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This silky, smooth and extra creamy Spicy Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka is the perfect cozy winter recipe we need most. Fresh pasta tossed in a spicy tomato pesto vodka sauce that’s creamy and so delicious! The secret to this one-pot pasta? Basil pesto and plenty of cheese on top. The pesto adds a vibrant layer of flavor and richness to this silky, smooth, and creamy pasta. Serve this 30-minute dinner up any night of the week. It’s delicious and looks pretty on any table…not to mention that everyone LOVES a GOOD creamy vodka pasta. This dish will be your new go-to when serving family and friends over the holidays.
We’ve made it to Thursday, and this week, that means creamy spicy pesto pasta alla vodka for dinner. Like clockwork every December I begin thinking about my family’s favorite vodka pasta. I have made so many versions over the years, but this recipe is my favorite. It’s more classic, but with the small twist of basil pesto, which of course only makes this vodka pasta that much more delicious.
I don’t know what it is about December days, but they always leave me craving some form of pasta in red sauce. I have to say, this pasta alla vodka feels like the most fitting December recipe. Not only for its simplicity and deliciousness, but the pretty red and green colors feel extra festive. Perfect for this time of year.
I know, I know, there she goes again with all the holiday talk. But I’m really grabbing onto anything and everything that adds even just a little holiday happiness into the world this year! And pasta always makes everything better. Especially a creamy vodka pasta.
The vodka adds a sharp bite that helps to balance out the sweetness of the tomatoes. When used in small amounts, the vodka will boost and intensify the aroma of the sauce. The key is to slowly simmer vodka into the sauce. This will release its flavors and cook out the alcohol.
If you prefer to not cook with alcohol, swap the vodka for chicken broth, vegetable broth, or even just water. That will be totally fine and your sauce will still be great.
This pasta is simple. I didn’t go over the top with it but instead wanted to really focus on the traditional flavors of a great vodka pasta…garlic, tomatoes, and cream. The key is to slowly cook the garlic in oil. I learned this trick when I first started cooking from a friend of our family’s, Mrs. Mooney, as I called her, and actually still call her to this day.
She’d make this dish simply called penne pasta. It was always a favorite. Thinking back on it, it’s actually really similar to an alla vodka style pasta sauce.
Mrs. Mooney taught me to slowly caramelize garlic in olive oil to really infuse flavor into a recipe, especially within an Italian-style red sauce. So, don’t skip this step! Once the garlic is extra fragrant and turns golden, I like to stir in the tomato paste and chili flakes. Then cook those for a bit to really help intensify the flavors in the sauce.
Once that’s cooked for a bit, stir in lots of cream. Then let the sauce simmer while you boil the pasta.
For the pasta, I just used short cut rigatoni (to be honest, it’s really the best kind of short cut pasta I can find in my area). But use any short cut pasta you love or have on hand.
You’ll want to first boil off the pasta, then just before draining reserve some of the pasta cooking water. This step is so important, so be sure to not dump the water before reserving a cup. The pasta water is used to finish the creamy vodka sauce.
Now add in some of the pasta cooking water and simmer the sauce until it has reduced down a bit and thickened. At this point, your kitchen is going to smell amazing. There should be hints of garlic and butter throughout…it’s the best of Italian scents.
Once the pasta is cooked, toss it with the sauce and that pasta water. Add some butter and toss until the sauce is very creamy. Stir in the parmesan and basil. Immediately the heat from the pasta intensifies the smell of the basil…leaving you with nothing but excitement for dinner.
And trust me, you should be excited. Every bowl of pasta is creamy, just oh so slightly spicy, with a subtle pesto touch, and just the right amount of butter and cheese.
It’s is so very good. Roll your eyes back, go for that second bowl, and finish the pasta all in one sitting, GOOD. Dramatic, but true.
Perfect dinner to serve up this holiday season, even if it’s just the two of you this year! The leftovers are just as delicious! You can prepare the dish in advance, keep it fully assembled in the fridge, and then bake before serving. I love dishes like this for holiday entertaining…they make life so easy!
