Pasta alla Vodka

This Pasta alla Vodka is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner with an easy and creamy tomato and vodka sauce, topped with bacon and Parmesan cheese!

⏱️ Prep: 10 min🍳 Cook: 20 min

Nutrition

524

Calories

—

Protein

—

Carbs

—

Fat

12 oz	340 g	pasta (mini shells)
1 tbsp	15 ml	olive oil
1		large onion, chopped
3 cloves		garlic, minced
1/2 cup	120 ml	vodka
1/8 tsp	0.6 ml	ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp	1.3 ml	red pepper flakes
to taste		salt and pepper
14 oz	395 g	tomato puree (1 can)
1 cup	240 ml	half and half or heavy cream
6 slices		bacon, chopped and fried
1 cup	240 ml	Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1 tbsp	15 ml	fresh parsley, for garnish

This Pasta alla Vodka is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner with an easy and creamy tomato and vodka sauce, topped with bacon and Parmesan cheese!

Course: Main Course. Cuisine: American, Italian.

Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain in a colander and rinse it under cold water to stop it from cooking any further. Reserve some of the pasta water, just in case we need it to thin out the sauce.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until it softens and becomes translucent.
Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until it becomes aromatic.
Add the vodka, stir and cook for a couple minutes until almost all of the vodka has cooked down. Stir in the nutmeg, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
Add the tomato puree to the skillet, then stir in the half and half or heavy cream. Bring to a boil.
Stir in the cooked pasta, bacon and the Parmesan cheese. If the sauce is too thick and the pasta has soaked up all the sauce, add some of the reserved pasta water.
Garnish with parsley and serve.

Recipe Notes: Half and half is equal parts whole milk and light cream and it usually averages 10 to 12% fat, which is usually less than light cream.

Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.