Little Broken

Food recipes from real ingredients

  • Home
  • Meet Katya
    • FAQ
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Salads
      • Dressings
    • Main Dish
    • Soups
    • Side Dish
    • Sweets
    • Sauces and Condiments
  • Lifestyle
  • Contact

Home » Recipes » Main Dish

Vodka Sauce Recipe

February 14, 2017 By Katya 143 Comments

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
Close up vodka sauce in saute pan
Vertical image vodka sauce recipe
vodka sauce recipe in saucepan
vodka sauce in skillet

Now you can make this popular creamy pink vodka sauce right at home! Incredibly easy lightened-up recipe with olive oil, tomatoes, half and half, and fresh basil. 

https://www.littlebroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Vodka-Sauce-Recipe-16.jpgThis post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Cooking dinner together with my hubs is one of my all-time favorite things. Sunday night is normally our go to night…and my hubby is the opposite of me.

He cooks on a whim. Throws things together as he owns it and it always turns out delicious.

This past weekend he made a classic Russian dish…borscht while I made homemade vodka sauce. It felt like a mini date in the comfort of our cozy kitchen.

Vodka Sauce Recipe - lightened up creamy pink vodka sauce recipe. So easy, so delicious! You'll never go back to jarred sauce ever again. | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

And since it is Valentine’s Day…I hope you guys are staying in and cooking together. Because of crowds, cold, and overpriced pre-fixed menus…I mean we can do better than that?! Right?

This homemade creamy pink vodka sauce is the perfect recipe for date night in! It’s really simple to make and I promise you’ll never go back to jarred sauce ever again.

It tastes like restaurant quality but without the heavy price tag. Pair it with hot buttery penne pasta and an Avocado Caesar Salad and you’ve got yourself effortless Valentine’s dinner.

Vodka Sauce Recipe - lightened up creamy pink vodka sauce recipe. So easy, so delicious! You'll never go back to jarred sauce ever again. | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

There’s so many different versions of vodka sauce recipes but the base is tomatoes, vodka, and heavy cream. Some include butter, parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs. If you’re concerned about the taste of vodka…don’t be!

You can’t taste the harshness of the vodka, it is simply here to enhance the flavors. It adds a touch of heat to help balance out the sweetness of the tomatoes and the cream.

Is it necessary??…well no….but then it wouldn’t be a vodka sauce.

Vodka Sauce Recipe - lightened up creamy pink vodka sauce recipe. So easy, so delicious! You'll never go back to jarred sauce ever again. | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

To make this recipe a little lighter, I used olive oil in place of butter, half and half in place of heavy cream, a fraction of the cheese, and also plenty of fresh basil.

Basil adds just the right amount of fresh flavor and half and half along with parmesan cheese all the creaminess.

This sauce is a combo of the sweet-spicy mixture and when you pair it with hot buttery penne pasta…it’s a match made in heaven! All you need is a simple salad, such as Tomato Mozzarella Salad and you’re set!

Vodka Sauce Recipe - lightened up creamy pink vodka sauce recipe. So easy, so delicious! You'll never go back to jarred sauce ever again. | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

Ways To Serve Vodka Sauce

One of my personal favorite ways to serve vodka sauce is simply swapping it in some of our favorite recipes where it calls for a pasta sauce. It’s a great way to add flavor without compromising the overall recipe.

  • Orecchiette with Baked Mini Chicken Meatballs in Tomato Cream Sauce
  • Italian Zucchini Spaghetti Bake
  • Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups with Spinach and Artichokes
  • Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan Meatballs 

But of course, you can always simply toss the vodka sauce with hot buttery noodles, pair it with a salad and call it a day. Here are some of our favorite salads to pair with pasta:

  • Easy Chickpea Tomato Salad 
  • Creamy Zucchini Corn Salad
  • Chopped Wedge Salad
  • Kale Caesar Salad

If you try our Vodka Sauce Recipe, don’t forget to leave feedback and a rating.

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon facebook facebook icon print print icon squares squares icon
Close up of vodka sauce recipe in saute pan.

