Your Guide to Olive Garden Low-Carb Menu Items Today

Does Olive Garden Offer Low-Carb Options?

Many people think that the dishes at Olive Garden have too many carbs and do not fit a low-carb way of eating like the keto diet. But it can be simple to find meals at Olive Garden that are good for your keto diet, even if you are watching your daily grams of carbs.

Olive Garden features a variety of keto-friendly foods, including grilled meat, salmon, and sirloin, complemented by sides like steamed broccoli. Craving pasta? Customize your entrées by swapping high-carb pasta for low-carb zucchini noodles or vegetables.

No matter if your goal is weight loss or if you want to stay in ketosis, Olive Garden has options full of healthy fat and low in carbs. If you choose your food carefully, you can enjoy great flavors and not go off track with your ketogenic goals.

Are you ready to find out what you can eat there? Let’s look at some Olive Garden low-carb choices.

The exterior of an Olive Garden Italian restaurant
The exterior of an Olive Garden Italian restaurant

Table of Contents

Olive Garden Low-Carb Menu Options

Olive Garden is known for its pasta dishes, but there are also some great low-carb keto-friendly choices for those who follow a ketogenic diet.

You can customize your meal by choosing options like grilled chicken margherita, herb-grilled salmon, or Italian sausage links. These tasty dishes are low in net carbs and fit well with your keto diet.

You can also choose soups like Zuppa Toscana or Minestrone with a side of steamed broccoli or zucchini noodles to stay on your keto plan. Whether you eat at the restaurant or order takeout, Olive Garden offers options that fit your needs and keep you satisfied.

Grilled Chicken Margherita

Olive Garden low-carb chicken margerita topped with pesto and tomatoes
Olive Garden low-carb chicken margerita topped with pesto and tomatoes

Olive Garden’s grilled chicken margherita has two grilled chicken breasts topped with mozzarella cheese, garlic herb butter, pesto, and lemon garlic sauce. This dish fits well with a keto diet and offers great flavor without too many carbs.

Each serving has only 14 grams of carbs, giving you a good balance of protein and fat while keeping carbs low. The chicken is juicy and comes with fresh broccoli, making the meal filling and keto-friendly.

If you’re watching calories, this dish has a moderate amount of fat. Whether you want a tasty dinner or to share, the grilled chicken margherita at Olive Garden is a great low-carb choice. Pair it with unsweetened iced tea for a perfect keto Olive Garden meal.

Herb Grilled Salmon

Olive Garden low-carb grilled salmon topped with lemon and spices
Olive Garden low-carb grilled salmon topped with lemon and spices

Herb-grilled salmon at Olive Garden is a delicious and keto-friendly meal. It includes a grilled salmon fillet topped with garlic herb butter and comes with steamed broccoli. This meal is low in carbs, with only 8 grams, and has plenty of protein to keep you strong.

You can easily substitute the broccoli with a garden vegetable mix and still enjoy a healthy, nutrient-rich meal.

At Olive Garden, the herb-grilled salmon is a hearty, keto-friendly, high-protein meal bursting with flavors that will keep you coming back for more.

Zoodles Primavera

Classic pasta primavera with broccoli, zucchini, and bell peppers
Classic pasta primavera with broccoli, zucchini, and bell peppers

Zoodles Primavera is a delicious vegan dish at Olive Garden that contains only 5 net carbs per serving, making it a great choice for those on a keto diet.

It features a variety of healthy vegetables like mushrooms, tomatoes, and bell peppers, and you can add grilled chicken or shrimp to increase the protein content. This fresh and flavorful meal pairs well with the creamy Alfredo sauce and fits perfectly into a low-carb lifestyle.

Italian Sausage Links

Olive Garden low-carb grilled Italian sausages
Olive Garden low-carb grilled Italian sausages

Italian sausage links at Olive Garden are a top pick if you are on a keto diet. The dish gives you that spicy, rich taste you get from spicy Italian sausage.

The sausages use savory spice blends, so they taste great by themselves. You can pair them with sautéed veggies or steamed broccoli. There are only 2 grams of total carbs in two links. People who like Italian food and need to watch their carbs will enjoy this option.

Pick a lemon garlic or mushroom sauce with your sausages for extra flavor while staying keto. These sausage links are great for lunch, dinner, or chopped into salads for added protein.

Sirloin

Olive Garden low-carb grilled sirloin steak
Olive Garden low-carb grilled sirloin steak

For those who love steak and want low-carb meals, sirloin from Olive Garden low-carb menu is a top pick. The 6-ounce sirloin is covered with a tasty mushroom sauce. It gives you a lot of protein and only a few grams of carbs.

This steak at Olive Garden is cooked on a grill, so it stays juicy and soft. Each serving has just 4 net carbs, which makes it good for keto or weight loss plans. You can get this for lunch or dinner with low-carb sides to fill you up.

Olive Garden Low-Carb Appetizers, Soups, and Salads

Check out Olive Garden if you want some satisfying low-carb appetizers, soups, and salad bowls at the start of your meal. You can have their famous house salad without croutons and add their signature Italian dressing.

