This easy Spicy Vodka Pasta is creamy, rich, delicious- and ready in under 30 minutes! My take on the viral Gigi Hadid vodka pasta recipe, this spicy and flavorful sauce is sure to be on heavy dinner rotation!
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Easy and Delicious Spicy Vodka Pasta (Gigi Hadid Copycat recipe)
This quick and tasty Spicy Vodka Pasta is my take on the viral TikTok Gigi Hadid Vodka Pasta recipe that took the internet by storm, for good reason! This delicious and creamy pasta sauce is velvety smooth, spicy and just the thing you need when you're craving pasta!
Made with simple ingredients this simple pasta dish combines a bit of spice with a silky smooth sauce and a splash of vodka for the perfect weeknight meal!
Ingredients
To make this creamy and delicious Spicy Vodka Pasta (creamy tomato sauce), you will need:
- Some butter. I use unsalted for this recipe. If going with salted, adjust seasoning as needed.
- One small red onion. You could also use shallot, white or yellow onion.
- 6 garlic cloves. You can either slice these ultra-thin, or mince them.
- Tomato paste. You can use a tube or the canned stuff. Got leftover canned? Freeze it n ice cube trays and stick it in a freezer bag for later!
- Some good quality vodka. A little goes a long way here. If you don't have or don't want to use vodka, you can choose to deglaze with a bit of water, or some dry white wine.
- Red pepper flakes. This recipe goes heavy on these for the spice factor. If you'd like your pasta a little less hot, try reducing the amount you add to the sauce. You can always add more!
- Heavy cream. This imparts a rich, luxurious and creamy texture to the decadent sauce. Don't skimp!
- Reserved pasta water, to help thin the sauce a bit and add body. You'll need ¼ cup of pasta water for this recipe.
- Fresh grated parmesan cheese. This will be added to the sauce at the very end, and putting a little on top for serving never hurt anyone ether.
- Fresh basil leaves, for serving. This is optional, but highly recommended to add a fresh bite to the rich and spicy sauce.
How to Make Spicy Vodka Pasta Sauce
This creamy sauce is quick, easy, and loaded with crushed red chili flakes for a perfectly balanced Spicy Vodka Sauce you can make in 25 minutes!
1. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente in a large pot of salted water. Salt the water well before cooking the pasta (should taste like the ocean).
2. Heat butter over medium-low heat in a large, deep sauté pan or large skillet.
3. Add the onions and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Add the garlic, stir and cook until just fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
5. Add the tomato paste and cook stirring occasionally, until darkened in color, 5 minutes.
6. Add the vodka and cook until evaporated, about 1 minute.
7. Add the heavy cream and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring well occasionally for 2-3 minutes, until slightly thickened.
8. Add the drained cooked pasta and reserved pasta water, and toss to coat in the creamy vodka sauce.
9. Turn off heat, add parmesan and stir.
10. Serve with additional grated parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
What kind of pasta should I use for the Spicy Vodka Pasta?
I love to use orecchiette for this pasta, but this sauce is great on just about any shape. The original Gigi Hadid recipe called for shells, which is also a great option! Here are some of my faves to serve it with!
- rigatoni pasta
- penne pasta
- papperdelle pasta
- gemelli pasta
- shell pasta
My spin on the famous Gigi Hadid vodka pasta recipe!
Heard of Supermodel Gigi Hadid's vodka pasta? She first made it in 2020, and it soon went viral on social media! Her pasta recipe is super easy to whip up, and tastes restaurant worthy! My spin on the famous Gigi Hadid vodka pasta recipe is just as easy and delicious, and is super easy to make any night of the week.
Substitutions & Additions
Here are a few ideas you can use to add to the spicy vodka pasta, or substitute with what you have on hand:
- Add in some crumbled Italian sausage. You can cook it with the onions and cook it right into the sauce!
- Substitute shallots, yellow onion or white onion for the red onion.
- Try a different pasta shape!
- Add chopped veggies, such as zucchini or bell peppers.
