Creamy Pasta alla Vodka Recipe (2024)

30 Minute Meals,One Pot Meals,Weeknight Meals

Creamy Pasta alla Vodka Recipe

Creamy Pasta alla Vodka Recipe (1)

Pasta alla Vodka – perfectly cooked al dente pasta cooked in a creamy and vibrant tomato and vodka infused sauce that’s seasoned with fresh herbs and parmesan. Talk about delicious dinner recipe!

Pasta alla vodka is one of my go-to easy weeknight meals. It takes 20 minutes start to finish and only requires a few ingredients and pantry staples. Vodka sauce is honestly one of my favorite sauces ever and after making this recipe, you’ll see why!

Creamy Pasta alla Vodka Recipe (2)

What is Pasta ‘alla Vodka’?

Pasta alla Vodka is a classic Italian-American recipe that you can perfect at home with just a few easy steps!

So what does adding vodka do to the sauce? All the alcohol is cooked off, but the vodka boosts and intensifies the flavors of the tomatoes during cooking. Vodka also emulsifies the molecules of fat and water and tomato to make a perfectly luscious sauce. This vodka sauce is vibrant and rich with a kick from the Calabrian chilies.

How to make Pasta alla Vodka

This recipe couldn’t be easier to throw together on a busy weeknight! It’s easy to customize to your tastes with what you have on-hand.

Tools Needed

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Tomato paste.Opt for a high-quality tomato paste. Your sauce only tastes as good as what you put in it!
  • Shallots.I love shallots for a subtle onion flavor with small pieces that melt into the sauce.
  • Garlic.It’s not a great pasta sauce without garlic!
  • Calabrian chili. Calabrian chile is my secret ingredient! You can find Calabrian chile paste at Trader Joe’s or on Amazon.
  • Vodka.You could omit the vodka if needed, but it really brightens the sauce.
  • Pasta Water.Adding pasta water to the sauce helps thicken it and helps the sauce cling to the pasta.
  • Mascarpone.Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese and it makes this sauce extra luscious.
  • Heavy cream.You could use all mascarpone if you wanted, but I love the combo of both!
  • Butter and Olive Oil.I always saute my shallots and garlic in a mix of butter and olive oil and add an extra pat of butter to the sauce at the end.
  • Pasta.I found this amazing ‘Calamarata’ pasta which is supposed to resemble rings of calamari and I’m obsessed! It’s got amazing texture.
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Creamy Pasta alla Vodka Recipe (4)

The Process

  1. Boil your pasta.Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta to al dente. This is usually about 1-2 minutes shy of the package instructions–the pasta should still have some toothiness to it.
  2. Reserve some pasta water.Before draining your pasta, reserve about a cup of pasta water–this is liquid gold in cooking!
  3. Saute shallots and garlic.Heat a mixture of butter and olive oil in a skillet and add your shallots and garlic. Cook for a few minutes, stirring often, until softened. Add the Calabrian chili paste and cook for another minute.
  4. Cook the tomato paste.The key to a really vibrant and rich sauce is to cook the tomato paste for at least 4-5 minutes, until it’s deep red in color.
  5. Add the vodka.Add the vodka to the tomato paste and bring to a simmer, stirring to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom.
  6. Finish the sauce.Once the vodka has reduced, add the pasta, pasta water, cream, butter, and mascarpone to the skillet. Toss everything together and cook for 3-4 minutes, until the pasta has absorbed some of the sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve topped with fresh basil and parmesan cheese.
Creamy Pasta alla Vodka Recipe (5)
Creamy Pasta alla Vodka Recipe (6)

Ways to Customize Pasta alla Vodka

This recipe really is just a base that can be expanded on to accommodate whatever you have on hand! Here are some ways to customize this pasta recipe to your tastes.

Add some protein. I love the flavor that Italian sausage adds, but you can easily swap in ground beef, turkey, chicken, or evenMEATBALLS(I always have a freezer stash!). If you’re vegetarian, try some hearty mushrooms or even chickpeas!

Bulk up the veggies.Do you have some leftover veggies that you need to use? This pasta is the perfect way to use them up! This recipe would be great with the addition of spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers!

Swap the pasta.Use whatever you have on hand like penne, rigatoni, paccheri, or even long noodles like pappardelle or spaghetti.

Freezing Pasta alla Vodka

Pasta alla vodka can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Or it will keep in the fridge for about 3 – 4 days.

To defrost:Transfer from the freezer to the refrigerator and defrost overnight. Warm in a skillet with a bit of extra water or cream.

Creamy Pasta alla Vodka Recipe (7)

Other Italian-Inspired Recipes to Try Now

Pumpkin alla Vodka Stuffed Shells
Cacio e Pepe for Two
Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs

This post contains affiliate links from which I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links allow me to keep providing great recipes for free and I never recommend products that I don’t love and personally own.

Creamy Pasta alla Vodka Recipe (8)

Creamy Pasta alla Vodka

This creamy pasta alla vodka recipe is a one-pan dinner wonder! Perfect al dente pasta swimming in a rich and vibrant tomato sauce.

Print RecipePin Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 25 minutes mins

Makes: 2 -4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons butter divided
  • 2 small shallots finely minced
  • 3 garlic cloves finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon Calabrian chili paste
  • 8 oz high-quality tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup vodka
  • 1 1/4 cup pasta water
  • 4 oz mascarpone
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 10 oz. high-quality dried pasta
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly cracked pepper
  • Parmesan
  • Fresh basil leaves

Instructions

  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta to al dente, usually 1-2 minutes shy of package instructions. Reserve pasta water before draining the pasta.

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil and 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter. Once the butter is melted, add the shallots and garlic and cook until softened. Add the Calabrian chili paste and cook for about a minute, until fragrant.

