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    Home » MAINS

    Pasta alla Vodka

    Modified: Aug 25, 2024 by Susan Pridmore · This post may contain affiliate links · 31 Comments

    Linguini pasta tossed in a velvety vodka-tomato-cream sauce. Elegance and rustic comfort all in one dish.

    This is an easy dinner ready in 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.

    Jump to Recipe
    A bowl of pasta topped with vodka pasta sauce and slivers of basil leaves.

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    Jump to:
    • 🤷‍♀️ What is a Vodka pasta sauce?
    • 🧅 Main Ingredients + Notes
    • 💡Ideas for Possible Variations
    • 🫙 Can I make this dish ahead?
    • 📇 More Easy Pasta Dinners
    • Pasta alla Vodka

    Pasta alla Vodka has been around for awhile now, and I've watched people swoon over them from the sidelines. I don't know why I waited so long to try one. Because, God knows, I do love a simple pasta dinner like this Espagueti Verde and Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto.

    🤷‍♀️ What is a Vodka pasta sauce?

    There are variations, but they all involve basically the same ingredients: tomato sauce, cream, both butter and olive oil, onion, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and lots of Vodka.

    The alcohol of the Vodka cooks off to leave a savory flavor that falls somewhere between Vodka and wine, taking the sauce to another level.  And what a sauce. It's like velvet. Smooth, subtly decadent, with enough body to cling to the noodles.  

    You can spice it up a bit with dried red pepper flakes and toss in some basil slivers, but it's more Lauren Bacall than Sophia Loren. Subtle, casually elegant, and sexy. And addictive. Think stilettos with blue jeans. Now go make it and tell me how you would describe it!

    🧅 Main Ingredients + Notes

    For all of the ingredients, measurements, and directions, go to the Recipe Card at the bottom of this post.

    • Pasta - Any pasta is fine. Spaghetti, linguini, penne, or whatever you and your family likes.
    • Unsalted butter
    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Yellow onion
    • Garlic cloves
    • Vodka
    • Tomatoes - I always use canned San Marzano whole tomatoes, but you can also use canned diced tomatoes.
    • Half and half or heavy cream for a silkier texture
    • Dried oregano
    • Fresh basil

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to products and foods I use in my kitchen. This means that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. To view my entire storefront of recommended kitchen tools and equipment, check out my shop on Amazon.

    💡Ideas for Possible Variations

    • Add 1 can of drained and rinsed chickpeas to the sauce for protein.
    • Substitute heavy cream for the Half & Half for a silkier sauce.
    • Use other pasta shapes, such as penne pasta to make Penne alla Vodka.

    🫙 Can I make this dish ahead?

    Yes, you can make either the sauce or the entire dish in advance. You can also cook the pasta ahead and store separately.

    • Store the sauce or entire dish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 - 5 days. Store the cooked pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 - 4 days.
    • Freeze the sauce in a freezer-safe container for 2 - 3 months.

    📇 More Easy Pasta Dinners

    By the way, another super easy veggie sauce pasta ready in under 30 minutes is this roasted red pepper penne, tossed with broccoli rabe.

    If you like Sicilian dishes, this Sicilian pasta is a winner with eggplant, tomatoes and garlic.

    And one of my favorites is espagueti verde, a pasta tossed in a creamy poblano sauce. Save some extra sauce for potato dishes too.

    Or make this romanesco pasta. It's tossed in a creamy cauliflower sauce that doesn't use any dairy at all. Or nuts, such as cashews. The secret is the pectin in the cauliflower florets that makes the sauce creamy. It's like magic!

    Another pasta is a baked pasta dish, like this Baked Spaghetti Casserole. Pasta noodles are mixed with the sauce, and then layered with cheese in a casserole.

    When fava beans show up in the market, I make this fava bean and pasta recipe that uses cheese tortellini, herbed ricotta cheese, and sautéed tomatoes, scallions and garlic.