- Try crushed tomatoes or tomato puree in place of the tomato paste, and cook down to thicken.
- Swap the butter for Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- Add some black pepper, or stir in a bit of Calabrian chilis for a different heat, or additional heat.
- Add a pinch of Italian seasoning for a flavor boost!
What to serve with the Spicy Vodka Pasta
This pasta goes great with a side salad and some classic garlic bread.
Storing leftovers
Store any leftovers in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat the Spicy Pasta Alla Vodka, warm through in a pan gently with a bit of added water or cream.
Spicy Vodka Pasta
Ingredients
- ½ lb orecchiette, or your favorite pasta shape
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 1 small red onion, finely diced
- salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
- 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced or minced
- ½ cup tomato paste
- ¼ cup vodka
- 1 ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
- 1 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- fresh basil leaves, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente in a large pot of salted water. Salt the water well before cooking the pasta (should taste like the ocean). 2. Heat butter over medium-low heat in a large, deep sauté pan. 3. Add the onions and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5-7 minutes. 4. Add the garlic, stir and cook until just fragrant, 1 minute. 5. Add the tomato paste and cook stirring occasionally, until darkened in color, 5 minutes. 6. Add the vodka and cook until evaporated, about 1 minute. 7. Add the heavy cream and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring well occasionally for 2 minutes, until slightly thickened. 8. Add the drained cooked pasta and reserved pasta water, and toss to coat. 9. Turn off heat, add parmesan and stir. 10. Serve with additional grated parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
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Looking for more delicious pasta dishes?
Why not try my 5 Cheese Sausage and Spinach Lasagna, Sunday Sauce with Bracciole, Meatballs and Sausage, One Pot Sausage Artichoke Pasta Bake Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce, Easy Weeknight Spicy Sausage Pasta, or Cheese Tortellini with Roasted Tomato and Sausage Cream Sauce!
Made this recipe? Leave a review and rating below!
If you make my version of the famous Spicy Vodka Pasta Recipe, please be sure to leave me a comment! I would love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Lastly, if you make the recipe and love it, please tag me on Instagram! I love to see your photos!
Erikka says
This is absolutely delicious and easy to make. I will definitely be making this again!!!
Sharon Farnell says
So happy to hear this! Thank you for stopping by to leave a review 🙂
Dayn Riegel says
Made this with two substitutions - ACV (50/50 ACV & water) instead of vodka. Added maybe a tad more tomato's paste b/c I didn't have heavy cream so I used flax milk with cream cheese. I know that's not what you're recipe called for but everyone thought it was great. Great inspiration for a easy sauce I've been wanting to make for years actually.
Nick says
Just made this, and it was absolutely delicious. Mine just turned out a bit too saucy or soupy. Any suggestions?
Sharon Farnell says
Hi Nick, I'm glad you loved the flavor! My guess would be if there was any excess water on the pasta (be sure to drain really well) and use a good quality pasta with not a ton of cooking liquid, so the pasta water gets extra starchy and can do it's job thickening the sauce at the end. Hope that helps, and thanks for sharing!
Des says
The best!!!!! Have questions though, can I make ahead of time (just the sauce) and jar? How long can stay in fridge? Can I freeze?
Sharon Farnell says
So happy you loved the recipe, Des! I would unfortunately not recommend making the sauce ahead or freezing, since the sauce relies on the starchy pasta water for it's consistency, and I find cream does not freeze well.
Emma says
i’ve made this a couple times and it’s very good! i didn’t have vodka in my house so i used gin and it was great. the gin will had a more herbal/ lemon-y flavor, also ran out of cream so i used ricotta and that was also a fine substitute
Sharon says
Sounds awesome, Emma! Thanks for sharing!
Mac says
The best spicy vodka recipe I’ve made! I did use a bit extra garlic and tomato paste and half the cream (about 1.25 cups instead of 2)and it was still veryy thick and creamy and so flavorful. Tangy and salty and creamy, this recipe is the ultimate spicy vodka for me!
Sharon says
Thanks so much, Mac! I am so happy to hear you love the recipe!