• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cambrea Bakes
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
×

Home » Recipes » Savory Recipes

Vodka Sauce Pizza

Published: January 19, 2023 Modified: Jan 19, 2023 by Cambrea Gordon. This post may contain affiliate links.

34 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
Jump to Recipe
vodka sauce pizza topped with cheese and fresh basil.
vodka sauce pizza topped with cheese and fresh basil.
vodka sauce pizza topped with cheese and fresh basil.

Vodka sauce pizza is richer, creamier, and spicer than traditional pizza! Inspired by penne ala vodka, vodka pizza features all of the same flavors but is eaten on homemade pizza dough with lots of melty mozzarella cheese!

vodka pizza topped with fresh mozzarella, basil, and red pepper flakes.

Skip the takeout and serve this vodka sauce pizza for your next pizza night!

I recently made spicy vodka sauce for dinner and had lots of leftovers so I thought why not use it on a pizza?

The vodka sauce is deliciously bright and creamy with a hint of spice that brings so much more flavor than traditional pizza sauce.

Top it with fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, red pepper flakes, or any of your favorite toppings for the best dinner ever!

For more homemade pizza ideas, try focaccia pizza and cast iron skillet pizza.

Jump to:
  • why this recipe is the best
  • ingredients & substitutions
  • recipe instructions
  • expert baking tips
  • storage & reheating
  • faqs
  • more recipes to try
  • Recipe 📖
  • Reviews

why this recipe is the best

  • This pizza is made with my award-winning vodka sauce and homemade dough, then baked to golden brown perfection in your oven!
  • With just a few ingredients and little time to rise, it is ready to eat in just one hour.
a slice of vodka sauce pizza on its side to show the bubbly dough texture and rich vodka sauce color.

ingredients & substitutions

Find the full ingredient measurements and instructions in the recipe card below!

ingredients needed to make pizza with vodka sauce in bowls with labels.
  • San Marzano whole tomatoes: These tomatoes are sweeter, less acidic, and hold less water than traditional tomatoes. You will need to strain them from the extra sauce before using them. You can also use crushed tomatoes if you can't find whole ones.
  • Yellow onion: You can substitute a sweet or white onion.
  • Vodka: The brand of vodka isn't super important, I use Kirkland Vodka in my sauce.
  • Fresh mozzarella: Aim for a low-moisture, pre-sliced mozzarella. Too much water or liquid can make the crust soggy!
  • Pizza dough: This recipe uses my favorite homemade pizza dough but you can use storebought in a pinch! If you choose to buy it, let it come to room temperature before use.

recipe instructions

You will need a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, a baking sheet or pizza stone, and a rolling pin to make this pizza recipe.

STEP ONE: Make the dough. In a stand mixing bowl, mix the warm water, honey, and yeast together and set it aside for 5 minutes to activate. When the yeast looks foamy, add the all-purpose flour, salt, and olive oil.

Knead with the dough hook for 9-10 minutes. The dough should look smooth and feel tacky when it's done kneading.

STEP TWO: Let the dough rise. Form the dough into a dough ball. Place it in a lightly oiled bowl, cover the top with plastic wrap and set it aside to rise until doubled. In my kitchen, this takes about 25-30 minutes.

a process collage of the steps for making homemade vodka sauce and pizza dough.

STEP THREE: Cook the onions and garlic. While the dough is rising, cook the diced onion and garlic cloves in olive oil until the onions are translucent. Then stir in the red pepper flakes.

STEP FOUR: Mix in the vodka and tomatoes. Stir vodka and tomatoes into the sauce and use a spoon to break up the tomatoes into small chunks. Season well with salt and fresh black pepper.

STEP FIVE: Cook the vodka sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes or until the liquid in the sauce has completely evaporated and the sauce is thick and on the drier side.

a process collage of the steps for making vodka sauce pizza.

STEP SIX: Blend the sauce. Scrape the sauce into a blender and blend on high until the sauce is super smooth. Transfer it back to the pan and stir in the heavy cream. Set aside until ready to use.

STEP SEVEN: Roll out the dough. Portion the dough into two 10-ounce dough balls. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper to your desired thickness. Then transfer it to a baking sheet. If you are using a pizza stone, preheat it in the oven first before transferring the dough to it.

I prefer a thinner crust, so ¼ inch is perfect!

STEP EIGHT: Bake! Spread about ¼ cup of the vodka sauce almost to the edge. Then top with a few slices of sliced fresh mozzarella over the top.

Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust and cheese are brown.

