Keto at Olive Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide to Ordering Low Carb
January 18, 2022Is it possible to eat keto at a carbohydrate-heavy restaurant like Olive Garden? Absolutely! In fact, there are a number of delicious, keto-friendly a la carte menu items like Parmesan Crusted Zucchini, their famous house salad (without croutons of course), and Chicken Margherita. You can also build your own keto-friendly meals by swapping pasta for steamed broccoli or garden veggies. To help you stay keto at this carb haven, we’ve created this easy, step-by-step guide to ordering keto at Olive Garden.
In this guide you will learn how to:
- Order a la carte keto foods at Olive Garden
- Build your own keto-friendly pasta alternative meals
- Order ready-made keto meal combos
A La Carte Keto at Olive Garden
Believe it or not, there are a number of Olive Garden menu items that are in line with the keto diet. Here are the individual foods with the keto-friendly modifications (and macros!) that you can feel confident ordering:
Appetizers and Sides
Parmesan Crusted Zucchini (side item, not “zucchini bites”)- Macros: Calories 90, Total Fat 7g, Total Carbohydrate 5g (Net 4g), Protein 4g
-
Macros: Calories 440, Total Fat 43g, Total Carbohydrate 5g, Protein 8g
Soups and Salad
Famous House Salad (no croutons, from “gluten-sensitive menu”)- Macros: Calories 110, Fat 8g, 5g Net Carbs, Protein 2g
Tastes of the Mediterranean
Chicken Margherita (lunch portion)- Macros: Calories 370, 22g Fat, 6g Net Carbs, 37g Protein
- Macros: Calories 590, 32g Fat, 6g Net Carbs, 69g Protein
- Macros: Calories 350, 21g Fat, 9g Net Carbs, 33g Protein
- Macros: Calories 500, 24g Fat, 9g Net Carbs, 61g Protein
- Macros: Calories 460, 28g Fat, 4g Net Carbs, 43g Protein
- Macros: Calories 590, 40g Fat, 10g Net Carbs, 45g Protein
Drinks
Italian Bottled Water- Macros: Calories 0, 0g Fat, 0g Net Carbs, 0g Protein
- Macros: Calories 0, 0g Fat, 1g Net Carbs, 0g Protein
- Macros: Calories 60, 1.5g Fat, 6g Total Carbs, 5g Protein
- Macros: Calories 0, 0g Fat, 0g Net Carbs, 0g Protein
- Macros: Calories 0, 0g Fat, 0g Net Carbs, 0g Protein
How to Build Your Own Keto Pasta Alternative Meal
When you build your own keto pasta alternative meal at Olive Garden, you'll never get bored! With over 40 unique combinations, you can have a deliciously satisfying keto meal every single time.
Here's what to do:
Step 1 - Choose Your Base
Steamed Broccoli (sub for pasta)- Macros: Calories 35g, Fat 0g, 3g Net Carbs, 4g Protein
- Macros: Calories 35g, Fat 0g, Net Carbs 4g, Protein 2g
Step 2 - Choose Your Sauce
Creamy Pesto Sauce (1⁄2 portion)- Macros: Calories 405, Fat 41g, 4.5g Net Carbs, 6.5g Protein
- Macros: Calories 430, Fat 43.5g, 6.5g Net Carbs, 5g Protein
- Macros: Calories 220, 17.5g Fat, 9.5g Net Carbs, 5g Protein
- Macros: Calories 95, 5g Fat, 9.5g Net Carbs, 1.5g Protein
- Macros: Calories 150, 9.5g Fat, 8.5g Net Carbs, 7g Protein
Step 3 - Choose Your Toppings
Grilled Chicken- Macros: Calories 140, 3.5g Fat, 0g Net Carbs, 28g Protein
- Macros: Calories 470, 39g Fat, 2g Total Carbs, 27g Protein
- Macros: Calories 480, 40g Fat, 4g Net Carbs, 23g Protein
- Macros: Calories 60, 0g Fat, 0g Net Carbs, 14g Protein
Order Ready-Made Keto Pasta Alternative Combos
Hit the easy button on ordering keto at Olive Garden with any of these keto-friendly pasta combinations. With the macros listed for each, you can be confident you're getting a meal that will keep you in ketosis and feeling your best!
Keto Pesto Chicken and Broccoli
Steamed Broccoli “pasta” + Creamy Pesto Sauce (1⁄2 portion) + Grilled Chicken
- Macros: Calories 580, 44.5g Fat, 7.5g Net Carbs, 38.5g Protein
Keto Veggie "Pasta" and Meatballs
Garden Veggie “pasta” + Traditional Marinara (1⁄2 portion) + Meatballs (3 pieces)
- Macros: Calories 610, 45g Fat, 17.5g Net Carbs, 26.5g Protein
Keto Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta
Garden Veggie “pasta” + Creamy Mushroom Sauce (1⁄2 portion) + Sautéed Shrimp
- Macros: Calories 525, 43.5g Fat, 10.5g Net Carbs, 21g Protein
UP NEXT: Eating Keto at Chipotle - A Step by Step Guide to Ordering Low Carb
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