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Breadsticks

Olive Garden Breadsticks

$4.49 140 cal | 140 cal AppetizersSoups, Salad & BreadsticksFamily-Style MealsCatering

An Olive Garden Favorite. Available Freshly-Baked or Bake-At-Home. Add an extra dozen or half dozen breadsticks to your online order. Click here for at home Breadsticks Baking Instructions
Olive Garden Menu View on OliveGarden.com

About This Dish

Olive Garden Breadsticks are arguably the brand's most recognized product, available for $4.49 for a half dozen and baked to order at every location. Each breadstick contains 140 calories and delivers the soft, pillowy interior and golden garlic butter exterior that has become synonymous with the restaurant experience. They are available freshly baked in-store or as bake-at-home versions for catering and takeout orders, where they arrive par-baked and can be finished in the oven at home for the same fresh-baked result.

The breadstick at Olive Garden is a leavened, soft roll stretched into a long shape, brushed generously with garlic butter and Italian seasoning before and after baking. Dine-in guests receive unlimited breadstick refills as part of any meal service, which is the defining hospitality gesture the brand is known for in American casual dining. The bake-at-home format available through catering orders replicates the restaurant experience at home and pairs with any pasta dish or soup order in the catering lineup.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving

140 Calories
2g Total Fat
460mg Sodium

* Nutritional values are approximate and may vary. Last updated March 2026.

How to Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks at Home?

Prep: 20 min Cook: 14 min Total: 34 min Easy

Olive Garden Breadsticks are one of the most searched copycat recipes from any chain restaurant in the United States. Home bakers want to replicate the specific combination of a soft, slightly sweet interior dough with a generous coating of garlic butter that does not harden into a crispy crust. The key variables are the dough hydration, the proofing time, and the timing of the butter application.

The dough for this copycat is an enriched white bread dough with a higher butter content than standard sandwich bread. This is what keeps the interior tender and gives the crust its slight shine. The garlic butter is applied twice: once right before baking and once immediately after removal from the oven while the surface is still hot, which allows the butter to absorb fully rather than sitting on the surface.

Ingredients

8 servings

Dough

Garlic Butter Topping

Instructions

0 / 6

  1. Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy.

    5 min

    If the yeast does not foam, it is dead. Start over with fresh yeast. This step is the most common point of failure.

  2. Add flour, salt, and melted butter to the yeast mixture. Mix until a soft dough forms. Knead for 8 minutes until smooth and slightly tacky.

    12 min

  3. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 60 minutes until doubled.

    60 min

  4. Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each into a rope about 8 inches long. Place on a lined baking sheet 1 inch apart. Cover and let rise 30 more minutes.

    35 min

  5. Preheat oven to 400F. Brush breadsticks with half the garlic butter. Bake 12 to 14 minutes until lightly golden on top.

    14 min

    Pull the breadsticks when they are pale golden. They continue cooking on the sheet for a minute after removal. Waiting for deep golden produces an overdone breadstick.

  6. Immediately brush with remaining garlic butter while hot. Serve within 15 minutes.

    2 min

Pro Tips

  • The dough should feel soft and slightly sticky. Resist adding extra flour — a stiffer dough produces a dense, bready result.
  • Let the shaped breadsticks complete their second rise fully. Rushing this step produces a tight, dense interior instead of the open, pillowy crumb the restaurant achieves.
  • Serve immediately. Breadsticks lose their soft texture within 20 minutes of cooling.

Variations

Cheesy Breadsticks

Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and extra Parmesan over the breadsticks in the last 3 minutes of baking for a cheese-topped version.

Herbed Breadsticks

Add 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary or 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped basil to the garlic butter topping for an herb-forward variation.

Serving Ideas

  • Serve immediately straight from the oven
  • Pair with marinara, Alfredo, or five-cheese marinara for dipping
  • The garlic butter can be adjusted to taste — add more garlic powder for a bolder result
  • Store leftovers wrapped in foil. Reheat in the oven at 350F for 5 minutes

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Find Breadsticks Near You

Visit one of Olive Garden's 900+ locations to enjoy the Breadsticks at $4.49.

Olive Garden Near Me

Frequently Asked Questions

Breadsticks are priced at $4.49 for a half dozen. A full dozen is available for catering orders at a higher price. Dine-in guests receive unlimited breadsticks as part of the standard meal service.
Each Olive Garden Breadstick contains 140 calories. The calorie count includes the garlic butter glaze applied during and after baking. The bake-at-home version has the same calorie count when prepared as directed.
The breadsticks use an enriched dough with butter and a small amount of sugar, which creates a tender interior crumb. The dough is proofed twice — once as a bulk ferment and once after shaping — which gives the interior its signature pillowy texture. The garlic butter brushed on immediately after baking keeps the crust soft rather than firm.
Combine warm water, yeast, sugar, salt, flour, and melted butter to form a soft dough. Knead for 8 minutes, let rise 60 minutes, then shape into 8-inch logs. Let rise 30 more minutes. Bake at 400F for 12 to 14 minutes until lightly golden. Brush immediately with garlic butter and Italian seasoning.
Olive Garden Breadsticks contain butter and possibly milk in the dough, making them not vegan. They do not contain eggs. Guests following a plant-based diet should check with the specific location for exact ingredient details, as formulations can vary slightly.