Vodka Sauce

Name: Vodka Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 5 servings
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1/4 cup vodka; 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1/4 cup grated parmesan

5 servings10 min prep25 min cookEasy

♡ Sign in to save Print / Save as PDFPro

The Story Behind It

The Tale of Vodka Sauce

Story updated September 18, 2026

Vodka sauce's precise origin is disputed, with competing claims placing its invention in Italy or among Italian-American chefs in the US during the 1970s-80s. It became a popular restaurant sauce despite, or perhaps because of, its unclear culinary pedigree.

Ingredients

Scale:· 5 servings

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup vodka
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup grated parmesan

Instructions

1Sauté onion in olive oil until softened, about 5 minutes, then add garlic.
2Pour in vodka and simmer 2-3 minutes to cook off the alcohol.
3Stir in crushed tomatoes and simmer 15 minutes.
4Stir in heavy cream and parmesan, and simmer 5 more minutes.

Want Cook Mode, your own recipe photos, and unlimited calculators?

Get Home Cooking Pro

Comments

Loading comments…