Famous House Salad without Croutons at Olive Garden is the gluten-sensitive version of the restaurant's signature salad, priced at $8.99 and containing just 110 calories — nearly 30 calories lower than the standard version due to the omission of the Italian croutons. The salad is prepared with the same fresh romaine lettuce, red onion, black olives, pepperoncini, and cherry tomatoes as the standard version, dressed with the house Italian dressing. Only the croutons are omitted to remove the wheat-containing component.
At 110 calories with 8 grams of fat, this is one of the lowest-calorie satisfying salad options in the casual dining category. The house Italian dressing accounts for a significant portion of the fat content — the dressing includes olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and Italian seasonings in a signature blend that has been consistently praised by guests as one of Olive Garden's most replicable but hard-to-exactly-duplicate menu elements. Ordering this salad as a starter alongside a pasta entrée keeps the full meal well within range while providing the vegetable and fiber content that pasta plates typically lack.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving
110Calories
8gTotal Fat
670mgSodium
* Nutritional values are approximate and may vary. Last updated March 2026.
$8.99 per serving. It is the same price as the standard house salad but designated as gluten-sensitive by omitting the Italian croutons that contain wheat.
110 calories per serving with 8 grams of fat and 670 milligrams of sodium. Removing the croutons reduces the calorie count by approximately 25 to 30 calories compared to the standard version.
The house Italian dressing is listed as gluten-sensitive compatible. It does not contain wheat-based ingredients in its standard formulation. However, guests with celiac disease should confirm with their specific location given the shared kitchen environment.
The house salad contains fresh romaine lettuce, red onion, black olives, pepperoncini peppers, cherry tomatoes, and house Italian dressing. The gluten-sensitive version removes the Italian croutons. All other ingredients remain identical to the standard preparation.
Yes. Grilled chicken, shrimp, or other protein add-ons can be requested. Adding a side of grilled chicken ($4.29) to the house salad converts it into a complete, protein-rich light lunch that keeps total calories around 240 — an excellent low-calorie full-meal option for guests counting calories.
