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.
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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
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💡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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Pasta alla Vodka
Equipment
- Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot or other large pot to cook the pasta
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.
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories
Susan, this looks so good. I love the photo too. Great pick!
Karen
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
Couscous & Consciousness
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.
April @ Angels Homestead
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.
Sarah E
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!
Lauren Everson
Vodka sauce is my absolute favorite pasta sauce! Wonderful choice this month.
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour)
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!
sara
Mmm, vodka sauce is one of my all time favorites...so delicious! Great pick. Visiting from Group A 🙂
SallyBR
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!
Rebekah @ Making Miracles
Mmm... that looks absolutely WONDERFUL! Great choice this month!!
apuginthekitchen
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.
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm
I love your writing. It was a great way to describe your sauce and I enjoyed it. Happy Reveal Day
Melissa
Vodka sauce is so delicious. I love your analogies, too! Excellent pick this month 😉
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel
Looks awesome! I love recipes with simple, fresh ingredients. Great pick!
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere
Your pasta looks fabulous! Great pick!
Emily @ Life on Food
Funny I haven't had Vodka pasta either. After seeing this though I want to get on it right away. Happy Reveal Day!!
nicole
Thanks for cooking in my kitchen this month! The recipe looks like it turned out great!!!
Oui, Chef
With an ingredient list like this, what's not to love!
mjskit
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!
cheri
Hi Susan, love everything about this dish, have never cooked with vodka before, I guess it's about time. lovely pictures!!
Kirstin
YUM! Good and simple.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
Oh my is that pretty. I always did prefer Lauren Bacall over Sophia Loren.
Maureen
I have a recipe similar to this and I adore it. I want to try your recipe too. It looks so good!
Pure Grace Farms
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
Pure Grace Farms
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/
Kate
Great SRC selection! I love Pasta with Vodka Sauce....yummy. I need to give this recipe a try. Visiting from Group B.
Pure Grace Farms
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!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean
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!
Mary @ Fit and Fed
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.
Carrie Pacini
Your Pasta alla Vodka looks wonderful.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much Carrie!