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How To Make Spicy Vodka Pasta Recipe (Creamy And Delicious)

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This spicy vodka pasta dish is delicious and perfect for a busy weeknight. Rich, spicy, creamy and with a kick of chilli heat!

This is one of those delicious, moreish pasta dishes, that tastes so good you won't want eating it to end!

You can cook and eat this as a stand alone meal, or add it as a side dish to some grilled chicken or fish.

Why You'll LOVE Our Spicy Vodka Pasta Recipe

Super Easy To Make - vodka pasta is really easy to make, nothing tricky, nothing that needs to much effort, just lovely, lazy weeknight dinner.

Simple Ingredients - we use easy to source ingredients, most of which you'll probably have in at home already, or can easily pick up from the shop on the way home.

Quick To Cook - you'll be tucking into a bowl of creamy vodka pasta in just 25 minutes! So it's definitely a weeknight winner!

orange pan of vodka pasta with a wooden spoon in on a chopping board

Creamy Spicy Vodka Pasta Recipe 

Serves – 4

Prep Time – 5 minutes 

Cook Time – 20 minutes

Total Time - 25 minutes 

Our Most Popular Alternative - Creamy Nduja Pasta

Equipment Needed

  • Chopping board
  • Vegetable knife
  • Large Saucepan - for the pasta
  • Colander
  • Large skillet pan or saucepan for the vodka pasta sauce
  • Measuring jug
  • Teaspoon
  • Cooking spoon

Ingredients For Spicy Vodka Pasta 

You'll just need a handful of mainly store cupboard ingredients to make this tasty creamy vodka pasta sauce.

Image shows, a see through bowl of pasta, a bowl of chopped onions, a tin of chopped tomatoes, basil, A blue plate of chopped garlic, a plate with oregano and chilli flakes, a bowl of olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil - or use a large knob of butter
  • 1 small onion - finely diced, you can swap this for a red onion or a couple of shallots if you prefer
  • 2 cloves garlic - finely chopped
  • 30ml vodka
  • 400g canned tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon dried chilli flakes
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 200ml double cream (heavy cream)
  • small bunch fresh basil leaves
  • 300g pasta shapes
Two chopping boards, the one on the left has a orange pan of vodka pasta with a wooden spoon in, the one of the left has some chopped up chicken breast

How To Make Spicy Vodka Pasta 

You'll LOVE how easy and quick this creamy spicy vodka pasta is to make!

Step One - start the vodka pasta sauce

  • Add the olive oil to a skillet style pan over a medium heat and gently fry the onions with a pinch of salt for around 5 minutes, stirring often so they don't stick.
  • Then tip in the chopped garlic and cook for a further - 2-3 minutes.
  • Next throw in the vodka and let it sizzle with the sauteed vegetables.
  • Then pour in the canned tomatoes, red pepper flakes and dried oregano. Season with salt and black pepper.
Pan with chopped onions and olive oil in and a wooden spoon
A pan of chopped tomatoes with seasoning in, next to a wooden spoon on a chopping board
A pan of chopped tomatoes with seasoning in, next to a wooden spoon on a chopping board

Step Two - cook the spicy vodka sauce

  • Bring the sauce to the boil, then reduce and simmer with the lid off whilst you cook the pasta.

Step Three - cook the penne pasta

  • Cook the pasta as per the packet instructions, once cooked reserve a cup of the pasta water. Then drain the cooked pasta and put to one side.

Step Four - add the cream to the spicy vodka pasta sauce

  • Add the cream to the vodka pasta sauce and stir well, warm though.
Close up shot of milk being poured into a tomato sauce in an orange pan

Step Five - toss the cooked pasta into the sauce

  • Add the pasta into the spicy vodka pasta sauce, and toss everything together to coat all the pasta in sauce. Then serve, it's far too good to wait!
Two chopping boards, the one on the left has a orange pan of vodka pasta with a wooden spoon in, the one of the left has some chopped up chicken breast

Serving Suggestions

You could eat the spicy vodka pasta just as it is, or you can serve topped with some simple grilled chicken and a scattering of grated Parmesan cheese and chopped flat leaf parsley, maybe an extra drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

It's also great served with some tasty side dishes, try...

Close up shot of chicken with cheese sprinkled on top on a bowl of orange coloured pasta

Love Your Leftovers 

Leftover home cooked pasta is always a treat!

Storage Instructions 

Chill leftover pasta quickly (always within 1 hour of cooking) and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Use within 1 day of cooking. Get more food safety tips for chilling food here.

How To Reheat Leftover Pasta 

Get tips for reheating food safely here .

Make Spicy Vodka Pasta Your Way - Substitutions And Add-Ins 

Extra Vegetables

Try adding in some thinly sliced mushrooms, courgettes or a handful of chopped pitted black olives. They all work well in penne alla vodka!

Skip the spice

Skip the chili flakes and make the vodka cream sauce mild, without a kick of heat!

Alcohol

You can make this without the alcohol if you prefer, although it will be missing that vodka flavor infusion. Alternatively swap the vodka for red wine, a splash of red wine in pasta sauce is always delicious!

Add Some Protein To The Spicy Vodka Pasta

We usually cook the protein separate and serve on top of the pasta. It's great with air fryer seasoned chicken breast, Italian sausage, grilled salmon or galicky prawns.

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orange pan of vodka pasta with a wooden spoon in on a chopping board

Spicy Vodka Pasta Recipe

Yield: Serves 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Spicy vodka pasta is quick and easy but deliciously indulgent. Great for busy worknights.

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion - finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic - finely chopped
  • 30ml vodka
  • 400g canned tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon dried chilli flakes
  • 1 teaspoon dried orengano
  • 200ml double cream
  • small bunch fresh basil leaves
  • 300g pasta shapes

Instructions

  1. Add the olive oil to a skillet style pan over a medium heat and gently fry the onions for around 5 minutes, stirring often.
  2. Then tip in the chopped garlic and cook for a further - 2-3 minutes. Pan with chopped onions and olive oil in and a wooden spoon
  3. Next throw in the vodka and let it sizzle with the sauteed vegetables.
  4. Then pour in the canned tomatoes, chilli flakes and dried oregano. Season with salt and black pepper. A pan of chopped tomatoes with seasoning in, next to a wooden spoon on a chopping board
  5. Bring the sauce to the boil, then reduce and simmer with the lid off whilst you cook the pasta.
  6. Cook the pasta as per the packet instructions, once cooked reserve a cup of the cooking water. Then drain the cooked pasta and put to one side.
  7. Add the cream to the vodka pasta sauce and stir well, warm though. Close up shot of milk being poured into a tomato sauce in an orange pan
  8. Then add in the pasta, and toss everything together to coat all the pasta in sauce.
  9. Serve straight away.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 363Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 135mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 4gSugar: 5gProtein: 7g

Nutritional content will vary depending on the exact ingredients you use and how careful you are with measuring - this nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate - you should always calculate your own nutritional information especially if you have specific dietary requirements.

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© wendy
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Dinner

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