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    A bowl of pasta alla vodka with text overlay.
    5 from 20 votes

    Pasta alla Vodka

    Linguini pasta tossed in a velvety vodka-tomato-cream sauce. Elegance and rustic comfort all in one dish, that's all ready to eat in under 30 minutes. Perfect quick weeknight dinner.
    Print Recipe Save Saved! Pin Recipe Add to Recipe Collection Go to Collections Add to Shopping ListGo to Shopping List
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time25 minutes mins
    Course: Pasta, Vegetarian entree
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: pasta alla vodka, spaghetti alla vodka
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 776.6kcal
    Author: Susan Pridmore
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    Equipment

    • Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot or other large pot to cook the pasta
    • Colander
    • Chef's knife
    • Large skillet

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound linguini pasta or other favorite pasta
    • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 large yellow onion finely diced (about 1 ½ cups)
    • 4 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 cup vodka
    • 28 ounce can of San Marzano whole tomatoes or 2 (15-ounce) cans of diced tomatoes
    • 1 cup Half & Half or heavy cream
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or dry your own
    • 1 ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
    • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for topping
    • handful of fresh basil leaves slivered

    Instructions

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat, and cook pasta according to package directions for al dente pasta.
      Before straining the pasta, reserve ½ cup of the pasta water and set aside.
    • While the pasta cooks, melt the olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
    • While the onion sautés, chop the canned tomatoes. I like to chop them myself rather than purchasing diced tomatoes or tomato puree so I can add texture to the sauce. But either of these choices can be substituted.
    • Pour in the vodka and stir in the tomatoes. Lightly simmer for five minutes.
    • Reduce the heat to low and stir in the half-and-half (or cream), oregano, salt, sugar, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir in the reserved pasta water and simmer for 5 minutes until the mixture cooks into a creamy vodka sauce consistency. You may not need all of the reserved pasta water.
    • Fold the drained pasta into the sauce, gently tossing it with a large metal spoon.
    • Stir in the Parmesan cheese and slip the pasta into large serving bowl. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and basil.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 776.6kcal | Carbohydrates: 104.4g | Protein: 26.4g | Fat: 28.7g | Saturated Fat: 13.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10.4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 1496.9mg | Potassium: 832.6mg | Fiber: 6.6g | Sugar: 12.9g | Vitamin A: 885.5IU | Vitamin C: 22.7mg | Calcium: 396.8mg | Iron: 3.9mg
    « Roasted Potato Salad with Lentils (No Mayo)
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    About Susan Pridmore

    Susan Pridmore is an award-winning cookbook author and the owner of The Wimpy Vegetarian. She has been featured in Huffington Post, Healthline, BuzzFeed, and has written for and developed recipes for The Food Network and Parade Magazine. She is professionally trained and focuses on easy vegetarian recipes for busy lives, bread-baking, and tips for new vegetarians. Susan lives in the mountains in Lake Tahoe with her husband and mini-labradoodle.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories

      August 24, 2014 at 11:26 pm

      Susan, this looks so good. I love the photo too. Great pick!

      Reply
    2. Karen

      August 25, 2014 at 1:34 am

      5 stars
      That boozy pasta has my name all over it Susan and as a veggie lover, I am tempted to make this recipe this week as I have all the ingredients! What a great SRC pick! Karen

      Reply
    3. Couscous & Consciousness

      August 25, 2014 at 1:59 am

      This is a dish I have been meaning to try for ages. I love your description of it - you make it sound very sexy and I can't wait to give it a try.

      Reply
    4. April @ Angels Homestead

      August 25, 2014 at 5:12 am

      5 stars
      This looks so good Susan, and I love your suggestion of adding fresh basil to it. I cant wait to try this with some veggie noodles.

      Reply
    5. Sarah E

      August 25, 2014 at 5:28 am

      Like velvet?? I'm sold. I've been meaning to try pasta alla vodka for forever too! Love your photographs - they are just gorgeous 🙂 Happy reveal day!

      Reply
    6. Lauren Everson

      August 25, 2014 at 5:57 am

      5 stars
      Vodka sauce is my absolute favorite pasta sauce! Wonderful choice this month.

      Reply
    7. Kim (Feed Me, Seymour)

      August 25, 2014 at 6:12 am

      5 stars
      It has been WAY too long since I've had pasta alla vodka, for sure. Your version looks fantastic. I must make some this week!

      Reply
    8. sara

      August 25, 2014 at 6:25 am

      5 stars
      Mmm, vodka sauce is one of my all time favorites...so delicious! Great pick. Visiting from Group A 🙂

      Reply
    9. SallyBR

      August 25, 2014 at 6:36 am

      5 stars
      One of my favorite sauces, I haven't made it in quite a while, thanks for bringing it back into my radar!

      have a fantastic Reveal Day!

      Reply
    10. Rebekah @ Making Miracles

      August 25, 2014 at 6:43 am

      Mmm... that looks absolutely WONDERFUL! Great choice this month!!

      Reply
    11. apuginthekitchen

      August 25, 2014 at 7:29 am

      5 stars
      I love vodka sauce but have never made it before, your pasta dish is wonderful, love it, I love the combination of cream and tomato and cheese there is something so homey and comforting about this dish. Nicole's recipe is fantastic. Lauren Bacall rather than Sophia Loren, LOL!! great analogy.

