26 Best Olive Garden Copycat Recipes

Treat yourself and your loved ones to a scrumptious Olive Garden-inspired dinner right in the cozy confines of your own home with these exceptional copycat recipes! Whether you are trying to save money, expand your cooking skills, or would rather just stay cozy, these recipes are here to help you out. This expansive list includes a wide selection of Olive Garden favorites, ranging from soft breadsticks to appetizing starters and delicious main courses. Make protein-rich meals such as the steak gorgonzola or the shrimp scampi.

Another option is to make a light dinner using the copycat salad recipe and the Caprese flatbread. It’s hard to narrow it down since there are many terrific dishes. However, you can even cook multiple recipes if you want to go all out and give your family the whole dining experience! Whichever way you go about it, these meals give you that comforting and familiar flavor of Olive Garden, but it’s much more rewarding since you can make it all yourself. The best part? Some of the recipes on this list are healthier variations of the restaurant food, so it’s a win-win.

1. Olive Garden Grilled Chicken Margherita (Copycat)

Our Copycat version of Olive Garden’s Chicken Margherita dish is lovely because we slightly adjusted it to make it more nourishing. The main ingredient is chicken breast, but it also has lemon juice, garlic, low-fat buttery spread, and more. The small amount of basil pesto and mozzarella cheese with the cherry tomatoes is to die for! You can serve this dish with pasta or rice or make it lighter with veggies or salad.

2. Copycat Olive Garden Salad and Dressing

There’s just something so refreshing about Olive Garden’s salad. It is the perfect appetizer that temporarily satisfies hunger but also makes you want more. This salad uses iceberg and romaine lettuce. For the toppings, it has red onion, Roma tomatoes, black olives, and pepperoncini, and then it is finished off with a dusting of grated parmesan cheese. This recipe also tells you how to make the classic Olive Garden dressing!

3. Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti

You’re not alone if Olive Garden’s five-cheese ziti is something you always crave but never thought you could make at home. However, the good news is that this recipe by Eating On A Dime exists! The main components of this delicious meal are ziti pasta, marinara sauce, alfredo sauce, and, of course, the five cheeses. Specifically, for best results, use ricotta, fontina, mozzarella, romano, and parmesan cheese.

4. Olive Garden Spaghetti and Meatballs

We love classic spaghetti and meatball recipes, and since this one is an Olive Garden copycat, you can be confident that it is incredibly flavorful. The recipe helps you to make a homemade marinara sauce which is always healthier and better tasting than jarred sauce. Some other tasty ingredients include hearty meatballs, traditional spaghetti noodles, parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley!

5. Olive Garden Toasted Ravioli

Looking for an appetizer everyone will go crazy over? This toasted ravioli recipe inspired by Olive Garden is the way to go. You only need a handful of ingredients to make it successfully! For example, some ingredients include meat ravioli, eggs, garlic salt, flour, and bread crumbs. Of course, try to choose a healthy frying oil, and don’t forget to drain excess oil to keep the appetizer healthy.

6. Olive Garden Chicken Parmigiana

Chicken Parmigiana is one of Olive Garden’s most famous dishes, so of course, we had to find a copycat recipe for it. I’m Hungry For That posted this recipe that’s super easy to make and perfect for weeknights. Some of the top ingredients include boneless skinless chicken breasts, mozzarella cheese, marinara sauce, and Italian breadcrumbs. Once you bread and cook the chicken, it turns gorgeous golden brown, and the cheese melts over the top of it!

7. Chicken Piccata Olive Garden Copycat

Let’s just talk about this chicken piccata recipe for a second! This Olive Garden copycat recipe only takes 30 minutes total, so what are you waiting for? With hints of capers, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, and garlic, this chicken meal is succulent and hard to resist. It’s healthier to use a low-fat butter replacement, and you can also substitute the cream for Greek yogurt if you wish. Garnish it with fresh herbs!

