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Jump to Recipe Watch Video PrintThis vegan vodka sauce recipe is creamy, luscious, velvety, and totally plant-based! Toss with penne pasta for a tasty dairy free version of the classic.
Grab a fork, and enjoy! We love serving this super creamy vegan vodka pasta with a pot luck salad and air fryer garlic bread for a complete meal. This is one restaurant-quality dish that is SO simple to make at home.
One of my favorite restaurant dishes to order is pasta with vodka sauce, I love the tomatoey creamy sauce combo forever! And what’s better than recreating a super yummy dish in your own kitchen, with better ingredients and for a fraction of the cost? This vegan penne alla vodka recipe is a fantastic pasta dish you can make at home.
This creamy plant-based pasta alla vodka sauce recipe is loaded with sauteed vegetables, bold flavors from tomatoes and vodka, and a creamy addition to this blended sauce. Serve with your favorite pasta (I love penne or shells!) and Mangia.
This Plant Based Vodka Sauce Is:
- Bright
- Fresh
- Creamy
- Luxurious
- Satisfying
- Dairy Free, Vegan, and Gluten Free!
Make Vodka Sauce Dairy Free for a Plant-Based Version
This dairy-free vodka sauce is a fantastic take on the classic without all the dairy. I’m all about making recipes plant-based and with simple ingredients when I can. Dairy-free cooking does NOT have to be bland, boring, or flavorless… It’s quite the opposite when done right. You can achieve total richness and creaminess with some simple swaps.
By building meals around vegan pantry staples and swapping in a few plant-based ingredients you can make better meals for you and your family. These easy and tasty recipes are fantastic meatless and dairy free meals for your table.
What’s In This Vegan Vodka Pasta Sauce Recipe?
- Garlic, Onions, Parsley
- Vodka – as it’s one of the key ingredients, use a really good vodka that you’d drink (no bottom shelf stuff for this recipe). You want a nice smooth vodka that is high quality.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: a little olive oil to sauté the vegetables. Or use vegan butter.
- Diced Tomatoes: I only use no salt added diced tomatoes.
- Italian Seasoning Blend: usually has thyme, basil, rosemary, parsley, etc. I love this bright and flavorful Italian season mix which brings this amazing dish to life.
- Cashews: I love raw unsalted cashews in this recipe – there’s no need to get roasted nuts, as the raw cashews make the perfect cashew cream to this recipe. It’s a vegan version of heavy cream that is traditional in penne alla vodka.
- Plant-Based Milk, like soy milk, almond milk, or coconut milk.
- Nutritional yeast – for flavor and cheesy taste
- Red pepper flakes, to taste
- Pasta – you can use a gluten-free pasta, whole wheat pasta, chickpea pasta, or any type of penne.
- Fresh basil or fresh parsley to top
See the recipe card below for specifics and quantities!
Vegan Comfort Food Pasta Recipes
This vegetarian vodka pasta sauce is the tastiest, coziest dinner meal. It’s perfect for a hearty meal for the family, and also great to make for company if you are having guests for dinner.
It makes a great holiday meal as well, and a great veg addition to the table. The stove does most of the work, so you can enjoy hands-off time while you prep sides or a salad!
How To Make Vodka Sauce Vegan
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne al dente according to package directions and set aside.
- In another pot, add the olive oil and sauté the garlic and onions over medium heat, for about 2-3 minutes until they begin to shimmer. Add the diced tomatoes and vodka, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring until the alcohol has evaporated. Add the cashews, vegetable stock, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook covered for 25 minutes.
- Once sauce is finished cooking, carefully remove the pot from the heat. Transfer the sauce to a blender (or use an immersion hand blender in the pot). Blend in high until the sauce becomes thick and creamy.
- Toss sauce with penne and serve hot. Garnish cooked pasta with fresh chopped basil, cracked pepper, and enjoy.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
More Creamy Vegan Pasta Recipes You’ll Love!
Oat Milk Alfredo Sauce Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Vegan Stuffed Shells Recipe (Dairy Free & Egg Free)
Gluten Free Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe (Vegan)
Hummus Pasta Sauce Recipe with Lemon (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Vegan Pasta Salad with Mayo Recipe (Egg & Dairy Free)
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Vegan Vodka Sauce
Ingredients
- 16 ounces penne or pasta shape of your choice, use gluten free if needed
- 1 large sweet onion sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 28 ounces Diced Tomatoes or 3 cups fresh tomatoes
- 1/4 cup good-quality vodka
- 1/2 cup cashews raw & unsalted
- 2 cups Vegetable Stock
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 cup fresh basil or basil, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook penne according to package directions and set aside.
- In another pot, add the olive oil and sauté the garlic and onions over low heat, for about 6 to 7 minutes until they begin to shimmer. Add the diced tomatoes and vodka, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring until the alcohol has evaporated. Add the cashews, vegetable stock, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook covered for 25 minutes.
- Once sauce is finished cooking, carefully remove the pot from the heat. Transfer the sauce to a blender (or use an immersion hand blender in the pot). Blend in high until the sauce becomes thick and creamy.
- Toss sauce with penne and serve hot. Garnish with fresh chopped basil, cracked pepper, and enjoy.
Nutrition
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There’s nothing better during Lent on those meatless Fridays than stick to your ribs pasta and this one is fabulous