Olive Garden Garlic Herb Sauce

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Olive Garden just announced a new sauce to their Pasta Sauce lineup and I was there to try it the first week! The new Olive Garden Garlic Herb Sauce is available nationwide and is a deliciously LIGHT sauce full of garlic, herbs and a little bit of creamy texture.

What You Will ❤️ About Olive Garden’s Garlic Herb Sauce

Better than Olive Garden – my (Italian) exchange student tried both and said they definitely tasted similar but mine was MUCH BETTER!!! I”ll take that! 😉
Lighter Sauce – it’s nice to have a lighter option when you go to Olive Garden. It’s definitely not your heavy alfredo or meat sauce.
Quick & Easy – I made this sauce in the same amount of time that it took to make the pasta!

Ingredients for Garlic Herb Sauce

This new Olive Garden Garlic Herb sauce tastes very similar to their house dressing – so if you like that – you’ll love this! Here’s what you need to make it:

Butter – I like to use salted butter for savory recipes
Garlic Cloves – this is a garlic heavy recipe!!! Olive Garden’s version has minced garlic – while I used a garlic press which made the garlic a bit finer.
Flour & Corn Starch – we’re doubling down on thickening agents to get the texture of the sauce right.
White wine – Olive Garden loves white wine in their white sauces – so we’ll add a bit here. I’m not much of a drinker – so I keep the four-packs of small bottles on hand for recipes!
Chicken broth – Combining chicken broth & white wine makes a deliciously rich sauce. If you don’t have wine – you can use just chicken broth or stock.
Herbs & Spices: Crushed Rosemary, Salt & Pepper, Fresh Parsley – fresh and dried herbs combined for this recipe
Zesty Italian Seasoning Mix packet – this sauce tastes a lot like the Olive Garden Italian Dressing served on their famous house salad – so I relied heavily on my recipe for that which uses the packet of Italian Dressing mix! This dressing mix is also full of Italian herbs which makes it easier for you since it’s all in one packet!
Mayonnaise – Just a little adds a slightly creamy texture – trust me!
Half and half – This is definitely NOT a “cream” sauce – but just a touch adds a slightly creamy texture.
Lemon – Adding fresh lemon juice adds a tangy zing to the sauce – if you don’t have fresh lemons, you can sub 1 tbsp of white vinegar.
Spaghetti – I tried this during the Never Ending Pasta special and got it on spaghetti. I think it’s a good thickness – angel hair might be a bit too thin, rigatoni and fettuccini might be a bit too thick. But serve it on what you like or have!

Recipe Variations

This recipe is meant to be just like the sauce as you would order it at Olive Garden. That said – I’d love to add some things next time I make it! Here are some ideas:

Protein – this dish would be delicious with a slice of herb-grilled salmon or shrimp or air fried chicken breast (my fave way to cook chicken breast!)
Cheese – add 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese at the end of the recipe for a slightly cheesy version.
Vegetables – I would love veggies in this! Light sauteed mushrooms and broccoli would be a great addition to the dish.

How to make Olive Garden’s Garden Herb Sauce

This sauce is made quickly – while your pasta cooks. It’s an easy to make sauce and all you need is a large skillet!

In a large pasta pot, boil water with 1 tbsp salt. Add spaghetti and cook according to package instructions.
In a large skillet, over medium high heat, melt butter. Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds until fragrance emits.
Add rosemary, Italian dressing mix, salt & pepper and whisk.
Add flour and whisk. Quickly add white wine and whisk so there are no clumps. Simmer for 3-4 minutes.
Add chicken broth, half and half and mayonnaise. Whisk in until mayo is incorporated.
In a small glass, mix water and cornstarch with a fork and add to sauce.
Simmer until sauce starts to thicken, 5-10 minutes.
Add 2 tbsp parsley and whisk to incorporate.
Squeeze lemon juice from 1/2 lemon over sauce and serve over spaghetti with freshly grated Parmesan. Serve with a side of fresh bread sticks and take a little extra sauce out before mixing pasta in as a savory dip!

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Tips, Tricks & FAQs

How do you store and reheat leftover garlic herb sauce?

Store leftovers in an airtight container (I like these glass ones) in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can freeze up to three months. Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Do I have to use white wine?

Nope – if you’re not a wine drinker – you can use chicken broth.

What kind of white wine should I use?

You want something dry & crisp. I recommend Sauvignon blanc or Chardonnay.

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