What Is Olive Garden’s Lasagna Classico?

The Lasagna Classico is Olive Garden’s traditional Italian lasagna — layers of tender pasta, rich seasoned meat sauce, three cheeses (ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan), all baked to golden perfection in the restaurant’s ovens. It’s comfort food at its absolute best, and it’s one of those dishes that tastes like it took hours to prepare — because it did.

Lasagna has been on the Olive Garden menu since the beginning, and the Classico version has remained largely unchanged over the years. It’s a testament to the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy, and fans wouldn’t have it any other way. The dish also appears as one-third of the beloved Tour of Italy plate.

Price in 2026

Olive Garden’s Lasagna Classico costs $19.49 as of February 2026, making it one of the more affordable entree options on the menu. It’s one of the best values considering the portion size — you get a thick, hearty slice that’s genuinely filling. Compared to the Chicken Alfredo at $26.49 or the Shrimp Scampi at $23.49, the Lasagna saves you $4-7 while delivering a similarly satisfying meal.

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 930
• Fat: 47g
• Saturated Fat: 22g
• Sodium: 2,830mg
• Carbs: 72g
• Protein: 55g

At 930 calories, the Lasagna Classico sits in a comfortable middle ground — it’s lighter than the Chicken Alfredo (1,570 cal) and Tour of Italy (1,500 cal), but heavier than Shrimp Scampi (610 cal). The protein content is excellent at 55g, largely coming from the meat sauce and three cheeses.

What Makes It Good?

Several factors make Olive Garden’s Lasagna Classico stand out from what you’d find at other chain restaurants or even in a frozen grocery store lasagna:

• The meat sauce: Slow-cooked with a blend of ground beef and Italian seasonings, it has a rich, deep flavor with a hint of sweetness from the tomatoes. It’s not overly tomato-heavy — it strikes a balance between meaty and saucy.
• Three cheeses: The combination of ricotta (creamy), mozzarella (melty, stretchy), and Parmesan (sharp, nutty) creates layers of flavor and texture that make each bite different from the last.
• The pasta layers: The pasta sheets are cooked to the perfect tenderness — firm enough to hold the structure but soft enough to cut through easily with a fork.
• The baked top: The mozzarella on top gets golden and slightly crispy from the oven, adding a textural contrast to the soft interior layers.
• The portion size: It’s a thick, substantial slice that’s one of the most filling items on the menu. Many diners box half for the next day.

Lasagna Classico vs. Lasagna Fritta

Don’t confuse the Lasagna Classico (entree) with the Lasagna Fritta (appetizer, $12.79). The Lasagna Fritta is a completely different dish — it’s tubes of lasagna pasta filled with five cheeses and meat sauce, breaded and fried, then served with marinara and Alfredo sauces for dipping. It’s delicious in its own right, but it’s a fried appetizer with 1,030 calories, not the traditional baked lasagna. See our appetizers guide for all starter options.

Customization & Tips

• Extra cheese: Ask for additional mozzarella melted on top — it adds richness without changing the dish’s character
• Extra meat sauce: A side of meat sauce brings out the best in the lasagna
• Pair with the right soup: Minestrone (120 cal) balances the richness of the lasagna, while Zuppa Toscana (300 cal) complements it with similar Italian flavors
• Reheating tip: Lasagna reheats beautifully in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes covered with foil. Add a splash of water to keep it moist. Microwave works too but the oven gives better texture.

Available for Catering

Lasagna Classico is one of the most popular catering items at Olive Garden. A small pan serves 6-8 people and a large pan serves 12-15 people — perfect for office lunches, birthday parties, holiday dinners, or family gatherings. It travels well, stays warm for a reasonable amount of time, and everyone loves it. Pair it with a pan of house salad and a bag of breadsticks for a complete meal that practically caters itself.

How It Compares to Other Pasta Entrees

• vs. Five Cheese Ziti ($18.49): Both are cheesy baked pasta dishes, but the Lasagna has meat sauce and the Ziti is vegetarian. Ziti is $1 cheaper. Choose Lasagna if you want meat; Ziti if you want pure cheese.
• vs. Spaghetti with Meat Sauce ($17.49): Both feature meat sauce, but the Lasagna adds layers of cheese and a baked preparation. Spaghetti is $2 cheaper and lighter.
• vs. Tour of Italy ($24.79): The Tour includes a portion of Lasagna alongside Chicken Parm and Alfredo. If you want more Lasagna specifically, the standalone gives you a bigger serving.

Find It Near You

Available at all 900+ Olive Garden locations for dine-in, takeout, and delivery. It’s a permanent menu item. Use our Olive Garden location finder to see restaurants near you on the map, or check our complete dinner menu guide for all entree options.