What Cheese Does Olive Garden Use In 2024?

Do you need to know what cheese Olive Garden use? If so, here is the current list of what types of cheese Olive Garden uses.

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant menu items without cheese it’s hard to imagine because Olive Garden uses cheese on almost every dish.

You might not know Olive Garden gives ultimate cheese if you ask for extra cheese. A couple of years ago, Olive Garden got viral for putting too much extra cheese in their food.

Considering the taste and more factors, Olive Garden uses different types of cheese for particular dishes.

Therefore, here we are going to know what cheese Olive Garden uses and also what cheese Olive Garden uses on their salad, Lasagna, and more items.

What Cheese Does Olive Garden Use?

Olive Garden uses Parmesan Romano Cheese as a primary cheese on their dishes, but they also use more than eight types of cheeses, such as Mozzarella, Asiago, and more, which are directly imported from Italy.

The types of cheese Olive Garden use:

• Parmesan Romano Cheese
• Mozzarella Cheese
• Asiago Cheese
• Gouda Cheese
• Ricotta Cheese
• Pecorino Cheese
• Pecorino Romano Cheese
• Grana Padano Cheese

Parmesan Romano Cheese

Parmesan Romano is the most used cheese at Olive Garden. In most Olive Garden locations, Parmesan Romano cheese is used primarily.

Olive Garden uses Parmesan Romano cheese on most of its dishes. Also, if you ask for extra cheese at Olive Garden, the waiter will give you Parmesan Romano cheese.

Olive Garden uses Parmesan Romano cheese on Seafood Alfredo, Shrimp Alfredo, Jambo House Salad, Lasagna Fritta, Lasagna Classico, Herb-Grilled Salmon, Grilled Chicken Margherita, Chicken Parmigiana, Chicken Alfredo, and on other dishes too.

The reason Olive Garden uses Parmesan Romano cheese is that this cheese is very flavourful.

Parmesan Romano cheese tastes a little more fruity and nutty, which makes the food flavorful.

See Also: Dairy Free Options At Olive Garden

Mozzarella Cheese

Mozzarella is the second most highly used cheese that Olive Garden uses in its food. Using Mozzarella cheese, most restaurants make some delicious food items, especially seasonal dishes.

Mozzarella cheese is also produced in Southern Italy, and the fun fact is Mozzarella is a healthy cheese option compared to others.

The Cheese Ravioli, Eggplant Parmigiana, Fried Mozzarella, Grilled Chicken Margherita, and Lasagna Classico, all of these Olive Garden menu items, contain a certain amount of Mozzarella cheese.

You better know that Olive Garden uses Mozzarella cheese on Kid’s Pizza.

Asiago Cheese

Next up, Asiago cheese, also known as Asiago Pressato, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant uses it on several popular dishes.

Asiago cheese is also an Italian cheese that Olive Garden imports from Italy to use on its dishes.

The Asiago cheese has a flavor that reminds you of Parmesan cheese because both kinds of cheese have a similar taste. Putting Asiago cheese on food, Olive Garden makes food extra thick.

Olive Garden uses Asiago cheese on Chicken Tortellini Alfredo and Asiago Tortellini Alfredo with Grilled Chicken.

Check Out: Olive Garden Birthday Reward

Gouda Cheese

Gouda is a special cheese that most of us cheese fans love to eat, including me. And fortunately, Olive Garden uses Gouda cheese too.

Gouda cheese originates from the Netherlands, and this is the most popular cheese worldwide.

Although Gouda cheese is not from Italy, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant uses this cheese in its various foods.

Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta is an Italian whey cheese that is different from other Italian cheeses Olive Garden uses in the food.

Not only Olive Garden but most restaurants also use Ricotta cheese in several dishes. This cheese is mandatory to make Lasagna too.

There are differences between U.S. Ricotta cheese and Italian Ricotta cheese. Olive Garden uses Italian Ricotta cheese only.