After baking, top the pizza with fresh basil, parmesan cheese, and lots of red pepper flakes!

vodka pizza topped with cheese, basil, and red pepper flakes on a wire cooling rack.

expert baking tips

  • Use San Marzano tomatoes. This kind of tomato has a sweeter taste, and less acid, water, and seeds than other varieties.
  • Cook the sauce thoroughly. You want the sauce to be very very thick and have all of the liquid evaporated before using. This will prevent the pizza from getting soggy!
  • Use homemade pizza dough. Making pizza dough from scratch is incredibly easy and tastes much better than store-bought dough. My favorite pizza dough takes just one hour from start to finish!
  • Use fresh mozzarella cheese. If you can find it already sliced, that's perfect! Aim for a low-moisture mozzarella if you can find it for the best results.
  • Baking times may vary: All ovens are different, and your pizza may bake quicker or take longer than the indicated baking time. I recommend checking on it occasionally!

storage & reheating

Store any leftovers in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the fridge for up to five days. You can reheat it in a 300F oven until the sauce and cheese are hot.

If you have leftover vodka sauce don't worry! It is very freezer-friendly and can be stored in an airtight container for up to one month.

faqs

What does vodka sauce on pizza taste like?

The vodka sauce has a deliciously rich, creamy, and spicy flavor, which is very different from the traditional tomato sauce!

Does vodka pizza sauce have alcohol?

While it does have vodka in it, the alcohol burns off while the sauce cooks.

Does vodka pizza get you drunk?

No! The alcohol in the sauce will burn off as it cooks.

Can I use store-bought sauce instead?

Definitely! I recommend looking for a high-quality jarred sauce like DeLallo.

I have extra vodka sauce left over, what can I do with it?

The sauce freezes extremely well! You can also use it as a dip for bread bites or focaccia bread.

Can I use store-bought pizza dough?

Yes! I recommend letting it come to room temperature before rolling it out and baking it.

more recipes to try

  • Soft & Chewy Pizza Dough
  • Parmesan Bread Bites
  • Garlic Bread Rolls
  • Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Pretzels

If you tried this or any other recipe on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments below, I love hearing from you! Also, please leave a star rating while you're there! You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can check it out!

Recipe 📖

vodka sauce pizza topped with fresh mozzarella, basil, and red pepper flakes.
5 from 2 votes
Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Vodka Sauce Pizza

Vodka sauce pizza is richer, creamier, and spicer than traditional pizza! Inspired by penne ala vodka, vodka pizza features all of the same flavors but is eaten on homemade pizza dough with lots of melty mozzarella cheese!
Servings 2 10 ounce pizzas
Prep 45 mins
Cook 13 mins
Total 58 mins
Course : dinner
Cuisine : Italian
Author : Cambrea Gordon
Need Metric Measurements?Use the button options below to toggle between US cups and Metric grams!

Ingredients 
 

For the Pizza Dough

  • 1 cup warm water
  • 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt

For the Vodka Sauce

  • 28 oz can whole San Marzano tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cups diced yellow onion
  • 5 garlic cloves smashed
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½-3/4 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup vodka
  • ⅛ cup heavy cream
  • sliced fresh mozzarella cheese (low moisture) *SEE NOTES
  • fresh basil, parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes for garnishing

Instructions

  • Pour the can of tomatoes into a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl. You want to remove as much of the liquid as possible!
    28 oz can whole San Marzano tomatoes
  • In a stand mixing bowl, combine the warm water, honey, and yeast and set aside for 5 minutes.
    1 cup warm water, 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast, 1 tablespoon honey
  • Mix in the flour, olive oil, and salt.
    2 ¾ cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt
  • Knead the dough on low speed for 8-9 minutes or until the dough cleans the sides of the bowl, looks smooth, and feels tacky.
    If the dough is sticking to the bottom and/or sides of the bowl, add extra flour 1 teaspoon at a time until it forms a single ball.
  • Shape the dough into a ball.
  • Place it into a lightly oiled bowl and cover the top with plastic wrap. Place it in a warm spot to rise until doubled, about 30-40 minutes.
    In my kitchen, it takes about 30 minutes!
  • While the dough is rising, make the sauce. Over medium heat, cook the onion and garlic in the olive oil for about 5 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
    1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 cups diced yellow onion, 5 garlic cloves
  • Stir in the red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute.
    1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Stir in the vodka and well-drained tomatoes. Season with salt and fresh black pepper. Cook the sauce for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking up the tomatoes as they cook.
    ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ cup vodka, ½-3/4 teaspoon salt
  • When the sauce is ready, the moisture should be completely evaporated leaving a dry, thick tomato sauce.
  • Transfer it to a blender. Blend on high for one minute until it's smooth.
  • Pour the sauce back into the pan and stir in the heavy cream. Set aside.
    ⅛ cup heavy cream
  • Preheat the oven to 475 F/250 C.
  • When the dough has doubled in size, portion it into two, 10-ounce dough balls.
  • Roll out each ball on a lightly floured surface to your desired thickness, then transfer it to a parchment-lined baking sheet. (or hot pizza stone)
  • Spoon ¼ cup of the vodka sauce almost to the edge, leaving a border for the crust.
  • Top with mozzarella cheese.
    sliced fresh mozzarella cheese (low moisture)
  • Bake the pizzas one at a time for 13-15 minutes, or until the crust is brown and the cheese is bubbly.
  • Garnish with parmesan cheese, fresh basil, red pepper flakes, and serve hot! Enjoy!
    fresh basil, parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes

