Olive Garden Specials: What’s On Right Now and How to Save
Looking for Olive Garden specials today? Right now you can get unlimited pasta, a cheap second meal to take home and smaller lunch plates at lower prices. Each deal has its own rules. Some work only at dine-in. Others run only on weekdays.
Here’s every special Olive Garden runs right now, what you get and the small print that matters. For regular menu items, see our Olive Garden menu with prices.
Key facts
- The Never-Ending Pasta Bowl runs until November 22, 2026, starting at $14.99.
- Buy any entrée and add a chilled classic to take home for $6.
- Most restaurants serve Lunch-Sized Favorites Monday to Friday before 3 p.m.
- Family Bundles feed 4 to 6 people for pickup or delivery.
- Olive Garden doesn’t run a chain-wide happy hour.
- Prices and deals vary by location.
What Specials Does Olive Garden Have Right Now?
| Special | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Never-Ending Pasta Bowl | Unlimited pasta, plus soup or salad and breadsticks | From $14.99 |
| $6 Take Home Entrées | A chilled classic to take home with any entrée | $6 |
| Lunch-Sized Favorites | Smaller portions of classic dishes on weekdays | Check your local menu |
| Soup, Salad and Breadsticks (lunch) | House salad, a soup of your choice and breadsticks | Check your local menu |
| Family Bundles | Entrée pan, house salad and a dozen breadsticks | Check your local menu |
Never-Ending Pasta Bowl
This is the big one. From August 31 to November 22, 2026, you build a pasta bowl and keep the refills coming. Prices start at $14.99, and you also get never-ending soup or salad and breadsticks.
Pick one of four pastas: fettuccine, spaghetti, angel hair or rigatoni. Then add a sauce. This year’s lineup has Spicy Alfredo, Alfredo, Meat Sauce, Five Cheese Marinara, Traditional Marinara and Creamy Mushroom. A protein topping adds $4.99: Crispy Shrimp Fritta, Crispy Chicken Fritta, Meatballs or Italian Sausage. You pay for the topping once and can switch on refills.
Spicy Alfredo and Crispy Shrimp Fritta are new this season. Refills work for dine-in only. Our Olive Garden pasta menu guide breaks down every combo.
Tip: Go on a weekday afternoon. You’ll wait less and have time for a few rounds without a crowd behind you.
$6 Take Home Entrées
Does Olive Garden still have $6 take home meals? Yes. Buy any entrée in the restaurant or online, and add a fresh, chilled classic to take home for $6. Olive Garden lists Fettuccine Alfredo, Five Cheese Ziti al Forno and Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. Heat it up later for a second meal.
- The take-home entrée doesn’t come with soup, salad or breadsticks, and Olive Garden allows no substitutions.
- You need to buy a regular entrée first. Browse the Olive Garden dinner menu for ideas.
- Dine-in guests can add up to five Take Homes per entrée. To Go orders get one per entrée.
- The price can run higher in some locations.
Tip: Pair a Never-Ending Pasta Bowl with a $6 Take Home Entrée. You eat well tonight and have lunch ready for tomorrow.
Olive Garden Lunch Specials
Lunch gives you the best value at Olive Garden. Most restaurants serve Lunch-Sized Favorites Monday through Friday before 3 p.m. Some regions set different hours.
Lunch-Sized Favorites
You get smaller portions of house classics at a lower price. Each plate still comes with soup or salad and breadsticks.
| Lunch dish | What’s in it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fettuccine Alfredo | Fettuccine in Alfredo sauce | Check your local menu |
| Lasagna Classico | Pasta layers, Italian cheeses and meat sauce | Check your local menu |
| Chicken Parmigiana | Breaded chicken with marinara and melted cheese | Check your local menu |
| Shrimp Scampi | Shrimp, asparagus and tomatoes over angel hair | Check your local menu |
| Eggplant Parmigiana | Breaded eggplant with marinara and cheese | Check your local menu |
| Five Cheese Ziti al Forno | Baked ziti with Italian cheeses | Check your local menu |
| Cheese Ravioli | Cheese ravioli with marinara or meat sauce | Check your local menu |
| Spaghetti and Meatballs | Spaghetti with meat sauce and meatballs | Check your local menu |
Soup, Salad and Breadsticks Lunch Special
Want something lighter? Order the weekday Soup, Salad and Breadsticks special: the Famous House Salad, a bowl of soup and warm breadsticks. Pick from any of the Olive Garden soups. See our Olive Garden lunch menu for the full list.
