What Is the Never Ending Pasta Bowl?

The Never Ending Pasta Bowl is Olive Garden’s most anticipated annual promotion and one of the most iconic deals in casual dining. For $13.99, you get unlimited pasta with unlimited sauce combinations — and you can switch your pasta shape and sauce with every refill. Add protein (grilled chicken, shrimp, or meatballs) for a one-time charge of $4.99 that applies to all your refills.

The promotion turns Olive Garden into an all-you-can-eat Italian pasta buffet — except you’re ordering from a menu with mix-and-match options. Start with fettuccine Alfredo, switch to penne marinara, then try rigatoni with meat sauce — there’s no limit. It’s the ultimate deal for pasta lovers and the promotion that social media goes wild for every fall.

How It Works

1. Choose your first pasta shape: spaghetti, penne, rigatoni, fettuccine, angel hair, or others
2. Choose your sauce: marinara, meat sauce, Alfredo, five cheese marinara, or others
3. Optionally add protein for $4.99: grilled chicken, shrimp, or Italian meatballs (applies to all refills)
4. Eat your first bowl — includes unlimited soup/salad and breadsticks
5. Order another bowl with any combination — unlimited refills, different pasta and sauce each time

Price

$13.99 base price. Add protein for a one-time charge of $4.99. This price includes unlimited soup or salad and unlimited breadsticks — exactly like ordering any regular entree. When you compare it to the regular Chicken Alfredo at $26.49, the Never Ending Pasta Bowl with chicken ($18.98 total) gives you unlimited pasta for $7.51 less than a single plate of Alfredo.

Expected 2026 Dates

The Never Ending Pasta Bowl typically runs from mid-September through mid-November. Exact 2026 dates haven’t been announced yet — Olive Garden usually announces the promotion in August. Sign up for the eClub to be notified as soon as dates are confirmed. Also watch for the Buy One Take One promotion, which typically runs at a different time of year.

Strategy: How to Get the Most Out of It

• Start light: Begin with a lighter sauce (marinara) so you can eat more bowls before feeling full
• Try different combos each refill: This is the whole point — explore the menu without commitment
• Add protein for $4.99: It applies to ALL refills, making it incredible value
• Pace yourself: Take your time between bowls — there’s no rush and no time limit
• Bring a group: More people means more combinations being ordered, and you can sample each other’s choices
• Go early in the promotion: The first few weeks have the most enthusiasm from kitchen staff

Best Pasta & Sauce Combinations to Try

• Bowl 1: Fettuccine with Alfredo — start with the classic
• Bowl 2: Penne with Five Cheese Marinara — tangy and cheesy
• Bowl 3: Rigatoni with Meat Sauce — hearty and filling
• Bowl 4: Angel Hair with Marinara — light and simple to end

Find It Near You

When available, the Never Ending Pasta Bowl is offered at all Olive Garden locations for dine-in only (not available for takeout or delivery). Find your nearest restaurant on our location map. For year-round pricing, see our complete 2026 menu guide.