Olive Garden is an American casual dining restaurant chain that specializes in Italian-American cuisine. The restaurant is known for its unlimited breadsticks, house salads, and classic Italian pasta dishes like fettuccine alfredo. Olive Garden uses a variety of cheeses to create its delicious Italian dishes.
Mozzarella
One of the most popular cheeses used at Olive Garden is mozzarella. Mozzarella is a soft, white cheese with high moisture content. It has a mild flavor and melts beautifully, making it perfect for dishes like chicken parmesan, lasagna, and Caprese salad. At Olive Garden, mozzarella is used for:
- Lasagna – Layers of pasta, meat sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella
- Chicken Parmigiana – Breaded chicken breast topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella
- Caprese Salad – Slices of fresh mozzarella with tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze
- Five Cheese Ziti al Forno – Ziti baked with mozzarella, parmesan, romano, asiago, and fontina
Olive Garden uses both fresh mozzarella and low moisture mozzarella depending on the dish. Fresh mozzarella has a softer, creamier texture while low moisture mozzarella is firmer and has a mild salty flavor.
Parmesan
Parmesan is another essential cheese used at Olive Garden. Parmesan comes from the Parmigiano-Reggiano region of Italy. It’s a hard Italian cheese made from cow’s milk with a crystalline texture and rich, sharp flavor. At Olive Garden, Parmesan is grated and used as a topping for:
- Pastas – Penne Rustica, Fettuccine Alfredo
- Soups – Zuppa Toscana, Pasta e Fagioli
- Salads – House salad, Caesar salad
- Breadsticks
The nutty, salty flavor of Parmesan adds a delicious punch of flavor. Olive Garden uses both Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese as well as less expensive domestic Parmesan.
Ricotta
Ricotta cheese is key component of many Olive Garden dishes. Ricotta is an Italian whey cheese made from sheep, cow, goat or Italian water buffalo milk whey leftover from cheese production. It has a fresh, milky, sweet flavor and creamy texture. At Olive Garden, ricotta is used for:
- Lasagna – Mixed with eggs as one of the layers
- Stuffed Mushrooms – Blended into the creamy filling
- Five Cheese Ziti al Forno – Layered with other Italian cheeses
- Cannoli – Sweet ricotta filling inside the crunchy pastry shells
The soft, moist quality of ricotta cheese provides excellent creaminess in many of Olive Garden’s dishes.
Romano
Romano is a hard, dry Italian cheese made from cow’s milk with a pungent, salty flavor. It has a grated, crumbly texture. At Olive Garden, Romano cheese is used for:
- Alfredo sauce – Added to the classic sauce along with Parmesan
- Zuppa Toscana – Sprinkled on top along with Parmesan
- Chicken Parmigiana – Garnish on top along with Parmesan
- Garnish for soups and pastas
The sharp taste of Romano cheese gives an extra punch of flavor. Olive Garden uses a blend of both Romano cheese and domestic Romano style cheese.
Asiago
Asiago is an Italian cow’s milk cheese originating from the Asiago plateau region of Italy. It has a smooth, firm texture with a nutty, mild flavor when fresh that becomes sharper with age. At Olive Garden, Asiago cheese is used for:
- Five Cheese Ziti al Forno – A key component of the five cheese blend
- Lasagna Classico – Layered with ricotta and mozzarella
- Asiago Garlic Bread – Grated on top of the warm bread
The tangy, salty flavor of Asiago is the perfect addition to Olive Garden’s baked pasta dishes.
Fontina
Fontina is an Italian semi-soft, cow’s milk cheese with an ultra-smooth texture and rich, nutty flavor. Olive Garden uses Fontina cheese for dishes like:
- Five Cheese Ziti al Forno – Blended into the cheesy bake
- Stuffed Mushrooms – Added to the cheese filling along with Parmesan
- Fontina Fonduta Dip – Creamy, smooth dipping sauce
The velvety melt of Fontina makes it a great choice for Olive Garden’s loaded, baked pasta dishes and appetizers.
Provolone
Provolone is an Italian semi-hard cow’s milk cheese with a smooth texture and mild, milky flavor. At Olive Garden, Provolone is used for:
- Chicken Parmesana – Sliced provolone is layered with fried chicken breast
- Five Cheese Ziti al Forno – Mixed into the cheesy casserole
- Toasted Cheese Ravioli – Stuffed ravioli with provolone filling
Provolone’s mild flavor and melty texture makes it a great choice for Olive Garden’s Chicken Parmigiana.
Feta
Feta is a brined curd white cheese with a crumbly texture and tangy, salty flavor. Olive Garden uses feta cheese for dishes like:
- Greek Salad – Crumbled feta over mixed greens
- Chicken Parmesan – Sprinkled over the top along with Parmesan
- Spaghetti with Meat Sauce – Garnish on top
The sharp, salty notes of feta cheese add a delicious pop of flavor and texture contrast in salads and pastas.
Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is a soft, mild cheese made from milk and cream. At Olive Garden, cream cheese is used to make:
- Stuffed Mushrooms – Filling for the baked mushroom caps
- Cannoli – Sweet ricotta-cream cheese filling
- Tiramisu – Layered into the coffee-soaked ladyfingers
The rich, creamy quality of cream cheese helps create indulgent appetizers and desserts.
Pecorino Romano
Pecorino Romano is a hard Italian cheese made from sheep’s milk known for its sharp, salty flavor. At Olive Garden, it is used for:
- Cajun Shrimp Alfredo – Sprinkled on top of the pasta
- Chicken Scampi – Garnish for the garlicky shrimp and chicken
- Herb-Grilled Salmon – Added flavor and texture
The bold, salty punch of Pecorino Romano enhances seafood and complements rich Alfredo sauce.
Other Cheeses
In addition to the cheeses above, Olive Garden uses small amounts of other Italian and specialty cheeses for certain dishes, such as:
- Mascarpone – Tiramisu, cannoli
- Gorgonzola – Steak Toscano, stuffed mushrooms
- Gouda – Five cheese ziti
- Cheddar – Soup toppings
These cheeses add even more diverse flavors and textures to Olive Garden’s menu items.
Conclusion
Olive Garden uses a variety of high-quality Italian cheeses to create authentic dishes. Parmesan, mozzarella, ricotta and Romano are essential for pastas, chicken parmesan, and lasagna. Fontina, provolone, Asiago and feta also make frequent appearances. The combination of mild, creamy cheeses with sharp, salty cheeses give Olive Garden food layered, complex flavor. Next time you visit, pay attention to all the delicious cheeses blended into each bite!