Gigi Hadid Pasta ( a.k.a. Spicy Vodka Pasta) is a TikTok Viral Pasta Recipe made with pasta tossed in a yummy creamy sauce. Find out how to make it with and without vodka!
Ok… if you are on Tik Tok, no introduction is needed to this pasta recipe.
But if you are not familiar with it, this is your chance to make it. Tell ya… it is worth the hype!
This is a vegetarian pasta recipe that can be made with whole wheat pasta, keto pasta, or gluten-free noodles, depending on the diet you are on.
Gigi Hadid Pasta
You may be asking: “What’s Gigi Hadid’s Pasta after all?”
Well, Gigi Hadid is a famous supermodel who shared a video on TikTok and her Instagram story on how to make spicy vodka pasta when she was expecting her daughter. She was having cravings! J
No need to say the video went viral in early 2020. Since then, everyone wanted to try her pasta recipe.
The pasta is also known as ‘Pasta Alla Vodka’ which became popular both in Italy and in the USA around the 1980s.
It consists of short pasta tossed in a creamy sauce made with onion, crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, and vodka.
It is simple yet quite delish!
Gigi Hadid Pasta Recipe
You also may be asking what is all the hype, right?
Here are a few reasons why you’ll love her spicy vodka pasta:
- It is quick and easy to make yet Restaurant-quality!
- Creamy, rich, spicy, and comforting!
- A trendy or viral recipe trend that is worth the hype!
- It calls for simple ingredients that most people have in their pantry!
- You can easily customize it to your taste!
Some of the ingredients are short pasta (like pasta shell or orecchiette), olive oil, shallots or red onion, garlic, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, and seasonings (salt and pepper) pasta water, heavy cream, butter, Parmesan, and basil.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Here are the simple ingredients that Gigi Hadid used to make her pasta (and a few substitutes if you need):
- Pasta shells – Gigi used Orecchiette (“little ears”) to make her pasta but you can use small pasta shells (they look like a sea shell). This type of short pasta holds well the creamy sauce. Cook pasta al dente and then toss it in the pasta sauce until coated. Please do NOT forget to reserve about ½ cup of pasta water to add to the sauce. The starch will make the sauce thicker!
- Olive oil-- she added about ¼ cup or 4 tablespoons to her recipe but I found it half that amount (or 2 tablespoons) was more than enough to sauté both the shallots (or red onion) and garlic, especially because she used a nonstick pan. So yes, I cut down on the fat!
- Red onion – She usually uses shallots but because she didn’t have it at home, she replaced it with red onion. A good sub, Gigi!
- Garlic – I don’t know whether she isn’t a fan of garlic or the pregnancy affected her palate, but I found just one clove of garlic not to be enough. So I went ahead and added 3 to mine instead of a small garlic clove like hers. It will make this spicy vodka pasta recipe more delish!
- Tomato paste -- Yes, the paste is concentrated, not tomato sauce. It will add acidity to the dish!
- Heavy cream -- It makes the sauce quite creamy and will balance the tomato paste. But if you don’t have it at home, you may use half-and-half or even whole milk but make sure to let it reduce it longer.
- Vodka – Although the original Pasta Alla Vodka has vodka, Gigi skip it on hers because she didn’t have it at home. If you do, make sure to let it evaporate by cooking the sauce a little longer (about 1-2 minutes more).
- Red pepper flakes – It gives this dish a kick but if you are not a fan of spicy foods, you can omit it.
- Basil leaves– She didn’t have it but she mentioned in her video you should add chopped basil. I added to the sauce and also as a garnish. It will boost the flavor of the sauce for sure. Fresh basil is better… and adding it whole too (choose small leaves though)! I know many recipes call for chiffonade or chopped basil but the basil scent and flavor come from the oils. By chopping the leaves, you expose more of the oils to the air. The ideal is to use SMALL whole leaves for sauces.
- Butter – It is added at the very end right after removing the pasta from the heat. It will make it richer for sure!
- Parmesan cheese – Gigi used about ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese but go for me: Double it!
How to Make Gigi Hadid Pasta
Follow these few steps to make one of the best easy dinners ever! We followed most of her directions with a few modifications:
- Cook the pasta: Make sure to follow the directions in the package. SEE PIC. 1 When the pasta is done (al dente), save ½ cup of the pasta water before draining instead of ¼ cup in the original recipe. More of the starchy pasta water will make the sauce saucier. Set aside!
