Olive Garden Sides & Sauces Menu
The Olive Garden sides and sauces menu covers 12 add ons from $3.49 for parmesan garlic broccoli to $19.99 for the cheese grater with Romano, including protein sides, large containers of every sauce and the vegetable sides served with the grilled entrées. It is the menu that turns a cheap pasta into a full plate.
Sides at Olive Garden do two jobs: they top a pasta with protein or vegetables for a few dollars, and they bring the kitchen's sauces home by the pint. This page lists each side with the typical price and calories from the official guide, the large sauces with their per serving math, and which sides sit on the gluten sensitive and vegan lists. Use them with Create Your Own Pasta to build a custom entrée for less than the named dishes.
Olive Garden Sides & Sauces Menu 2026
Sides & Sauces
All twelve sides, sauces and extras with the typical US price. Large sauces are priced per container, about a pint each.
Cheese Grater
200 cal Side of Crispy Shrimp Fritta
520 cal Side of Meatballs
130 cal Side of Grilled Chicken
510 cal Side of Italian Sausage
150 cal Side of Broccoli
240 cal Side of Crispy Chicken Fritta
200 cal Side of Mashed Potatoes
1750 cal Side of Alfredo Sauce (Large)
290 cal Side of Marinara Sauce (Large)
600 cal Side of Meat Sauce (Large)
800 cal Side of Five Cheese Marinara (Large)
Protein Sides
Grilled chicken ($4.49, 130 cal, 26 g protein) is the leanest add on on the menu. Three meatballs ($4.29, 520 cal), two sausage links ($4.29, 510 cal), crispy chicken fritta (240 cal) and crispy shrimp fritta (200 cal) round out the list.
Vegetable Sides
Parmesan garlic broccoli at $3.49 and 150 calories is the only green side, and garlic mashed potatoes at $3.49 is the other non pasta option. Both swap in for the pasta side on chicken parmigiana, eggplant parmigiana and the sirloin on request.
Large Sauces by the Pint
The four large sauces each cost $9.49 to $10.99: alfredo (1750 calories per container), five cheese marinara (800), meat sauce (600) and marinara (290). Each container is about four servings and breadsticks are sold separately.
Olive Garden Sides & Sauces Menu with Prices
Typical US prices for every sides & sauces item, sorted from cheapest to most expensive, with the lowest and highest price we found across 49 states.
| Item | Price | By state | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side of Broccoli | $3.49 | $3.29 to $4.79 | 150 |
| Side of Mashed Potatoes | $3.49 | $3.29 to $4.79 | 200 |
| Side of Meatballs | $4.29 | $3.99 to $5.79 | 520 |
| Side of Italian Sausage | $4.29 | $3.99 to $5.79 | 510 |
| Side of Crispy Chicken Fritta | $4.29 | $3.99 to $5.79 | 240 |
| Side of Crispy Shrimp Fritta | $4.49 | $4.49 to $5.99 | 200 |
| Side of Grilled Chicken | $4.49 | $4.29 to $5.99 | 130 |
| Side of Marinara Sauce (Large) | $9.49 | $8.49 to $11.29 | 290 |
| Side of Meat Sauce (Large) | $9.49 | $8.49 to $11.29 | 600 |
| Side of Five Cheese Marinara (Large) | $9.49 | $8.49 to $11.29 | 800 |
| Side of Alfredo Sauce (Large) | $10.99 | $9.99 to $12.29 | 1750 |
| Cheese Grater | $19.99 | — | — |
Typical US price = the most common price across our state sample. Prices are higher in California, New York and Alaska. Verify with your local restaurant before ordering.
Olive Garden Sides & Sauces Nutrition Facts
Calories and macros per serving as listed in the official Olive Garden nutrition guide. Use the calculator to add items together.
| Item | Cal | Fat (g) | Sat fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Sugar (g) | Protein (g) | Sodium (mg) | Fiber (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side of Crispy Shrimp Fritta | 200 | 12 | 2.5 | 17 | 3 | 11 | 810 | 1 |
| Side of Meatballs | 520 | 42 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 24 | 1380 | 4 |
| Side of Grilled Chicken | 130 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 26 | 540 | 0 |
| Side of Italian Sausage | 510 | 42 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 27 | 1460 | 2 |
| Side of Broccoli | 150 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 450 | 3 |
| Side of Crispy Chicken Fritta | 240 | 12 | 1.5 | 14 | 0.5 | 20 | 730 | 1 |
| Side of Mashed Potatoes | 200 | 8 | 3 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 580 | 3 |
| Side of Alfredo Sauce (Large) | 1750 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Side of Marinara Sauce (Large) | 290 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Side of Meat Sauce (Large) | 600 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Side of Five Cheese Marinara (Large) | 800 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Source: Olive Garden nutrition guide (US restaurants). Values are for the standard dinner portion unless the item is a lunch or kids dish. Open the nutrition calculator to total a meal.
Healthier Ordering Tips for Sides & Sauces
- Grilled chicken adds 26 g of protein for 130 calories; meatballs add 24 g for 520.
- Broccoli in place of the alfredo side on the sirloin cuts about 500 calories.
- Marinara by the pint is about 70 calories a serving against 440 for alfredo.
- Ask for sauces on the side with takeout to control the amount.
Best Sides & Sauces for Different Customers
| If you want | Order |
|---|---|
| Lean protein | Grilled chicken, $4.49. |
| Vegetables | Parmesan garlic broccoli, $3.49. |
| Sauce at home | Large alfredo, $10.99, plus your own pasta. |
| Vegans | Large marinara sauce and broccoli without parmesan. |
| Gluten sensitive | Grilled chicken, broccoli, mashed potatoes, marinara and meat sauce list no wheat or gluten. |
Allergy and Ingredient Note
Fried sides contain wheat and gluten and share the fryer with shellfish. Meatballs contain dairy, egg, wheat and pork. Alfredo and five cheese marinara contain dairy and wheat; marinara and meat sauce list soy only. Broccoli and mashed potatoes contain dairy; grilled chicken lists no flagged allergens.
Final Thoughts
The sides menu is where value hides at Olive Garden. A grilled chicken side on spaghetti with marinara makes a 620 calorie, 41 g protein entrée at the lowest price on the board, and a pint of sauce with a box of pasta feeds a family for the cost of one dinner plate.
Find Sides & Sauces Near You
Every Olive Garden serves this menu. Find the closest restaurant, check today's hours and get directions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a side of grilled chicken at Olive Garden?
$4.49 at the typical US price, with 130 calories and 26 g of protein.
Can I buy Olive Garden sauces?
Yes. Large containers of alfredo, marinara, meat sauce and five cheese marinara are on the ToGo menu from $9.49.
What is the cheapest side at Olive Garden?
Broccoli and mashed potatoes at $3.49 each.
Which sides are gluten free?
Grilled chicken, broccoli, mashed potatoes, marinara and meat sauce list no wheat or gluten in the allergen guide. Fried sides and the meatballs contain wheat.
How many meatballs are in a side?
Three, the same as the dinner spaghetti and meatballs.
Do large sauces come with breadsticks?
No. Breadsticks are sold separately at $4.79 for a half dozen.
What is the cheese grater?
The rotary Romano grater used at the table, sold with a block of Romano cheese for $19.99.