content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001782245</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000940944</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Darden Restaurants, Inc.</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-13666</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>1000 Darden Center Drive</com:street1>
          <com:city>Orlando</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>32837</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>4072454000</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Susan M. Connelly</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>J.P. Morgan Securities LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>390 Madison Avenue</com:street1>
            <com:street2>6th Floor</com:street2>
            <com:city>New York</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>10017</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>3320</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>543916</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>117500476</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>09/30/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>03/31/2022</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>3320</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>03/31/2022</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <remarks>This filing is for shares acquired by Susan Connelly in the form of Executive Stock Compensation from  03/31/2022 - 08/01/2024.</remarks>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>09/30/2024</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as agent and attorney-in-fact for Susan Connelly</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2990}]
text: 144
  0001782245
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000940944
  Darden Restaurants, Inc.
  001-13666
  1000 Darden Center Drive
  Orlando
  FL
  32837
  4072454000
  Susan M. Connelly
  Officer
  Common
  J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  390 Madison Avenue
  6th Floor
  New York
  NY
  10017
  3320
  543916
  117500476
  09/30/2024
  NYSE
  Common
  03/31/2022
  Compensation
  Issuer
  N
  3320
  03/31/2022
  NA
  Y
  This filing is for shares acquired by Susan Connelly in the form of Executive Stock Compensation from  03/31/2022 - 08/01/2024.
  09/30/2024
  /s/ J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as agent and attorney-in-fact for Susan Connelly