Olive Garden is known for its warm, hearty soups made fresh in house every day. Soup is a staple on the Olive Garden menu, with customers often getting unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks. While Olive Garden has a rotating selection of soups, four stand out as homemade favorites: Zuppa Toscana, Pasta e Fagioli, Chicken & Gnocchi, and Minestrone. Keep reading to learn more about Olive Garden’s top four homemade soups!
Quick Answers
- Zuppa Toscana
- Pasta e Fagioli
- Chicken & Gnocchi
- Minestrone
Zuppa Toscana
Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana is a creamy, potato-based soup loaded with spicy Italian sausage, russet potatoes, kale, and cream. This soup is inspired by the flavors of Tuscany, with a little spice added in. It has a thick, hearty texture from the potatoes and cream that sticks to your ribs. The kale adds an earthy, slightly bitter note that balances the richness of the cream and potatoes. And the spicy sausage gives it a nice kick of heat and savoriness.
Here are some key facts about Zuppa Toscana:
- Main ingredients: Italian sausage, russet potatoes, kale, heavy cream
- Texture: Thick and creamy
- Flavor profile: Hearty, creamy, spicy, earthy
- Toppings: Grated Parmesan cheese, fried onion strings
- Fun fact: It’s one of Olive Garden’s most popular soups
This indulgent, potato-based soup is a customer favorite at Olive Garden. Its blend of cream, pork sausage, potatoes, and greens makes it a filling and comforting choice.
Pasta e Fagioli
Olive Garden’s Pasta e Fagioli is a classic Italian soup made with pasta, beans, and vegetables simmered in a savory broth. This hearty soup blends cannellini beans and pasta shells with carrots, celery, and onions in a tomato-based broth. Some key ingredients that give this soup its Italian flair include pancetta (Italian cured pork), garlic, oregano, and a Parmesan rind.
Here are some key facts about Pasta e Fagioli:
- Main ingredients: Cannellini beans, pasta shells, pancetta, tomatoes, carrots, celery, onion
- Texture: Hearty chunks in a tomato broth
- Flavor profile: Savory, tomatoey, slight spice
- Toppings: Grated parmesan cheese, parsley
- Fun fact: Pasta Fagioli means “pasta and beans” in Italian
This classic Italian soup has body from the beans and pasta and big flavor from the tomato base. It’s a comforting, family-style soup option at Olive Garden.
Chicken & Gnocchi
Olive Garden’s Chicken & Gnocchi soup features tender chunks of chicken and potato gnocchi dumplings in a creamy broth. The broth has a rich cream and Parmesan cheese base seasoned with garlic, black pepper, and roasted chicken. Tender diced chicken and fluffy gnocchi dumplings add hearty substance.
Here are some key facts about Chicken & Gnocchi:
- Main ingredients: Chicken, potato gnocchi, cream, Parmesan
- Texture: Chunky pieces of chicken and dumplings in a creamy broth
- Flavor profile: Creamy, cheesy, savory
- Toppings: Parmesan cheese, parsley
- Fun fact: Gnocchi means “dumplings” in Italian
This soup is like an elevated, creamy chicken noodle soup thanks to the addition of gnocchi dumplings and Parmesan. It’s a comforting choice with familiar chicken and potato flavors in a rich broth.
Minestrone
Olive Garden’s take on classic Minestrone soup contains mixed vegetables, beans, pasta, and tomato broth. This chunky Italian soup has cabbage, carrots, celery, onions, white beans, and ditalini pasta in a seasoned tomato broth. While ingredients vary by season, the key components are veggies, beans, small pasta, and a light tomato broth.
Here are some key facts about Minestrone:
- Main ingredients: Mixed vegetables (carrots, celery, onions, cabbage), beans, ditalini pasta, tomato broth
- Texture: Lots of chunky vegetables and pasta in tomato broth
- Flavor profile: Light, veggie-packed, tomatoey
- Toppings: Grated Parmesan cheese, parsley
- Fun fact: Minestrone means “big soup” in Italian
This classic Italian soup has bold veggie flavors and lots of texture from different vegetables and small pasta. It’s lighter than some cream-based soups.
Soup-Making Techniques at Olive Garden
All of Olive Garden’s soups are made fresh in house daily using quality ingredients and meticulous technique. Here are some of the key ways Olive Garden achieves homemade flavor in their soups:
- Simmering soup bases all day – Rich broths are simmered for 6-8 hours.
