Fried Vegan Ravioli is a take on the most popular appetizers at Olive Garden! Now make this easy fried vegan Italian cheese ravioli Olive Garden style at home.
Here, the stuffed ravioli is coated in seasoned breadcrumbs and then fried to golden brown perfection. If you are looking for easy vegan appetizer recipes that can be made in under 30 minutes, then this is it!
Table of Contents
Appetizers at Olive Garden
This recipe is the result of our frequent trips to our favorite Italian restaurant - Olive Garden. In fact, it was the first restaurant I visited after moving to the US, post our marriage.
Now we frequent this place very often and have tasted every possible vegetarian dish on their menu.
We love not just the vegan appetizers at Olive Garden, but also their minestrone soup to pasta and flatbreads. But I am in love with their garlic bread the most.
Honest confession time - I have never tried salads as I hate salads in general! Sorry but that's me. However, this fried ravioli was a pleasant discovery. Have you tried it yet?
KR ordered this from the menu once and we ended up loving it so much that we now order it every time.
On KR's suggestion, I decided to try a small batch at home soon. After a couple of successful batches, I made this for Thanksgiving Potluck at our friend's place.
It was an instant hit! Not just the kids but also all the adults were queuing up to take a (generous) serving of these fried ravioli. Soon, it was all gone!
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Don't they look appetizing? Do you feel like reaching out and grabbing as much as your hands can take? Are you drooling like a hungry kid right now?
I am so sorry for putting you through all this. But I can assure you that very soon you too shall be able to replicate this!
Everyone's FAVORITE appetizer can easily be made at home. This fried ravioli is by far one of the best appetizers that I have had!
What I love even more is the simplicity of this recipe. It's so easy that you can even ask your child to help you with the prep (not the frying bit of course!).
If you’re a huge ravioli fan, you’ll love this breaded and fried version!
Why make this vegan Italian appetizer
This can easily become your go-to recipe if you are looking for easy to make vegan appetizer recipes for a crowd!
Here is why I love this fried cheese ravioli, Olive Garden style!
- It's vegan and gluten-free
- Can be made for large groups
- Very easy and simple to make
- Needs basic pantry staples
- It can be made in just 30 minutes
- A great recipe to cook with children
Here's how to make it
If you have enjoyed appetizers at Olive Garden, then you will surely love this homemade copycat version! It's one of the quickest vegan party appetizers you can make at home.
While you can make ravioli from scratch at home, using store-bought ravioli truly is the biggest trick to making this a quick and easy recipe.
- Cook the ravioli as per instructions on the packet. Strain the water and allow the ravioli to cool down.
- You can spread them on a plate for them to cool down and prevent them from sticking to one another.
- Meanwhile, prepare the breadcrumbs mixture. Add breadcrumbs
to a bowl.
- In that add garlic powder, onion powder, mixed dry herbs, red pepper flakes and, vegan Parmesan Cheese. Mix it all together and keep it aside for now.
- Heat oil for frying.
- Add vegan (Almond) milk to a bowl and allow it to come to room temperature or you can warm it up for 45 seconds in a microwave.
- In that add garlic powder
- Dip each ravioli in milk and then roll it over the prepared breadcrumbs mixture. Repeat this with every ravioli and place them on a tray.
- You can even ask your little ones to help in this step. It's a fun activity for them. Once that is done, it's time to fry the ravioli.
- You can take over from your kids (if they are helping you) and begin frying them in oil. Fry evenly on both sides till they turn golden.
- Be careful to not burn them or fry them in very hot oil. Using a slotted spoon, transfer ravioli to a paper towel-lined plate.
, 
, 
and, 
. Mix it all together and keep it aside for now.
to a bowl
and allow it to come to room temperature or you can warm it up for 45 seconds in a microwave.What do you eat it with?
These vegan Italian fried ravioli can be a meal in itself. They make great party appetizers and can also be eaten as an evening snack.
They are best enjoyed when served hot with some spicy vegan mayo (Sriracha mixed with vegan mayo), regular tomato ketchup, or marinara sauce on the side.
I totally enjoyed serving these delicious fried cheese ravioli, Olive Garden style at a house party and everyone went crazy for them.
Easy vegan appetizer recipes like this Copycat Olive Garden Cheesy Fried Ravioli is a crowd pleaser! Make it for your next house party and let me know how that goes.
Top tips, recommendations, and suggestions
If your frozen ravioli are stuck together, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator. Then you should be able to carefully separate them.
But you do not need to thaw frozen ravioli. You can cook them right away as per instructions on the packet.
I prefer using store-bought breadcrumbs as they are dry and coat well in comparison to the homemade ones that are softer.
Also, you can customize the crumbs mixture as per your liking.
Add additional seasonings like Nutritional yeast, amchur powder, chaat masala, oregano, dried parsley, etc for more flavor.
If you have leftover breadcrumb mixture, you can save it in a ziptop bag in the refrigerator, and use it for future vegan Italian ravioli endeavors.
Where can you find vegan ravioli?
If you are not making vegan Italian ravioli at home, you can easily find them at the grocery store or on Amazon.
