Cheapest Meals at Olive Garden (Under $15) — 2026

What Are the Cheapest Meals at Olive Garden? (2026)

The cheapest full meal at Olive Garden in 2026 is the weekday soup, salad and breadsticks combo at $10.49. Lunch-sized entrées start at $11.49, and every option below comes in under $15 — including the unlimited soup and salad deal. Here’s the full list, ranked from cheapest to priciest.

The lunch menu and soup-and-salad combos are the secret: eat at lunch and you can get a filling meal for less than a fast-casual burrito. See our complete Olive Garden menu with prices for 2026 for every dish.

The 7 cheapest meals at Olive Garden, ranked

All prices are for standard U.S. restaurants and may vary slightly by location. Lunch-sized portions are served during lunch hours.

1. Weekday soup, salad and breadsticks — $10.49. The cheapest seat in the house. Unlimited soup and salad plus the famous breadsticks, available on weekdays at lunch. Pair it with a glass of water and it’s the lowest total you’ll spend on a full meal.
2. Lunch-sized Five Cheese Ziti — $11.49. The cheapest hot entrée on the menu: ziti baked with five cheeses in marinara. It also comes with unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks, which makes it the best value per dollar on the list.
3. Lunch-sized Eggplant Parmigiana — $11.49. Tied with the ziti at $11.49 — breaded eggplant with marinara and melted cheese, plus soup or salad and breadsticks. The vegetarian pick.
4. Lunch-sized Shrimp Scampi — $12.49. Shrimp sautéed in garlic sauce over angel hair. At just a dollar more than the cheapest entrées, it’s the bargain seafood option — compare the dinner portion for a sense of the lunch discount.
5. Lunch-sized Chicken Parmigiana — $12.49. The classic crispy chicken parmigiana in a smaller lunch portion. One of the most-ordered dishes at the restaurant, and the lunch version is a genuine deal.
6. Soup, salad and breadsticks (soup + salad) — $13.49. Unlimited soup AND unlimited salad with breadsticks — two dollars more than the weekday version, worth it if you want both courses unlimited.
7. Create Your Own Pasta — $13.99. Pick your pasta, sauce and topping for under $14. It’s the most customizable cheap option — build something simple and filling without paying entrée prices.

Cheapest Olive Garden meals: prices (2026)

Note that lunch-sized portions are served during lunch hours — check the 2026 lunch menu with prices for the full midday lineup.

Cheapest way to eat at Olive Garden: lunch vs combos

Two strategies here. Lunch-sized entrées ($11.49–$12.49) are smaller versions of real entrées plus soup or salad and breadsticks. Soup and salad combos ($10.49–$13.49) skip the entrée but are unlimited — big appetites can get more food for less.

If you’re eating for two, check the 2 for $25 deal — it often beats two cheap solo orders, working out to $12.50 per person for a full multi-course meal.

Verdict: the best cheap meal at Olive Garden

For the absolute lowest price, the weekday soup, salad and breadsticks at $10.49 can’t be beaten. For the best value, the lunch-sized Five Cheese Ziti at $11.49 wins — a real hot entrée plus soup or salad and breadsticks for barely more than a fast-food combo. Either way, eating at lunch is the single biggest money-saver at Olive Garden.

Cheapest meals at Olive Garden FAQs

What is the cheapest entrée at Olive Garden?

The lunch-sized Five Cheese Ziti and lunch-sized Eggplant Parmigiana at $11.49 each are the cheapest hot entrées. For any meal type, the weekday soup, salad and breadsticks combo at $10.49 is the cheapest option overall.

Are lunch-sized portions available all day?

No — they’re served during lunch hours only. Ask your local restaurant about exact lunch hours, since they vary by location.

Is the soup and salad deal unlimited?

The soup, salad and breadsticks combos are unlimited soup and salad — you can keep ordering more of both. That’s what makes the $10.49 and $13.49 combos such strong value.

What’s cheaper than the 2 for $25 deal?

Per person, two lunch-sized entrées at $11.49–$12.49 each ($22.98–$24.98 total) can come in just under the $25 deal. But the 2 for $25 deal typically includes more courses — see our 2 for $25 breakdown to compare.

More Olive Garden price guides

• Lunch menu with prices 2026
• 2 for $25 deal explained
• Tour of Italy price 2026
• Full Olive Garden menu with prices (2026)

Prices checked October 2026 for standard U.S. restaurants. Prices may vary by location.

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Maria Conti

Maria Conti is a food writer and casual dining enthusiast who tracks restaurant deals, menu changes, prices and value offers across the U.S. She covers Italian-American restaurant chains for readers who want clear, up-to-date menu information and practical comparisons.

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