THE menu options at Olive Garden aren't as endless as the breadsticks, but they come pretty close – especially if you know how to ask for off-menu items at the restaurant.

With top-secret hacks from Olive Garden pros, you can broaden your choices at the chain.

According to the foodies at Tasting Table, several menu hacks will further solidify Olive Garden's status as a family favorite.

The tips, which range from "recipe modifications to money-saving hacks," are a great way to enjoy the menu with dietary restrictions or get the most bang for your buck.

One of the best ways to expand your palate at the restaurant is by taking advantage of the sauces.

Try ordering a variety of side sauces to dip your breadsticks in (the experts like mushroom sauce, but your favorite salad dressing could work too).

READ MORE: FOOD HACKS

I’m a chef – the easy way to make a copycat of an Olive Garden favorite

You can also thicken the restaurant's classic minestrone by adding the mushroom sauce, which makes it a heartier soup perfect for fall.

Or, when you place a pasta order, ask for half-and-half marinara and alfredo sauce.

If making decisions is difficult for you, Olive Garden is perfect for mixing and matching, especially when you combine two of the menu's most popular items.

"Rather than pigeonhole yourself into a single dish, ask your server for the fettuccine Alfredo pasta dish with the chicken Parmigiana on top," the experts recommended.

Most read in Fabulous

They explained, "It's just a little extra sauce so you don't have to choose between the decadence of the Alfredo sauce and the bright, classic flavors of well-executed chicken parm."

Or, instead of ordering chicken Alfredo off the menu, ask for "Chicken Alfredo Florentine," and your server will tell the kitchen to add spinach to the pasta.

Sautéed spinach will "introduce a pop of acidity that helps to offset the creamy, cheesy goodness of Olive Garden's Alfredo sauce," the experts said.

"Just a little bit of spinach can brighten up the whole dish," they recommended.

Olive Garden is famous for its pasta, so you might write off the restaurant entirely if you or a loved one is gluten-sensitive.

Luckily, there's a pasta option on the menu that's made for any sauce or topping. The gluten-free rotini is made from brown rice flour and has a similar texture to other pasta.

"Ask for the gluten-free rotini pasta to be swapped out in any of Olive Garden's regular pasta dishes," the experts said, "and you'll never have to miss out on some of the more complex and composed pasta entrees."

Or, if you want to avoid pasta entirely, swap the noodles for veggies.

You can order the chicken parmigiana on a bed of broccoli instead, or order grilled chicken with spinach or mushrooms for a flavorful dinner without heavy carbs.

Source: Read Full Article