BEST Vodka Sauce Recipe
You’re going to love this quick and easy vodka sauce, with its rich flavor and velvety texture. It’s a staple weeknight dinner that your whole family will love!
Servings: 4 servings (sauce for 1 pound of pasta)
Equipment
- Immersion blender (or regular blender)
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta of choice like mezzi rigatoni or penne
- 28 ounce can of whole peeled tomatoes
- 1 medium sweet onion chopped
- 3 large garlic cloves minced
- ¾ cup half-and-half
- ½ cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese or regular parmesan (+ more to garnish)
- ⅓ cup plain vodka
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Red pepper flakes to taste
- Salt to taste
- Fresh basil optional to garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot, add onion, garlic, and olive oil. Sauté over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the tomatoes and crush into small pieces using a potato masher or scissors. Then add the vodka and stir.
- Heat the sauce over medium-high until just simmering.
- Add the parmesan, balsamic, red pepper flakes and salt. Let simmer, uncovered, over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta to al dente (optional).
- Use an immersion blender (in a deep pot so it doesn’t splatter) or regular blender to blend the sauce until smooth.
- Add the half-and-half, and blend for 5-10 more seconds.
- Keep sauce on medium-low heat until the pasta is ready. Toss into pasta or serve however you’d like, garnished with more parmesan and fresh basil!
Video
Notes
- My vodka sauce recipe is creamy but not super creamy. If you’d prefer an indulgent sauce, use heavy cream instead of half-and-half! I don’t recommend using anything lighter than half-and-half like milk that could curdle.
- A splash of balsamic adds a depth of flavor that’s SO delicious. Don’t worry; you won’t taste the vinegar itself.
- You can’t beat freshly grated cheese in vodka sauce! Grate your own if you can.
- This recipe makes approximately 3-3.5 cups of sauce.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving of sauce | Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 520mg | Potassium: 558mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 518IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 281mg | Iron: 2mg