At its heart, this spicy vodka pasta boasts a velvety smooth, tomato-based sauce. It’s meticulously crafted to achieve peak creaminess, enriched with a generous swirl of butter and finished with a shower of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. What sets this particular rendition apart is my special addition of vibrant Calabrian chiles. These fiery little peppers infuse the dish with a delightful, nuanced kick that elevates the classic flavor profile without overpowering it, adding a layer of sophisticated heat that you’ll absolutely adore.

For those who, like me, don’t always keep a fully stocked liquor cabinet, rest assured! I’ve developed a fantastic alternative so you can whip up this incredible vodka pasta without a single drop of vodka. The flavor remains robust and satisfying, making it accessible to everyone. This spicy rigatoni truly achieves restaurant-quality status right in your home kitchen. I’ve been enjoying this recipe for months, and it’s absolutely perfect for cozy evenings throughout the Fall and Winter seasons, bringing warmth and comfort with every forkful.

If you’re eager to explore more delightful pasta creations, be sure to check out my rigatoni al forno, my fresh and vibrant pasta al pesto, the elegant salmon pasta with creme fraiche, and the decadent gnocchi carbonara! And for those who prefer a baked version of this celebrated spicy vodka pasta, my baked vodka pasta recipe offers a wonderfully comforting twist.

Why This Spicy Vodka Pasta Recipe Becomes an Instant Favorite!

• Perfectly Spicy: This isn’t just a generic spicy pasta; it’s a vibrant twist on the original Gigi Hadid vodka pasta! Instead of relying solely on crushed red pepper flakes, which offer a sharp, singular heat, I incorporate a spoonful of rich, fruity, and complex Calabrian chiles. These chiles deliver a deeper, more aromatic warmth that truly enhances the creamy tomato sauce, making each bite an exciting dance of flavors. The spice level is adjustable, allowing you to tailor it to your personal preference, from a gentle hum to a fiery kick.
• With or Without Vodka: One of the best aspects of this recipe is its incredible versatility. While vodka traditionally helps emulsify the tomato and cream, creating a smoother sauce and enhancing the aromatics, you can absolutely make this Gigi Hadid spicy vodka pasta recipe with or without it. The non-alcoholic version still yields a phenomenal, flavorful sauce that’s rich and comforting, proving that you don’t need spirits to achieve culinary magic. It’s perfect for families or anyone preferring to skip the alcohol.
• Ideal Weeknight Meal: Time is precious, especially during busy weekdays. This recipe is a lifesaver, designed to be on your table in just about 20 minutes from start to finish. This makes it an unparalleled choice for a quick yet incredibly satisfying dinner. Minimal prep, quick cooking, and maximum flavor – it’s the ultimate solution for those evenings when you crave something special without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Explosive Flavor & Rich Creaminess: The heart of this dish is its unbelievably flavorful and rich creamy tomato sauce. Each ingredient plays a crucial role: the sweet tang of tomato paste, the aromatic depth of garlic and onion, the luxurious embrace of heavy cream, and the sharp, savory notes of Parmesan. The Calabrian chiles add that irresistible warmth, culminating in a sauce that is deeply satisfying, beautifully balanced, and utterly bursting with incredible taste. It clings perfectly to every strand of pasta, ensuring a delightful experience with every mouthful.

Essential Ingredients for Your Spicy Vodka Pasta

Crafting this incredible Gigi Hadid spicy vodka pasta only requires a handful of accessible ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to create this viral sensation:

• Dried Pasta: While I personally love the way rigatoni captures the creamy sauce in its ridges and hollows, feel absolutely free to use any pasta shape you prefer! Penne, orecchiette, or even classic spaghetti would work beautifully. The key is to choose a shape that allows the rich sauce to cling to it well.
• Olive Oil: A good quality olive oil forms the base for sautéing our aromatics, adding a foundational layer of flavor to the sauce.
• Heavy Cream: This is crucial for achieving that signature rich, velvety texture. If you’re in the UK, look for double cream, which is a perfect substitute. For a slightly lighter option, you could experiment with half-and-half, but for true indulgence, heavy cream is best.
• Parmesan Cheese: For the best flavor and melt, I cannot stress enough the importance of grating your own fresh Parmesan cheese from a block. Pre-shredded varieties often contain anti-caking agents that can prevent it from melting smoothly, resulting in a less desirable texture. Freshly grated Parmesan adds a sharper, more authentic salty tang.
• Calabrian Chile Peppers: These delightful chiles are the secret weapon for the unique spicy kick in this recipe. You can typically find them jarred in the international aisle of your grocery store, often near other specialty Italian ingredients. Trader Joe’s even carries a popular version called “Bomba sauce” if you have one nearby. If Calabrian chiles are unavailable, crushed red pepper flakes make a fine substitute, though the flavor profile will be slightly different.
• Onion: Finely diced onion provides a sweet and savory aromatic base. You can use a white onion, brown onion, red onion, or even shallots for a milder, more delicate flavor. Choose what you have on hand or what you prefer.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is non-negotiable! It provides an essential aromatic depth that is fundamental to the rich taste of the sauce.
• Tomato Paste: This concentrated tomato product is vital for building a deep, umami-rich tomato flavor. Be sure to use tomato paste or tomato puree, *not* tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes, as their consistency and flavor intensity are entirely different and will affect the final dish significantly.
• Vodka: While optional, vodka plays a unique role. It helps to deglaze the pan, release flavors, and prevent the tomato and cream from separating, resulting in a silky, emulsified sauce. You won’t taste the alcohol, but it contributes to the sauce’s luxurious texture. If omitting, the sauce will still be delicious, just slightly different in texture.
• Unsalted Butter: Added at the end, butter enriches the sauce further, adding a beautiful sheen and an extra layer of creaminess and flavor, bringing everything together perfectly.

