Olive Garden Rotini Pasta with Meat Sauce

About This Dish

Rotini Pasta with Meat Sauce (Gluten Sensitive) at Olive Garden is the heartier gluten-friendly option, featuring gluten-free rotini tossed with the restaurant's homemade meat sauce at $13.99 per plate and 680 calories. The meat sauce is made fresh daily with pan-seared ground beef and Italian sausage combined into a tomato base — the same sauce used throughout the menu, and naturally free from gluten-containing ingredients. Breadsticks are not included to accommodate gluten-sensitive dietary needs but are available upon request.

The 150-calorie and 10-gram-fat increase over the marinara version reflects the beef and sausage content in the meat sauce rather than any difference in pasta preparation. The pan-searing step in the meat sauce preparation creates a richer, deeper flavor than simple simmered ground meat, making this one of the more satisfying gluten-sensitive pasta options available at a casual dining restaurant. The same protein add-ons (grilled chicken, Italian sausage, shrimp) are available but less commonly ordered given the sauce already contains substantial meat.