The Italian American sauce is a smooth tomato sauce, vodka, typical Italian herbs, and heavy cream (which gives the sauce its creamy orange color).
If you’re looking for a rich, creamy, and flavorful pasta dish that feels like it came straight from an Italian trattoria, vodka sauce with sausage over gnocchi is a must-try.
It clings perfectly to any pasta of your choice and looks like you took all day to prepare it, when in fact it takes just 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 to print off this simple recipe.
Why You Should Make Vodka Sauce with Sausage
Incredible Flavor: The vodka enhances the tomato sauce, releasing subtle sweetness and complexity, while heavy cream gives it a velvety texture.
Hearty & Satisfying: Italian sausage adds protein and a robust, savory punch, making it a complete and filling meal.
Restaurant Quality at Home: This dish tastes gourmet but is surprisingly easy to prepare in under an hour.
Perfect Pairing: Gnocchi’s soft, chewy texture soaks up the sauce beautifully, ensuring every bite is rich and flavorful.
Although Penne Alla Vodka is the most popular pasta used, we really love ours with Homemade Gnocchi. We also love fettuccine, rigatoni, and homemade cavatelli.
Add a glass of Moscato and serve it with Grandma's Tuscan Garlic Bread, I promise you're going to love this meal.
Tips for the Best Vodka Sauce with Sausage:
- Use ribbed-style pasta; it clings perfectly
- Never rinse the pasta you use
- We use a good grade of potato vodka
- Either use peeled whole plum tomatoes, canned or fresh plum tomatoes forthe 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, but it will be an entirely different taste and dish
- Use Quality Sausage; Choose sweet or spicy Italian sausage depending on your flavor preference. Remove the casings for a crumbled texture.
- Fresh Gnocchi is Best; Store-bought gnocchi works well, but if you can, try making homemade for a pillowy texture that’s unmatched.
- Add the Cream Last; Stir in the cream at the very end over low heat to keep the sauce smooth and prevent curdling.
- Serve with Parmesan & Basil; Freshly grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of basil or parsley brighten the dish and add a fresh aroma.
Our Best Recipe for Vodka Sauce: Final Thoughts
Vodka sauce with sausage over gnocchi is the kind of meal that turns any dinner into a celebration.
It’s hearty enough for a cold winter night yet elegant enough to serve guests.
With a few simple ingredients and some careful cooking tips, you can bring restaurant-quality Italian comfort food right to your table.
Serve it with a crisp green salad, garlic bread, and a glass of wine for the ultimate experience.
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Yield: 8

Vodka Sauce Recipe
If you’re looking for a rich, creamy, and flavorful pasta dish that feels like it came straight from an Italian trattoria, vodka sauce with sausage
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 35 MinTotal time: 50 Min
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 fresh basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cup vodka
- 4 cloves garlic ( see notes in instructions)
- 2- 28-ounce cans 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
- 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 cook 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.
Notes
Tips for the Best Vodka Sauce with Sausage:
- Use ribbed-style pasta; it clings perfectly
- Never rinse the pasta you use
- We use a good grade of potato vodka
- Either use peeled whole plum tomatoes, canned or fresh plum tomatoes forthe 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, but it will be an entirely different taste and dish
- Use Quality Sausage; Choose sweet or spicy Italian sausage depending on your flavor preference. Remove the casings for a crumbled texture.
- Fresh Gnocchi is Best; Store-bought gnocchi works well, but if you can, try making homemade for a pillowy texture that’s unmatched.
- Add the Cream Last; Stir in the cream at the very end over low heat to keep the sauce smooth and prevent curdling.
- Serve with Parmesan & Basil; Freshly grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of basil or parsley brighten the dish and add a fresh aroma.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
440Fat (grams)
28 gSat. Fat (grams)
17 gCarbs (grams)
7 gFiber (grams)
1 gNet carbs
6 gSugar (grams)
2 gProtein (grams)
22 gSodium (milligrams)
395 mgCholesterol (grams)
122 mgThe default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.
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Other Sauces and Pasta Recipes We Love
Scampi or Alfredo
Chicken Riggies
Pasta Aioli with Broccoli
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2009. It was edited and re-published in 2025