Vodka Sauce Recipe

★★★★★ 4.9 from 47 reviews
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Total Time: 55 mins
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Blend
  • Cuisine: Italian
Print
Pin

Description

Now you can make this popular creamy pink vodka sauce right at home! Incredibly easy lightened-up recipe with olive oil, tomatoes, half and half, and fresh basil. 


Scale

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 28 oz. can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup vodka
  • 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
  • 1/2 – 3/4 cup half and half
  • 2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
  • 16 oz. penne pasta
  • Fresh black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium heat; add onions and garlic and cook until soft, about 3-4 minutes. Add red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute.
  2. Stir in tomatoes and vodka and continue cooking the mixture for 5-7 minutes until slightly reduced, stirring occasionally.
  3. Then stir in the tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, salt, and black pepper to taste. Reduce heat to low and simmer partially covered for 20 minutes until reduced by half, stirring occasionally.
  4. In the meantime, cook pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  5. Transfer tomato mixture to a food processor or blender, add basil, and purée until smooth. Return sauce to the pan and stir in half and half. You want creamy and slightly sweet consistency. Start with 1/2 cup of half and half, taste, and add more if needed. Cook until warmed through, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in parmesan cheese and then the cooked pasta. Toss to combine.
  6. Serve immediately with additional sprinkle of cheese and basil, if desired.

Keywords: best vodka sauce recipe, vodka sauce pasta, vodka sauce ingredients, vodka sauce recipe

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @littlebrokenblog on Instagram and hashtag it #littlebrokenblog

 

This post may contain affiliate links.

 

Vodka Sauce Recipe - lightened up creamy pink vodka sauce recipe. So easy, so delicious! You'll never go back to jarred sauce ever again. | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

Filed Under: Main Dish, Recipes, Sauces and Condiments Tagged With: basil, italian, parmesan, pasta, sauce, tomatoes

« 1-Bowl Blueberry Muffins
Kale Caesar Salad »

Comments

  1. Daniele says

    December 28, 2020 at 12:19 PM

    I can’t find my immersion blender as we moved house. Can I make this without blending ?

    Reply
    • Katya says

      December 28, 2020 at 11:18 PM

      You can also use a blender or food-processor.

      Reply
  2. Lauren A. says

    December 7, 2020 at 7:19 PM

    I tried this and it rendered beautiful results. I would definitely recommend this recipe and will plan on making it again. Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • m b roche says

      January 7, 2021 at 12:57 AM

      I tried this recipe and found it to be a little bit bland. My cooking skills are not 5star by any stretch, but tonight’s meal got a 2 star from the family.

      Reply
  3. Sandra Sileo says

    November 11, 2020 at 1:11 PM

    Can this be used with lobster and crab ravioli?

    Reply
    • Katya says

      November 12, 2020 at 2:20 PM

      Yes! That would be delicious.

      Reply
  4. Jeremy says

    October 26, 2020 at 8:41 PM

    This dish was very flavorful and delicious.

    I’d make some minor changes.

    1) Add more garlic (cloves and garlic salt or powder)
    2) Add turkey/chicken meatballs
    3) Add shaved Parmesan

    ★★★★

    Reply
  5. Stacey Wilson says

    October 19, 2020 at 5:07 PM

    This is our go-to Vodka Sauce recipe! We opted for heavy cream in place of half n half as that’s all we had and it was nice and rich! I added some baked prosciutto-wrapped chicken strips to the top…sooo good! Thank you for a great recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      October 20, 2020 at 9:56 AM

      That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
  6. Bhavesh says

    September 6, 2020 at 9:05 AM

    Thanks for sharing this post with all of us. I really like this vodka sauce recipe and i found this recipe really an amazing recipe. Even i have a special vodka sauce recipe as well.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  7. Chef: “ Old Spanky “ says

    August 30, 2020 at 8:33 PM

    I’ve made this quite a few times , this time I slightly changed a few things and gotta say it’s now the
    classic that we have been wanting all along .
    Changes : 1/2 shallot minced
    : Heavy cream ( a must )
    : 3 small ladle fulls of the paste “used water “ VIP !

    And lastly I grilled some Itilian hot sausage as an add on .Kaboom & good nite !

