Quick and easy Pasta alla Vodka recipe for one - A rich, creamy sauce made with onions, garlic, tomatoes, a splash of vodka and a touch of cream served over pasta. An incredibly delicious single serving meal!
Recreating my family's favorite Pasta alla Vodka recipe into a single serving recipe has been on my to-do radar for months.
Pasta with vodka sauce is one of my family's most requested recipes. In fact, my son who lives in Austin, Texas has been begging me to create a single serving version of it for such a long time.
Why This Recipe Works
Vodka sauce is such a simple sauce to make.
The key ingredients in vodka sauce are olive oil, onions, tomatoes, a few spices, cream and of course, vodka. All the ingredients cook together in one pan and within minutes, you've got a rich and creamy sauce worthy of your favorite pasta.
How To Make Vodka Sauce
- Cook the onions and garlic in a little olive oil in a pan until they're soft.
- Add the vodka to the onions and garlic and let everything cook for a few minutes.
- Add in a cup of canned diced tomatoes, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Cook for a few minutes, then add in a touch of cream.
As the vodka sauce gently cooks, the cream begins to thicken the sauce. The vodka sauce doesn't take long to make. In the time it takes you to boil your water for the pasta, you can make the sauce.
Expert Tips
- Instead of buying a large bottle of vodka, I buy the smaller 50 ml "mini" bottles. With these, you'll have just a little bit of vodka leftover to use again in this recipe or to add to a cocktail to enjoy while you are cooking.
- This dish is great as is, but you might like to consider adding in other ingredients such as Italian sausage, meatballs, or mushrooms.
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Frequently Asked Questions
I love using larger noodles such as pappardelle to mix with my vodka sauce but I also love using penne pasta too.
When cooking for one, ¾ of a cup of uncooked penne or other similar shaped pasta is a good amount. When cooked, you should have about 1 ½ cups of pasta.
If you're using a pappardelle pasta (shown in the pictures), plan on using 2-3 nests. When you purchase a package of pappardelle at the grocery, the dried pasta is already in little circles inside the package. I call these circles, nests and I think 3 is a good amount for one person.
If you're looking for a low carb pasta substitute, consider making a serving of spaghetti squash.
* One answer would be to make a vodka cocktail. You might like to try this Vodka Mimosa recipe:
You will need:
3 ounces orange juice
1 ounce vodka
Champagne
To make: Pour orange juice into a champagne flute. Add the vodka, top off with champagne and enjoy!
Other ideas include:
* Use leftover vodka to remove unwanted odors - Mix together 4 ounces of water, 4 ounces of vodka, and 12-15 drops of essential oils together and pour into a spray bottle. Shake the bottle and spray on any area that needs to be cleaned, then wipe off.
* Use as an insect repellent
* Infuse with candy - Pour vodka into a mason jar with a tight fitting lid, fill the jar about two-thirds of the way. Add a handful of either peppermints, candy corn, red hot candies, or skittles. Cover the jar and let it sit on the counter overnight. The next day strain out the candy and enjoy! Don't let the candy infuse for longer than 24 hours. If you do, you'll be left with a sludgy, unappetizing mess.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this Pasta alla Vodka For One, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
- Pasta: Hamburger Casserole, Pasta Primavera, Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables
- Onions: Cioppino, Zuppa Toscana, Chicken Spaghetti
- Garlic: Guacamole Salad, Roasted Garlic, Olives, and Feta, Pesto
- Diced tomatoes: Beef Chili, Chicken Cacciatore, Shrimp Creole
- Red pepper flakes: Portobello Mushroom Pizza, Shrimp Scampi
- Cream: Banana Cream Pie, Vanilla Ice Cream, Alfredo Sauce
- Parmesan: Parmesan Crisps, Buttered Noodles, Eggplant Parmesan
- Olive oil: Seared Scallops, Spinach Manicotti, Baked Ziti
RELATED: Single Serving Comfort Food Recipes
Other Single Serving Pasta Sauce Recipes
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Enjoy!
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If you’ve tried this Pasta alla Vodka or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Pasta alla Vodka For One
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup dried penne pasta (or 3 nests of Pappardelle pasta)
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 clove garlic , chopped
- 2 tablespoons vodka
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes , with the juices
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese (plus more for topping)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a medium sauté pan on medium heat.
- Add the onions and sauté 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the garlic and sauté 1 minute more.
- Add the vodka and cook, stirring occasionally for 3 minutes.
- Add the diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.
- Pour in the cream and stir. Continue to heat for 5 minutes without bringing sauce to a boil.
- Stir in ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese.
- Add the pasta to the pan and toss to coat.
- Transfer pasta to a plate or a bowl and top with additional parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Instead of buying a large bottle of vodka, I buy the smaller 50 ml "mini" bottles. With these, you'll have just a little bit of vodka leftover to use again in this recipe or to add to a cocktail to enjoy while you are cooking.
- This dish is great as is, but you might like to consider adding in other ingredients such as Italian sausage, meatballs, or mushrooms.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Ann Thornton says
You do a fantastic service to we who live alone, but like to live we! BIG, BIG THANKS TO YOU JOANIE! Best wishes, Ann Thornton, Victoria, Australia.
Terri R says
I made this dish with shrimp and light cream. It was AMAZINGLY simple and delicious. I've tried five of Joanie's recipes. ALL 5 were delicious. This is definitely a keeper!
Stacy says
Another favorite, so good!! Never had it before until I came across this recipe and made it, so glad I did!!!
Joanie Zisk says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Diane Groves says
I'm glad I found your page. Life saver!!
Joanie Zisk says
Hi Diane,
I'm glad you found us too! Welcome!!
Joanie