Pumpkin Alla Vodka Sauce Penne

A delicious pumpkin alla vodka cream sauce served over pasta for an easy weeknight meal — with an Autumn twist!

Easy Pumpkin Vodka Sauce

I just love foods made with pumpkin, and this pumpkin vodka sauce tops the list! This comfort food is seasonal, easy to make, and lighter than a typical vodka sauce.

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Pumpkin Pasta Sauce Recipe

This is one of those recipes with pumpkin puree that will surprise you! A savory pumpkin sauce recipe that uses pantry ingredients and comes together in 30 minutes or less.

Easy pumpkin pasta sauce ingredients you need to grab from the store are...

• 10 oz rigatoni or penne pasta
• 6 oz can of tomato paste
• 1 14 oz can pumpkin puree
• 1 onion, diced
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• ½ tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups cashew cream (I made very thick cashew milk using JOI cashew nut base!) you could also use heavy cream!
• ½ cup vodka
• reserve 1 - 2 cups pasta sauce
• sage for garnish
• tablespoon of olive oil

Does Pumpkin Vodka Sauce Have Alcohol in It?

Yes it does! Traditional vodka sauce has vodka in it...obviously hence the name! If you guys like this version you may want to try my Vegan Vodka Sauce Recipe.

By simmering and cooking the sauce down, all of the alcohol is cooked out so you won't be catching a buzz from this vodka sauce!

How long does it take to cook off alcohol in the vodka sauce?

I typically simmer my sauce for 15 minutes to ensure the ½ cup of vodka added to the sauce has all the alcohol cooked out.

The vodka adds a distinct "bite" to the sauce that is left behind when all the alcohol is out of the pumpkin vodka sauce.

How to Make No-Fail Vegan Pumpkin Vodka Sauce

Vegan Vodka Sauce is easier to make than you may think! It only takes a few simple ingredients and a bit of time to simmer it all together...

1. Begin cooking your penne pasta (or rigatoni!) in a pot of boiling water.
2. In a large skillet sautee the garlic, onion, and olive oil for 4-5 minutes.
3. Add in the tomato paste, pumpkin puree, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and vodka. Cook for 15 minutes.
4. Stir in the cashew cream to the pumpkin sauce and combine well.
5. The pasta should be done by now, so ladle in a cup of the pasta water and stir.
6. Stir the cooked pasta into the pumpkin cream sauce.
7. Serve garnished with sage!

This pumpkin pasta with vodka cream sauce is so decadent, seasonally delicoius, and that color?! It'll be the star of the show.

Types of Pasta That Pair Perfectly with Pumpkin Sauce

So pasta type is a pretty personal preference. I'm here to give you some tips on the best types of pasta for this sauce and pasta substitutions you can make!

Penne

• This savory pumpkin pasta recipe I believe is one of the best pastas for a thick sauce such as this vodka sauce! It has the hole in the center that allows sauce to get all in there and make each bite amazing!

Rigatoni

• Much like penne pasta, rigatoni is what I chose to use here in this recipe. It also is round with a hole in the center which easily let's the sauce get in every laste bite.
  

Ravioli

• Another delicious option would be pumpkin ravioli with vodka sauce! Ravioi filled with cheese, protein, or spinach would be amazing!
• This would actually be a delicious sauce for a lobster ravioli! It's sweet and creamy, perfect with buttery lobster ravioli.

Macaroni

• Creamy vegan pumpkin macaroni could also be a delicious pasta option! Macaroni is easy to find and you might even be able to convince your kiddos to eat this if it looks like cheesy macaroni.

Linguini

• Lastly, for something totally different you could substitue linguini pasta into this pumpkin pasta dish.

Want More Fall-Inspired Pumpkin Recipes?

Pumpkin recipes galore this fall! Grab a can of pumpkin and whether you want to go savory or sweet I've got you covered.

Pumpkin pasta with vodka sauce isn’t the only delicious way to incorporate a taste of fall.

Sometimes those seemingly unusual pumpkin recipes turn out to be the best! Here are some of our favorites:

• Pumpkin Baked Ziti
• Creamy Pumpkin Chili
• Refined Sugar-Free Pumpkin Pie Filling
• Healthy Spiced Pumpkin Date Spread
• Maple Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Carrot Cake

📖 Recipe