We love this vodka sauce pizza — a flavorful crust topped with creamy vodka sauce and fresh mozzarella. Finish with basil and grated Parmesan for an unforgettable bite.
Is there anything better than Pizza Friday? We don’t think so. Any night can be pizza night when everyone gets to shape their own dough and choose toppings. Kids especially love assembling their pizzas, and they often try more ingredients when they’re part of the process. Making pizza together turns dinner into a fun tradition.
These photos are intentionally simple: sauce and cheese for a reason. The hero here is the vodka sauce.
Why is vodka sauce so irresistible? It’s rich, silky and full of depth. When I first started making my vodka sauce for pasta, it quickly became a weekly favorite. It’s that good. Eventually I wondered why I hadn’t thought to put it on pizza sooner.
How did I miss this for so long?
A few months ago we tried a vodka sauce pizza from a local place and it was next-level. The pizza was simple — crust, cheese, then sauce on top — and every bite was amazing. It inspired me to recreate a similar version at home, keeping things straightforward and letting the sauce shine.
My take is simple: good dough, homemade or store-bought vodka sauce, fresh mozzarella and a scattering of basil and Parmesan. The result is almost like a margherita in spirit, but with that creamy, tomato-forward vodka sauce taking center stage. It’s dreamy.
Yes, it’s really that easy. Spread a generous layer of vodka sauce over the stretched dough, top with fresh mozzarella slices and a dusting of grated Parmesan. Bake until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly. Finish with fresh basil and a little more Parmesan just before serving.
This pizza is comfort food with a slightly elevated twist — creamy sauce, bright tomato flavor, and a pillowy crust. It’s perfect for family dinners, casual get-togethers, or any night you want something guaranteed to please a crowd.
Make this for dinner tonight — it’s a simple recipe that delivers big on flavor.
Vodka Sauce Pizza
Vodka Sauce Pizza
4
people
2 hrs
20 mins
2 hrs 20 mins
Pin Recipe
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Ingredients
Dough
- 1 cup warm water
- 3 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for kneading
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Flour or coarse cornmeal for dusting
Pizza
- 1 cup reserved pasta water (or substitute listed below)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 shallot, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons vodka
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan, plus more for topping
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
- Fresh basil for topping
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine warm water, yeast, honey and olive oil. Stir and let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes. Add flour and salt, stirring until the dough begins to form. Knead in an additional 1/2 cup flour on a floured surface until smooth and elastic. Oil the bowl, return the dough, cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours.
- After rising, punch down the dough and divide in half. Use one half for this pizza and refrigerate or freeze the other half for later.
- Shape the dough into your preferred pizza shape with a rolling pin or your hands. Dust a 10×15-inch baking sheet with flour or cornmeal and place the dough on top. A pizza stone or pizza oven may also be used.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
- Make a starchy pasta water substitute by combining 1 cup water with 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat.
- In a saucepan over medium heat melt the butter. Add the shallot and garlic with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until the shallot softens, then stir in the tomato paste and cook about 5 minutes until it darkens and develops flavor.
- Stream in the vodka and scrape any browned bits from the pan. Stir in 1/2 cup of the reserved (or makeshift) pasta water, then add the heavy cream and Parmesan; stir until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning. This recipe yields extra sauce — refrigerate leftovers for another meal.
- To assemble the pizza, spread 1/2 to 3/4 cup of vodka sauce over the dough. Top with fresh mozzarella slices and sprinkle with Parmesan.
- Bake on the sheet in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, checking after 15 minutes. When the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly, remove from the oven and let cool a few minutes. Finish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan, then slice and serve.
Did you make this recipe?
If you try it, share a photo on social and tag #howsweeteats. We love seeing your creations.
Seriously — one of the best pizzas you can make at home.