Homemade Vodka Sauce

This Vodka Sauce recipe is a homemade version of a classic Italian-American sauce. It’s rich, creamy, and perfect served over your favorite gluten free pasta. It’s quick to make, flavor packed, and the most wonderful comfort foo

Recipe by Lexi on December 23, 2021

Prep time: PT10M

Cook time: PT20M

Total time: PT30M

Rating

5 stars (6 reviews)

Keywords

homemade vodka sauce, how to make vodka sauce, pasta alla vodka, rigatoni alla vodka, vodka pasta sauce recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter (see notes for dairy-free)
4 garlic gloves (minced)
2 medium shallots or 1 large onion (diced)
Optional: 1 lb. prosciutto (pancetta, or even bacon, chopped)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (omit if you don't like spice)
1/4 cup vodka (gluten-free if needed)
1 14.5 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream (see notes for dairy-free)
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon fine sea salt (more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper (more to taste)
Optional: 1/2 cup frozen peas
1 16 ounces box of pasta of choice
1 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
Optional: 2 tablespoons basil leaves (chiffonade for garnish)

Steps

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and shallots (or onion!), and cook, until fragrant, about 4-5 minutes stirring frequently to avoid burning. If adding prosciutto, pancetta, or bacon, do so here.
Stir in red pepper flakes until fragrant, about 30 seconds minute.
Pour in the vodka, scraping browned bits from the bottom of your skillet, then stir in the crushed tomatoes. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer until the tomato sauce has thickened, about 10 minutes.
Stir in heavy cream and parmesan cheese and mix until smooth. If adding frozen peas, do so here.
In a pot, boil water and cook pasta based on package directions. Set aside 1 cup of the pasta water.
Add in pasta to your sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed, until desired consistency is reached.
Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.
Serve hot and garnish with parmesan, basil, and additional red pepper flakes if desired.

Nutitrion

Serving Size: 1 /4 sauce recipe + 4 oz pasta
Calories: 681 kcal
Carbohydrates: 97 g
Protein: 21 g
Fat: 19 g
Saturated Fat: 10 g
Cholesterol: 55 mg
Sodium: 740 mg
Sugar: 8 g

Reviews

Maria on 2024-11-07 (5 stars):
Very easy to make and oh so delicious!
Mike on 2024-01-08 (5 stars):
Great consistency. Great flavor. Looking forward to trying it with prosciutto next timing. Nice one pan meal (for the sauce). Adding to our regular pasta rotation.
CANDACE on 2024-01-08 (5 stars):
5/5 for sure! Everyone loved it at our dinner tonight.
Shannon on 2022-01-11 (5 stars):
Love this vodka sauce recipe! I've made it twice so far, using the dairy-free variations as my little one has a dairy allergy. We are keeping this recipe on rotation!
Julia on 2022-01-03 (5 stars):
Holy sh*t! This is DELICIOUS and so simple!!!!! Came together so fast and literally drooling over a second bowl. Paired with Barilla Protein+ pasta and chicken and it is so fricken good!
Kate on 2022-01-02 (5 stars):
This vodka sauce is SO easy, quick, and DELICIOUS! It is so much better than the jarred stuff (no hate on jarred sauce!). Keeping this in my favorite recipes for sure. Do yourself a favor and go make it!