      Reply
    12. Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm

      August 25, 2014 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      I love your writing. It was a great way to describe your sauce and I enjoyed it. Happy Reveal Day

      Reply
    13. Melissa

      August 25, 2014 at 10:07 am

      5 stars
      Vodka sauce is so delicious. I love your analogies, too! Excellent pick this month 😉

      Reply
    14. Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel

      August 25, 2014 at 10:13 am

      5 stars
      Looks awesome! I love recipes with simple, fresh ingredients. Great pick!

      Reply
    15. Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere

      August 25, 2014 at 3:08 pm

      Your pasta looks fabulous! Great pick!

      Reply
    16. Emily @ Life on Food

      August 25, 2014 at 4:05 pm

      Funny I haven't had Vodka pasta either. After seeing this though I want to get on it right away. Happy Reveal Day!!

      Reply
    17. nicole

      August 25, 2014 at 7:09 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for cooking in my kitchen this month! The recipe looks like it turned out great!!!

      Reply
    18. Oui, Chef

      August 26, 2014 at 11:40 am

      With an ingredient list like this, what's not to love!

      Reply
    19. mjskit

      August 26, 2014 at 7:58 pm

      5 stars
      I'm so glad that you chose this pasta to try! I've heard of it, but have never had it before and wanted to make it. I have some wonderful fresh tomatoes, so I can't wait to use them in this. It looks delightful!

      Reply
    20. cheri

      August 26, 2014 at 8:33 pm

      Hi Susan, love everything about this dish, have never cooked with vodka before, I guess it's about time. lovely pictures!!

      Reply
    21. Kirstin

      August 27, 2014 at 8:37 pm

      5 stars
      YUM! Good and simple.

      Reply
    22. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious

      August 28, 2014 at 11:03 am

      Oh my is that pretty. I always did prefer Lauren Bacall over Sophia Loren.

      Reply
    23. Maureen

      August 29, 2014 at 5:10 am

      5 stars
      I have a recipe similar to this and I adore it. I want to try your recipe too. It looks so good!

      Reply
    24. Pure Grace Farms

      August 29, 2014 at 11:33 am

      5 stars
      You had me with Vodka! 🙂 Looks like a lovely sauce, I look forward to trying this one. Already thinking about how I can put some away with all the tomatoes I have in the garden. May have to experiment and do a little canning. Thank you for sharing,
      Blessings,
      Shari

      Reply
    25. Pure Grace Farms

      August 29, 2014 at 11:37 am

      If you haven't already would love for you to come by and link up your fabulous sauce at Foodie Fridays.
      Thanks, Shari
      http://puregracefarms.com/2014/08/foodie-fridays-link-up-party-10/

      Reply
    26. Kate

      September 01, 2014 at 8:07 am

      5 stars
      Great SRC selection! I love Pasta with Vodka Sauce....yummy. I need to give this recipe a try. Visiting from Group B.

      Reply
    27. Pure Grace Farms

      September 03, 2014 at 7:25 pm

      5 stars
      Stopping in to let you know I have featured your post on Foodie Fridays starting Thursday Evening at 9pm EST. Stop by and say hello and link up another fabulous post!

      Reply
    28. Traci | Vanilla And Bean

      September 04, 2014 at 11:32 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Susan! What a fabulous combination of flavors! Cream, vodka and tomatoes... whats not to love! Thank you for sharing this recipe and mouthwatering photos!

      Hope to see you at the IFBC!

      Reply
    29. Mary @ Fit and Fed

      September 06, 2014 at 3:40 pm

      5 stars
      Very cool! I've only ever had the vodka pasta sauce from Trader Joe's, I've never tried to make my own. I love using liquors in my cooking both for main dishes and desserts. I haven't been exactly sure what the vodka adds to the pasta sauce since it has so little flavor on its own, but I'm sure that whatever it does add you'd notice more in a homemade sauce than a commercial one.

      Reply
    30. Carrie Pacini

      September 16, 2014 at 5:11 am

      5 stars
      Your Pasta alla Vodka looks wonderful.

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        September 16, 2014 at 8:37 pm

        Thanks so much Carrie!

        Reply
    5 from 20 votes

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    about the author:

    Susan Pridmore

    Hi there! I'm an award-winning cookbook author, culinary school graduate, professional photographer and recipe developer. My cookbook Simply Vegetarian was named #1 best cookbook for new vegetarians, and I want to make it easier for you to cook fabulous vegetarian meals. Come join me in the kitchen!

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