Sausage Vodka Sauce with Mafalda Pasta

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Sausage Vodka Sauce with mafalda pasta is a rich, comforting twist on a classic Italian dish.  Adding Italian sausage to the creamy vodka sauce makes this a perfect cozy dinner for a cold night.  Best all of this easy recipe can be ready in 30 minutes!

A white plate filled with mafalda pasta topped with a sausage vodka sauce.

This easy recipe combines a creamy tomato-based sauce, sweet Italian sausage, and Pecorino Romano cheese. The creamy tomato sauce balances out the bold flavors of the sausage and cheese.  This simple recipe is perfect for a quick family dinner or a romantic date night.

Another great way to use Italian sausage to make a quick, easy, and tasty dinner is my Sausage with Potatoes Sheet Pan recipe.

This recipe is precisely what you need when you are craving something comforting, tasty, and easy to make. This week has been very busy, but the night I made this, I got a flavorful, satisfying dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes!

Pasta alla Vodka is one of our favorite Italian restaurant dishes. When I served vodka sauce with sausage last week, my husband said it was definitely a restaurant-quality meal! That is high praise from someone who loves vodka sauce as much as he does! Every home cook needs a recipe in their arsenal that they can rely on to deliver that kind of response! 

Other quick but delicious recipes that will get high praise are Caprese Pasta with Fresh Mozzarella and Pasta Rustica with Sausage.

What Is Vodka Sauce?

Vodka Sauce is actually made by adding vodka to a tomato sauce. The sauce is reduced a bit to allow the vodka to cook off and then cream and grated cheese are stirred in to finish it. This simple process brightens the flavor of the tomato and creates a silky tomato cream sauce.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I can think of a number of reasons why  mafalda pasta with vodka sauce and sausage should be on your rotation for weeknight meals:

  • It is easy to make.
  • It can be done in less than 30 minutes.
  • It appeals to almost everyone…who doesn’t love vodka sauce.
  • The pasta shape is fun to eat, and the kids will love it!
  • It calls for simple ingredients.
  • It is absolutely delicious!
A bowl of pasta with meat sauce on a black and white checked tablecloth.

Ingredients you will need

Italian Sausage

The addition of Italian sausage creates a hearty, comforting meal. I like to use sweet sausage, but if you want some spice in your sauce, you can use hot Italian sausage instead. Either way, the sauce will have a savory essence from the meat and fennel that amplifies the other flavors.  Italian chicken sausage is also a good choice. 

Pasta

If you can’t find Mafalda pasta, you can use other pasta shapes. For more information, refer to my guide on pairing pasta sauce with the perfect shapes. Penne pasta and rigatoni are often served with vodka sauce. Regardless of the shape you decide on, I recommend buying good-quality pasta

Onions and Garlic

You can’t make sauce without onions and garlic.  They are flavor essentials!  Dice the onions and mince the garlic so you get the flavor but don’t even know they are there.

Crushed tomatoes

The crushed tomatoes will make the sauce a little thicker and heartier than tomato puree, but you can substitute it if you like.  I love the texture they add to this sauce and they hold up well to the chunks of sausage.

Vodka

You don’t need to use expensive vodka, but you should definitely use something that you enjoy drinking. The vodka will be fragrant and impact the flavor of the sauce, so just like adding wine to a recipe, make sure you like the taste of the vodka you are using.

Half and Half

The crushed tomatoes and sausage will make the sauce pretty hearty, so you don’t need to use heavy cream here. I like Half and Half’s silkiness, and it is thick enough to make a creamy sauce.

Fresh Basil

Basil finishes off this dish. It really brightens up the sauce!

Pecorino Romano Cheese

I am partial to the pecorino romano’s sharp, salty, rich flavor.  It is a sheep’s milk cheese primarily used for grating.  It is one of the oldest cheeses of the Roman region.  You will find it in recipes such as Carbonara, Cacio e Pepe, and Paccheri all’ Amatriciana.   Parmesan cheese is a delicious substitute.

Step by Step Instructions

Crushed tomatoes have been added to the sausage in a skillet.
A pan of vodka sauce with fresh basil on top.
  1. Brown the sausage in a large skillet, breaking it down with the back of a wooden spoon until crumbled and no longer pink. Dice the onions and garlic and add them to the skillet. Cook them over medium heat until fragrant and tender.
  2. Add crushed tomatoes to the skillet and cook the sauce for several minutes. Stir in the vodka and cook for about 7-10 more minutes. The sauce will be reduced, and the alcohol from the vodka will cook off. If you skip this important step, the sauce will be bitter, so give the sauce some time to simmer.  
  3. Stir half and half and grated Pecorino Romano cheese into the sauce. Add salt and black pepper to taste, and finish it with some chopped fresh basil.
  4. While the sauce simmers, bring a pot of water to a boil and add the pasta and plenty of salt. Cook the pasta until it is al dente. Drain the cooked pasta and toss it in the sauce. If you need to thin the sauce slightly, you may want to reserve a cup of pasta water.

Storage and Reheating

Leftover pasta can be refrigerated in an airtight container.  Stored properly, it will last 3-4 days.  Reheating leftovers is easiest in the microwave.  

Serving Suggestions for this Hearty Pasta Dish?

This creamy tomato meat sauce is my favorite go-to recipe for a quick weeknight dinner.  Since it is so hearty, all you need is a crispy side salad to make a complete meal. ​

If you are planning a special occasion, consider starting your meal with a light “primo” course, such as Grilled Eggplant or Sicilian-style stuffed Artichokes, for a truly spectacular Italian meal. You can also serve a nice crusty bread to pick up some meaty sauce that might be left behind.

