Chicken scampi is a popular dish at Olive Garden, known for its savory garlic butter sauce, tender chicken, and hearty helping of linguine. But if you’re watching your carb intake, you may be wondering – how many carbs are actually in Olive Garden’s chicken scampi?
I chose to look at the nutrition facts to find out Here is a full list of how many carbs are in Olive Garden’s chicken scampi.
Breaking Down the Carb Count
According to Olive Garden’s nutrition information, a serving of chicken scampi contains:
- 105g total carbs
- 4g fiber
- 7g sugar
- 88g net carbs
So in total, there are 105 grams of carbs in Olive Garden’s chicken scampi. Once you subtract the fiber, there are 88 grams of net carbs.
So many carbs in one dish! To give you an idea, the daily recommended amount of carbs for a normal diet is between 225 and 325 grams. That means this plate of chicken scampi gives you about a third of the carbs you need each day.
Where The Carbs Are Coming From
The biggest source of carbs in Olive Garden’s chicken scampi is the linguine pasta.
A standard serving comes with a full plate of linguine noodles tossed in garlic butter sauce and as many breadsticks as you want. There are about 60 to 70 grams of carbs in just the pasta.
Flour, garlic, shallots, white wine, and lemon juice are some of the carbs that are in the sauce. Also, any bread crumbs or batter on the chicken add small amounts of carbs.
So between the noodles, sauce, and chicken, it all adds up to a whopping 105g carbs in one plate.
How It Compares to Other Dishes
Olive Garden’s chicken scampi sits on the higher end of the carb spectrum compared to other entrées,
Here’s how it compares to some other popular Olive Garden dishes:
- Chicken Parmigiana: 80g net carbs
- Baked Ziti: 63g net carbs
- Chicken Alfredo: 50g net carbs
- Lasagna Classico: 45g net carbs
- Spaghetti with Meat Sauce: 42g net carbs
The chicken scampi has at least 30 grams more carbs than traditional pasta dishes like lasagna and spaghetti at Olive Garden.
The only dishes that come close are the Chicken Parmigiana and Baked Ziti, which are also pasta-based. But even those have slightly less carbs than the chicken scampi.
So if you’re really watching your carbs, the chicken scampi is one of the most carb-laden options on the menu.
Tips for Ordering Low-Carb at Olive Garden
If you want to enjoy Olive Garden but limit carbs, here are some tips:
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Pick a vegetable-based side dish: Opt for steamed broccoli (6g net carbs) instead of pasta.
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Order zoodles: You can sub out the pasta for zucchini noodles in most entrees.
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Choose a salad entrée: Salad options like grilled chicken caesar are around 15-25g net carbs.
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Split a dish: Order an entrée to share with the table to control portions.
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Limit breadsticks: These add up fast at 5g net carbs per stick.
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Share dessert: Get a small taste of something sweet like tiramisu (34g carbs) instead of your own.
The Bottom Line
Olive Garden’s beloved chicken scampi comes in at a hefty 105 grams of total carbs and 88 grams of net carbs per serving.
That’s nearly 1/3 of your daily carb intake from just one meal! So if you’re watching carbs, be mindful of portion sizes and balance it out with low-carb sides and starters.
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Chicken Scampi Recipe (Olive Garden Copycat)
FAQ
How many carbs are in Olive Garden chicken scampi?
One serving of Olive Garden’s Chicken Scampi has 930 calories, 96g of total carbs, 92g of net carbs, 41g of fat, and 47g of protein.
What is the lowest carb meal at Olive Garden?
The lowest carb meal at Olive Garden is generally considered to be the Herb-Grilled Salmon with a side of broccoli, which contains only 4g of net carbs, according to BdSN and Low Carb Yum. Low Carb Yum says that the Grilled Chicken, the Tuscan Sirloin, and the Sweet or Spicy Italian Sausage Links are also low-carb options. All of these have very low carb counts.
How many carbs are in a breadstick from Olive Garden?
What is the healthiest item on Olive Garden’s menu?
Grilled chicken or salmon with steamed vegetables or a salad is usually the healthiest thing to eat at Olive Garden. Specific dishes include Herb-Grilled Salmon, Grilled Chicken Margherita, and Shrimp Scampi.