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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 that’s 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. It’s so delicious!
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. It’s a favorite dinner for my younger sister, Asher, who requests it probably weekly! She’s even made the pasta herself and served it to the family!
When I was thinking about Valentine’s 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 family’s favorite pasta sauces! But what’s even more special than the garlic butter is the melty burrata cheese. It’s 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 Valentine’s 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 – or you can use canned coconut milk
- your favorite shortcut pasta – we love rigatoni or penne
- grated Parmesan cheese
- toasted pine nuts
- fresh basil and parsley
- lemon zest
Special Tools
For this recipe, you’ll 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 doesn’t 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 you’re 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 – 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:
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, don’t 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
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 776 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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!
This post was originally published on February 12, 2025
The pasta was perfection. Oh my!!! The topping really sent it over the top! Highly recommend.
Hey there Page,
Happy Monday! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your feedback, love to hear it turned out well! xx
This was soooooo good! The velvety sauce, the crunchy crumble. OMG! Loved it. Even my little ones ate it and that is saying so much!
Hey there,
Fantastic!! I am so glad to hear this recipe was a winner, thanks for making it and your comment! x
This was really delicious. I think I could make a meal of the topping alone 🙂
Thanks so much, Ann! Love to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks for trying it! Have the best week:)
Excellent!! My family LOVED it.
Hey Tina,
Wonderful! So glad to hear this recipe was a hit, thanks a bunch for making it! Happy Weekend!!
Love love loved it! But way too much butter, oil, and cream for one dish… worked just fine with 4 tbsp butter and 1/2 cp cream…. Very delicious !
Hey Anne,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, love to hear it was enjoyed! Have the best weekend:)
Made this tonight for dinner and it’s amazing. I did add an Italian chicken sausage to make everyone happy but they all agreed it’s the best alla vodka recipe ever!
Hey Brie,
Awesome! Thank you so much for making this recipe, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
Hi Tieghan,
This was sooo good! And so simple.
Our family loves the Panko & Basil topping from your Burrata Margherita pizza so we swapped toppings for that and it was delicious 🙂
Hey Jodie,
Thanks so much! Love to hear this recipe turned out well for you, I appreciate you giving it a try! xx
Hi Tieghan
I’m interested in making this recipe, so I haven’t rated it yet. I always proofread recipes first, and I have a question about the quantity of parmesan cheese. The recipe calls for 1/3 cup, and it is used three times in the instructions: 1) mixed with the pasta and vodka sauce; 2) mixed with the herby pine nut topping; 3) used as a garnish when the pasta is plated. Does the 1/3 cup parmesan get split evenly amongst these three uses?
Hey Joanne,
So sorry for any confusion! You can split that 1/3 cup between steps 3 and 4 and then use extra parmesan for topping each dish:) I hope you love this recipe! xx
Same issue with the olive oil. You use it for the shallot but also for the pine nut topping. Please specify quantities in your recipe. These ambiguities seem frequent in your recipes.
Quick, easy and delicious! I made this for Valentine’s Day and it was a solid hit!
The cheese — out of this world. Thanks, Tieghan!
Hey Kathi,
I appreciate you giving this recipe a try and your comment, love to hear it turned out well for you! XxT
This recipe was a huge hit in my house. I followed it step by step. So comforting and tasty! My kids said that this what an adult version of Mac and cheese should taste like.
Hey Olha,
Wonderful! Thank you for trying this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! XxT
i’d like to add some protein to this recipe – how/when would be a good time to add ground beef? how would i need to adjust the other ingredients to not make it dry? thanks!!!
Hey Sarah,
For best results, I would just cook your meat on the side and then top each dish with it:) I hope this helps! Have a great Sunday! xT
Hi could this be in any way made in advance? for when having visitors?
Hey Emm,
Sure, I would make through step 3 just before adding the burrata and then finish and warm when you are ready to serve. I hope you love this recipe! xT
Could you sub oat milk or a slightly lighter than heavy cream type of milk in this?
Hi Claudia,
Sure, that would be just fine for you to do. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
We didn’t have any pine nuts, but they weren’t missed. Our family lives this. We added a little grilled chicken and a small salad on the side, and enjoyed every bite.
Hey Janna,
Wonderful! Thank you for trying this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! XxT
My family went CRAZY for this! My son- who normally does not care for pasta- had seconds! They asked me to keep this recipe handy!
Thank you so much, Amy! So glad to hear this dish was a winner, I appreciate you making it! xx
We didn’t love this one. The sauce just didn’t deliver. The butter was distracting, it felt over the top oily. The garnish is fun, will use that again.
Hi there,
Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear it was not enjoyed! xx