Olive Garden’s famous breadsticks are a popular appetizer option at the Italian restaurant chain. With their warm, doughy texture and sprinkling of herbs and parmesan cheese, Olive Garden’s breadsticks are undeniably tasty. However, for vegans and others following plant-based diets, the question remains: are the Olive Garden breadsticks actually vegan?
What Makes Something Vegan?
Vegan diets exclude all animal products and byproducts. This means avoiding not only meat, fish, dairy, and eggs, but also ingredients like honey, gelatin, and carmine dye that come from animal sources.
For food to be considered vegan, it must not contain any ingredient that comes from an animal. Vegan diets are entirely plant-based, consisting of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, oils, and legumes.
So in evaluating whether Olive Garden’s breadsticks are vegan, we need to look at each ingredient in the recipe and confirm that it does not contain any animal products or byproducts. We’ll analyze the main ingredients in Olive Garden’s breadsticks shortly.
Olive Garden Breadstick Ingredients
According to Olive Garden’s website, the main ingredients in their breadsticks are:
- Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Water
- Yeast
- Salt
- Soybean oil
- Wheat gluten
- Sugar
- Spices
- Parsley
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Parmesan cheese (pasteurized part-skim milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes)
At first glance, most of these appear to be vegan – they are either plant products or vegan-friendly processed ingredients. However, the parmesan cheese listed at the end indicates that Olive Garden’s breadsticks are not fully vegan.
Analysis of Ingredients
Let’s take a closer look at each of these ingredients:
Enriched Wheat Flour
This is simply wheat flour that has been enriched with added vitamins and minerals like niacin, iron, and riboflavin. Wheat flour and these enriching nutrients are all vegan.
Water
Obviously vegan.
Yeast
Yeast used for baking is vegan. It’s a fungus, not an animal product.
Salt
Table salt is vegan. Sea salt and other salt varieties are vegan too.
Soybean Oil
As a plant-based oil, this is vegan.
Wheat Gluten
Wheat gluten (also called seitan) is made by rinsing starch away from wheat dough. It’s high in protein and commonly used as a vegan meat substitute. Definitely vegan.
Sugar
Most white sugar is processed using bone char from cattle. However, major food brands like Olive Garden typically use vegan sugar sources. Sugar derived from sugar beets or sugarcane is vegan.
Spices
The exact spice blend may vary, but common spices like garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and basil are vegan.
Parsley
Fresh parsley leaves are vegan.
Garlic Powder
Dehydrated garlic powder is vegan.
Onion Powder
Dehydrated onion powder is vegan.
Parmesan Cheese
Here’s the ingredient that makes Olive Garden’s breadsticks non-vegan. Parmesan cheese is made from cow’s milk, rennet from calves, and salt. No plant-based alternatives are used. As a dairy product, parmesan cheese is not vegan.
Are Olive Garden Breadsticks Dairy-Free?
While Olive Garden’s breadsticks contain dairy-based parmesan cheese, some guests wonder if it’s possible to request breadsticks without the cheese sprinkled on top.
Unfortunately, according to Olive Garden customer service, this is not an option. The parmesan cheese is baked right into the breadstick dough before serving. There is no way to easily separate or remove the cheese.
So no, Olive Garden’s standard breadsticks are not dairy-free or vegan. The parmesan cheese baked into the dough makes them a non-vegan menu item. Those following vegan or dairy-free diets will want to avoid Olive Garden’s breadsticks.
Are There Any Vegan Options at Olive Garden?
While the breadsticks aren’t vegan, Olive Garden’s menu does offer some vegan-friendly options:
Minestrone Soup
The classic Italian vegetable soup is made without any dairy products, so it’s vegan as long as no cheese is added on top. Just request no grated cheese when ordering.
Salads
Get a garden salad or Caesar salad without croutons or cheese to make it vegan. Ask for oil and vinegar dressing instead of creamy Caesar dressing.
Marinara Sauce
Request marinara sauce on pasta or zoodles instead of creamy alfredo or meat sauces. Make sure it’s not the meat sauce that typically tops lasagna.
Sides
Steamed broccoli, grilled asparagus, Italian green beans, and roasted potatoes are all vegan side dishes at Olive Garden. Seasonal roasted vegetables are typically vegan too.
Fruit and Oatmeal
The Fruit & Oatmeal item on the Olive Garden breakfast menu contains no animal products and can be requested without the honey topping to be vegan.
So with a few substitutions and special requests, vegans can cobble together a meal at Olive Garden. But the breadsticks will have to be passed over unfortunately.
Nutrition Info for Olive Garden Breadsticks
Here is the nutrition information for Olive Garden’s breadsticks, according to their website:
| Serving Size | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 breadstick | 150 | 3.5g | 24g | 4g |
Each breadstick contains 150 calories, 24g of carbs, and 4g of protein. As you would expect from dough enriched with oil and cheese, the fat content is higher at 3.5g.
The protein comes mainly from the wheat gluten and parmesan cheese. Without the cheese, the breadsticks would be lower in protein.
Comparing Olive Garden Breadsticks to Other Appetizers
Olive Garden’s other appetizers and snacks range quite a bit in their nutrition profiles. Here’s how the breadsticks compare:
| Item | Calories | Carbs | Fat | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breadsticks (1) | 150 | 24g | 3.5g | 4g |
| Bruschetta Fritta (3 pieces) | 430 | 30g | 26g | 7g |
| Fried Mozzarella (5 pieces) | 650 | 38g | 40g | 22g |
| Lasagna Fritta (2 pieces) | 560 | 51g | 28g | 19g |
| Soup or Salad (1 bowl) | 60-180 | 5-15g | 2-12g | 2-5g |
Compared to crisp-fried appetizers like mozzarella sticks and lasagna fritta, the breadsticks are lower in calories, fat, and carbs. Choosing breadsticks over fried appetizers can help limit fat and carb intake. Among appetizers, soup and salad provide lighter, leaner options.
Tips for Making Vegan Breadsticks at Home
While you can’t get truly vegan breadsticks at Olive Garden, you can definitely make your own plant-based breadsticks at home. Here are some tips:
- Use vegan butter or olive oil instead of milk-based butter in the dough.
- Replace the parmesan with nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor.
- Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano and salt before baking.
- Try mixing in roasted garlic or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor.
- Shape sticks in long thin strips before baking for an authentic breadstick shape.
With a few simple ingredient swaps, you can enjoy freshly baked vegan breadsticks with all that delicious doughy, garlicky goodness. Pair them with marinara sauce for dipping to complete the experience.
Conclusion
Olive Garden’s beloved breadsticks contain dairy-based parmesan cheese, which means they are not vegan or dairy-free. The cheese is baked right into the breadstick dough, so it’s not possible to order vegan breadsticks in Olive Garden locations.
However, the restaurant menu does include some vegan options that guests can enjoy. And with a homemade recipe, anyone can make their own delicious vegan breadsticks at home for dipping in plant-based marinara sauce. Though Olive Garden’s breadsticks aren’t vegan themselves, there are still ways vegans can satisfy their breadstick cravings!