    Also get a loaf of “ ciabatta bread loaf “ litely butter & grill mark it ( for dipping )

    Shut the front & back door , this is out of abounds , case closed

    Reply
  8. Jillian O says

    August 6, 2020 at 10:56 PM

    This was the best and easiest vodka sauce I ever made! If I double the recipe should I change any measurements or will it still come out fine? Thank you so much for all of these delicious dinner ideas!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      August 9, 2020 at 5:02 PM

      You’ll be fine if you double the recipe. Thank you!

      Reply
  9. Erin says

    July 31, 2020 at 5:36 PM

    Could I can this sauce after I make it?

    Reply
    • Katya says

      August 2, 2020 at 12:22 PM

      I can’t answer with certainty as I haven’t tried it and to be honest I don’t know much about canning. I’m assuming there’s a certain process you would have to follow or even add something additional to the sauce so it does not spoil? If you do try it, please let me know.

      Reply
      • Christina says

        September 1, 2020 at 12:34 AM

        I know this is late, but I regularly freeze it in freeze bags and save for later. Never too long but it also makes it easy to transfer and give to family and friends.

        Reply
        • Katya says

          September 1, 2020 at 10:13 AM

          That’s great to know! Thank you.

          Reply
  10. Deb Michalik says

    July 22, 2020 at 9:54 PM

    I made this recipe tonight and it was absolutely delicious. Love the use of half and half as opposed to heavy cream, which was a great change. The flavor was so amazing that even the kids loved it and wanted more. A big hit in our family but, unfortunately, there are no leftovers. Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      July 23, 2020 at 11:40 AM

      That’s so great! Thank you Deb.

      Reply
  11. Anna says

    July 5, 2020 at 6:02 PM

    I’ve made many vodka sauce recipes but this is my favorite!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      July 7, 2020 at 7:54 AM

      Thank you Anna!

      Reply
    • mike says

      July 10, 2020 at 9:54 PM

      I love this and all your recipes. You have saved me from ever having to eat out anymore.

      Reply
      • Katya says

        July 13, 2020 at 8:19 AM

        That’s so awesome! Thanks Mike.

        Reply
  12. Christine Aprile says

    June 28, 2020 at 6:37 PM

    My husband and I love this recipe! It’s delicious, rich and creamy and one of our go to dinner choices when we feel decadent. I transfer the sauce to a deep bowl and use an immersion blender instead of a food processor and it works wonderfully. I’ve omitted the tomato paste or the basil, and use fresh tomatoes instead of canned, and it turns out perfectly despite the changes.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      June 29, 2020 at 6:02 PM

      Thank you Christine! So glad you enjoy this sauce.

      Reply
  13. Sam says

    June 11, 2020 at 9:36 AM

    Sooo yummy !

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  14. JAMIE says

    June 3, 2020 at 1:41 AM

    Fantastic, loved it, and so did my husband!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  15. sally says

    May 18, 2020 at 2:07 PM

    this is amazing very good job!!!!

    Reply
  16. sally says

    May 18, 2020 at 2:04 PM

    amazing!!!

    Reply
  17. Rachel says

    May 7, 2020 at 10:38 PM

    Perfect recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      May 10, 2020 at 12:53 PM

      Thank you!

      Reply
  18. julie russo says

    April 26, 2020 at 1:36 PM

    This is a HIT! Just a few personal tweeks…I use pureed tomtoes in a glass jar, mince the onion fine (only 1/2 onion) and skip the food processor step. Add the tom paste and cook for a minute after the pepper flakes. Make sure to cook out the vodka taste out. Family likes it without the balsamic so I leave it out…. but I like it with it! Lay the basil (rip into peices) in before adding the cream and cheese. Use some of the pasta water, 1/4 cup, to bring it all together at the end. I get a request for it once a week 🙂 thank you!

    Reply
    • Katya says

      April 26, 2020 at 8:38 PM

      Thank you Julie! So happy you liked the recipe.

      Reply
    • sally says

      May 18, 2020 at 2:05 PM

      i know !!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
  19. Tamara Epperson says

    April 25, 2020 at 12:12 PM

    This recipe was full of flavor and paired well with penne pasta and chicken. My family loved it and I will be definitely making it again!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      April 25, 2020 at 2:10 PM

      Thank you for the feedback!

