Pasta & Entrees

Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo – Price, Calories & What to Know (2026)

What Is Olive Garden’s Chicken Alfredo?

Olive Garden’s Chicken Alfredo is their best-selling entree — and it has held that spot for years. It features tender grilled chicken breast served over a generous bed of fettuccine pasta, tossed in their signature homemade Alfredo sauce. The sauce is made fresh daily at each restaurant using cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese, giving it a rich, velvety texture that’s hard to replicate at other chain restaurants.

This dish has been a cornerstone of the Olive Garden menu since the chain’s early days, and it consistently ranks as the #1 most-ordered item across all 900+ locations nationwide. If you’ve never been to Olive Garden, this is the dish most regulars would recommend you start with — it’s their signature for a reason.

Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo Price in 2026

As of February 2026, the Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo is priced at $26.49. This price includes unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks when dining in — which adds substantial value compared to ordering the same dish at a non-chain Italian restaurant where you’d pay a similar price without the extras.

Here’s how it compares to other Alfredo options on the menu:

  • Chicken Alfredo: $26.49 (1,570 cal) — the classic and most popular choice
  • Shrimp Alfredo: $27.49 (1,310 cal) — lighter in calories despite the higher price
  • Chicken & Shrimp Alfredo: $28.99 (1,440 cal) — the premium option combining both proteins
  • Create Your Own Alfredo: $16.99 (1,010 cal) — the budget option with just pasta and sauce

If you’re looking for the best value, the base Create Your Own Alfredo at $16.99 gives you the same iconic sauce and fettuccine without a protein, saving almost $10. But most guests agree the grilled chicken elevates the dish significantly.

Calorie & Nutrition Breakdown

The full-size Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo contains approximately 1,570 calories. Here’s the detailed nutritional breakdown:

  • Calories: 1,570
  • Total Fat: 96g
  • Saturated Fat: 48g
  • Sodium: 1,880mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 107g
  • Protein: 69g

If you’re watching calories, there are several strategies to reduce the impact. Ask your server for a lunch-sized portion, which cuts the calories roughly in half. You can also request the Alfredo sauce on the side and use it sparingly, or substitute lighter angel hair pasta for the fettuccine. Some regulars order the dish and immediately box half for the next day — giving you two meals for the price of one.

Compared to Other Entrees

At 1,570 calories, the Chicken Alfredo is one of the higher-calorie options on the menu. For comparison, the Shrimp Scampi comes in at just 610 calories, while Eggplant Parmigiana is 850 calories. The lightest pasta option with protein is the Shrimp Scampi by a wide margin.

What Makes Olive Garden’s Alfredo Sauce Special?

One of the things that sets Olive Garden apart from competitors is that their Alfredo sauce is made from scratch every day in each restaurant’s kitchen. It’s not shipped in pre-made or reheated from a bag — the kitchen team actually makes it fresh using heavy cream, real butter, and aged Parmesan cheese.

The result is a sauce that’s noticeably richer and creamier than what you’ll find at most chain restaurants. It clings to the fettuccine perfectly and has a subtle nuttiness from the Parmesan that balances the richness of the cream and butter. Olive Garden is so confident in their sauce that they actually sell a bottled version in grocery stores — though most fans agree the restaurant version tastes better.

How to Order Chicken Alfredo at Olive Garden

You can order Chicken Alfredo at any of the 900+ Olive Garden restaurants across the US. Here are your options:

  • Dine-In: Includes unlimited salad or soup and unlimited breadsticks — the best overall experience and value
  • Olive Garden To Go: Order online at olivegarden.com or via their mobile app for curbside pickup
  • Delivery: Available through DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub — note that prices may be slightly higher on third-party apps
  • Catering: Available in large pans for events — a small pan of Fettuccine Alfredo serves 6-8 people for $52.99

Customization Options & Pro Tips

Olive Garden is very flexible with customizations. Here are the most popular requests from regular diners:

  • Extra sauce or sauce on the side: Great for calorie-conscious diners or pasta lovers who want more to dip breadsticks in
  • Add shrimp (+$5-6): Upgrade to the Chicken & Shrimp combo for the best of both worlds
  • Substitute gluten-free rotini: Available at no extra charge for guests with gluten sensitivities
  • Half portion / lunch size: Available during lunch hours (11AM-3PM) at a lower price and fewer calories
  • Add extra chicken: For more protein without changing the dish
  • Extra Parmesan cheese: Your server will grate fresh Parmesan at the table — always say yes
  • Ask for it extra hot: Alfredo cools quickly, especially for to-go orders. Requesting extra heat helps

Insider Tip: The Breadstick Dip

One of the best-kept secrets at Olive Garden is dipping your unlimited breadsticks into the Alfredo sauce. Ask for a small side of Alfredo for dipping — most servers will bring it at no extra charge. The garlic butter breadsticks with creamy Alfredo is a combination that keeps people coming back.

Chicken Alfredo vs. Other Popular Entrees

How does the Chicken Alfredo stack up against other top sellers?

  • vs. Tour of Italy ($24.79): The Tour of Italy is actually cheaper and gives you three dishes (Chicken Parm, Lasagna, and Fettuccine Alfredo) — but smaller portions of each. Choose Chicken Alfredo if you want a full, generous plate of one dish done perfectly.
  • vs. Chicken Parmigiana ($22.99): The Chicken Parm is $3.50 cheaper and lower in calories (1,060 cal). Choose it if you prefer marinara over cream sauce.
  • vs. Five Cheese Ziti ($18.49): The most affordable entree option if you’re craving cheesy pasta. No protein included but very filling.

Making Chicken Alfredo at Home (Copycat Tips)

If you want to recreate the Olive Garden experience at home, here are the key tips:

  • Use heavy cream (not half-and-half) — this is what gives the sauce its richness
  • Real butter, not margarine — at least 4 tablespoons for a batch serving 4
  • Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano — pre-grated cheese doesn’t melt as smoothly
  • Cook fettuccine until just al dente — it will continue cooking in the sauce
  • Reserve pasta water — adding a splash helps the sauce cling to the pasta
  • Season the chicken with Italian seasoning, salt, and garlic powder before grilling

How to Find Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo Near You

Chicken Alfredo is available at every Olive Garden location in the US — it’s a permanent menu item that’s never been removed. To find the nearest restaurant, use our Olive Garden location finder tool which includes an interactive map and state-by-state directory. Most locations are open daily from 11AM to 10PM, and you can call ahead to place a to-go order if you don’t want to wait. For more menu options, check out our complete 2026 menu price list.