Check out brands like Kite Hill and Rising Moon. You can choose ravioli with any stuffing of your choice to make this recipe.
Can you fry canned ravioli?
Yes, you can use canned ravioli to make this vegan Italian appetizer. Drain the water and coat them in seasoned breadcrumbs and fry it.
However, I prefer and have used store-bought frozen ravioli.
Low-fat options
While the fried version is a delicious indulgent option, you can also make toasted cheese ravioli, Olive Garden style in the oven, or in an Air Fryer.
To make it in the Air Fryer, set the air fryer to 390 degrees. Place the breadcrumbs coated ravioli in the tray and spray cooking oil over it.
Then Air Fry them for 6 minutes. Carefully flip each ravioli over. Air Fry for another 2 minutes.
To make it in the oven, bake the breaded ravioli in a preheated oven (400 degrees F) until golden brown and crispy, 15 to 25 minutes.
Easy vegan appetizer recipes
We all need appetizer recipes that the whole family or friends will love. Because let's admit it, appetizers are the most popular food items at family brunches, parties, and potlucks.
Here are some vegan appetizers that you can try for your next event.
- Chettinad Corn Dhokla
- Savory Polenta Muffins
- Cheese Rice Kebabs
- Moong Dal Pakora
- Banana Chips
- Instant pot Black Bean taco Boats
More Pasta recipes
- Indian Curry Pasta
- Edamame Mushroom Pasta Salad
- Garlic & Breadcrumbs Pasta
- Vegan Gnocchi
- Tomato Rotini Pasta Bake
- Alfredo Cheesy Mustard Pasta Mug Bake
- Almond Picada Pesto Spaghetti
If you’ve tried this Copycat Olive Garden Vegan Fried Ravioli or any other recipe on the blog please let me know how it went by commenting below, I love hearing from you!
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Copycat Olive Garden Vegan Fried Ravioli
Equipment
Ingredients
To cook ravioli
- 9 oz ravioli
- Water as needed
To prepare the breadcrumbs mixture
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon mixed dry herbs
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup vegan Parmesan cheese
To fry the vegan ravioli
- 1 cup milk
- oil for frying
Instructions
To cook ravioli
- Cook the ravioli as per instructions on the packet. Strain the water and allow the ravioli to cool down. You can spread them on a plate for them to cool down and prevent it from sticking to one another.
To prepare the breadcrumbs mixture
- Now prepare the breadcrumbs mixture. Add breadcrumbs to a bowl. In that add garlic powder, onion powder, mixed dry herbs, chilly flakes and, vegan Parmesan Cheese. Mix it all together and keep it aside for now.
- Heat oil for frying.
To fry the vegan ravioli
- Add vegan (Almond) milk to a bowl and allow it to come to room temperature or you can warm it up for 45 seconds in a microwave.
- Dip each ravioli in milk and then roll it in prepared breadcrumbs mixture. Repeat this with every ravioli and place them on a tray. Once that is done, its time to fry the ravioli.
- Begin frying them in oil. Fry evenly on both sides till they turn golden. Be careful to not burn it or fry them in very hot oil. Using a slotted spoon, transfer ravioli to a paper towel-lined plate.
- These vegan Italian fried ravioli can be a meal in itself. They are best enjoyed when served hot with some spicy vegan mayo (Sriracha mixed with vegan mayo), regular tomato ketchup or marinara sauce on the side.
Notes
Nutrition
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I want to make these ahead and warm up for guests. Is this possible and if so, what is the best way?
I would suggest frying them just before the guests come. You can prep and keep it ready. It will crispy and fresh. Hope this helps. Thank you.
How are these Gluten free?? Your recipe uses bread crumbs. And the DF pre-made version you suggest kite hill is not gluten free. 🤷♀️
Gluten-free breadcrumbs are used. Kite Hill is a suggestion. You can use any ravioli you want. Hope this helps. Thank you.
Low-fat options say to "bake the breaded ravioli in a preheated oven (400 degrees C)" - really? That's 752 degrees Fahrenheit!
Please correct recipe.
Thanks for pointing out the typo. I have updated it.
"Chilly" flakes? Really? What are those? 😆
It's the other name for red pepper flakes.
What brand of Ravioli did you use, most that I find have eggs.
I have mentioned that in the post. Look for Kite Hill or Rising Moon.
Of all the copycat recipes I've tried, this is by far the best. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
I am so happy to hear that! Thank you
This is our favorite appetizer at Olive Garden! So excited that we can make it at home now!! Extra delicious!
Yay! Do try it..its so easy
These are so good! My whole family enjoyed them too.
I am so glad to hear everyone in your family enjoyed it. Thank you
I've never ordered these at Olive Garden so I don't know about the comparison, but these are so delicious and I love how snackable they are.
Now you can make it at home and know for yourself. 🙂
What a perfect appetizer for the whole family to enjoy.
Absolutely! Thank you.
I tried this. But when fried coating is getting burned and black immediately
I think your oil was very hot..fry in medium flame..I prepared more than 100 with no issues..
Hello , i will definately try this dish , i just have one question what sauce you are using with this dish?? Thanks
Thank you. I have used spicy Chipotle Sauce on the side.