      Reply
  20. MMB says

    April 13, 2020 at 2:03 PM

    “Why am I buying sauce in a jar!?!?”

    Thank you this was heavenly!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  21. Lisa says

    April 11, 2020 at 1:27 PM

    I made this with home made gnocchi and omg… this is hands down the best vodka sauce I’ve ever had even at restaurants! So good and the basil is such a great compliment! A touch of parmesan on top is wonderful.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      April 11, 2020 at 1:55 PM

      Now you’re making me hungry. Homemade gnocchi sounds absolutely amazing! Thank you for your feedback Lisa. Happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe.

      Reply
  22. Annie says

    April 7, 2020 at 9:18 AM

    This was my first time making vodka sauce and it was INCREDIBLE. I’m lactose intolerant so I subbed the half & half for nutpods dairy free creamer and you couldn’t tell a difference, and I was thrilled this recipe didn’t use butter. THANK YOU!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  23. Annie says

    April 7, 2020 at 9:16 AM

    This was my first time making vodka sauce and it was INCREDIBLE. I’m lactose intolerant so I subbed the half & half for nutpods dairy free creamer and you couldn’t tell a difference, and I was thrilled this recipe didn’t use butter. THANK YOU!

    Reply
    • Katya says

      April 8, 2020 at 9:17 AM

      That’s awesome! So glad you made it work with non-dairy cream.

      Reply
  24. Marie says

    April 6, 2020 at 7:54 PM

    I loved this recipe! I’ve never made a sauce from scratch like this before, and it was so delicious. I want to make it every week!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      April 8, 2020 at 9:16 AM

      Thank you Marie for your review.

      Reply
  25. Cealy says

    April 4, 2020 at 7:33 PM

    This is the first pasta I’ve ever made. It was easy but SO delicious! I made it for my whole family and they all said it was the best pasta they’ve ever had! Thanks for the great recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      April 5, 2020 at 1:03 PM

      Thank you Cealy for your review. So happy you enjoyed the vodka sauce.

      Reply
  26. Anna says

    April 2, 2020 at 9:46 AM

    First time making homemade pasta so we gave this sauce a shot to pair with some (attempted) fettuccini noodles. It totally exceeded our expectations!! Our pasta needs some work, but we would make this sauce again in a heartbeat! Thanks for a great recipe:)

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      April 2, 2020 at 1:02 PM

      Thank you Anna! So happy to hear you enjoyed the sauce.

      Reply
  27. M says

    March 29, 2020 at 10:14 PM

    First Vodka sauce I ever attempted and I never plan on trying a different one. It was so amazing and turned out so perfect it really made me seem like SUCH a good cook. Served it with spinach tortellini and it was *chefs kiss*. Thank you for this!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      March 30, 2020 at 8:50 AM

      Thank you! I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Appreciate your feedback.

      Reply
  28. Mimi Gersoff says

    March 25, 2020 at 12:32 PM

    This was a wonderful sauce!! So flavorful and easy to make with items we had on the shelf and in the refrigerator . sub in dried basil but it was still so delicious!!! I will keep this recipe forever it was that good!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      March 25, 2020 at 8:00 PM

      Thank you Mimi! I so appreciate your feedback.

      Reply
    • Jackie Solis says

      April 22, 2020 at 5:11 PM

      Good to know dried basil works because that’s all I have at home right now! Trying this recipe tonight! So excited…🤗

      Reply
    • Debra says

      April 28, 2020 at 11:32 AM

      Yes! Thank you for telling us about the dried! My basil is still too small to get this much from the garden…

      Trying this tonight,

      Reply
  29. Kayla Castellucci says

    March 18, 2020 at 5:42 PM

    Can you use 2% milk instead of half and half cream?

    Great recipe!

    Reply
    • Katya says

      March 19, 2020 at 12:23 PM

      The sauce will not be as creamy. I would stick to half and half or you can even use heavy cream.

      Reply
  30. Mary says

    February 19, 2020 at 10:33 AM

    Best homemade vodka sauce. Also easy to follow.
    Will even use as a red sauce without cream and parm!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      February 19, 2020 at 8:46 PM

      Thank you so much Mary! So happy to hear you loved the sauce.

