti al Forno
Using tubular-shaped ziti pasta — the perfect vessel for a rich five-cheese marinara sauce — this entry to the list of best foods at Olive Garden comes topped with a blend of mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano, Asiago and ricotta cheese. The sauce is decadent, to say the least, and that’s before it all gets baked to golden perfection.
Based on the above description, we probably don’t need to tell you that this is one of the best foods at Olive Garden. It’s incredibly popular, not least because you can customize it to include varying types of pasta as well as meatballs, chicken, shrimp and even Italian sausage.
20. Italian Margarita
Now, we know this isn’t strictly one of the best foods at Olive Garden, but you need a decent drink to wash down all that gourmet goodness, right? And while this isn’t strictly a traditional version of the classic cocktail, it’s no less deserving of a place among the best foods at Olive Garden.
The mixologists behind the bar add a shot of Amaretto to the traditional recipe, bringing some brightness to the drink and delivering a sweet-tart sensation to your palate. It pairs perfectly with most picks from this list of the best foods at Olive Garden — just bear in mind that it’s quite boozy, so you might want to consider a designated driver that isn’t you.
21. Tiramisù
We couldn’t write a list of the best foods at Olive Garden and not include something sweet. What’s more, we can’t think of another popular dessert that’s more synonymous with Italian food than tiramisù.
A classic, coffee-flavored dessert that’s best served cold, its liquor-soaked lady fingers come layered with an indulgent dose of whipped mascarpone. Add to this a dusting of powdered chocolate and you have what has to be the best food at Olive Garden with which to end your meal.
What Is the Best Thing To Eat at Olive Garden?
The best food at Olive Garden for you really depends on your preferences. For example, are you a carnivore hoping to enjoy a full-course meal? If so, some beef-stuffed toasted ravioli to start, followed by Lasagna Classico, could fulfil your cravings.
Equally, if you’re a plant-based diner, spaghetti with marinara sauce is sure to satisfy, as is the four-cheese manicotti for vegetarian patrons. Seafood lovers also have an array of options, with a dish like shrimp Alfredo being popular.
Best of all, many of the top dishes at Olive Garden can be customized with your choice of pasta, protein, sauce and vegetables. There’s even a create-your-own pasta menu option, allowing you to craft your ideal Olive Garden food.
There you have it! Whether you have a penchant for pasta or a love of great lasagna, you’re sure to find a meal to tempt your taste buds on this guide to the best foods at Olive Garden.
Drawing on centuries of Italian culinary heritage and blending those traditions with American tastes to produce a menu that’s loved around the nation, the best foods at Olive Garden celebrate a style of cuisine that, in actual fact, is revered around the world. All you need to decide is which dishes from its menu you’ll try next.
For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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