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This Sheet Pan Alla Vodka Pizza is the perfect easy winter recipe. Homemade pizza dough, topped with spicy tomato pesto vodka sauce that’s creamy and so delicious! The secret to this pizza? A super hot oven (to get the crust just right), plenty of cheese, plus pepperoni on top. It’s delicious and looks pretty on any table. Not to mention that everyone LOVES a GOOD creamy vodka sauce. Putting it on pizza just makes it that much more exciting. This simple pizza will be your new go-to when serving family and friends over the holidays.
The week after Thanksgiving can be a little harder to settle into than most. But fun holiday recipes keep the days leading up to Christmas merry and festive. I know that’s so cheesy of me, but I really do believe it. This is the time of year to enjoy every minute, even working Mondays.
Yes, we have to balance the holiday fun with real-life work, but balance is the keyword. A little of this, then a little of that, you know?
So we’re doing Monday up with my favorite pizza yet, alla vodka style pizza. Complete with plenty of pepperonis too.
Around this time last year, I shared my pasta alla vodka recipe. To this day it’s one of the most popular recipes I’ve shared. It’s also one of a handful of recipes I make on repeat. My family LOVES alla vodka sauce (it’s Asher’s favorite pasta dinner).
In the last month alone, I’ve made that alla vodka recipe three times. It’s easy and requested by everyone.
I don’t know when I started using the leftover sauce for pizza, but once I did, I couldn’t stop. I then started making the sauce just for pizza…and now I make alla vodka pizzas all the time. Something about the colors, the flavors, and the love for this pizza makes it feel like the perfect December recipe.
The details – start with the dough
I like to use my homemade pizza dough recipe from the HBH Super Simple cookbook (or my newest recipe…in HBH Every Day). It’s the easiest to make and truly delicious. If you’re not into homemade dough, store-bought pizza dough works great too. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s both have great options!
For those of you who prefer a thicker crust pizza, I recommend using closer to three-quarters or even one pound of pizza dough. We like our crust thinner, so I only use a half-pound of dough.
You need to cook this pizza at a high heat temp. So start preheating your oven to five hundred degrees as soon as you decide you’re making pizza. Ideally one to two hours ahead of time to get it really HOT.
If you’re in a pinch, thirty minutes works just fine too, so don’t stress!
Finish it up
While the oven is preheating, make the sauce. It’s SIMPLE and takes maybe 15 minutes. Just cook everything together in a skillet, add lots of tomato paste, then cream and pesto, and you’re basically done.
Push the dough out onto a sheet pan. Layer it with alla vodka sauce, mozzarella, and provolone cheese, then pepperonis and parmesan. I like to toss on fresh oregano just before baking, basil is great as well.
Bake this pizza in the upper position of the oven. In less than fifteen minutes you’ll have amazing pizza and your kitchen will smell incredible. As soon as the pizza comes out of the oven. Add extra parmesan, slice, and eat.
It’s not fancy at all, but that’s what makes this pizza good. It’s just that delicious cheesy pizza we’re all really craving most.
This satisfies everyone, and as I said, the red and green feel very festive for December.
Looking for other simple winter dishes? Here are my favorites:
One Pot Spicy Pesto Cheese Baked Rigatoni
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Lastly, if you make this Sheet Pan Alla Vodka Pizza, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Sheet Pan Alla Vodka Pizza
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 403 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1-2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 1/4 cup vodka
- 3/4 cup basil pesto, homemade or store-bought
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream or canned coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 cup shredded provolone
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 ounces thinly sliced pepperoni
- oregano or basil, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Position the oven rack in the upper 1/3 portion of your oven. Preheat the oven to 500° F. for at least 30 minutes before baking, preferably 1-2 hours ahead. If you have a baking stone, start preheating it.2. Place the pizza dough on a lightly oiled quarter sheet pan. Gently press the dough until it covers most of the sheet pan. Cover and let sit while you make the sauce.3. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the shallot, garlic, and oregano. Cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, add the tomato paste and red pepper flakes, cook 4-5 minutes, until thickened. Stir in the vodka, cook another 2 minutes. Stir in the pesto, cream, and butter. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat. 4. To assemble. Grab the dough and spread on the alla vodka sauce, you should only need 1/2 of the sauce for 1 pizza. Add the provolone and mozzarella, then the pepperoni and parmesan. 5. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes, rotate the pizza, and bake another 3-5 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese has melted. Top the pizza with fresh oregano or basil. enjoy!
Made tonight! Loved this and it was so fun making the sauce. Great idea for a date night.
Hey Ashley,
Seriously amazing! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Your vodka sauce recipe is so good! I can hardly wait for the dough to rise to put the pizza together. Yum!!