      Reply
  31. Jenny says

    November 12, 2019 at 9:27 AM

    Would it be possible to make and then place in a crock pot to keep warm or will it separate? I’m looking to use this recipe for a pasta bar for a birthday party. Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      November 12, 2019 at 8:40 PM

      I think it would depend on the temperature of the crockpot and for how long it would sit in the crockpot. I think it might work but honestly it’s so hard to say without trying it out first.

      Reply
      • Rob Passons says

        December 30, 2019 at 2:59 AM

        If you leave it in a crock pot it’ll reduce slowly and the sauce will eventually take on a dark dark red color. The flavor will turn very rich so it may not be what you’re looking for. I do this when I want to turn my marinara into pizza sauce.

        Reply
        • Katya says

          December 30, 2019 at 11:34 AM

          Thank you for your input!

          Reply
  32. Cathy says

    November 8, 2019 at 7:56 PM

    I didn’t think I could make something so delicious… thank God for google your site came up first and after making it I understand why! My family thanks you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      November 9, 2019 at 12:33 PM

      Thank you Cathy! So appreciate your feedback.

      Reply
    • Sudy says

      April 14, 2020 at 4:13 PM

      Can this be made without the tomato paste. Or is there something I can sub for the tomato paste. I don’t have any on hand.

      Reply
      • Katya says

        April 14, 2020 at 8:56 PM

        Tomato paste enriches the flavor here and to be honest, I haven’t tried substituting it with anything else in this specific recipe. I know in some recipes tomato sauce and ketchup works in place of tomato paste. If you do try something else, let me know how it works out for you.

        Reply
  33. Ron says

    November 6, 2019 at 1:12 PM

    Looks simple and amazing. I can’t wait to give it a try. Do the nutritional facts include the sauce AND the pasta, or is that just for the sauce alone? I was not clear on that. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Katya says

      November 6, 2019 at 1:23 PM

      Hi Ron: nutrition info is for the sauce only. Thanks!

      Reply
  34. Alicia J Krol says

    October 7, 2019 at 11:07 AM

    Really love this recipe! I’ve made is several times now – it’s actually super easy even for a weeknight and tastes pretty high end for not too much effort. Thanks!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  35. Ann from Sumptuous Spoonfuls says

    September 29, 2019 at 9:41 PM

    I just finished making this sauce (with a couple minor tweaks) and it’s SO freaking good I want to lick every speck from the pan. Thank you SO much for the delightful recipe!

    Reply
    • Katya says

      September 30, 2019 at 1:49 PM

      Thank you Ann! So happy to hear you enjoyed it.

      Reply
    • Jenn says

      December 30, 2019 at 6:31 PM

      What tweaks did you make ?

      Reply
      • Kara says

        January 17, 2020 at 10:03 PM

        I added a few tablespoons of sugar!

        Reply
  36. Jess says

    September 17, 2019 at 10:02 AM

    Love this recipe, easy and delicious! I cook up some pancetta and add it and it always turns out amazing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      September 17, 2019 at 11:11 PM

      Yum! That sounds amazing.

      Reply
  37. Mellisa says

    September 14, 2019 at 4:21 PM

    My favorite vodka sauce recipe! I’ve made it with meatballs, chicken cutlet, and using it to make my first vodka sauce lasagna tonight!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  38. Elyse says

    August 17, 2019 at 12:10 PM

    Worked out well for me! First vodka sauce in my kitchen 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      August 17, 2019 at 2:49 PM

      That’s awesome! Thank you Elyse for feedback.

      Reply
  39. Sarah says

    July 6, 2019 at 12:53 AM

    I really wanted to like this recipe, but I followed it to the tee and at the very end, the half and half did not mix into the red sauce well… the half n half was just purchased and good. I think it maybe have because of the method of mixing into hot pan? I’m not sure. Ugh frustrating.

    ★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      July 8, 2019 at 12:25 PM

      Hi Sarah: I’m sorry the recipe didn’t work out for you. Did you use regular half and half or fat free? That could be the only thing I can think of that would cause the half and half to possibly curdle, if in fact, it did curdle.

