Copycat Olive Garden Soups, Salad and Breadsticks

Inspired by: Olive Garden’s Chicken & Gnocchi Soup

I tasted a similar soup at Olive Garden and wanted to see if I could re-create it myself at home. Here’s the delicious result! It’s wonderful on a chilly evening. —Jaclynn Robinson, Shingletown, California

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Check out even more of our copycat Olive Garden recipes.

Italian Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

For an Italian twist on salad, I mix greens with red onion, mushrooms, olives, pepperoncini, lemon juice and Italian seasoning. Add tomatoes and carrots if you'd like. —Deborah Loop, Clinton Township, Michigan

Love their dressing? Pick up a bottle of Olive Garden’s Signature Italian Salad Dressing online.

Inspired by: Olive Garden’s Minestrone Soup

It’s hard to not go overboard when you’re at Olive Garden. From the Never Ending Pasta Bowls to the all-you-can-eat breadsticks and tiramisu for dessert, it’s pretty much a carbapalooza. Luckily, for people who want a lighter option, there’s Olive Garden minestrone soup. —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Looking for more copycat recipes? Learn how to make Olive Garden’s black tie mousse cake.

Get Our Recipe for Minestrone

Homemade Alfredo Sauce

When I found out I had celiac disease and couldn’t have fettuccine Alfredo, I was determined to figure out a way to re-create it. I mix this homemade alfredo sauce with gluten-free multigrain pasta, but you can use any style of pasta. —Jackie Charlesworth Stiff, Frederick, Colorado. You can use this sauce to make Asiago tortelloni alfredo with grilled chicken.

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Inspired by: Zuppa Toscana

I let my young son pick out seed packets and he chose kale, which grew like crazy. This hearty soup helped make good use of it and rivals a restaurant version that we love.
—Michelle Babbie, Malone, New York

Inspired by: Marinara Dipping Sauce

When my tomatoes ripen, the first things I make are BLTs and this homemade spaghetti sauce. —Sondra Bergy, Lowell, Michigan

Slow-Cooker Pasta e Fagioli

Crock pot pasta fagioli is a hearty bean-and-pasta soup that's packed with nutrition, thanks to the vegetables in this dish. It's incredibly easy to make in a slower cooker, so it's a perfect dish to start on a cool day, letting it cook while you do whatever else you choose. Simple, super, satisfying.

Inspired by: Breadsticks

A cheesy, saucy pasta dish is comfort food at its finest, but the breadsticks are the star of the show. This easy recipe is your secret to freshly baked breadsticks that are every bit as buttery, garlicky and melt-in-your-mouth tender as Olive Garden’s. Enjoy them before the meal with a fresh salad or save them until the end to soak up leftover sauce from your entree.

Psst: We’ll show you how to make Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuits.