Ah, those delightful breadsticks at Olive Garden. I remember before I went vegan those soft, garlicky breadsticks were my favorite thing about going to Olive Garden. I could put down a half dozen in one sitting (this is Ryan writing, not Jen lol)
After I went vegan I was concerned that Olive Garden breadsticks were going to be a thing of the past. I guess I assumed that they had to be doused in butter to be that light and airy.
Good news – I was wrong!
The breadsticks at Olive Garden are vegan. And are even listed as vegan-friendly on Olive Garden’s website.
As an added bonus, the marinara sauce is also vegan, so if you enjoy dipping your breadsticks in a little marinara (who doesn’t), you’re good to go.
No Modifications?
Some fast-food breadsticks (like Little Caesar’s Crazy Bread that require you to order ahead with no parmesan cheese) need small modifications to make them vegan.
Not so with Olive Garden’s breadsticks. No modifications are needed. How cool is that?
In case you’re wondering, the garlic topping is made from margarine and the bread does not contain any butter or egg. Olive Garden even specifically says so in their Nutritional FAQs.
However, you can’t order just breadsticks (I mean, you could, we’re not here to judge) so what else is vegan at Olive Garden that you can pair with your breadsticks.
Other Vegan Options at Olive Garden
Along with breadsticks, you can order a number a different pastas at Olive Garden, either a single portion or the never-ending pasta bowl.
The Angel Hair, Cavatappi, Fettuccine, Rigatoni, Small Shells, Spaghetti, Whole Grain Linguine and Zoodles are all vegan friendly.
Top any of your pastas off with Olive Garden’s marinara, spicy marinara, tomato sauce and/or garden veggies.
Not in the mood for pasta?
Order a salad, as long as you order with NO croutons or Italian dressing. You can sub Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar in place of the Italian dressing.
You can also order the minestrone soup that is made with “fresh vegetables, beans and pasta in a light tomato broth – a vegan classic.”
In fact, Olive Garden’s Weekday Lunch Special of ‘Soup AND Salad AND Breadsticks’ is totally vegan friendly once you make a couple of small modifications to the salad.
Final Thoughts
Chalk up Olive Garden’s breadsticks as a major win for vegans everywhere. Just don’t blame us when you eat one too many and you struggle to get up from the table (been there).
Finally, if you’d like to see every vegan option available at Olive Garden, make sure to check out our complete Olive Garden Vegan Guide.