- Make the sauce: Meanwhile, heat a large saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil, and cook the onion (or shallots) until soft. Then add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute. SEE PIC. 2 Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it appears “darker in color and a bit caramelized”, says Gigi Hadid. SEE PICS. 3 & 4
- Add in the heavy cream and then the vodka (optional). SEE PIC. 5 Cook until vodka has evaporated (about 2 minutes). NOTE: For extra flavor, you may add a few small leaves of basil to the sauce at this point! SEE PIC. 6
- Add in salt and pepper to taste, and also the red pepper flakes. Keep stirring until combined and the sauce is mostly creamy and thickened.
- Right before adding the pasta, add in the butter. Stir over low heat until the butter has melted. SEE PIC. 7
- Add the cooked pasta – and the pasta water – to the sauce. SEE PIC. 8
- Stir in the parmesan cheese and adjust the salt and pepper if needed. SEE PIC. 9 Make sure the pasta is fully coated with the sauce.
- Serve this spicy vodka pasta topped with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and basil to garnish. Enjoy!
Tips for Making Spicy Vodka Pasta
- Penne pasta, orecchiette, shell pasta, penne, farfalle (bowtie), conchiglie, and fusilli make great choices for pairing with the creamy vodka sauce. It consists of a tomato cream sauce that delivers more sauce by clinging to the ridges of the pasta or to the shells and filling the holes.
- Gigi Hadid's vodka pasta recipe is without vodka or any kind of vodka substitute. However, you can make yours using a vodka substitute such as white rum and even apple cider (not the vinegar), apple juice, or white grape juice.
- I have neither shallots nor red onion at home, you can use white or yellow onion.
- The recipe calls for fresh basil, but if you don’t have it, garnish the pasta with fresh parsley instead to add a touch of freshness.
- This pasta recipe is meatless or vegetarian but the original Penne Alla Vodka sometimes had sausage or pancetta. Other types of protein such as ground beef, cubed or shredded baked chicken breast, or this air fryer shrimp would go well here!
- Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water to add to the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick after you add the ¼ cup of pasta water called for Gigi, you can always add a bit more because you reserved the double asked in the recipe. I used the entire ½ cup, making my sauce creamier.
How to Store Spicy Vodka Pasta
Although I doubt you’ll have leftovers, you can always store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
How to Reheat
To reheat leftovers, place it in a pan over medium-low heat and add a splash of heavy cream or milk, or just enough to loosen up the sauce a bit. Stir gently just until the pasta is heated through.
Frequent Asked Questions
Are there any vodka substitutes for Pasta Alla Vodka?
Yes, absolutely! Here are a few: White rum, apple cider, white grape juice, or apple juice. Some ask to mix those mentioned juices with a bit of lemon or lime juice (or equal parts of each) but I don’t think it is necessary because the tomato paste is already acidic.
Of course, you can always omit the vodka! It gives the dish a slightly acidic note that is already present in the tomato paste. In fact, this is the recipe for viral Gigi Hadid Pasta without vodka! She called for one tablespoon of vodka but omit it because she didn’t have it at home!
Can you make this spicy vodka sauce with milk?
The best options are heavy cream and half-and-half because they are thicker and creamier, making the sauce rich. But if you only have whole milk at home, go ahead and use it but make sure to add a smaller amount than called in the vodka sauce recipe for heavy cream. You will also have to allow the sauce to reduce for longer. But by no means add reduced-fat milk!
What type of pasta does Gigi Hadid use in her recipe?
She seemed to use orecchiette (“little ears”) which many confuse with shell pasta (which looks like a seashell). Her pasta is smaller than medium-shell pasta. In the U.S. shell pasta is commercialized in 3 sizes: medium, large, and jumbo. Moreover, the format of her pasta is more rounded instead of having funneled ends as shell pasta has.
However, shell pasta would work as well as shell pasta to hold this creamy tomato-based sauce.
How can you make Gigi Hadid’s pasta recipe healthy?