      Reply
    • Susan says

      July 30, 2019 at 8:33 AM

      It needs to be “tempered”. I wondered about this while reading the directions. This is accomplished by adding just a little bit of the hot sauce to the cream in a separate bowl and stirring it well. Add a little more and repeat the stirring. This gradually heats the cream so that it doesn’t curdle on you.

      Reply
      • Susan says

        July 30, 2019 at 8:36 AM

        P.S. It does look like a great recipe and I do intend to try it soon.

        Reply
        • Carol Scheffler says

          September 25, 2019 at 2:29 PM

          Me too can’t wait

          Reply
  40. Tanya says

    July 1, 2019 at 9:41 AM

    I made this sauce yesterday exactly as posted and it was completely amazing. My family loved it. Flavourful and creamy and delicious. Thank you for yet another amazing recipe!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      July 1, 2019 at 12:49 PM

      Thank you Tanya! So glad you loved it.

      Reply
  41. Ana says

    June 22, 2019 at 9:55 PM

    Simple and delicious recipe

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      June 23, 2019 at 1:33 PM

      Thank you!

      Reply
  42. Carolyn Brook says

    June 19, 2019 at 7:47 PM

    This is by far the best vodka sauce I’ve ever eaten!! I did modify it slightly… I added in slightly more red pepper flakes and also cooked up two slices (diced) of pancetta which I added back in at the end once the sauce had been through the food processor. Can’t wait to make this again!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      June 20, 2019 at 9:23 AM

      Thank you Carolyn. So glad you enjoyed this vodka recipe.

      Reply
  43. Connie L. says

    May 29, 2019 at 1:43 PM

    Spot on! The only change I made was to use balsamic glaze in place of vinegar. Every one of your recipes I have made has made me look a great cook!! Your hard work is much appreciated!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      May 29, 2019 at 8:52 PM

      Thank you so much Connie! That means a lot.

      Reply
  44. Daisy Pernal says

    April 29, 2019 at 7:46 PM

    Awesome Recipe, no leftovers!! Thank you

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      April 29, 2019 at 10:11 PM

      Thank you! So appreciate your feedback.

      Reply
      • Tara says

        November 4, 2019 at 10:32 PM

        I made this tonight with the following changes: I used a large can of crushed tomatoes, doubled the red pepper flakes, and used close to 1 cup of half-and-half in place of the cream. By dicing the basil finely, I avoided having to use a blender. I used it over an Italian sausage stuffed ravioli and it was amazing.

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Katya says

          November 5, 2019 at 11:49 AM

          Love your take on the recipe! Thanks for feedback Tara.

          Reply
  45. Pat says

    April 6, 2019 at 10:22 PM

    Saturday night dinner is always hectic. After a trip to Costco, your sauce made the five cheese tortellini restaurant quality. Thanks for a great easy to. Prepare sauce.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      April 6, 2019 at 11:04 PM

      Thank you Pat! So happy to hear you loved this vodka sauce.

      Reply
  46. Vic Kadziela says

    February 17, 2019 at 7:07 AM

    One of my best sauces todate ! Thanks! for the recipe !

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      February 17, 2019 at 1:16 PM

      Yeay! Thank you.

      Reply
  47. Gloria says

    January 21, 2019 at 8:19 PM

    I made this recipe and it was definitely a hit. As any sauce I like to add my basil at the cooking stages and let it simmer for a good hour and I used my hand held Braun to purée the tomatoes since I like it a bit chunky. Overall an awesome recipe sauce

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      January 22, 2019 at 5:46 AM

      Thank you Gloria. So glad you enjoyed the recipe.

      Reply
      • Vic Kadziela says

        February 17, 2019 at 7:08 AM

        One of my best sauces todate ! Thanks! for the recipe ! wi

        ★★★★★

        Reply
  48. Diane says

    January 1, 2019 at 10:49 AM

    Looks great! Making this with mushroom ravioli this evening. Love the lighter ingredients and the brighter flavors. The traditional version is always a little too rich for my preference. This is my first time visiting your site.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      January 1, 2019 at 12:42 PM

      Thank you Diane! I hope you enjoy it.

