The Olive Garden Kids Menu 2025: 7 Must-Know Secrets For Parents (Prices, Hacks, & Sides)

As of December 2025, the Olive Garden Kids Menu remains a top choice for families seeking an affordable and enjoyable Italian dining experience. The menu is specifically designed for children under 12, offering perfectly portioned, kid-approved Italian classics like pasta, pizza, and chicken fingers, ensuring even the pickiest eaters leave satisfied. The latest update confirms the core offerings are still available, generally priced under $8, and include a choice of side and a drink. The true value of the Olive Garden Kids Menu lies in its flexibility, allowing parents to customize meals for dietary needs or preferences, and the inclusion of fresh fruit or vegetable sides. This comprehensive guide breaks down the full 2025 menu, current pricing, the famous "menu hack," and all the essential details a parent needs before their next family dinner.

The 2025 Olive Garden Kids Menu: Full List of Meals and Current Prices

The Olive Garden Kids Menu is structured to give children a choice of a main dish, a side, and a drink, all for a single, budget-friendly price point. The age limit for ordering from this menu is generally for children under 12 years old. Here is the breakdown of the most popular items and their estimated 2025 prices:

• Kids Pizza (Cheese): A simple, classic mini cheese pizza. (Approx. $6.99–$7.99 | 400 calories)
• Kids Chicken Fingers & Pasta: Crispy chicken fingers served with pasta. (Approx. $6.99–$7.99 | 410 calories)
• Kids Pasta with Choice of Sauce: Rotini or Spaghetti pasta with a choice of sauce. (Approx. $7.49–$7.99)
• Kids Alfredo Sauce with Choice of Pasta (V): Creamy Alfredo sauce over a choice of pasta. (Approx. $7.99 | 440 calories)
• Kids Five Cheese Marinara with Choice of Pasta (V): A flavorful marinara sauce blended with five cheeses. (Approx. $7.99)
• Kids Macaroni & Cheese: A cheesy comfort food classic. (Approx. $7.99)
• Kids Grilled Chicken with Rotini Pasta & Marinara: A healthier option featuring grilled chicken. (Approx. $10.98, includes grapes)

Note: Prices and calorie counts are estimates and may vary slightly by location. All kids' meals typically include a choice of side and a 1% low-fat milk or other drink option.

Customizing Your Child’s Meal: Sides, Drinks, and Healthier Options

Olive Garden understands that family dining often requires flexibility, which is why the kids' menu is highly customizable. This focus on choice is what makes it a parent favorite.

The Essential Side Options

Unlike the adult entrees which come with the famous soup or salad, the children's meals are served with a single side dish, allowing parents to balance the meal. Available sides often include:

• Fresh Grapes: A popular, healthy fruit choice.
• Broccoli: A green vegetable option.
• French Fries: A classic, kid-friendly treat.
• Gluten-Free Rotini Pasta: Available for those with dietary restrictions.
• Protein Portion: Available for an additional charge if your child needs extra protein.

Beverage Choices

The kids' meal price typically includes a drink, with the standard option being 1% low-fat milk. Other common choices include apple juice, orange juice, or a soft drink.

Lighter Italian Fare for Kids

For parents focused on nutrition, the "Create Your Own Pasta" option is a great way to control portions and ingredients. You can choose a lighter pasta like Rotini or Spaghetti and pair it with a simple Marinara or the Five Cheese Marinara sauce. The Kids Grilled Chicken with Rotini Pasta is another excellent choice for a lower-calorie, higher-protein meal.

The Viral Olive Garden Kids Menu Hack: How to Get a $7 Meal

A popular "menu hack" has circulated widely, demonstrating how adults can potentially order a full meal from the kids' menu for under $10. While the official age limit is 12 and under, many locations are flexible, especially for smaller adult portions or take-out orders.

The Hack Explained

The trick involves ordering one of the larger kids' pasta options, such as the Kids Alfredo Sauce with Pasta, which is priced around $7.99. This meal is perfectly portioned for a light adult lunch and is significantly cheaper than a full-sized adult entree.

Why It Works (And Why It Might Not)

* Portion Size: The kids' portions are generous enough for a small adult appetite. * Price Difference: The cost is often half that of the adult version of the same dish. * The Catch: The restaurant technically reserves this menu for children. While many servers are accommodating, particularly for to-go orders, they are within their rights to deny an adult ordering from the children's menu. It’s always best to ask politely.

Deals, Discounts, and Family Fun at Olive Garden in 2025

While the core menu offers excellent value, Olive Garden occasionally runs special promotions that make family dining even more affordable.

"Kids Eat Free" Promotions

Olive Garden does not have a permanent, nationwide "Kids Eat Free" policy. However, the chain is known to periodically offer limited-time deals or local promotions where children can eat for free with the purchase of an adult entree. It is highly recommended to check your local restaurant’s website or social media pages for current 2025 deals before visiting.

Family Bundles and Takeout Value

For families dining at home, Olive Garden's Family Bundles often include options to add kids' meals or offer discounts when bundling adult and children's entrees together. This is a great way to feed a large family without breaking the bank.

Entertainment for the Little Ones

To enhance the family dining experience, Olive Garden provides more than just food. The kids' menus often feature "Ollie & Friends" characters, fun puzzles, and stickers to keep children entertained while waiting for their meal. This small touch of family-friendly hospitality is a key part of the Olive Garden experience.

Topical Authority Entities: Olive Garden Kids Menu

To provide a complete resource, here are key entities and LSI keywords related to the Olive Garden Kids Menu experience: * Age Limit: Children under 12 * Popular Dishes: Kids Pizza, Chicken Fingers, Macaroni & Cheese, Kids Alfredo Sauce * Sauce Options: Five Cheese Marinara, Marinara, Alfredo Sauce * Pasta Types: Rotini, Spaghetti, Gluten-Free Rotini * Side Options: Grapes, Broccoli, French Fries * Beverages: 1% Low-Fat Milk, Apple Juice, Orange Juice * Nutritional Focus: Calorie counts (e.g., 400-570 cal), Lighter Italian Fare * Promotions: "Kids Eat Free" (periodic), Family Bundles * Brand Entities: Ollie & Friends, Darden Restaurants (parent company), Never Ending Pasta Bowl (adult promotion) * Dining Experience: Family-friendly atmosphere, fun puzzles and stickers * Value Proposition: Affordable price point, perfectly portioned meals, customizable options.