The cheapest meals at Olive Garden are the lunch-sized favorites from $11.49, the $13.99 weekday soup, salad and breadsticks deal, and Create Your Own Pasta from $13.99 at dinner. With a little timing, you can enjoy the Olive Garden menu for well under $15 per person before tax and tip.
Key Takeaways
- The lowest price on the menu is Fettuccine Alfredo at lunch, about $11.49.
- Unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks is $13.99 at weekday lunch.
- At dinner, Create Your Own Pasta from $13.99 is the best-value entrée.
- Sharing appetizers and desserts cuts the per-person cost further.
Cheapest Olive Garden Meals Ranked
Here are the lowest-priced full meals our Editorial Team found this month, from cheapest to most expensive:
| Meal | Typical price | When |
|---|---|---|
| Fettuccine Alfredo (lunch) | $11.49 | Mon–Fri, 11 AM–3 PM |
| Spicy Alfredo Fettuccine (lunch) | $11.49 | Mon–Fri, 11 AM–3 PM |
| Lasagna Classico (lunch) | $12.49 | Mon–Fri, 11 AM–3 PM |
| Soup, Salad & Breadsticks (lunch) | $13.99 | Mon–Fri, 11 AM–3 PM |
| Create Your Own Pasta | from $13.99 | All day |
| Soup, Salad & Breadsticks (dinner) | $18.29 | Dinner and weekends |
Prices vary by location. For every section in one place, see the complete Olive Garden menu on our homepage.
Why Lunch Is the Best Time to Save
Lunch pricing is the single biggest money-saver. Lunch-sized favorites cost several dollars less than full dinner plates, and the soup and salad deal is $4.30 cheaper than at dinner. Our Olive Garden lunch menu prices guide lists every lunch item and explains the 3 PM cutoff.
Best Cheap Dinner Options
If you can only visit in the evening, these choices keep the bill low:
- Create Your Own Pasta (from $13.99): pick a pasta and a sauce, and skip paid protein toppings to keep the base price.
- Never-Ending Soup, Salad and Breadsticks ($18.29): more expensive than pasta, but unlimited refills make it great value if you are hungry. Learn the refill rules in our soup and salad guide.
- Take half home: dinner entrées are large, so one plate can become two meals.
Watch Out for These Extra Costs
Drinks, protein add-ons and premium sauces can quietly raise your bill by several dollars. Delivery orders may also include service fees. If you are counting every dollar, drink water and share one dessert.
Six Simple Ways to Spend Less
- Visit Monday to Friday before 3 PM for lunch pricing.
- Make soup and salad the main meal instead of a starter.
- Share one appetizer between three or four people.
- Box half your entrée for the next day.
- Sign up for official Olive Garden emails to hear about promotions.
- Look for holiday gift card bonus offers before you buy gift cards.
Find more limited-time offers in our Deals & Specials category, and check the Lunch Menu category for weekday savings.
Eating Cheap and Eating Well
Low-cost meals on the Olive Garden menu can still be balanced. Adding an extra salad refill increases your vegetables, which the Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage. Calorie counts on chain restaurant menus, required under the FDA menu labeling rules, make it easy to compare options.
