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Garlic Butter Pasta alla Vodka with Melty Burrata. This silky, smooth, and extra creamy pasta alla vodka is the perfect cozy recipe to make! Fresh pasta tossed in a garlicky, buttery, tomato and pesto vodka sauce thatโs creamy and so delicious! The garlic, butter, and pesto add a vibrant layer of flavor and richness to this saucy and creamy pasta. Just before serving, add fresh burrata cheese and allow it to melt into the pasta. Itโs so delicious!
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I often say this, but the simplest recipes are the most wonderful. And they tend to be the yummiest, too!
My pasta alla vodka sauce is one recipe that I make on repeat, like all of the time. Itโs a favorite dinner for my younger sister, Asher, who requests it probably weekly! Sheโs even made the pasta herself and served it to the family!
When I was thinking about Valentineโs Day recipes for this year, I just could not get past this idea. And when I shared it with both my mom and my cousin, Abby, they both said this was their #1 pick.
I created a garlic butter version of one of my familyโs favorite pasta sauces! But whatโs even more special than the garlic butter is the melty burrata cheese. Itโs such a simple addition that really transforms this pasta all vodka!
Add some fresh herbs and lemon on top for a wonderfully simple way to freshen up a classic Italian pasta. This would be perfect for Valentineโs Day dinner, too! Finish with crusty bread and my favorite house salad on the side. Such an easy and romantic meal.
These are the details
Ingredients
- extra virgin olive oil
- salted butter
- shallots
- garlic
- dried oregano
- chili flakes
- tomato paste
- vodka
- basil pesto,
- heavy cream โ or you can use canned coconut milk
- your favorite shortcut pasta โ we love rigatoni or penne
- grated Parmesan cheese
- toasted pine nuts
- fresh basil and parsley
- lemon zest
Special Tools
For this recipe, youโll need a skillet with high sides and a pasta cooking pot.
Steps
Step 1: make the alla vadka sauce
In a skillet with sides, or use a low braising pot, cook the olive oil together with the shallots and garlic. I use around 6 cloves of fresh garlic. This is the perfect amount of garlic that doesnโt feel overpowering to the sauce.
Now, mix in the butter and then add the tomato paste. The butter will brown around the garlic, and the tomato paste will thicken its texture.
From here, mix in the vodka, the cream, and the pesto. Let the sauce simmer on low while you finish the pasta.
Step 2: the pasta
Simply cook the pasta according to the package directions. When youโre ready to drain the water, save about a cup of the pasta cooking water. Use it to thin the pasta sauce after you add the pasta.
Step 3: add the pasta
Mix the hot pasta into the vodka sauce. Add some pasta water to thin if needed. Add the Parmesan cheese and mix everything together until very creamy.
Step 4: add the burrata
Now, gently stir in the burrata. Let it sit in the pasta for a few minutes to melt.
Step 5: make the herby pine nut topping
Olive oil, toasted pine nuts, basil, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Mix!
This is so fresh and yummy. I highly recommend adding this topping!
Step 6: serve
Serve the pasta, the sauce, and the burrata cheese in bowls. Top with the fresh herb topping and enjoy this while warm! Scrumptious!
So simple too โ just what we love! I hope you, your family, and friends all enjoy this as much as we do!
Looking for other simple winter pasta dishes? Here are my favorites:ย
4 Cheese Sage Pesto Florentine Lasagna
One Pot Spicy Pesto Cheese Baked Rigatoni
Lastly, if you make this Garlic Butter Pasta alla Vodka with Melty Burrata, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, donโt forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Garlic Butter Alla Vodka with Melty Burrata
Ingredientsย
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 8 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1-2 teaspoons chili flakes
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 1/4 cup vodka
- 3/4 cup basil pesto
- salt and black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream or canned coconut milk
- 1 pound short cut pasta
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped basil
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 or 3 balls burrata cheese at room temperature
Instructionsย
- 1. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, the shallots, garlic, and oregano. Cook for 5 minutes, until fragrant. Reduce the heat to low and add the butter, tomato paste, and chili flakes. Cook for 2 minutes, until the butter is browning around the garlic. Stir in the vodka and then the cream and pesto. 2. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions, until al dente. Just before draining, remove 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain.3. Add the pasta, 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, and the parmesan to the vodka sauce. If needed, thin the sauce with additional pasta cooking water. Gently mix in the torn burrata and allow the burrata to melt into the pasta, do not stir too much. 4. Make the herby pine nut topping: In a bowl, mix olive oil, pine nuts, parmesan, basil, parsley, and lemon zest, and season with salt and pepper. 5. Divide the pasta among plates. Top with the herbs and parmesan. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Oh my Yummms!!! Tieghan! This was outstanding. We are recently empty nesters so it is just the hubby and myself. I wish you could have seen my husband at the stove taking more bites after he finished his plate. He’s usually not one to give dinner compliments – If he cleans his plate, then we know he liked it…but tonight he had several moans and ummmms… and that sort of thing.. He even asked where I got the recipe! I told him all about my journey working through your recipes. I may have accidentally… on purpose doubled the pine nut topping. Sorry-not sorry. THANK YOU SO MUCH for an incredible Saturday night dinner. ๐
Hey Jennifer,
Happy Sunday!! I am so glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for choosing to make it!
Without the basil pesto this recipe is good. Why is it that there is basil pesto in the recipe and not in the video? It ended up messing up the whole dish.
Hi Arden,
Thanks for trying this dish and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear the pesto was not enjoyed. You could certainly skip it next time if you wanted to!
Another winner!! I’ll definitely be making this again. It’s easy and quick, but delicious. I used hot sausage with it since my husband likes to have some sort of protein and it worked great. I completely skipped the pine nut topping because I was just too lazy and it still was delicious. Thank you for another great recipe!
Hey Lettie,
Fantastic!! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear it was enjoyed!
We made this for dinner tonight and it is absolutely delicious! Simple enough for every day, but tasty enough for special. It will definitely join our regular rotation.
Thanks so much, Joni! Love to hear this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it!
Hi Tieghan! Iโve tried so many of your recipes and they all turned out amazing! Iโm going to give this one a go for Valentineโs Day dinner but my husband always needs some sort of protein. What would you suggest that best compliments this dish? Thank you so much โค๏ธ
Thanks so much, Meaghan:) I think Italian sausage would work nicely here! I hope this helps!
Oh my goodness this was SO delicious! I will try anything with burrata but I also love a vodka sauce so this was out of the park for me. Loved how easy and cozy it was. Thanks for another winning recipe!
Hey Lydia,
Perfect! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad it was enjoyed!
Can this sauce be made ahead ?
Hi Emma,
You bet, that will work nicely for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Delicious
Thanks so much, Leslie!!
LOVE this recipe! *chefs kiss*
I put the 1/3 Parmesan in the pasta, but then didnโt know how much to put in the pine nut mix. How much Parmesan do you suggest adding into the topping?
Thanks so much, Courtney! Love to hear this dish was enjoyed! You were correct to add the 1/3 cup of parmesan in step 3, I just like to garnish each dish with extra parm:)
Phenomenal recipe!!! Super easy with so many flavors coming through. The family raved. Thank you so much for another keeper!
Hey Lynn,
Thanks for testing this recipe out, I’m thrilled it was a success for you. Have a nice day!