8. Giant Cheese Stuffed Shells (Copycat)

We love our Weight Watcher-friendly copycat recipes. This recipe helps you make Olive Garden’s giant cheese stuffed shells without having to worry because it’s only 10 points per serving! This tasty dish has cottage cheese, parmesan, Italian seasoning, chives, and more stuffed into the large pasta shells. Meanwhile, you can enjoy the shells in a savory tomato sauce and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese! We recommend serving this with a side salad.

9. Olive Garden Breadsticks

Have you ever wondered if you could recreate the soft and buttery breadsticks from Olive Garden? This recipe by Moribyan does just that! The recipe has a few components: bread dough, garlic butter topping, and parmesan and marinara to garnish and dip the bread in. Once you make and shape the bread, bake it until it’s golden. Brush the breadsticks with the buttery mixture and enjoy them while they are warm.

10. Olive Garden Steak Gorgonzola

This Olive Garden recipe is no longer available on the menu, but it’s such a classic that Season And Thyme created a copycat recipe for it! With tangy gorgonzola cheese and juicy filet mignon steak, the flavors are heavenly. Not to mention, all of this is topped on fettuccine noodles coated in a sauce. Lastly, the dish also has fresh spinach, and a balsamic reduction, making it an elegant meal that your guests will love.

11. Pasta e Fagioli (Olive Garden Copycat)

This soup recipe is incredible because you can enjoy it as an appetizer or a main course. It has meat and tons of beans, giving it plenty of protein. Furthermore, it has an abundance of veggies, so it’s incredibly nutritious. Some of the best ingredients include ground beef, carrots, garlic, celery, and great Northern and kidney beans. To keep it just like the Olive Garden version, use ditalini pasta!

12. Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat

With ingredients like russet potatoes, savory chicken broth, crispy bacon, and Italian sausage, you can only imagine how delicious this meal is. Of course, it’s the copycat recipe for Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana. In total, it takes about 45 minutes to make, which isn’t too bad considering how complex the flavor profile is. We recommend serving this with breadsticks or a warm dinner roll which you can dip in the saucy mixture.

13. Olive Garden Copycat Salad

Here is another recipe so that you can make an Olive Garden-worthy salad as a starter for your next dinner! With fresh tomatoes, peppers, and olives, the salad is nourishing, and the dressing is delicious. Specifically, the dressing has olive oil, white vinegar, Italian seasoning, garlic, and more. Drizzle it over the top or toss the whole salad in it.

14. Olive Garden Grilled Chicken and Alfredo Sauce

CopyKat created this Olive Garden copycat recipe for the grilled chicken and Alfredo dish. This is one of the restaurant’s most loved dishes, so we knew we had to share this with you. For best results, BBQ the fresh chicken breasts to give them gorgeous grill marks. The Alfredo sauce has heavy cream, parmesan, garlic, and more, making it comforting and yummy. Of course, you can’t forget the fettuccine noodles, which bring the whole meal together.

15. Easy Air Fryer Lasagna Fritta (Olive Garden Copycat)

Olive Garden fried lasagna? Yep, you can make it in the air fryer, which is healthier than cooking it in oil. It has an unending flavor due to the multiple cheeses, lasagna noodles, parmesan, and plenty of seasonings. This recipe explains how to make Olive Garden Alfredo sauce so you can drizzle it over the top or dip it in. Once air fried, these have a deep brown color and are crispy on the outside.

16. Copycat Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo

We’ve shared how you can make the chicken Alfredo, but how about the shrimp Alfredo? This Olive Garden copycat recipe is perfect for seafood lovers. The recipe explains how to make the homemade sauce with the noodles and then, of course, how to pan-fry the shrimp to perfection. We recommend you serve this with some light and nutritious vegetables on the side!

