Quick answer: until November 22, 2026 the best deal is the dine-in Never Ending Pasta Bowl from $14.99. Every weekday the lunch specials are the cheapest way to eat at Olive Garden: soup, salad and breadsticks for $9.99, and lunch plates from $12.49.
Olive Garden specials calendar 2026
Olive Garden runs a small number of big national specials a year rather than a value menu. In 2026 the two headline promotions were Buy One, Take One in spring and Never Ending Pasta in fall; the lunch specials run all year.
Olive Garden deals in 2026
| Special | When | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Never Ending Pasta Bowl | Aug 31 – Nov 22, 2026 | from $14.99 | On now (dine-in) |
| Never Ending Pasta Pass | Sale Jul 16; valid Aug 24 – Nov 22 | $100.00 + tax | Sold online, limited to 10,000 |
| Buy One, Take One | Mar 16 – May 3, 2026 | from $14.99 | Ended |
| Weekday lunch | Mon–Fri, 11 am – 3 pm | from $12.49 | Every week |
| Soup, salad & breadsticks lunch | Mon–Fri, until 2:30 pm | $9.99 | Every week |
Weekday lunch specials
The lunch menu is Olive Garden's permanent special, and the one most people mean by Olive Garden lunch specials. Lunch-sized favorites cost $12.49–$13.49 and come with soup or salad and breadsticks when you dine in; the lunch Chicken Parmigiana is $7.80 cheaper than the dinner plate. The soup, salad and breadsticks special costs $9.99 against $13.99 later in the day.
Lunch specials
| Menu item | In restaurant | Restaurant range | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch Soup, Salad & Breadsticks | $9.99 | $9.99 | — |
| Lunch Fettuccine Alfredo | $12.49 | $10.99 – $14.99 | 920 |
| Lunch Spaghetti | $12.49 | $10.99 – $14.99 | 480 |
| Lunch Cheese Ravioli | $12.49 | $10.99 – $14.99 | 440 |
| Lunch Chicken Parmigiana | $13.49 | $11.99 – $15.99 | 630 |
| Lunch Lasagna Classico | $13.49 | $11.99 – $15.99 | 500 |
| Lunch Shrimp Scampi | $13.49 | $11.99 – $15.99 | 460 |
Buy One, Take One
Buy One, Take One returned on March 16, 2026 and ran until May 3: one entrée to eat in the restaurant and a second, chilled one to take home, from $14.99 — the same starting price as in 2025. Some entrées carried a surcharge. eClub members could order from March 9. The take-home entrée does not include soup, salad or breadsticks. Like in 2025, it was a spring special.
Everyday specials on the menu
Without a limited-time special, value at Olive Garden comes from three places: the cheapest pasta plates, the smaller Lighter Portions and the family bundles to go.
Cheapest full plates
| Menu item | In restaurant | Restaurant range | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spaghetti with Meat Sauce | $14.99 | $13.99 – $18.99 | 640 |
| Spaghetti with Marinara | $14.99 | $13.99 – $18.99 | 490 |
| Create Your Own Pasta | $14.99 | $13.99 – $18.99 | — |
| Fettuccine Alfredo | $17.49 | $16.99 – $21.29 | 1,310 |
| Cheese Ravioli | $17.99 | $17.29 – $21.49 | 750 |
| Eggplant Parmigiana | $18.79 | $17.79 – $21.79 | 1,070 |
Lighter portions (all day)
| Menu item | In restaurant | Restaurant range | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Parmigiana (lighter portion) | $15.49 | $13.99 – $17.99 | 630 |
| Lasagna Classico (lighter portion) | $15.49 | $13.99 – $17.99 | 500 |
| Spaghetti & Meatballs (lighter portion) | $15.49 | $13.99 – $17.99 | 690 |
| Fettuccine Alfredo (lighter portion) | $14.49 | $12.99 – $16.99 | 920 |
| Spicy Alfredo Fettuccine (lighter portion) | $14.49 | $12.99 – $16.99 | 1,000 |
| Eggplant Parmigiana (lighter portion) | $14.49 | $12.99 – $16.99 | 660 |
| Five Cheese Ziti al Forno (lighter portion) | $14.49 | $12.99 – $16.99 | 630 |
| Cheese Ravioli (lighter portion) | $14.49 | $12.99 – $16.99 | 440 |
Family bundle specials
For four to six people, the family-style bundles combine an entrée pan, a Famous House Salad and a dozen breadsticks. At $71.99 the Lasagna bundle works out at about $14.40 a person for five — less than a lunch plate.