Thanks so much Barb! I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
This may be a dumb question – but does the alcohol completely cook out of this sauce? Is it safe for kids and a breastfeeding mama to eat?
Hey Hannah,
It does, but you can also use broth in its place. I hope you enjoy this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I can’t wait to try this recipe! It sounds and looks amazing. In your Instagram stories it looked like some of the cheese was orange. What type was that? I don’t think I’ve ever seen orange mozzarella, provolone, or Parmesan, so I was curious. Thank you for sharing such fabulous recipes!
Hi Heather,
I used some cheddar, really any cheeses you like will work here. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Going to give this one a go very soon! Will try using my sourdough discard pizza crust….have some in the freezer. I’m planning to bake directly on my baking steel instead of in a sheet pan, assuming that is an option. I generally prep on parchment on my pizza peel then slide onto the steel. No mess and no extra pan to clean.
I hope you love the recipe Sharon, let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Hi! Would you please share your favorite pesto recipe?
Thanks, I cant wait to try this one.
Hey Danna,
I have a recipe in the HBH Super Simple cookbook. You could also follow this recipe and adapt to your liking:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/kale-pesto-pasta/
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made this one last night with two versions, one like the recipe with pepperoni and the other with prosciutto and goat cheese along with the provolone Mozz mixture. Made the dough from the super simple cookbook, worked great! Many thumbs up around the table. And that sauce, OMG!! We didn’t use all of the sauce on our two pizzas and sent the remainder home with my friend whose husband is normally the cook and she is cooking solo for a few weeks.
We will definitely be putting the sauce into rotation! And maybe have it on some pasta soon as well!
Thank you!
Hey Sharon,
Happy Friday! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks to much for giving it a try!! xTieghan
This sounds yumm! Butttt can we replace vodka with anything else non alcoholic…. Please!
Hey there,
You can use water or broth in place of the vodka. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
I love the way you write ( so eloquently ) , to be honest sometimes I come here just to read your recipes. By the way, I’m looking forward to try this recipe.
Thanks so much for reading along and your kind message Regi! xTieghan
I’m a real fan of “Pennette alla Vodka”. But this version with pizza is new to me. Really need to try it!!
Miki x
https://www.littletasteofbeauty.com/
Just made this tonight and it was great! Thank you for the inspiration, I was a bit bored and honestly tired of cooking after the holiday. This was not hard at all, and the sauce is very rich and flavorful. I didn’t have vodka on hand, so I used chicken broth instead and I still enjoyed the flavor. I made two pizzas with this recipe, one as written and a veggie version, I had plenty of sauce left over and am looking forward to using it for other recipes.
Hey Heather,
I love to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Goofy question incoming. Does the vodka do anything to mellow out the tomatoes’ acidity? If not, is there a way to do that? I really want to try this recipe but my husband is extremely sensitive to tomatoes….
Hey Claire,
So sorry, the vodka really just adds a depth of flavor and enhances the tomatoes, it doesn’t do much for the acidity. Let me know if you give the recipe a try! xTieghan
This a tip for Clare about tomato sensitivity. Put 1/4 tsp of baking soda to 29ozs of canned tomatoes. Once it stops fizzing you can add it to whatever you are making. It helps if you have acid reflux.
Thanks so much Cathy! xTieghan
Can I make this pizza ahead of time and freeze it?
Hi Carmen,
I would just make the dough ahead and sauce, then assemble when you want to serve. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
2 questions 1. Do you cook the shallot, garlic and oregano with out oil ? Recipe mentions oil but not with the shallot garlic and oregano. 2. Also do you transfer the pizza to the hot stone if you have one?
Thanks
Hi Susie,
Yes, cook the shallot, garlic, and oregano in olive oil. You are going to put your baking sheet directly on top of the pizza stone, it makes for a crispy crust. I hope you enjoy this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I’ve never had vodka sauce, and am curious to try it. I often use good red wine in my tomato sauce, so I’m familiar with that flavor. Can anyone try to describe how vodka adds to the sauce? I’m sure you don’t taste vodka just as you don’t really taste red wine in a sauce, but rather how it adds to the flavor. Any thoughts appreciated!
Hey Dana,
The vodka is similar to using red wine, it really just enhances and adds a depth of flavor to the sauce. Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
What do you do with the pizza stone?
Hi Patricia,
You will put your baking sheet directly on top of the stone, it really creates a crispy crust. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
This recipe baffles me. Why would anyone want to put vodka in a pizza sauce!! Also heating the oven so far in advance. My oven beeps when it has reached desired temperature, 10 minutes maximum. So why would I want to waste electricity leaving it on for hours.