Notes

*If your mozzarella cheese feels wet and full of moisture, squeeze it between a paper towel to absorb the extra moisture before using.
 
    • Use San Marzano tomatoes. This kind of tomato has a sweeter taste, and less acid, water, and seeds than other varieties.
    • Cook the sauce thoroughly. You want the sauce to be very very thick and have all of the liquid evaporated before using. This will prevent the pizza from getting soggy!
    • Use homemade pizza dough. Making pizza dough from scratch is incredibly easy and tastes much better than store-bought dough. My favorite pizza dough takes just one hour from start to finish!
    • Use fresh mozzarella cheese. If you can find it already sliced, that's perfect! Aim for a low-moisture mozzarella if you can find it for the best results.
    • Baking times may vary: All ovens are different, and your pizza may bake quicker or take longer than the indicated baking time. I recommend checking on it occasionally!
    • Store any leftover pizza in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the fridge for up to five days. You can reheat it in a 300F oven until the sauce and cheese are hot.
    • If you have leftover vodka sauce don't worry! It is very freezer-friendly and can be stored in an airtight container for up to one month.
Serving: 1pizza | Calories: 1698kcal | Carbohydrates: 282g | Protein: 60g | Fat: 57g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 22g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 5102mg | Potassium: 5937mg | Fiber: 96g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 73970IU | Vitamin C: 59mg | Calcium: 882mg | Iron: 51mg

More Savory Recipes

  • Savory Scones (Herb & Sun-dried Tomato)
  • Fluffy Focaccia Pizza with Burrata and Pesto
  • Breakfast Biscuits
  • Loaded Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Christen says

    January 25, 2023 at 8:19 am

    5 stars
    I can’t wait to make this for pizza night this week! Vodka sauce is always a family favorite!

    Reply
    • Cambrea Gordon says

      January 25, 2023 at 9:11 am

      Yay! Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply
  2. Monique M. says

    January 24, 2023 at 1:34 pm

    5 stars
    I have tried all of your savory recipes and the vodka sauce has always been my favorite, so when I saw this vodka pizza I knew it would be just as amazing and it WAS!! The vodka sauce gives so much more flavor to pizza than regular pizza sauce and everyone loved the hint of spice it had. Thank you for another amazing pizza recipe!!

    Reply
    • Cambrea Gordon says

      January 24, 2023 at 1:35 pm

      That is amazing to hear! Thanks so much for leaving the kind review Monique!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

cambrea bakes head shot.

Hi, I'm Cambrea, a professionally trained pastry chef turned food blogger! Here at Cambrea Bakes, you'll find fun modern twists on classic dessert recipes that are perfect for any occasion.

More about me →

valentine's day

  • Cookie Dough Crunch Bars
  • Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Drizzle
  • Fruity Pebble Donuts
  • Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Pop Tart Cookie Bars
  • Coffee Oreo Whoopie Pies

popular recipes

  • Easy Lemon Bar Cookies
  • Easy Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Filling
  • Chocolate Filled Cookies
  • Oreo Cookie Cake
  • Espresso Brownies
  • Pop Tart Cookie Bars

Footer

^ back to top

read our terms

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

keep in touch

  • Sign Up! for emails and exclusive email-only recipes.
  • Find us on Instagram
  • Find us on Facebook
  • Find us on Pinterest

about

  • About
  • Contact Me

As an affiliate partner, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you. I only recommend products I really use and love.

Copyright © 2023 Cambrea Bakes LLC