Family-style bundles
| Menu item | In restaurant | Restaurant range | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family-Style Five Cheese Ziti Bundle (serves 4–6) | $68.79 | $61.99 – $71.99 | 7,960 |
| Family-Style Lasagna Bundle (serves 4–6) | $71.99 | $62.99 – $77.99 | 6,700 |
| Family-Style Chicken Parmigiana Bundle (serves 4–6) | $79.29 | $71.99 – $82.49 | 8,070 |
| Family-Style Chicken Alfredo Bundle (serves 4–6) | $85.29 | $76.99 – $90.49 | 9,330 |
| Large Family-Style Lasagna Bundle (serves up to 12) | $102.99 | $93.99 – $108.99 | 13,030 |
Protein and calories per dollar
By protein per dollar, the grilled dishes beat the creamy pastas. The table ranks the dinner menu.
Most protein per dollar
| Dish | Typical price | Protein | Protein per $1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Tortelloni Alfredo | $23.99 | 112 g | 4.7 g |
| Chicken Alfredo | $21.79 | 81 g | 3.7 g |
| Stuffed Chicken Marsala | $21.79 | 72 g | 3.3 g |
| Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo | $23.29 | 74 g | 3.2 g |
| Tour of Italy | $23.49 | 72 g | 3.1 g |
| Grilled Chicken Margherita | $21.29 | 65 g | 3.1 g |
| Chicken Parmigiana | $21.29 | 64 g | 3.0 g |
| Shrimp Alfredo | $22.49 | 63 g | 2.8 g |
How to catch the next specials
- Join the eClub — in 2026 it gave a week of early access to both big promotions.
- Eat in rather than to go when you want refills: soup or salad and breadsticks are only unlimited at the table.
- For a group of ten or more, compare the catering combinations ($231.00 for 8–14) with family bundles: catering prices.
- Prices differ by restaurant: the same dinner for two cost $69.54 in Dallas and $79.04 in Seattle (prices by city).
Back to the Olive Garden menu with prices.
Paid a different price? Tell us
Two taps, no account, no email. We check every report and update the prices ourselves.
Frequently asked questions
What specials does Olive Garden have right now?
The Never Ending Pasta Bowl from $14.99 (dine-in, through November 22, 2026), the weekday lunch menu with soup, salad and breadsticks for $9.99, and the family bundles to go.
Does Olive Garden have a lunch special?
Yes, Monday to Friday: soup, salad and breadsticks for $9.99 (listed until 2:30 pm) and lunch-sized favorites from $12.49 until 3 pm.
When is Buy One, Take One at Olive Garden?
In 2026 it ran from March 16 to May 3, from $14.99: one entrée in the restaurant and a second one to take home. It is a spring promotion; it is not running now.
Does Olive Garden have a value menu?
No dollar or value menu. The cheapest full plates are Spaghetti with Meat Sauce or Marinara and Create Your Own Pasta at $14.99, and the lunch and Lighter Portions menus are smaller and cheaper.
Does Olive Garden have a happy hour?
Not chain-wide; any bar specials are set by the individual restaurant.
What is the best deal at Olive Garden for a family?
A family bundle: the Five Cheese Ziti bundle is $68.79 and the Lasagna bundle $71.99 for four to six with salad and a dozen breadsticks — about $14.40 a person for five.
How do I get Olive Garden deals first?
Join the Olive Garden eClub: in 2026 members got early access to both Buy One, Take One (March 9) and the Never Ending Pasta Bowl (August 24).