Quick & Dirty Vodka Sauce

When you’re craving a quick and delicious vodka sauce, this recipe delivers. With just 8 ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes, it’s creamy, flavorful, and perfect for dishes like drunken chicken parm or vodka pizza.

While my Rigatoni alla Vodka hits the spot, it does require a good amount of ingredients. When I don’t have the time — or just need to make a vodka sauce quickly — this is my go-to.

Looking for more Italian recipes? Check these out:

Vodka Sauce Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this vodka sauce:

Shallots: Finely chopped or thinly sliced

Garlic: Finely chopped

Tomato paste: One 6-ounce can

Vodka: Vodka helps brighten all of the flavors, but you can omit if you don’t drink alcohol

Heavy cream: To bring creaminess to the dish

Fresh basil: Torn

Red pepper flakes: Optional

Grated Locatelli: Or you can sub in grated parm

Salt: To taste

How to Make my Quick & Dirty Vodka Sauce

Here’s how to make this sauce:

Step 1: Prep your ingredients

I like to take the heavy cream out of the fridge to come to room temperature while I’m chopping/slicing my shallots and garlic.

Step 2: Cook your shallots and garlic

Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a high-sided skillet or pot over medium heat. Add the shallots and let cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Lower the heat a bit if they’re browning too quickly.

Add the garlic and let cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step 3: Add the tomato paste and vodka

Add the entire can of tomato paste and stir. Cook for about 5 minutes, making sure it doesn’t burn.

After the 5 minutes are up, turn off the flame and add the vodka, making sure to stir everything together. Put the flame back on and let cook until the smell of alcohol is gone, about 3 minutes.

Step 4: Add the heavy cream, basil, and red pepper flakes

Next, slowly pour the heavy cream into the mixture, stirring carefully until combined and creamy. Then add the torn basil leaves and red pepper flakes, if using. Stir to combine, then bring to a gentle boil. Lower to a simmer and let cook for about 15 minutes partly covered, stirring occasionally.

Step 5: Add the grated cheese

Once the 15 minutes are up, turn off the heat and add the grated cheese. Stir to combine, taste, and add additional salt as needed.

Quick & Dirty Vodka Sauce

With just 8 ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes, it's creamy, flavorful, and perfect for dishes like drunken chicken parm or vodka pizza.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Italian

Keyword vodka sauce

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Servings 1.5 cups

Ingredients

1 shallot finely chopped or thinly
4-5 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 6-oz can tomato paste
2 tablespoon vodka
1.5 cups heavy cream
8 basil leaves torn
Pinch red pepper flakes optional
kosher salt to taste
¼ cup freshly grated Locatelli or parm

Instructions

Add 2 tbs olive oil to a saute pan over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until tender, about 3-5 minutes. Lower the heat if browning too quickly. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the tomato paste and stir. Cook for about 5 minutes, then turn off the flame and add the vodka. Stir, then turn the flame back on and cook for about 3-5 minutes, or until the smell of alcohol has faded.
Pour the heavy cream slowly into the pot, stirring for that it all incorporates and becomes an orange color. Add the basil and red pepper flakes. Bring to a gentle boil, then lower to a simmer, partly cover, and let cook for about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Turn off the heat, then add the grated cheese and stir. Taste and add salt as needed.