  • Once your chili paste is fragrant, add the tomato paste and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring often, until dark in color. Add the vodka and bring to a simmer, stirring to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the skillet.

  • After the vodka has simmered for a couple of minutes (make sure it doesn’t smell boozy anymore), add the pasta, pasta water, mascarpone, heavy cream, and reserved butter to the skillet. Stir really well and bring to a simmer. Once the pasta has absorbed some of the sauce and it’s nice and thick, season to taste with salt and pepper.

  • Divide into bowls and top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Nutrition

Serving: 11/2 cupsCalories: 449kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 17gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 800mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2g

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Creamy Pasta alla Vodka Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is vodka cream sauce made of? ›

Vodka sauce is a tomato-based sauce that's spiked with a hint of vodka for extra tanginess, then softened with a splash of heavy cream that gives the sauce a gorgeous reddish-orange color.

Is vodka sauce the same as creamy tomato sauce? ›

Vodka sauce is a mouth-watering tomato-based sauce that features the use of heavy cream, living somewhere between an Alfredo sauce and tomato-based sauce. Vodka sauce recipes will vary, but the most common ingredients include tomatoes, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, and a splash of vodka.

How do you thicken vodka pasta sauce? ›

If the sauce isn't as thick as you would like, you can thicken the sauce by adding a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch, arrowroot flour, or tapioca starch. To make the thickener, mix the thickening agent with a little bit of water or broth and then stir it into the pasta!

Can I use milk instead of heavy cream for vodka sauce? ›

Normally it includes real cream for richness but I'm using reduced-fat milk. Great news though, it still retains the decadent flavor of a regular recipe but with a fraction of the fat and calories. In addition, I've placed it over fiber rich whole wheat penne instead of white pasta.

Is vodka sauce just alfredo and marinara? ›

No. Alfredo sauce mixed with marinara sauce is known as pink sauce. While pink sauce and vodka sauce are both types of tomato sauce, they are not the same thing.

Why do you put vodka in cream sauce? ›

In a vodka sauce, the vodka helps maintain a cohesive texture, allowing the creaminess to meld with the tomato base. And sure, you could use wine to the same effect, but in a sauce as rich as vodka sauce, it's better to use a small amount of alcohol that will impart as little of its own flavor as possible.

What pasta is best with vodka sauce? ›

Well, it's really the sauce that's laced with vodka. A creamy, silky tomato sauce. Penne is classic for Pasta alla Vodka because it really holds on to the sauce.

What do Italians eat vodka sauce with? ›

Penne. By and far, the most popular noodle to pair with vodka sauce is penne pasta. Vodka sauce has the perfect ability to cling to penne noodles, making it that each bite is packed with delicious Italian flavors.

Do you put vodka before or after tomato sauce? ›

Adding the vodka to the sauce when there are only a handful of minutes left of cooking time ensures the sauce is neither overly boozy nor absent of the flavor-enhancing effects of the vodka.

How long to cook off vodka in sauce? ›

Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Pour in the tomato paste, along with the red pepper flakes, and cook it until the tomato paste turns a really dark red color, about 3 minutes. Add the vodka and let it sizzle and allow the vodka to cook off a bit, about 1 minute. Pour in the heavy cream and mix it until smooth.

What makes vodka pasta so good? ›

Wine works, too, but a clean-tasting vodka has mostly water and ethanol (a solvent), which is excellent at carrying aromatic compounds — like those in tomatoes. In other words, the vodka in this dish can help you smell, and in turn taste, the sauce's flavors in a heightened way.

Is Gigi Hadid pasta vodka sauce? ›

It's a spicy vodka sauce but without the vodka. It's super creamy, indulgent, and the best pasta dish to make for any occasion. It always impresses yet it's so easy to make.

Can I use sour cream instead of heavy cream? ›

Sour cream is an easy replacement for heavy cream. It can be easily stirred into a dish and offers another flavor profile to soups, stews and sauces. Plus, using it as a heavy cream substitute is a great way to use up that lingering tub in the fridge.

Why do people put sour cream in spaghetti sauce? ›

Sour cream can enhance both the taste and texture of your pasta sauce. It works in a similar manner to when you add heavy cream to a pasta sauce, only it imparts a lovely tart flavor that is irresistible to the palate. Sour cream is a dairy product that has been fermented with lactic acid.

Can kids eat vodka sauce? ›

The general consensus was that a vodka pasta sauce should be safe for children, if cooked thoroughly. "Traditional vodka sauce uses such a small amount of alcohol that it should evaporate out during cooking," Dr. Rachel Prete, pediatrician with Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, told POPSUGAR.

Does vodka cream sauce have alcohol? ›

Yes, vodka sauce does contain alcohol. But while vodka is a key ingredient in vodka sauce, it is not meant to be the star of the show. The amount of vodka used in a typical vodka sauce recipe is relatively small, and most, if not all, of the alcohol cooks off during the cooking process, leaving behind only the flavor.

What does vodka cream sauce taste like? ›

Its history may be muddled, but its flavors are crystal clear. Simultaneously rich with cream but with a sharp, bright flavor from the vodka and crushed red pepper, it's the kind of sauce that's comforting in cold weather but makes you think of the warmer months ahead.

Does vodka cream sauce have vodka? ›

What is Vodka Sauce? Vodka sauce contains 3 major components: tomatoes, Italian herbs, and vodka. Strega by Nick Varano uses vine tomatoes mixed with heavy cream to create a smooth and velvety sauce served over penne pasta. Flour is occasionally added to the recipe to thicken the consistency if the sauce.

Does vodka sauce contain milk? ›

Vodka sauce is made traditionally with tomato sauce spiked with vodka, with some heavy cream and parmesan cheese for creamy flavor. Therefore, vodka sauce is not naturally vegan, as it contains dairy.

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