Gigi Hadid Spicy Vodka Pasta Recipe (No Vodka!)

My kitchen was a disaster zone last Tuesday night. I had red sauce splattered across my favorite white shirt and a half-empty bottle of cheap vodka sitting next to my cutting board. If you are looking for something faster than pasta, you should try my quick steak bites when you are in a rush.

My neighbor walked in, smelled the garlic, and asked if I was hosting a banquet. I just laughed and kept stirring the pot. I first looked up the original recipe source to see what the fuss was about. Most of these viral dishes are all hype, but this one is grounded in solid cooking technique.

What is Gigi Hadid Pasta?

People call it the viral TikTok dinner, but I just call it a damn good Tuesday night meal. It’s essentially a standard vodka sauce recipe that someone decided to make popular again.

The internet went wild for it because it’s surprisingly simple for how good it tastes. It’s just a spicy pasta recipe that doesn’t require a culinary degree.

Ingredients You Need

You need the right stuff if you want this to work. Don’t go skimping on the quality of your cheese or the heat.

16 ounces rigatoni pasta or penne: I prefer rigatoni because the ridges grab onto the sauce better than smooth penne.

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil: Use a decent oil. If it tastes like cardboard in the bottle, it will taste like cardboard in the pan.

1 tablespoon fresh garlic finely minced: Don’t use the jarred, pre-minced garbage. Mince it yourself so the oils are still sharp and pungent.

2/3 cup tomato paste: This is the heart of the dish. We are frying it, not just boiling it, so give it room to darken.

1 1/3 cup heavy cream: This is the engine of the dish. It cuts the acidity of the tomatoes and binds everything into a velvet blanket.

2 teaspoons red pepper flakes: Adjust this based on how much pain you want to inflict on your tongue. I usually go a bit heavy.

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan: Pre-grated cheese is coated in cellulose to keep it from clumping, which ruins the texture of your sauce. Buy a block and grate it.

2 tablespoons unsalted butter: This goes in at the end to give the sauce that glossy, professional finish.

How to Make Gigi Hadid Spicy Pasta

Prep Work

Get your pasta water boiling before you even touch the onion or garlic. It needs to be salty enough to remind you of the ocean.

Cook the Base

Pour your olive oil into a wide pan over medium heat. Add the tomato paste immediately after the garlic hits the oil and fry until it shifts from bright red to a deep, dark, rusty brown.

Cream and Combine

Once that paste is dark, pour in your heavy cream. Lower the heat so you don’t break the cream and stir it until it’s perfectly smooth.

Tips for the Best Creamy Pasta

Consistency is the enemy of a bad dinner. You need to keep the heat low when you introduce the cream. If you like bold flavors, try my sticky honey wings for your next get-together.

Cooking at home also means you aren’t eating hidden sugars or preservatives. You can learn more about healthy dietary choices if you really care about the macros.

Gigi Hadid Spicy “Vodka” Pasta

A creamy, indulgent, and spicy pasta dish that mimics the classic vodka sauce without the alcohol. This viral recipe is simple to prepare and ready in under 30 minutes.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  

• 16 ounces rigatoni pasta or penne
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh garlic finely minced
• 2/3 cup tomato paste
• 1 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes or to taste
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan more to taste
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• pasta water
• finely chopped parsley and red pepper flakes optional garnishes

Instructions

 

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Throw in the pasta and cook according to package directions. Reserve at least 1 cup of pasta water and then drain.
• In a saucepan, add the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes until the paste darkens from bright red to reddish brown to remove acidity.
• Add heavy cream and mix until incorporated. Simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the red pepper flakes, dried basil, salt, and black pepper to taste. Mix again.
• Add the grated parmesan, butter, and 1/2 a cup pasta water. Mix until the sauce is smooth and creamy, adding more pasta water if necessary.
• Toss in the cooked pasta and mix to coat evenly. Optionally, top it off with more grated parm, chopped parsley, and chili flakes.