One Of Olive Garden's Best Entrees Under $20 Is A Cheesy Comfort-Food Favorite

When you're looking to get the most value for your money, Olive Garden has many satisfying and accessibly priced offerings. Of all the options available, Tasting Table deemed its popular Lasagna Classico as one of the seven best Olive Garden entrees under $20.

Teeming with layers of three types of gooey cheese, red sauce, and tender noodles, this dish is a comfort-food classic. The lunch portion of the lasagna typically retails for around $13, well under $20 for a fulfilling helping of pasta. The hearty meat sauce paired with mozzarella, Parmesan, and Pecorino Romano makes it a mouthwatering meal.

Though our writer notes the lasagna might not be the best version of this recipe, they still point out that it's affordable and enjoyable. Additionally, the excessive amount of cheese doubles as a favorable dip for your Olive Garden breadsticks. Fans of this under-$20 entree tout its great taste and reliability.

The Lasagna Classico was named among Tasting Table's picks for the absolute best dishes to order at Olive Garden. Given that the pasta is known to go heavy on the cheese, Tasting Table's reviewer also advised adding a topping of meatballs or sausages to round out the meal. They did note, however, that this might push the price beyond the $20 threshold.

Olive Garden fans have offered insight as to why the meal is so popular, though others have described it as "just a plate of goop." One Redditor summed it up thusly, "Listen I don't think anyone goes to Olive Garden expecting the best Italian food in existence. You go there because it's relatively inexpensive, fast, and convenient." Another Reddit commenter enthused, "I love our lasagna tbh." Another went as far as to say, "I love Olive Garden's lasagna as compared to lasagna from authentic Italian restaurants."

Other Olive Garden diners and insiders discuss the background of the lasagna's assembly. One Redditor shared, "I mean they do assemble it but they don't make the ingredients from scratch. The ingredients are about as processed and restaurant-basic as you can imagine." If you're looking for a full meal that doesn't break the bank, this classic entree is one of the best bets.