Homemade Olive Garden Unlimited Pasta Recipe

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I’ve sought to capture the essence of Olive Garden Unlimited Pasta in my home kitchen. It’s more than just mixing noodles with sauce; it’s about the harmonious blend of flavors, the perfect al dente texture, and that magic touch Olive Garden seems to lend to every dish.

How to make Olive Garden Unlimited Pasta

Olive Garden Unlimited Pasta (formerly known as the Never-Ending Pasta Bowl) is a limited-time promotion in which customers can enjoy unlimited servings of pasta, sauces, and toppings for a fixed price.

Ingredients:

• For the Pasta (choose a variety to mimic the Olive Garden experience):
  • Spaghetti
  • Fettuccine
  • Penne
  • Rigatoni

• For the Sauces (you can make two or more for variety):
  • Marinara Sauce:
    • 2 cans (28 ounces each) of crushed tomatoes
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • Italian seasoning (a mix of dried basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme)
  • Alfredo Sauce:
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
    • 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
    • Garlic powder to taste
    • Salt and pepper to taste

• For the Toppings (choose at least one protein and one veggie):
  • Grilled chicken breast, sliced
  • Italian sausage, cooked and sliced
  • Meatballs
  • Sautéed mushrooms
  • Steamed broccoli

• Additional:
  • Olive Garden-style breadsticks (store-bought or homemade)
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
  • Garden salad with Italian dressing to mimic the complete Olive Garden experience

Instructions:

1. Cook Pasta: Choose a few different types of pasta to cook. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook each pasta type separately according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and keep warm.
2. Prepare Marinara Sauce: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 1 minute). Pour in the crushed tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and sugar. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Prepare Alfredo Sauce: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the heavy cream and simmer for 2 minutes. Lower the heat and mix in the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until you get a smooth sauce—season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
4. Cook Toppings: While the sauces simmer, prepare your protein toppings by grilling, baking, or sautéing them. Also, steam or sauté your chosen vegetables.
5. Serve: Place your warm pasta on plates or in bowls. Let your guests choose which sauce to pour over their pasta, add the desired toppings, and garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
6. Repeat: Just like at Olive Garden, you can keep the pasta coming! Encourage everyone to try different combinations of pasta, sauce, and toppings with each new serving.

Tips:

• Consistency is key: Alfredo sauce thickens upon standing and cools; make sure it’s just a tad thinner than you prefer right when it’s done, as it will reach perfect consistency shortly after.
• Season to taste: Don’t be afraid to add more seasonings. The best way to mimic restaurant flavors is to taste and adjust as you go.
• Warm serving dishes: Keep pasta warm and avoid sticking by serving it in pre-warmed dishes.
• Quality ingredients: Use the freshest ingredients possible for the best flavor, especially with the cheese and fresh herbs.
• Keep it hot: To emulate a real Olive Garden experience, serve everything very hot, including pasta, sauces, and breadsticks.

Ingredients Substitutes

When making your own version of Olive Garden Unlimited Pasta at home, you might need ingredient substitutes for various reasons, such as dietary preferences or simply because you don’t have certain ingredients on hand.

Pasta Substitutes:

• If you’re looking for a gluten-free option, you can use pasta made from rice, corn, quinoa, or a blend of gluten-free flour.
• To lower the carb content, consider using spiralized vegetables like zucchini (zoodles), spaghetti squash, or shirataki noodles.
• For whole grain options with more fiber, whole wheat pasta or pasta made from legumes (like chickpeas or lentils) are good choices.

Marinara Sauce Substitutes:

• If you’re out of canned tomatoes, you can use fresh tomatoes that have been blanched, peeled, and crushed. Tomato paste with water can also work in a pinch.
• Are you missing herbs like basil or oregano? You can use Italian seasoning or a combination of other available dried herbs.
• If you don’t eat garlic or onions, try aromatic substitutes like fennel or celery for a similar depth of flavor.

Alfredo Sauce Substitutes:

• If you don’t have heavy cream, mix whole milk with melted butter (3 parts milk to 1 part butter) to create a rich, creamy substitute.
• Are you out of parmesan cheese? You can use pecorino romano, gruyere, or asiago for a similar nutty, salty flavor profile.
• For a lighter version, Greek yogurt or low-fat cream cheese can replace some of the heavy cream, though the sauce’s texture and taste might change slightly.

Meat Substitutes:

• If you’re vegetarian or simply out of the traditional meats such as chicken, Italian sausage, or meatballs, consider alternatives like mushrooms, eggplant, or lentils to add protein and heartiness to your Olive Garden Unlimited Pasta.
• For a meat-like texture without the meat, textured vegetable protein (TVP), seitan, or plant-based meat substitutes are available.

Breadsticks Substitutes:

• Don’t have pizza dough to make breadsticks? You can use frozen bread dough or even refrigerated biscuit dough rolled out and seasoned in the same way.
• For a gluten-free option, you can use a gluten-free pizza dough mix or create your own using a blend of gluten-free flour.

Salad Dressing Substitutes:

• If you don’t have white wine vinegar for the salad dressing, you can use apple cider vinegar or lemon juice for a similar acidic component.
• Instead of olive oil, other plant-based oils like avocado oil or canola oil can also work.
• For a no-sugar option, you can use an alternative sweetener like stevia or simply omit it altogether for a more tangy flavor.

Final Thoughts

Now that you’re equipped with the essentials, you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and bring the magic of Olive Garden Unlimited Pasta to your kitchen.

More Pasta Recipes:

• Spaghetti with Meat Sauce