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Vegan Vodka Sauce Recipe | Super Easy, Creamy and Dairy Free

January 12, 2021 //  by Nicole Stevens//  Leave a Comment

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5 from 1 vote. Leave your review!

This vegan vodka sauce recipe is made with simple ingredients and comes together with very little effort. It creates an ultra-creamy and flavor-packed sauce, perfect for topping onto your favorite pasta.

To keep this recipe vegan and dairy free, there are three options for adding delicious creaminess to the sauce: vegan cream, cashew cream or coconut milk. With these options you can easily customize the sauce to any taste preference or allergy.

Skill: Easy | Time: 60 min | Servings: 6

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Is Vodka Sauce Vegan?

Vodka sauce is typically made with a few key ingredients including tomatoes, vodka and heavy cream. This means that traditional vodka sauce is not vegan (due to the cream).

Luckily, there are lots of ways to create a super easy, vegan vodka cream sauce and this recipe offers three vegan methods to add that creaminess. I provide these options because not everyone can access specialty ingredients like vegan half and half cream (I can only find it sometimes, at select stores).

Vodka sauce is the key ingredient in penne alla vodka which is a pasta dish where vodka sauce is used to coat cooked penne pasta. When cooking at home you can choose any type of pasta you prefer!

Ingredients to Make Vegan Vodka Cream Sauce

The ingredients to make vegan vodka sauce are fairly simple but come together to create a truly decadent sauce! Please note this recipe makes a large quantity and can be cut in half if needed. For this recipe you’ll need:

  • Canned tomato: Traditional vodka sauce recipes are completely smooth but I prefer a few tomato chunks for texture. To do this, I use one can of crushed (pureed) tomatoes and one can of diced tomatoes, but you can use two cans of crushed tomato if you prefer!
  • Vodka: You can’t really make vodka sauce without the star ingredient (although I’ve seen some recipes that don’t include vodka)! Adding the right amount of vodka is important since it enhances the flavors of the tomatoes and cream but can make the sauce bitter if you use too much.
  • Vegan butter: Heavy cream is an essential ingredient in traditional vodka sauce recipes. While we use some tasty, creamy vegan substitutions, they all contain less fat compared to dairy-based cream. To enhance flavor and more closely resemble traditional recipes, we’ll add some delicious richness with a vegan butter substitute (margarine works as does olive oil).
  • Onion and garlic: Fresh onion and garlic add a delicious, pungent flavor to the sauce.
  • Dry oregano and basil: To add depth of flavor, a couple classically Italian herbs go a long way. If you have fresh oregano or basil on hand, feel free to use that instead!
  • Nutritional yeast: One of my favorite vegan kitchen staple ingredients, nutritional yeast adds a delicious, cheesy flavor to the sauce (along with plenty of nutrition too!).
  • Salt and pepper: Balance the flavors in the sauce to your liking with salt and pepper. Salt enhances other flavors in the sauce so don’t skip out (I use iodized sea salt to meet my intake needs for iodine!).
  • Vegan cream substitute: I provide three options to get this sauce nice and creamy. Pick ONE and use ½ C of it! I love the flavor and ease of using a vegan cream (vegan half and half); just select one that isn’t flavored and doesn’t have sugar in it (vegan coffee creamer likely won’t work). Since vegan cream is hard to find consistently, you could also use coconut milk or cashew cream (see below for directions on how to make).
Ingredients to make a creamy vegan vodka sauce recipe, including tomatoes, cashew cream, onions, garlic and spices.

How to Make Dairy Free Vodka Sauce: Instructions and Video Tutorial

This vegan vodka sauce recipe is quite easy to make. The most important consideration is that it requires some time to simmer, simmer and simmer some more! Its simple flavors need time to come together, so try to not rush this part. I know it’ll smell delicious and you’ll want to dive in, but try to hold off for the whole cook time!

Step 1: Prep the Ingredients

Start by gathering all the ingredients. Finely dice the onion and mince the garlic. Get a large sauce pot out on the stove and ready to use!

Step 2: Cook the Onion and Garlic

Melt the vegan butter over medium heat. Once liquified, add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until starting to soften.