This comment baffles me. Try the recipe then comment how you feel about the taste. That’s how this works. Not just your feelings on vodka on pizza. No one cares and it’s extremely rude.
Absolutely Jacky! Why are people so mean? I just don’t understand.
Julie relax, if it doesn’t sound good to you don’t make it. No need for your negativity, life is hard enough. Lets build each other up and spread joy.
Tieghan I adore you, I think you are so cute and fun and an awesome cook!
I have made so many of your recipes and they have always been winners!
Much love!
Agreed! I love her recipes and to read that review on someone’s basic opinion on it without even trying it – just to insult her, baffled me. The comment section is for questions and reviews. If you don’t like the contents of the recipe, you just move on. Just weird! I don’t like mushrooms but I’m not going to comment on every recipe to her “ I don’t like mushrooms ! Why would you add them!”
Vodka sauce is a sauce commonly used in Italian cooking — not unusual to see it adapted to pizza — in the same way white sauces are. Heating the oven in advance with the pizza stone in place is also a common practice when making pizza. I put mine in for close to an hour. And ideally it would be hotter than 500 degrees. I’ve had very good luck with the recipes on Half-Baked Harvest and look forward to making this rendition
I made Vodka pasta sauce last night with Italian sausage and I can’t wait to try vodka sauce in this pizza. What baffles me is people that have to post negative comments about a recipe. What do you gain from making that comment? Does it make you feel better? I really don’t understand why people can’t simply be kind. I hope your day gets better, it has clearly started off on a negative foot. Try positive and uplifting language it will change our life. Have an amazing day. Added all ingredients to my grocery list and will make this week!
It’s important to put your pizza stone in a cold oven, then turn it on to heat it up, otherwise, you may crack and destroy your pizza stone. Putting a cold stone in a hot oven can damage it.
Regarding the vodka, it’s good in everything. 😀
I meant to make my post in reply to Julie. Sorry. I made Vodka pasta sauce last night with Italian sausage and I can’t wait to try vodka sauce in this pizza. What baffles me is people that have to post negative comments about a recipe. What do you gain from making that comment? Does it make you feel better? I really don’t understand why people can’t simply be kind. I hope your day gets better, it has clearly started off on a negative foot. Try positive and uplifting language it will change our life. Have an amazing day. Added all ingredients to my grocery list and will make this week!
Julia, have you ever heard of you dont have something nice to say dont say it? No one values your negative, not constructive opinion on this blog. Tieghan this looks delicios and creative thank you for sharing!!!
Hey Julie,
The vodka really enhances and adds a depth of flavor to the sauce, you could certainly skip the vodka though. I find that by pre-heating the oven and pizza stone, you will end up with a nice and crispy crust, which is great. If this recipe doesn’t appeal to you then I would just skip it:) Have the best week! xTieghan
Jacky
November 29, 2021 at 4:59 AM
This comment baffles me. Try the recipe then comment how you feel about the taste. That’s how this works. Not just your feelings on vodka on pizza. No one cares and it’s extremely rude.
REPLY
Kim
November 29, 2021 at 6:53 AM
Absolutely Jacky! Why are people so mean? I just don’t understand.
Julie relax, if it doesn’t sound good to you don’t make it. No need for your negativity, life is hard enough. Lets build each other up and spread joy.
Tieghan I adore you, I think you are so cute and fun and an awesome cook!
I have made so many of your recipes and they have always been winners!
Much love!
What is the stone for? In step 1 you mentioned to preheat a stone if you have one.
I thought the same thing. Why heat a stone ?
Hi Lori,
The stone helps create a nice, crispy crust:) xTieghan
I think that she is referring to a pizza stone. If you heat it first and then put your pizza on it, it will crisp up nice.
Thanks Jenn!
Is there a pizza stone you recommend?
Hey Emily,
Here is the link for my pizza stone:
https://www.pamperedchef.com/shop/Cookware+%26+Bakeware/Stoneware/Rectangle+Stone/100280?utm_source=hbh&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=tastebuds_hbh&utm_content=rectanglestone_093021
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi Monique,
You are going to put your baking sheet directly on top of the pizza stone, I find it makes for an extra crispy crust. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Hey Monique,
A pizza stone is a specific stone that is flat and can take take lots of heat. You would put it in the oven before starting it and then let it heat with the oven.
If you don’t have a pizza stone, such as me 😉 you can just follow the recipe using Tieghan’s description of putting the oven rack in the upper 1/3 of the oven. Then slight the sheet with the pizza on it onto the rack for baking. That’s how I will do it tomorrow when I finally get to try this recipe. ?
Best,
Astrid