This Iconic Olive Garden Entree Deal Under $20 Is Even More Affordable If You Order It At The Right Time

Olive Garden is certainly best known for its pasta dishes — but if you've ever skimmed through the chain's massive menu, you know that it's got much more than just Fettuccine Alfredo and Shrimp Scampi. From Pasta e Fagioli to Herb-Grilled Salmon, there are a wide range of choices beyond pasta to satisfy whatever cravings may strike. And if you happen to visit the restaurant between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on a weekday, you're in luck, because Olive Garden offers a special on its other classic dishes that you won't want to pass up on.

If you're not sold on Olive Garden's Never-Ending Pasta Bowl options but still want a good deal, the Weekday Lunch Special is for you. On average, the special costs between $10 and $14. It comes with the chain's house salad, your choice of soup, and warm garlic breadsticks. While most locations offer this special, it's a good idea to confirm pricing and timing with your local Olive Garden before ordering, as this can vary based on location.

The house salad features lettuce, red onions, tomatoes, black olives, shredded carrots, pepperoncini peppers, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and Italian dressing. For soups, you can choose between the restaurant's four options: Chicken & Gnocchi, Pasta e Fagioli, Zuppa Toscana, and Minestrone. And if you dine in, the Olive Garden's unlimited breadsticks rule still applies. Regardless of where you're located, a soup, salad, and breadsticks for under 20 dollars is an instant good deal — and it's one you should hop on immediately.

We get it: Visiting Olive Garden without ordering pasta might feel a bit wrong. According to one Redditor, this weekday deal is really only worth ordering "if truly all you want is soup/salad." So, if this doesn't sound like you and you're hoping for a pasta-filled lunch, there are other ways to save money on the chain's pasta classics. Olive Garden offers a few different deals that allow you to order pasta dishes for less. The first is its Lunch-Sized Favorites deal. Just like the Weekday Lunch Special, this one is available from Monday to Friday until 3 p.m. With this special, you can order a smaller portion of your favorite entrees — from Spaghetti and Meatballs to Chicken Parmigiana — at a lower price point. Clearly, it's a real mistake to only dine at Olive Garden for dinner, because some of their best deals happen in the early afternoon. And even if you're not super hungry at this time, you can always order it early and reheat your pasta dish at dinnertime.

Beyond Olive Garden's lunch specials, if you prefer to order your food to go, give the $6 Take Home Entrees special a try. This special allows you to choose from three different pasta classics: Fettuccine Alfredo, Five Cheese Ziti al Forno, and Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. While you won't get a soup, salad, or order of breadsticks on the side, the portion will be regular-sized, so you'll certainly be full. Just whip up a salad, heat up some soup, and bake some frozen breadsticks at home, and you've basically brought the Olive Garden experience to your own kitchen.