Next, add the minced garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until fragrant.

Step 3: Add Remaining Ingredients (Except Cream) and Simmer

Pour the canned tomatoes first, then vodka into the pot. Do not add the vodka first since the high heat and minimal content within the pot can lead to poor results. Add the tomatoes first and then gently mix in vodka, allowing these ingredients to become well combined.

Pour tomatoes and vodka into the simmering onions and garlic to create the base of your plant-based vodka sauce

The ingredients will sizzle when you add them. Stir to combine and make sure to scrape up any onion or garlic that stuck to the bottom of the pot. Then toss in the dry oregano and basil, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

Add flavor to the vodka sauce with nutritional yeast, basil, oregano, salt and pepper

Place the lid on the pot and turn the heat down to low. Simmer the sauce with a lid on for at least 30 minutes (up to an hour, stirring occasionally). Use this time to cook the pasta or prep any side dishes you’d like!

After the sauce is simmered (and smelling amazing) pour in the cream, stir and simmer for another 10 minutes.

Pour cashew cream or coconut milk into the simmered tomato sauce, stir, and let simmer until the flavors have combined well

Step 4: Serve with your Favourite Pasta (and How to Make this a Balanced Meal)

Toss the vodka sauce with any cooked pasta of your choice. Penne is a classic option, but any pasta should work! If you’re looking for a boost of protein and fibre, try a lentil or bean-based pasta.

Registered Dietitian Nicole eating a bowl of vegan penne alla vodka, using the vodka sauce created in this recipe

This is a delicious recipe on its own, but it’s not balanced since it lacks some protein and vegetables. I like to serve it with a side of salad and some chickpeas! Caesar salad is always my go-to with a delicious pasta, and luckily, the Caesar dressing I make is protein-packed. It pairs perfectly with this pasta!

Adding vegan protein and additional vegetables to this pasta helps create a balanced meal. However, sometimes we just want pasta on its own and that’s okay sometimes too!

A close-up photo of two served plates of penne alla vodka with more sauce and noodles in the background

Easy Vegan Vodka Sauce Tips, Substitutions and Variations

As noted above (and in the recipe card below), this plant-based vodka sauce recipe contains three options for vegan cream substitutes. I’ve tested all three and they were a huge hit. There isn’t much of a taste difference between them, so use what you have access to, what you prefer and what works with any allergies or other dietary restrictions you may have!

There are two major variations in texture you can choose for this recipe. As it’s written, the sauce is fairly chunky with diced tomatoes as well as the pieces of onion. I like this texture in tomato sauce, but vodka sauce is traditionally smooth or pureed.

If you prefer a smooth texture, feel free to only use pureed tomatoes for the sauce. Another option is to blend the sauce (once it’s done cooking or even before you simmer the sauce).

Feel free to substitute dry herbs for fresh and adjust the amounts of other spices to your taste preferences.

It’s also important to keep in mind this recipe makes a large quantity and can be cut in half if needed (select one can of crushed/ pureed tomatoes in this case).

How to Store Vegan Vodka Pasta Sauce: Refrigerating and Freezing this Recipe

Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. This recipe also freezes well; just scoop extra sauce into freezer safe containers and freeze for up to 4 months.

To thaw, let the sauce sit in the fridge overnight then place into a pot and heat through. It’s best to use a medium-low heat, especially if the sauce is still frozen, and stir often to allow sauce to melt.

I hope you enjoy this recipe! If you make it, please rate and comment below so others benefit from your experience.

More Deliciously Filling Vegan Dinner Recipes

Singapore Noodles

Two bowls of sweet potato lentil curry served from a slow cooker. Each bowl contains brown rice, curry and cilantro, while the second (back) bowl also contains two lime wedges

Sweet Potato Lentil Curry

Meatless ham roast with pineapple rings sitting on wooden cutting board

Seitan Ham

Close up of a plate of penne pasta covered with vodka sauce.