      Reply
  49. dipa says

    November 30, 2018 at 5:07 PM

    Question for you Katya.. what else can we use instead of vodka.. I know its small amount we are using but just would like to know can we replace it with something else.. TIA

    Reply
    • Katya says

      December 2, 2018 at 8:51 PM

      You can completely leave it out. Vodka adds a touch of heat and a bit of a sharp bite that helps to balance out the sweetness of the tomatoes and the cream. Without the vodka…you’ll just have a creamy tomato sauce basically. Still delicious.

      Reply
  50. Callista Hoxie says

    October 6, 2018 at 12:46 AM

    Best vodka recipe I have ever made! Love that it tends more acidic than most vodka sauce recipes (hence the significantly oranger color than most others. Again and again I come back to this recipe. I use the sauce with gnochhi, homemade spinach ricotta ravioli, and in simple pasta meatball dishes paired with beer bread. I do sub in 3 onions, and 12 cloves of garlic, rather than stated but I like things on the overwhelmingly flavorful side.

    TLDR: Absolutely delicious

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      October 7, 2018 at 9:56 PM

      Thank you ! So glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  51. julia says

    September 18, 2018 at 7:58 PM

    hi there. can i use heavy cream instead of half and half? or do u suggest mixing heavy cream and milk to “make” half and half? can’t wait to try this, this is my favorite dish!!

    Reply
    • Katya says

      September 18, 2018 at 10:03 PM

      Hi Julia: you can definitely mix heavy cream with milk or simply use heavy cream in place. I hope you love this recipe!

      Reply
    • Dani says

      December 28, 2019 at 12:02 PM

      How well does this sauce store? I’d like to either freeze or refrigerate some for later since it’s just me.

      Reply
      • Katya says

        December 29, 2019 at 1:58 PM

        You can easily refrigerate the sauce for 4-5 days. I would be careful with freezing the sauce as the cream can separate when rewarmed. You can freeze the sauce without adding the cream. When reheating, simply add the cream to the sauce.

        Reply
  52. Evan says

    September 11, 2018 at 6:40 PM

    can this recipe work with fresh peeled tomatoes?

    Reply
    • Katya says

      September 17, 2018 at 1:42 PM

      I haven’t tried it but I think it can work. You might just have to tweak the recipe accordingly.

      Reply
    • Mimi G says

      April 10, 2020 at 11:54 AM

      Yes! My son gifted me 10 Roma tomatoes so I substituted them in place of the stewed tomatoes and it was delish!

      Reply
  53. Peter Moskaluk says

    September 8, 2018 at 9:39 PM

    Perfect better than any vodka sauce that I’ve had at restaurants. Only improvement I would suggest is to include nutritional information. My wife and I loved it.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      September 10, 2018 at 2:01 PM

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  54. Luann says

    August 18, 2018 at 5:48 PM

    My new favorite pasta sauce!! So easy to make but so good !! Thanks for sharing.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      August 20, 2018 at 9:34 AM

      Thank you Luann! I appreciate your feedback.

      Reply
  55. Mary says

    July 31, 2018 at 3:16 PM

    Can you tell me what the balsamic vinegar does to it. Never put it in but I will if you cant taste the vinegar.

    I thought to put my tomatoes and puree in blender before and proceed with recipe. Will that work?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      August 1, 2018 at 8:28 AM

      It brings out the sweetness of the tomatoes and you really can’t taste it that much in the sauce. You want to puree the sauce not just the tomatoes in a blender. Hope that answers your question. Thanks!

      Reply
  56. Kawefweaf says

    May 17, 2018 at 11:53 AM

    This looked like a better recipe than most others I saw. thank you. Your star rating is not working on chrome. Literally cannot give it 5 stars

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      May 17, 2018 at 2:54 PM

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  57. Ellen Durand says

    December 20, 2017 at 9:37 PM

    If I made this a day in advance would it get to thick? Any suggestions. Made it once and it was delicious!

    Reply
    • Katya says

      December 21, 2017 at 8:57 AM

      Hi Ellen: it might thicken up a bit but not to a point where you can not serve it. I would warm it up on the stove-top over medium-low heat and you should be okay.