Regarding soups, Zuppa Toscana and Minestrone are good keto options, especially when paired with a salad to keep carbs low. Adding grilled chicken or sausage boosts your protein and fat intake.

Steamed broccoli (0g net carbs), side salad and house salad without croutons (1g net carbs), and parmesan crusted zucchini or garlic broccoli (4g net carbs) are great Olive Garden low-carb sides.

Zuppa Toscana

Olive Garden low-carb Tuscan soup with kale and mushrooms
Olive Garden low-carb Tuscan soup with kale and mushrooms

Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana soup is a great keto choice with creamy cauliflower broth, sausage, and kale. It contains 13 grams of net carbs, making it suitable for low-carb diets.

The soup provides good protein and fat, and pairs well with steamed broccoli or salad instead of breadsticks.

This soup is a great starter or light meal, especially on cold days. To eat keto at Olive Garden, Zuppa Toscana offers creamy, bold flavors while fitting your low-carb diet. Many consider it a favorite choice.

Minestrone Soup

Classic minestrone soup with white beans and bread
Classic minestrone soup with white beans and bread

Minestrone soup combines veggies, beans, and a tomato-based broth for a light choice at Olive Garden. Despite containing pasta, it has just 13 grams of net carbs per serving, making it suitable for those watching their carb intake.

The soup has lots of fiber and vitamins, making it a healthy choice. It’s vegan and fits many diets. To keep it keto, don’t eat breadsticks or croutons. You can have it with a garden salad, but leave out the croutons to keep carbs low.

House Salad

Olive Garden low-carb salad with grilled chicken, sour cream, and veggies
Olive Garden low-carb salad with grilled chicken, sour cream, and veggies

Olive Garden low-carb house salad is perfect for anyone on a keto diet. It has fresh leafy greens, tomatoes, olives, onions, and pepperoncini. Just ask for no croutons to keep it low-carb. Their signature Italian dressing has few carbs and adds great flavor.

The salad has only 5 grams of net carbs per serving, making it a great low-carb option. You can enjoy it with your meal or as a light lunch. Adding grilled chicken or sausage boosts the protein and makes it more satisfying.

Tips for Ordering Olive Garden Low-Carb Items

Traditional Italian dishes with pasta and pizza
Traditional Italian dishes with pasta and pizza

Choosing low-carb food at Olive Garden can be a good way to stick to your goals and still enjoy your meal.

Go for a protein option like grilled chicken margherita or a grilled salmon fillet. Both of them are lower in carbs.

For a side, try steamed broccoli with garlic herb butter. It tastes great and does not have many carbs. You can also pick a lunch portion to have fewer calories.

If you want to make the meal fit your diet better, check out their Gluten Sensitive menu and ask for some changes. You could get no croutons in your salad or switch the regular pasta for zucchini noodles.

It’s okay to ask for modifications, so your meal works for you.

What to Avoid at Olive Garden

Varieties of pasta in Italian cuisine
Varieties of pasta in Italian cuisine

Staying keto at Olive Garden means you have to keep away from foods that come with a lot of carbs. The pasta dishes, like spaghetti or fettuccine, as well as anything on the dessert menu are not good for a keto diet.

These foods have too many carbs, so they will not fit your plan. Breadsticks may look good on the table, but you should not eat them either, because they are full of starch.

Desserts are also not the right choice. Cakes and tiramisu have a lot of sugar and will take you out of ketosis fast.

You need to watch out for marinara sauce, too. The sauce seems safe, but there is a lot of hidden sugar in it. Try mushroom sauce or Alfredo sauce instead. These are much better for a keto meal.

Pay attention when you order soup. Soups like Pasta Fagioli come with beans, pasta, and other things that have lots of carbs.

If you follow these tips, you can enjoy keto at Olive Garden and stick with your low-carb lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Best Low-Carb Sauces at Olive Garden?

Alfredo sauce, lemon garlic sauce, garlic herb butter, and mushroom sauce are the best low-carb choices at Olive Garden. These will give your meal plenty of flavor without adding too many carbs. If you are eating keto, do not choose marinara sauce because it has a lot of sugar.

Can I Customize Meals to Fit a Low-Carb Diet at Olive Garden?

Yes, Olive Garden lets you change your meal so it can fit a keto diet. You can ask to swap pasta for zucchini noodles or even broccoli. You can also ask them to leave out things with a lot of carbs, like croutons. If you need any changes, just tell your server about the modifications you want.

Final Thoughts

Olive Garden has a good range of low-carb menu choices that work well for your diet. The food is still full of flavor. You can try the Grilled Chicken Margherita or the Zoodles Primavera. There is something for everyone at Olive Garden. It is a good place to eat out and still stick to a low-carb way of eating.

When you pick appetizers or sides, take time to choose well. This helps you get the most health benefits from your meal. If you know what to stay away from and plan ahead, you can have a meal at Olive Garden and not feel bad about your food choices.

If you want to have a tasty low-carb meal, go to your local Olive Garden. You can enjoy delicious yet keto-friendly with your friends or family. Treat yourself to good food at a keto restaurant and make the most of your dining time today!