Creamy Vegan Vodka Sauce (Dairy Free)

This vegan vodka sauce recipe is made with one of three vegan cream substitutes, creating a rich, flavorful and dairy free sauce to serve over your favorite cooked pasta.
5 from 1 vote. Leave your review!
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 1 hr
Servings 6 Servings (8 C of sauce)
Calories 222 kcal
Cuisine Vegan

Equipment

  • Cutting board
  • Knife
  • Large sauce pot (with lid)

Ingredients
  

  • 3 C crushed tomatoes (tomato puree) (28 oz/ 800 mL can)
  • 3 C diced tomatoes (28 oz/ 800 mL can; or second can of crushed tomatoes)
  • ½ C vodka
  • ¼ C vegan butter (or margarine)
  • 1 C onion , diced
  • 3 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 tsp dry basil
  • ½ tsp dry oregano
  • ¼ C nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ⅔ C vegan "half and half" cream (OR coconut milk OR cashew cream; see notes below)
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Instructions

  • Finely dice onion and mince garlic.
    1 C onion, 3 cloves garlic
  • Melt vegan butter or margarine in a large sauce pot, over medium heat. Once melted, add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until it’s started to soften.
    ¼ C vegan butter
  • Next, add the minced garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until fragrant.
  • Pour your tomatoes and vodka into the pot. Stir to combine and scrape any onion or garlic that sticks to the bottom.
    3 C crushed tomatoes (tomato puree), 3 C diced tomatoes, ½ C vodka
  • Toss in dry oregano and dry basil, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine.
    1 tsp dry basil, ½ tsp dry oregano, ¼ C nutritional yeast, 1 tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper
  • Place a lid on pot and turn heat down to low. Simmer the sauce, with the lid on for at least 30 minutes (up to an hour, stirring occasionally).
  • After the sauce is simmered pour in vegan "half and half" cream (OR canned coconut milk OR cashew cream). Stir to combine and simmer for another 10 minutes.
    ⅔ C vegan "half and half" cream
  • The sauce is now ready to serve over your favorite cooked pasta! For a full batch of this sauce, it should be enough for two 375–400 g boxes of pasta (if you also add a can or two of chickpeas into the mix)!

Video

Notes

This recipe makes a large quantity and can be cut in half if needed.
Vegan cream substitute options: If you can’t find vegan half and half cream, you can substitute for ⅔ C canned coconut milk (select the regular/ full fat version) OR substitute for cashew cream. To make cashew cream, soak ⅔ C raw cashews in water (overnight in the fridge or in boiling water for 5-10 minutes) then blend with ½ C plant-based milk of choice, until smooth and creamy (use this full amount of cashew cream for a full batch of this recipe). 
Accuracy of nutrition information cannot be guaranteed (certain ingredients may not have all nutrients listed in the database); amounts may vary (and will vary depending on brands of ingredients used); all nutrition fact values rounded to the nearest whole number.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Serving (1/6 of recipe)Calories: 222 kcalCarbohydrates: 16 gProtein: 6 gFat: 12 gSaturated Fat: 5 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2 gMonounsaturated Fat: 4 gSodium: 773 mgPotassium: 710 mgFiber: 7 gSugar: 9 gVitamin A: 1083 IUVitamin C: 36 mgCalcium: 106 mgIron: 2 mg
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Filed Under: Vegan Dip and Sauce Recipes, Vegan Recipes Tagged With: Basil, Black pepper, Cashews, Coconut milk, Dinner, Easy, Garlic, Gluten free, Grain free, Italian-inspired, Nut free, Nutritional yeast, Onion, Oregano, Sauces, Tomato, Vegan butter

About Nicole Stevens

Nicole is a vegan Registered Dietitian (RD) and founder of Lettuce Veg Out. She provides vegans with balanced meals and easy-to-understand nutrition science.

Having attained a Masters degree and passing a national registration exam, Nicole is a trusted source of nutrition information. She uses this knowledge to educate others about vegan diets and how to thrive as a vegan.

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Welcome to Lettuce Veg Out, a vegan recipe and nutrition website created by Nicole Stevens, MSc, RD. As a vegan Registered Dietitian, I empower vegans to live a balanced life and gain confidence in the kitchen. Read More

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