      Reply
      • Ellen Durand says

        December 21, 2017 at 3:01 PM

        If I made if Friday night could I leave it on the stove with a lid on it and then reheat it should I refrigerate it!

        Reply
        • Katya says

          December 21, 2017 at 4:27 PM

          I would refrigerate it and then reheat it

          Reply
  58. Cindy says

    December 20, 2017 at 2:21 AM

    Any recommendations as to what tier vodka to buy?

    Reply
    • Katya says

      December 21, 2017 at 8:55 AM

      I used Absolut vodka. I would just stick to plain, obviously, nothing flavored.

      Reply
  59. Pam says

    December 9, 2017 at 7:30 PM

    Hi Katya,
    Great recipe! I made this for the first time tonight and my family loved it! It was very easy and not too creamy but had lots of flavor. I know we will be making this again sometime soon.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      December 10, 2017 at 4:07 PM

      That’s awesome! Thanks so much Pam.

      Reply
  60. Elaine says

    October 27, 2017 at 10:52 AM

    Hi Katya!

    I really like your Vodka Sauce Recipe!I was looking for a good recipe and all of them lacked something to be as good as yours. Thank you very much for sharing it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katya says

      October 27, 2017 at 2:30 PM

      Thanks so much Elaine!

      Reply
  61. Lisa Holbert says

    August 18, 2017 at 8:33 PM

    This is amazing!! We made it for dinner tonight and it was delicious. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Katya says

      August 18, 2017 at 10:11 PM

      Thank you Lisa! So glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  62. Tiff | TiffanyBee.com says

    February 16, 2017 at 10:21 AM

    This looks amazing! I totally agree, making dinner instead of going out for those pre-fixed menus in the cold is exponentially better. Although, I do love to dine out, but you know, my wallet doesn’t. Love vodka sauce. Thanks so much for sharing, your photos are gorgeous! I definitely will use your recipe as a base recipe for mine tomorrow.

    Reply
    • Katya says

      February 16, 2017 at 12:31 PM

      Thanks so much for your sweet words Tiff!

      Reply
      • FRANK says

        July 2, 2018 at 12:06 PM

        chef ,FRANKIE C, SAYS YOUR SO NICE! HE MARRY YOU ,TICE! MI,AMOR GRAZIE,

        Reply
      • Rhonda Mallory says

        September 9, 2018 at 11:56 AM

        Can the vodka sauce be canned?

        Reply
        • Katya says

          September 10, 2018 at 2:03 PM

          Hi Rhonda: It’s hard for me to answer as I’ve never tried canning this sauce.

          Reply
          • Rhonda Mallory says

            September 10, 2018 at 3:17 PM

            Thank you for responding to my question.

        • Brenda Vander Zanden says

          June 20, 2020 at 1:19 PM

          No because of the cream in the sauce. You can make it without the cream, can it and add the cream when reheated

          Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Healthy Chicken Meatballs (100% KID APPROVED) - Little Broken says:
    February 3, 2019 at 10:12 AM

    […] Vodka Sauce […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Welcome

Hello and Welcome! I’m Katya. I believe life is too short to eat bad food and wear boring shoes. I'm glad you're here! Learn more...

Are you an insider?

subscribe to get my latest recipes delivered to your inbox

Popular Posts

Close up of chicken stew in dutch oven

One-Pot Chicken Stew

close up summer corn chowder in a bowl

Zucchini Corn Chowder

Close up side view of cod in tomato herb butter

Cod with Tomato and Herb Butter

Chicken Mushroom and Spinach Lasagna - made with shredded chicken, fresh spinach, mushrooms, and light sauce | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

Chicken Mushroom and Spinach Lasagna

Copyright & Disclosure

The content found on Little Broken may be shared, so feel free to Pin, Tweet, Facebook & Share away with a link back to www.littlebroken.com. All images and content are copyright protected so please do not copy or claim my work as your own.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Recent Recipes

flax oatmeal
parmesan cheese crisps
shrimp pasta primavera
chili without meat
crustless chicken pot pie
Close up of lemon chicken quinoa salad in white bowl
Copyright © 2021 · LITTLE BROKEN · PRIVACY POLICY · DISCLOSURE · Log in