The Italian American sauce is a smooth tomato sauce, vodka, typical Italian herbs, and heavy cream (which gives the sauce its creamy orange color).
The shocking part of this dish for me was that there was no taste of vodka at all but it tastes fantastic and really unique in flavor.
It clings perfectly to any pasta of choice your family prefers and looks like you took all day to prepare this when it takes a matter of minutes!
This sauce is perfect for entertaining the family or having a special dinner.
Our favorite pasta with this sauce is Homemade Gnocchi.
The options below will give you ideas on additions to the sauce to change it up every time adding a few types of meat.
If you love this pasta sauce do try our Traditional Sunday Italian Sauce or Marinara Sauce, both are fantastic on pasta!
Scroll down to the bottom of to print off this simple recipe.
Easy Recipe
Although Penne Alla Vodka is the most popular pasta used, we really love ours with Homemade Gnocchi.
Any kind of pasta can be used.
We also love fettuccine, rigatoni and homemade cavatelli.
This dish is restaurant quality good, rich, and creamy with fantastic depth of flavor and a spicy little kick that gives it character.
We have been making this vodka sauce for years and I can't tell how many times someone asks for this recipe.
If you’re a Sunday sauce kind of a girl, this is going to be a great addition to your recipe collection.
Add a glass of Moscato and serve it with Grandma's Tuscan Garlic Bread, I promise you're going to love this meal!
Tips:
- Use ribbed style pasta it clings perfectly
- Never rinse the pasta you use
- We use a good grade potato vodka
- Either use peeled whole plum tomatoes canned or fresh plum tomatoes for best results
- If using chicken or loose sausage like sausage meats, always cook and season them first before adding
- Only use fresh basil
- Freshly grated cheeses are recommended
- If you prefer no alcohol in your sauce add lemon juice to water to substitute
Ingredients You Will Need
Scroll Down to the Printable Recipe Card for Exact Measurements
- butter
- red pepper flakes
- fresh basil leaves
- dried oregano
- vodka (we use potato made vodka)
- cloves garlic ( see notes in instructions)
- Italian whole plum tomatoes
- Parmesan cheese
- Romano cheese and more for garnish
- heavy cream
- Optional: loose ground Italian sweet sausage sauteed in olive oil and drained or cubed cooked boneless seasoned chicken breast or 4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into strips
- fresh basil for garnish
- Pasta of choice: we love this sauce on Homemade Gnocchi or Rigatoni boiled in saltwater then drained
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Other Sauces and Pasta Recipes We Love
Scampi or Alfredo
Chicken Riggies
Pasta Aioli with Broccoli
Vodka Sauce Recipe
Yield: 8
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 25 Min
This is a fabulous tasting homemade vodka sauce that super fast to make and totally transforms ordinary pasta into a gourmet meal in minutes!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 fresh basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cup vodka (we use potato made vodka)
- 4 cloves garlic ( see notes in instructions)
- 2- 28 ounces can Italian whole plum tomatoes or use 2 pounds plum tomatoes put through a food processor
- 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup Romano cheese and more for garnish
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Optional: 1 pound loose ground Italian sweet sausage sauteed in olive oil and drained or cubed cooked boneless seasoned chicken breast or 4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into strips
- fresh basil for garnish
- Pasta of choice: we love this sauce on Homemade Gnocchi or Rigatoni boiled in saltwater then drained
Instructions:
- Directions:
- Melt butter over high heat until bubbly; add garlic and red pepper flakes, keep stirring and do not scorch or burn the garlic.
- Remove the garlic cloves and smash them down put this into the step with tomatoes.
- Rapidly add vodka and for 2 minutes.
- Simmer tomatoes with both kinds of cheese for 2 minutes, then add cream; simmer for 1 minute.
- Pour the vodka sauce over the favorite pasta cooked to package instructions, drained and not rinsed.
- Garnish with basil and more grated cheese.
- Notes: If using chicken or sausage saute this first in olive oil and garlic until all the pink is gone then simmer with just the tomatoes for 20 minutes then add in the cheese and continue with the recipe.
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