Some of the ingredients are visibly not healthy such as the amount of olive oil she added, heavy cream, butter, and of course, the white pasta. It is heavy in saturated fat and simple carbs. The best way to make it healthy is:
- Reducing the amount of olive oil (from ¼ cup or 4 tablespoons to 2 tablespoons which is enough to sauté the onion and garlic).
- You can omit the tablespoon of butter!
- Replace the heavy cream with half-and-half.
- Use whole-wheat pasta which is a complex carbohydrate (or a low-carb pasta).
- Omit the vodka (she only did it because she didn’t have it at home)
- Be cautious with the amount of salt you add to your pasta!
What protein can I add to Gigi Hadid Vodka Pasta?
To balance the heavy sauce, add a healthy protein such as grilled chicken breast, shrimp, scallops, or salmon.
What do you serve with Gigi Hadid spicy vodka pasta?
Gigi Hadid’s pasta is already on the heavy side and makes a great meatless meal. But if you want to pair it with a side, serve it with:
- Air fryer asparagus
- Air fryer Brussels sprouts
- Fresh spinach or arugula salad (or any leafy greens)
- Garlic Bread Rolls (if you don't mind adding extra calories to your meal)
More pasta recipes to enjoy:
- Mediterranean Pasta
- Black Bean Pasta Recipe
- Easy Pasta Bolognese Recipe
- One-Pot Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe
- Kale Pesto Pasta
- Homemade Bow Tie Pasta
- Creamy Chicken Bacon Pasta Bake
PIN & ENJOY!
Gigi Hadid Pasta (Spicy Vodka Pasta)
Equipment
- 1 pot
- 1 pan
- 1 wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 8 oz Orecchiette or shell pasta, fusilli, penne, farfalle (bowtie), or conchiglie. HEALTHY OPTIONS: Whole wheat pasta, or low carb pasta (If on a keto diet) or gluten-free pasta (if on a gluten-free diet)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil ORIGINAL: ¼ cup olive oil is too much
- ¼ red onion small diced (or 3 shallots, minced)
- 3 cloves of garlic minced (ORIGINAL: 1 small clove of garlic, diced)
- ¼ cup tomato paste NOT TOMATO SAUCE
- ½ cup heavy cream you may replace it with half-and-half to cut down on the fat
- 1 tablespoon vodka YOU CAN SKIP IT
- Fresh basil leaves Use about 6 small leaves for the sauce and a few more for garnish. Many recipes call for chiffonade or chopped basil but the basil scent and flavor come from the oils. By chopping the leaves, you expose more of the oils to the air. The ideal is to use SMALL whole leaves for sauces.
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more for a spicier pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter you can omit it to cut down on the fat
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese ORIGINAL: ¼ cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Make sure to follow the directions in the package. When the pasta is done (al dente), save ½ cup of the pasta water before draining instead of ¼ cup in the original recipe. More of the starchy pasta water will make the sauce saucier. Set aside!
- Make the sauce: Meanwhile, heat a large saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil, and cook the onion (or shallots) until soft. Then add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it appears “darker in color and a bit caramelized”, says Gigi Hadid.
- Add in the heavy cream and then the vodka (optional). Cook until vodka has evaporated (about 2 minutes). NOTE: For extra flavor, you may add a few small leaves of basil to the sauce at this point!
- Add in salt and pepper to taste, and also the red pepper flakes. Keep stirring until combined and the sauce is mostly creamy and thickened.
- Right before adding the pasta, add in the butter. Stir over low heat until the butter has melted.
- Add the cooked pasta – and the pasta water – to the sauce.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese and adjust the salt and pepper if needed. Make sure the pasta is fully coated with the sauce.
- Serve this spicy vodka pasta topped with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and basil to garnish. Enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
John / Kitchen Riffs says
Vodka Pasta I know well -- it was a restaurant staple, at least in the NYC area -- in the 1980s and 90s, Good stuff, and yours looks excellent. Thanks for the explanation about who Gigi Hadid is -- had NO idea! But then, I'm not into fashion. 🙂
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
I haven't had Pasta Alla Vodka and your adapted version sounds delicious. Oh, I agree about more than one small clove of garlic.
Rachel says
The flavor is great but the sauce is a little too thick. I thinned it with some pasta water but I probably would use a little less tomato paste next time.
Denise Browning says
Thank you for your feedback, Rache1!