Family-Style Meals
Feeding a group at home? Olive Garden sells Family Bundles and family-size pans for pickup and delivery. A bundle gives you a pan of the entrée, a house salad and a dozen breadsticks, and standard bundles feed 4 to 6 people. Our Olive Garden family meals guide lists every bundle. For bigger events, check the Olive Garden catering menu.
Specials That Come and Go
Olive Garden rotates deals through the year. Watch for these:
- Limited-time dishes. New pastas and sauces show up for a season, then leave. Look for “New” or “Limited Time” tags on the menu.
- Value bundles for two. Our 2 for $25 menu guide covers one of the best-known deals and whether it’s running.
- The Never-Ending Pasta Pass. Olive Garden brought it back in 2026 and sold 10,000 passes for $100 plus tax. The pass ends November 22.
Tip: Join the free Olive Garden eClub. This year, members got early access to the Never-Ending Pasta Bowl starting August 24.
Do Specials Work for To Go and Delivery?
- Never-Ending Pasta Bowl: refills are dine-in only.
- $6 Take Home Entrées: add one to an online order or a dine-in meal.
- Family Bundles: pickup and delivery only.
- Lunch-Sized Favorites: check your local menu before 3 p.m. on a weekday.
Delivery fees and coverage depend on where you live. Read our Olive Garden delivery guide for details.
Allergy note: Most Olive Garden specials feature pasta, cheese, cream sauces and breadsticks, so wheat, milk and eggs show up often, and some toppings add shellfish. Kitchens share equipment, so cross-contact can happen. Review the Olive Garden allergen menu and our gluten-free menu guide, and tell your server about any allergy when you order.
How to Check Specials at Your Local Olive Garden
- Pick your restaurant in the Olive Garden app or website. The menu then shows local deals and prices.
- Open the Specials section for current national offers.
- Ask your server. Some restaurants run local extras that never appear online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Olive Garden’s specials today?
Right now Olive Garden offers the Never-Ending Pasta Bowl, $6 Take Home Entrées, weekday Lunch-Sized Favorites, a weekday soup, salad and breadsticks lunch and Family Bundles. Deals vary by location.
Does Olive Garden still have $6 take home meals?
Yes. Buy any entrée and add a chilled classic to take home for $6. The price can run higher in some areas.
What time do Olive Garden lunch specials end?
Most restaurants serve lunch specials Monday through Friday until 3 p.m. Some regions differ, so check your local hours.
Does Olive Garden have a happy hour special?
Not chain-wide. Some restaurants run their own bar specials. Our Olive Garden happy hour guide explains how to check.
Are you allowed to split meals at Olive Garden?
You can share regular dishes with your table. The Never-Ending Pasta Bowl works per person, so each guest who wants refills needs an order. Ask your server about any sharing charge.
What are the different types of Olive Garden meals?
You can choose dine-in entrées, lunch-sized plates, the Never-Ending Pasta Bowl, family bundles and pans, and catering trays.
What are typical family meal options at Olive Garden?
Family Bundles of Lasagna Classico, Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Parmigiana and Five Cheese Ziti al Forno top the list. Each comes with salad and breadsticks.
Is Never-Ending Pasta a special or a regular menu item?
It’s a seasonal special. This year’s run ends November 22, 2026.
Final Thoughts on Olive Garden Specials
The best Olive Garden specials right now are the Never-Ending Pasta Bowl and the $6 Take Home Entrée. Use them together for two meals at a low price. On weekdays, lunch plates give you even more value. Check your local menu before you go, since deals and prices change by restaurant. For everything else, head to our Olive Garden menu with prices.
Ready to Order?
Compare every pasta combo or browse the full menu first.
Disclaimer: theolivegardenmenu.com is an independent, unofficial guide. We are not affiliated with Olive Garden or Darden Restaurants. Menu items, deals and prices vary by location and can change at any time.