Other Pasta Shapes to Serve with this Thick Vodka Sauce

You can serve this sauce over your favorite pasta. The most common pasta served with vodka sauce is penne. Other great options are rigatoni, spaghetti, and rotini..

A white bowl of pasta with red meat sauce on a black and white checked cloth.

Other Sauces That Pair Well with Mafalda Pasta

This fun ribbony pasta shape goes well with so many different sauces. Its wide, flat shape makes it sturdy, and its curly edges make it perfect for holding sauces like creamy vodka sauce or Sundried Tomato Sauce. If you want something thick and meaty, you will love my short rib ragu with mafaldine recipe. You can also use this pasta instead of the penne in my Bolognese. For something easy and light, try substituting mafalda for the pasta in my Amatriciana or Tomato Basil Pasta recipes.

Serving Suggestions for Pasta with Sausage Vodka Sauce

This pasta dish is so hearty that you can make this your main course. Consider starting your meal with a light “primo” course such as Grilled Eggplant or Sicilian Style Stuffed Artichokes for truly spectacular Italian meal. You can also serve a nice crusty bread to pick up an of the sauce that might be left behind.

End Your Meal with an Italian Dessert

A hearty Italian meal like this needs a light Italian dessert to top it off. Try one of these fabulous desserts: Nonna’s Cuccidati Cookies, Nonna’s Simple Orange Cookies, The Best Tiramisu, Panna Cotta, Nonna’s Easy Almond Ring.

A white bowl of pasta with meat and tomato sauce.

Frequently asked questions about vodka sauce

Does vodka change the flavor of the sauce?

If you have ever wondered if adding vodka really changes the sauce’s flavor, it does! The Food Lab at Serious Eats did a taste test and determined that not only does it change the sauce’s flavor, but the ratio of vodka to tomato sauce and the cooking time also impact the results.

What should I do if I add too much vodka?

If you add too much vodka, the sauce will need to simmer longer.  The vodka will cook down, and the sauce will thicken as it cooks.  

What is Mafalda pasta?

Mafalda is a long ribbon-shaped pasta similar to fettuccine or pappardelle. It has ruffles all along the edges and resembles thin lasagna. It is also known as Mafaldine or regenerate, which means little queens.  They come from the area of Naples, Italy.  The pasta was named after Princess Mafalda of Savoy, and its ribbony edges are reminiscent of the ruffled dresses the young princess often wore. 

I love to get your feedback, so if you try this Vodka Sauce and Sausage with Malfada Pasta or any other recipe on this website, please leave me a comment below. I hope you enjoy our recipes, and I look forward to hearing from you!

You can also follow me on FacebookInstagram, and Pinterest for more recipes your family will love!

A white plate filled with mafalda pasta topped with a sausage vodka sauce.

Sausage Vodka Sauce with Mafalda Pasta

This is a creamy tomato sauce with Italian sausage. Silky, savory hearty and incredibly easy.
5 from 9 votes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 587 kcal

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Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. Italian Sausage Casings removed
  • cup Onion Diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 28 oz. Crushed Tomatoes
  • ¼ cup Vodka
  • ¾ Cup Half and Half
  • ¼ cup Pecorino Romano Cheese Grated
  • 2 tbsp Basil fresh, chopped
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1 lb Mafalda Pasta

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the pasta. Generously salt the water. Stir the pasta often to keep it from sticking. Cook according to package instructions.
  • Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet. Cook the sausage until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
  • Add the onion to the sausage and cook it until it is tender, about 2 minutes. Then add the garlic and cook until it is fragrant about 2 more minutes.
  • Stir in the tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes. Pour the vodka in to the sauce and cook on medium heat for 7-10 minutes. The sauce should reduce and thicken.
  • Reduce the heat and add the half and half and grated romano cheese. Stir until the sauce is creamy and reddish pink in color. Salt and Pepper to taste and sprinkle with fresh basil.
  • Strain the pasta and transfer it back to the pot or a large serving bowl. Add 2-3 ladle fulls of sauce to the pasta and mix making sure to coat all of the pasta. Divide the pasta between 4 bowls and top with additional sauce.

Notes

Storage and Reheating

Leftover pasta can be refrigerated in an airtight container.  Stored properly, it will last 3-4 days.  Reheating leftovers is easiest in the microwave.  

Nutrition

Serving: 4servingsCalories: 587kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 23gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 1186mgPotassium: 981mgFiber: 4gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 667IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 213mgIron: 4mg
Keyword Pasta, Tomato sauce, vodka sauce, vodka sauce with sausage, tomato sauce with sausage, easy dinner recipe
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15 Comments

  1. Pingback: Nonna's Pasta with Broccoli -
  2. 5 stars
    Made this recipe and it came out delicious. I put extra basil (I love fresh basil) and used San Marzano crushed tomatoes. Simple to make and have enough for leftovers. Definitely will make this again!

  3. 5 stars
    Made this tonight after a blizzard in the Northeast. It was absolutely perfect & a hit with my picky kids. Thanks Enza for a delicious and easy recipe!

  4. 5 stars
    Thank you, Enza, for another delicious and comforting recipe. This sauce is easy and quick to make. It is wonderful and makes an ordinary pasta very special. You can trust any recipe that Enza posts because all are fantastic!

    1. You are very welcome! Thank you for letting me know that you loved the vodka sauce! It always makes my day when someone lets me know they enjoyed one of my favorite recipes!

5 from 9 votes (1 rating without comment)

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