Ricotta cheese present Olive Garden menu items are Lasagna Classico, Sicilian Cheesecake, and Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping.

Pecorino Romano Cheese

Olive Garden also uses Pecorino Romano cheese on only one dish in particular.

The Pecorino Romano cheese and Parmesan Romano cheese are completely different in terms of taste and looks.

Although Pecorino Romano cheese also originated in Italy and Olive Garden imports this cheese from Italy.

Pecorino Romano cheese is only used in Olive Garden Lasagna Classico. But Olive Garden put other cheeses in Lasagna Classico.

Related Article: Olive Garden Drink Menu

Romano Cheese

As you know, Olive Garden is the world’s largest Italian restaurant chain, so it’s normal to see Olive Garden use the most popular Italian cheese Romano in its food.

But, you should not confuse the Romano cheese with Pecorino Romano Cheese or Parmesan Romano Cheese because they are not the same.

Romano cheese is hard and tastes a little saltier than common Italian cheese.

Olive Garden put Romano cheese in the fan-favorite menu item Lasagna Classico.

Grana Padano Cheese

Grana Padano cheese, often used in cooking, is not grated on top of a dish.

Grana Padano is another Italian cheese, So Olive Garden uses this cheese on its various menu items.

While Grana Padano cheese is only used during cooking, so it’s hard to say what Olive Garden dish has this cheese on them.

Related: Does Olive Garden Take Reservations?

Where Does Olive Garden Get Their Cheese From?

Olive Garden imports most of its cheese directly from Italy. Olive Garden’s parent company Darden Restaurants, Inc., gets every cheese from Italy, and those cheeses are used at subsidiaries such as LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Yard House, and more.

You might know Italy is the largest exporter of cheese in the world. Most countries rely on Italian cheese.

Last year, Italy exported over 3.1 billion euros of cheeses all over the world. And only the United States of America imported more than 36,000 tons of cheese from Italy each year.

Not only Olive Garden but other restaurant chains also import cheese from Italy.

What Cheese Does Olive Garden Use On Salad?

Olive Garden uses only Parmesan Romano cheese on salad, which makes Olive Garden salad taste stronger and a little bit saltier.

Currently, Olive Garden has two salad patter; Famous House Salad and Famous Jumbo House Salad.

Both Olive Garden salads contain Parmesan Romano cheese and signature salad dressing.

What Cheese Does Olive Garden Use In Their Lasagna?

Olive Garden has three Lasagna on the menu. And every type of Olive Garden Lasagna is very popular.

You are going to find Lasagna Fritta, Lasagna Classico, and Family-Style Lasagna Bundle at Olive Garden. Olive Garden uses different cheeses on different Lasagnas.

Olive Garden uses only Parmesan cheese on Lasagna Fritta and Family-Style Lasagna Bundle.

And Lasagna Classico is made of several kinds of cheese. Olive Garden uses parmesan, Mozzarella, and pecorino romano cheese on Lasagna Classico.

What Brand Of Parmesan Cheese Does Olive Garden Use?

As you know, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant imports cheese from Italy. But Italy is the world’s largest cheese importer, and the number of cheese factories in Italy is countless.

And Italy has over 2500 traditional varieties of cheese. Many big and local cheese brands produce parmesan cheese, so finding what brand of cheese Olive Garden uses is challenging.

Final Thoughts

Olive Garden is an Italian restaurant chain that uses a variety of types of Italian cheese in its dishes.

Olive Garden uses Parmesan Romano, Mozzarella, Asiago, and Ricotta cheese on its menu items.

But Olive Garden uses parmesan cheese the most. Many famous dishes such as salad, Lasagna, Grilled Chicken Margherita, Chicken Parmigiana, and Chicken Alfredo Olive Garden use only parmesan cheese.

Unlike other restaurant chains, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant has a huge quantity of cheese on its dishes. And by importing all types of cheese from Italy, Olive Garden ensures the quality too.