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Stuffed Ziti Fritta

Olive Garden Stuffed Ziti Fritta

$9.49 500 cal,marinara 35 cal,alfredo sauce 220 cal Appetizers

Crispy fried ziti filled with five cheeses. Served with alfredo and marinara dipping sauces.
Olive Garden Menu View on OliveGarden.com

About This Dish

Stuffed Ziti Fritta at Olive Garden is a signature appetizer priced at $9.49, featuring crispy fried ziti tubes filled with a blend of five Italian cheeses and served with both Alfredo and marinara dipping sauces. The full appetizer totals approximately 500 calories for the ziti itself, with the marinara adding 35 calories and the Alfredo dipping sauce adding 220 calories per serving. The double-sauce presentation makes this one of the more interactive starters on the Olive Garden menu, letting guests alternate between the rich cream sauce and the bright tomato base.

The uniqueness of this dish lies in its format — instead of the conventional fried cheese shape, the filling is piped inside hollow ziti tubes and fried whole, creating a bite-sized piece with cheese in the center and a crunchy shell on all sides. This construction gives each piece a higher cheese-to-crust ratio than standard fried mozzarella. At $9.49 for an order that serves 2 to 3 guests comfortably, it is one of the most distinctive and memorable starters the restaurant offers.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving

35 Calories
2g Total Fat
320mg Sodium

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

How to Copycat Olive Garden Stuffed Ziti Fritta at Home?

Prep: 40 min Cook: 10 min Total: 50 min Medium

Olive Garden Stuffed Ziti Fritta is a harder-than-average copycat to execute correctly because it requires two technical steps: properly filling small tube pasta without tearing it, and frying a delicate filled pasta piece without the filling erupting through the coating. The freezing step before frying is the key to both — it firms the cheese filling so it does not run out, and it gives the breading time to set a crust before the interior heats through.

For the filling, a piping bag or a small zip-top bag with the corner cut makes loading the cheese into the ziti tubes clean and efficient. The cheese blend should be smooth and slightly stiffer than ricotta on its own — adding cream cheese helps achieve the right consistency that holds shape during frying.

Ingredients

4 servings

Stuffed Ziti

Dipping Sauces

Instructions

0 / 5

  1. Cook ziti until al dente. Drain and cool completely on a parchment-lined sheet pan.

    12 min

  2. Beat ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano, and Italian seasoning until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag.

    5 min

  3. Pipe cheese filling into each ziti tube from both ends to ensure it fills the center completely.

    10 min

    Hold each tube vertically while piping. Filling horizontally allows gravity to push the cheese out the bottom before you finish.

  4. Dip each filled ziti in beaten egg, then roll in breadcrumbs. Place on a sheet pan and freeze for 20 minutes.

    25 min

  5. Heat oil to 375F. Fry in batches of 6 to 8 for 90 seconds, turning once, until golden all over. Drain and serve immediately with both dipping sauces.

    10 min

Pro Tips

  • Cook the ziti slightly firmer than al dente. Pasta that is fully cooked becomes too fragile to handle during filling and frying.
  • The cream cheese is the key binder that keeps the filling firm enough to survive the frying process.
  • Serve immediately. The cheese sets quickly as the ziti cools, losing the molten pull that makes this dish exciting.

Variations

Meat Stuffed Version

Add 2 tablespoons of finely crumbled cooked Italian sausage to the cheese filling for a heartier, meat-inclusive variation.

Baked Version

Skip deep frying. Spray breaded ziti with cooking oil spray and bake at 425F for 12 to 14 minutes, flipping halfway. Less crispy but significantly lower in fat.

Serving Ideas

  • Serve on a platter with both dipping sauces in small ramekins
  • Alternate dipping in Alfredo then marinara for the full Olive Garden experience
  • Works as a party appetizer — make a double batch and keep warm in a 200F oven
  • A glass of Prosecco pairs nicely with the fried cheese and the mild acidity of the marinara

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Dipping Sauces with Breadsticks

Freshly prepared marinara, homemade alfredo or five cheese marinara, served warm. Served with freshly baked Breadsticks! Large, served with 8 Breadsticks (Serves 4) Regular, served with 4 Breadsticks (Serves 2)

$4.49 140 cal, 90 cal - 440 cal | Large Dipping Sauces (8 oz. serving): 190 cal - 870 cal
Calamari Appetizers

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Tender calamari, lightly breaded and fried. Served with marinara sauce and spicy ranch.

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Find Stuffed Ziti Fritta Near You

Visit one of Olive Garden's 900+ locations to enjoy the Stuffed Ziti Fritta at $9.49.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Stuffed Ziti Fritta is priced at $9.49 per order. It includes both Alfredo and marinara dipping sauces. Prices may vary slightly in New York, Alaska, and California.
The Stuffed Ziti Fritta itself contains approximately 500 calories. The Alfredo dipping sauce adds 220 calories and the marinara adds 35 calories per serving. Total calories for the full appetizer with both sauces is approximately 755 calories.
The filling uses a five-cheese blend similar to the one used in the Five Cheese Ziti al Forno, typically including ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano, and Fontina. The cheeses are blended smooth and piped into the ziti tubes before breading and frying.
Cook large ziti tubes until just al dente. Pipe a blend of ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Romano inside each tube using a piping bag. Dip in beaten egg and coat with seasoned breadcrumbs. Freeze for 20 minutes, then deep fry at 375F for 90 seconds until golden. Serve with Alfredo and marinara dipping sauces.
Yes, Stuffed Ziti Fritta is vegetarian. The filling is a five-cheese blend with no meat, and both dipping sauces are vegetarian. The Alfredo sauce contains dairy (butter, cream, Parmesan) and the marinara is fully plant-based except for dairy cross-contamination consideration.