Olive Garden’s Eggplant Parmigiana features lightly breaded eggplant slices baked with marinara sauce and melted Italian cheeses (mozzarella and Parmesan), served over a bed of spaghetti. It’s one of the best vegetarian entree options on the menu — though there’s an important caveat that vegetarians need to know about, which we’ll cover below.
The dish follows the same beloved “parmigiana” preparation as the Chicken Parmigiana, but with eggplant as the star. The breading is light and crispy, the eggplant is tender, and the combination of marinara and melted cheese makes every bite satisfying. It’s proof that vegetarian Italian food can be just as hearty and comforting as meat-based dishes.
The Eggplant Parmigiana is $18.99 at Olive Garden as of February 2026. It’s one of the more affordable entrees, sitting right between the Five Cheese Ziti al Forno ($18.49) and the Lasagna Classico ($19.49). Like all dine-in entrees, it includes unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks.
At 850 calories, the Eggplant Parmigiana is one of the lighter entrees on the menu. It’s substantially lower than the Chicken Alfredo (1,570 cal) and even lighter than the Five Cheese Ziti (1,050 cal). The protein content (30g) is respectable for a vegetarian dish, coming mainly from the cheese and breading.
By default, the Eggplant Parmigiana is served over spaghetti with meat sauce — not marinara. This means the dish as it comes is not vegetarian. To make it fully vegetarian, you must specifically ask for marinara sauce instead of meat sauce. This is a free substitution and servers are accustomed to the request, but you need to remember to ask. It’s a surprising default that trips up many vegetarian diners.
You can also substitute the spaghetti with gluten-free rotini at no extra charge if needed.
If you’re dining vegetarian at Olive Garden, here’s everything available to you:
These are the two main vegetarian entrees, so how do they compare?
Available at all Olive Garden locations. Find your nearest restaurant on our location map. For the full menu, see our complete 2026 price list.