You can even prepare the sauce way ahead of time, then just add the pasta before you’re ready to serve. This would make a great dinner party meal with a side salad and some bread. Usually, I keep it simple with my 5 Ingredient Beer Bread or Salted Butter Parker House Rolls. But when the whole family is in town for December, I’ll bake this Pull-Apart Garlic Butter Bread Wreath. Either way (or day) you serve this pasta up, it’s going to be good. It’s one of those pasta dishes that’s easily loved by all.
Looking for other simple winter pasta dishes? Here are my favorites:
4 Cheese Sage Pesto Florentine Lasagna
One Pot Spicy Pesto Cheese Baked Rigatoni
Lastly, if you make this Spicy Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka, 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!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
I made this and it was ah-maze-ing. My kids were going back for seconds!! I did too! :). I was nervous because I had a vodka pasta at a restaurant 16 years ago and it was awful. I honestly haven’t touched vodka pasta since but I LOVE your recipes so I took a gamble and I’m so glad I did. Thank you for this recipe and showing me that mayyyyybe vodka pasta isn’t so bad ❤️
Hey Kate,
Amazing!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was a hit! Thanks so much for your kind message! xT
Does it really mean a 1/2 a cup of tomato paste? Or do you use just most of the 6 oz can?
Hi Kayla,
For this recipe, you will want to use 1/2 cup of tomato paste:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
Just made this for my husband for Valentine’s Day. It was 🔥! I added roasted tomatoes and served it with chicken meatballs. Definitely a do over!!!
Hey Susan,
Amazing!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was a hit! xT
I like arrabbata sauce and vodka sauce. Oh yes, and pesto too! This recipe combines them all and it was delicious! Thank you for sharing it.
Hey Suzanne,
Happy Sunday!!🏈 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
If you wanted to add protein like chicken, what would be the best way to corporate it? Can you cook it in the sauce? Or cook separately and add at the end?
Hey Kelly,
I would cook separately and then add at the end, chicken or sausage would both be great! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
This was very good. I always wanted to try a homemade vodka sauce. I’m not sure exactly how it impacts the flavour, but it was very good.
Your recipes are always dependable 😊
Hey James,
Awesome!!🌼 I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
Fabulous! This is the new family favorite
Hey Ann,
Awesome!!🌼 I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
Love this one too…. When I just have to have pasta!
Did sauté chicken fingers w/Italian seasoning to add to the top of the bowl. Deliciousioso!
Hey Tracy,
Happy Monday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad it turned out well for you:)
Delicious and easy!
Thanks so much Nicole!! So glad you enjoyed this dish:)
Wow! Made this with my partner and used fresh basil from the garden. Probably the best homemade pasta I’ve ever had. Seriously!
Hey there,
Happy Monday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad it turned out well for you:)
Made this for dinner and an instant hit! My girls insisted it be on repeat. Substituted chicken broth instead of vodka and all was still delicious. Super fast and easy to make.
Hey Emily,
Happy Monday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad it turned out well for you:)
would it be possible to use 2% milk or something instead without totally ruining the consistency?
Hi Abby,
Sure, that would be just fine for you to use! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
In case anyway else was confused…I looked up what 1/2 cup of tomato paste is equal to in ounces and it says 4oz which is 2/3 of a small can of tomato paste. That makes sense…I was thinking a half cup of tomato paste measured into measuring cup!
I’m going to make this today…sounds dicious! Thx Teighan
I just used the whole 6 oz can…
Thanks for sharing Barbara! I hope you love this recipe! xT
I made this tonight and it was delicious! I have never made a vodka sauce and it was so good! So creamy and yummy- we loved every bite! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Hey Lindsey,
Happy Wednesday!! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe and sharing your comment, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
I made this tonight and it was SO GOOD! Rich tomato flavor with lots of basil from the pesto. It was an easy and fast recipe to make too with inexpensive ingredients that are staples in my kitchen.
Hey Kim,
Happy Monday!! I appreciate you giving this recipe a try and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well! xT
Made this recipe for a dinner party after having it made for me a few times. It was a big hit! I added sauteed shrimp which really completed the dish, making it more dinner party worthy. During the prep, I accidentally omitted the butter. In my opinion, that mistake made the dish better, less oily. Will be making this many more times due to the simplicity or the prep and deliciousness of the dish.
Hey Debbie,
Happy Monday!! I appreciate you giving this recipe a try and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well! xT