Easy Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Gigi Hadid’s Spicy Vodka Pasta

Making this viral Gigi Hadid spicy vodka pasta is incredibly straightforward. Follow these simple steps for a truly delicious result:

Step 1: Cook the Pasta. In a large pot, bring a generous amount of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your chosen pasta shape – rigatoni is fantastic here – and cook it according to the package directions until it’s perfectly al dente. This means it should be tender but still have a slight bite to it. Before draining the pasta, make sure to scoop out and reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. This liquid is gold; it’s essential for achieving the perfect sauce consistency later on. Once reserved, drain the rest of the pasta and set it aside.

Step 2: Sauté Aromatics. Place a large saucepan or a frying pan with high sides over medium heat. Once the pan is warm, add the olive oil. Allow it to shimmer slightly, indicating it’s hot enough. Then, add your finely diced onion and minced garlic to the pan. Sauté for about 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent and softened, and the garlic is fragrant but not browned. Browning the garlic can make it bitter, so keep a close eye on it.

Step 3: Build the Tomato Base. Add the rich tomato paste to the sautéed onions and garlic. Stir it continuously with a wooden spoon, pressing it against the bottom of the pan and cooking for about 1-2 minutes. This crucial step allows the tomato paste to toast slightly, deepening its flavor and making it less acidic. You’ll notice a more intense, sweet aroma. Next, stir in the Calabrian chiles (adjust the amount to your preferred spice level). If you are using vodka, pour it in now. Allow it to cook and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. The alcohol will cook off, leaving behind a subtle depth of flavor and helping to deglaze the pan, picking up all those delicious browned bits.

Step 4: Add Cream. Pour in the heavy cream and stir everything together gently until well combined. Let the sauce come to a gentle simmer for another 2-3 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the sauce to thicken slightly, creating that luxurious, creamy texture we’re aiming for.

Step 5: Combine & Finish. Add the cooked, al dente pasta directly into the saucepan with the creamy tomato sauce. Along with the pasta, toss in the unsalted butter and a generous amount of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. These ingredients are vital for the final texture and richness.

Step 6: Adjust Consistency & Serve. Stir everything together thoroughly, ensuring every piece of pasta is beautifully coated in the luscious sauce. If you find the sauce is too thick for your liking, gradually pour in some of the reserved pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, stirring until you reach your desired creamy consistency. The starch in the pasta water helps the sauce cling perfectly. Serve immediately with an additional sprinkling of fresh Parmesan cheese and, if you wish, a garnish of fresh basil leaves for a burst of color and herbaceousness. Enjoy this restaurant-quality Gigi Hadid spicy vodka pasta hot!

My Top Tips for the Best Gigi Hadid Spicy Vodka Pasta! 🍝

• For an Extra Creamy Sauce: If you’re a fan of an incredibly rich and indulgent sauce, don’t hesitate to increase the amount of heavy cream. You can easily bump it up from ½ cup to a full 1 cup. This simple adjustment will yield a thicker, more luxurious sauce that beautifully coats every strand of pasta, making it even more decadent.
• Choosing the Right Pasta Shapes: While rigatoni is excellent for this dish, if you’re not using it, select a pasta shape that has plenty of nooks, ridges, or curves for the creamy sauce to cling to. Excellent choices include penne, orecchiette (known for their cup-like shape), or fusilli (with its delightful spirals). These shapes are far superior to thinner pastas like angel hair for absorbing and holding onto the robust vodka sauce. (Yes, Gigi famously uses shell pasta, but while I admire her, these shapes often do a better job with a thick, creamy sauce!)
• Controlling the Spice Level: The beauty of this spicy vodka pasta recipe is its adaptability. If you prefer a milder heat, simply swap out the Calabrian chile paste for fewer crushed red pepper flakes, or omit the chiles altogether if you want a completely non-spicy version. For those who love heat, feel free to add an extra spoonful of Calabrian chiles or a pinch more red pepper flakes. Taste as you go to find your perfect balance.
• Achieving a Super Smooth Sauce: For a restaurant-style, ultra-silky sauce, take an extra step before adding the pasta. Once the cream has simmered, carefully transfer the sauce to a blender (or use an immersion blender directly in the pan) and blend until it’s perfectly smooth and emulsified. Then, pour the sauce back into the saucepan and proceed with adding the cooked pasta, butter, and Parmesan. This creates an incredibly refined texture.
• Easily Double the Recipe: This recipe is designed to generously serve 2 people, making it perfect for a cozy dinner date or a satisfying solo meal with leftovers. If you’re planning a dinner party or feeding a larger family, simply double all of the ingredients. The cooking times will remain largely the same, making it incredibly easy to scale up without extra fuss.

Storage & Reheating Tips for Your Spicy Vodka Pasta

This Gigi Hadid spicy vodka pasta is so delicious, you might not have any leftovers! But if you do, they store wonderfully. Transfer any cooled leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To reheat, you have a couple of excellent options: either gently warm it in the microwave until it’s hot throughout, or, for the best results, reheat it in a saucepan over low-medium heat on the stovetop. When reheating on the stovetop, add a splash of extra cream or a tablespoon of reserved pasta water to help loosen the sauce and bring back its creamy texture, stirring until heated through and luscious once more. Avoid high heat, as it can cause the sauce to break.

If you’ve made this incredibly popular Gigi Hadid spicy vodka pasta recipe, make sure to leave a ⭐️ rating and a thoughtful review below! I absolutely adore seeing your culinary creations, so please tag me on Instagram @alpineella so I can admire what you’ve cooked up! You can also follow along for more delicious recipes and kitchen tips on Pinterest, Facebook, and TikTok!

Spicy Vodka Pasta – Gigi Hadid Pasta

Ella Gilbert

Nutrition