- Roasting veggies – Vegetables are roasted before adding to soup for deeper flavor.
- Using fresh ingredients – Soups are made with fresh veggies, pasta, and dairy.
- Layering flavors – Aromatics like onion, garlic, and pancetta build layered flavor.
- Finishing with cheese – A final addition of Parmesan or Romano cheese adds a tangy flavor punch.
- Choosing quality pasta – Olive Garden uses pasta imported from Italy for their soups.
Olive Garden’s team of soup chefs meticulously craft each soup using time-honored techniques for depth of flavor in every bowl.
Nutrition Information
Olive Garden’s homemade soups range from around 100-300 calories per 8 oz serving. They offer a mix of veggies, protein, and starch to make a balanced one-bowl meal.
| Soup | Calories | Key Nutrients |
|---|---|---|
| Zuppa Toscana | 290 | Potato, sausage, cream |
| Pasta e Fagioli | 170 | Beans, tomato, pasta |
| Chicken & Gnocchi | 280 | Chicken, potato, cream |
| Minestrone | 120 | Mixed veggies, beans, pasta |
Olive Garden’s soups provide a hearty serving of vegetables, protein, cream or tomatoes, and starch from pasta or potato. They make a filling but not too heavy meal starter.
Price and Availability
Olive Garden offers their four homemade soups every day they are open. Soup is included as part of Olive Garden’s famous unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks lunch special available 11am-3pm on weekdays.
The soups are available in regular or large sizes:
- Regular bowl: $5.79
- Large bowl: $7.79
Unlimited soup is offered with salad and breadsticks as part of various weekday lunch combos:
- Soup, salad & breadsticks: $8.99
- Soup, salad, breadsticks, and small pasta: $9.99
The four homemade soups can also be purchased as part of a take-home meal with breadsticks and other entrees. Olive Garden’s soups like Zuppa Toscana and Chicken & Gnocchi are fan favorites to enjoy in restaurant or take home.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Olive Garden Soup
Here are some tips to get the most enjoyment out of Olive Garden’s soups:
- Add Parmesan – A sprinkle of shredded Parmesan can add a tasty finishing touch.
- Pair with salad and breadsticks – Enjoy your soup with unlimited salad and warm breadsticks.
- Try a soup sampler – Order a trio of small soups to sample different flavors.
- Take it to go – Soups stay fresh for multiple days and make easy meals.
- Order an extra – Get a large or extra cup to save some soup for later.
- Add veggies – For extra nutrition, ask for additional vegetables in your soup.
- Embrace cream – Go all in and enjoy the unapologetic creaminess of Zuppa Toscana or Chicken & Gnocchi.
- Sip don’t slurp – Savor the flavor in each spoonful.
Sinking your spoon into a steamy bowl of Olive Garden soup is a simple pleasure. Follow these tips to truly savor the experience and flavors.
Pairing Soups with Olive Garden Entrees
Olive Garden’s homemade soups pair deliciously with their Italian entrees. Here are suggested pairings:
- Zuppa Toscana – Lasagna Classico, Herb-Grilled Salmon
- Pasta e Fagioli – Chicken Parmigiana, Italian Sausage Soup
- Chicken & Gnocchi – Chicken Alfredo, Mushroom Ravioli
- Minestrone – Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
Complement your soup with a salad like Olive Garden’s famous house Italian dressing and unlimited freshly baked breadsticks. Round out your meal with a crisp white wine or Sangria.
Copying the Recipes at Home
Want to recreate that Olive Garden soup flavor at home? Try these copycat recipes:
With the right ingredients and techniques, you can create restaurant-quality Italian soups at home. Olive Garden’s soups like Zuppa Toscana and Chicken & Gnocchi are especially delicious to recreate.
Conclusion
Olive Garden’s homemade soup recipes stand out as hearty, crave-worthy Italian comfort food. Favorites like Zuppa Toscana, Pasta e Fagioli, Chicken & Gnocchi, and Minestrone are made fresh in house every day. Olive Garden’s soups offer a little taste of Tuscany, with creamy, meaty, tomatoey, and vegetable-packed flavors. Enjoy a bowl on its own or paired with unlimited salad and breadsticks for a satisfying Italian meal. With take-home options and copycat recipes, you can continue enjoying Olive Garden’s famous soups all week long.