17. Minestrone Soup (Olive Garden Copycat)

Whether you need a starter or a vegetarian-friendly entree, this minestrone is the way to go. Thanks to Momsdish, you can make this classic soup just like Olive Garden does! With traditional elbow macaroni, carrots, zucchini, celery, and different kinds of beans, your body will thank you for supplying it with tons of vitamins and nutrients! We recommend sprinkling fresh parsley on top before serving for a beautiful presentation.

18. Olive Garden Bolognese

If you need a fantastic Bolognese sauce to start using with your meals, this Olive Garden copycat recipe is perfect for you. It is nearly identical to the exact recipe that the restaurant uses! This sauce is versatile since you can serve it over pasta, meatballs, or layered lasagna meals. It has onions, carrots, garlic, ground beef, and Italian sausage, making it meaty and satisfying.

19. Olive Garden Copycat Braised Beef and Tortellini

We can’t get over this delicious beef and tortellini recipe! Your family will eat up every bite. With tender cooked yellow onions, dried basil, five cheese tortellini, and slow simmer and beef tips, it’s impressive, to say the least. It’s a balanced meal with veggies, protein, and pasta that fills you up. The Olive Garden version has mushrooms in it, but it’s up to you whether or not you want to include them.

20. Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

Did someone say chicken scampi? Fed By Sab shared this recipe so you can make the famous dish yourself! This colorful meal has yellow, green, and red peppers, giving it a vibrant and show-stopping appearance. The chicken is perfectly juicy, and the pasta is al dente, so the dish has plenty of texture variation. We recommend serving it with asparagus or broccoli!

21. Better Than Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

The tender gnocchi texture in this soup perfectly complements the shredded chicken and spinach. If you’ve never tried this phenomenal soup at Olive Garden, now is the time to make it at home! The soup is the perfect balance of creamy and hearty. If you don’t have shredded chicken, you can use diced chicken pieces too, but it does have a slightly different look and feel.

22. Shrimp Scampi Fritta (Olive Garden Copycat)

Here’s an appetizer recipe that Olive Garden goers typically love! Luckily, you don’t have to drive to the restaurant to try it. This fried shrimp is crispy and delicious when you serve it with fresh lemon wedges. Thaw, rinse, and drain the large shrimp first for best results. Once they are done, dip them in sweet chili sauce to have the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

23. Olive Garden Chicken Marsala

We couldn’t leave out a dish as famous as Olive Garden’s Chicken Marsala! Our take on the recipe is much healthier than the restaurant version, so that’s a plus. It’s a delicious combination of fresh mushrooms, chicken breast, zucchini, and noodles. We use yogurt in the sauce to keep it lighter and ensure the noodles are whole wheat. Make this the next time you have a small gathering, and your guests will be blown away!

24. Smoked Mozzarella Fonduta

This cheesy starter is perfect for dipping breadsticks or even crisp vegetables in. It’s made with sour cream, an Italian cheese blend, Roma tomatoes, and more. The dried pepper flakes and cayenne give it subtle hints of spiciness. But above all, it’s super creamy and divine. For the best outcome, hold off on adding the diced tomatoes until the last moment so they can be a charming garnish!

25. Caprese Flatbread

Although Olive Garden took this off the menu, it doesn’t mean you can’t make it at home! To make it easy on yourself, use premade refrigerated pizza crust dough. Aside from that, the recipe includes plum tomatoes, garlic, basil, and mozzarella cheese. Bake the flatbread until the edges and crust are perfectly crisp. Also, wait until the cheese melts and the tomatoes soften, making this appetizer super indulgent!

26. Olive Garden Five Cheese Marinara

Clarks Condensed shared this Olive Garden copycat recipe for the five-cheese marinara! This is an option on the kid’s menu, too, so it’s no doubt that your whole family will love it. It’s super easy to make since you can use pre-made marinara, Alfredo sauce, and the shredded Italian cheese blend. Use ricotta or Greek yogurt to thicken it and give it some tangy undertones!

And I’ll leave you with the full recipe to my healthier version of Olive Garden’s Chicken Marsala.