The Minestrone is Olive Garden’s classic Italian vegetable soup and the lightest option on the entire menu at just 120 calories per bowl. It’s a traditional Italian preparation featuring a variety of vegetables, beans, and small pasta in a tomato-based broth seasoned with Italian herbs. While the other soups at Olive Garden are cream-based and hearty, the Minestrone is light, brothy, and refreshing — making it the go-to for calorie-conscious diners and anyone looking for a healthy start to their meal.
A single bowl costs $8.79. Get it unlimited as part of the $11.99 lunch combo Monday-Friday 11AM-3PM, or unlimited as a side with any dine-in entree.
At 120 calories and just 1g of fat, the Minestrone is in a completely different league from the other soups. Compare: Zuppa Toscana has 300 cal and 22g fat; Chicken & Gnocchi has 350 cal and 18g fat. If you’re eating unlimited soup during the lunch combo, choosing Minestrone means you could eat three bowls (360 cal) and still consume fewer calories than one bowl of Zuppa Toscana (300 cal) plus one bowl of Chicken & Gnocchi (350 cal combined = 650 cal).
The Minestrone is vegetarian and generally considered the most vegan-friendly option at Olive Garden. The ingredients are plant-based: vegetables, beans, pasta, and tomato broth with Italian herbs. However, Olive Garden’s kitchen is not a vegan or allergen-free environment — cross-contamination with dairy and other animal products is possible. People following a strict vegan diet should discuss their needs with the restaurant manager.
For other vegan-friendly options, the house salad (without croutons, ask about dressing ingredients) may also work. The breadsticks contain dairy (butter) and are not vegan.
Available at most Olive Garden locations — call ahead to confirm daily soup availability since not every location has all four soups every day. Find your nearest restaurant on our location map. For the full soup, salad, and breadsticks experience, see our complete lunch combo guide.