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Creamy Vodka Sauce Rigatoni

Vodka sauce is the grown-up tomato cream sauce that makes you feel like you ordered takeout from a nice place — except you made it yourself in 30 minutes. Rigatoni is the right pasta for this because the sauce gets inside every tube. It's rich, it's slightly tangy, and everyone comes back for second
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb rigatoni
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 small onion finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/3 cup vodka
  • 1 can 28 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • Fresh basil for serving

Method
 

  1. Cook rigatoni according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. Melt butter in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook 1 minute more.
  3. Pour in vodka and cook, stirring, until most of it evaporates, about 2 minutes.
  4. Add crushed tomatoes, salt, and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and simmer another 5 minutes.
  5. Add drained pasta to sauce and toss to coat, adding pasta water as needed. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan.
  6. Serve topped with fresh basil.