One-Pot Pasta Alla Vodka

5 from 1 vote
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Love Trader Joe’s? Love pasta? Well, this One-Pot Pasta Alla Vodka was made just for you! Made with all Trader Joe’s ingredients, from the pasta sauce down to the parmesan cheese, this quick weeknight dinner is ready in only 20 minutes with absolutely no prep required.

Bowl of tomato-based pasta with spinach and shaved parmesan cheese.
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I LOVE Trader Joe’s meals because they make cooking so easy and convenient while still tasting high-quality. To top it off, everything cooks up in one pot, which means minimal clean-up! This One-Pot Pasta Alla Vodka is the perfect meal if you’re short on time but still want to enjoy a delicious and satisfying dinner.

Making this amazing pasta alla vodka is as easy as 1-2-3. Heat up your creamy tomato vodka sauce, water, and eggplant mixture. Then add the pasta and let it simmer before adding your spinach. Once al dente, it’s ready to serve! SO EASY I LOVE IT.

What You Need to Make One-Pot Pasta Alla Vodka

  • Trader Joe’s ala vodka pasta sauce: This rich and creamy tomato sauce is made with a blend of tomatoes, cream, and spices. It adds a delicious flavor and velvety texture to the pasta.
  • Trader Joe’s canned eggplant tomato and onions: Flavorful and nutritious, this canned eggplant mixture adds a fun twist to the classic pasta alla vodka.
  • Rigatoni pasta: This thick and chewy pasta is the perfect shape for soaking up all the sauce.
  • Chopped frozen spinach: A quick and easy way to add some greens and depth of flavor to your dish.
  • Shaved parmesan cheese: You can’t have pasta without some parmesan cheese on top!
Assorted grocery items including tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, gnocchi, parmesan cheese, and chopped spinach arranged on a light surface.

Variations and Substitutions

All of these ingredients are from Trader Joe’s, but you’re welcome to use other branded ingredients in this pasta alla vodka recipe. Just know that the flavors will change slightly. 

If you are unable to find the Trader Joe’s eggplant and tomatoes, just use a can of diced tomatoes. You can also use any short pasta shape instead of rigatoni and any type of leafy green instead of spinach.

Feel free to jazz up the top of this fresh pasta with fresh herbs like fresh basil, fresh oregano, or fresh parsley. It would also taste fantastic with red pepper flakes, more cheese, or anything else you enjoy!

Pot of tomato soup with pasta on a kitchen counter.

Tips for a Dream-Worthy One-Pot Pasta Alla Vodka

To make this dish ahead of time, simply cook the pasta and sauce separately, let them cool, then combine in a pot to reheat for dinner. This is perfect for meal prep or busy weeknights! 

If you want to add some protein to this dish, try adding some cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken for something simple!), shrimp, or tofu. Just toss it in with the cooked pasta and let it heat through before serving.

You can easily double or triple this recipe to serve a larger crowd. Just make sure to use a bigger pot!

Pasta with tomato sauce and spinach in a white pot.

Storage

This One-Pot Pasta Alla Vodka is best served fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheat in a pot on the stove until heated through. You may need to add a little water or chicken broth to get the desired consistency.

A bowl of fusilli pasta mixed with tomato sauce, spinach, and topped with shaved parmesan cheese.

What to Serve with One-Pot Pasta Alla Vodka

This classic pasta dish would pair well with this Fresh Zucchini Salad or some garlic bread. You can also add some protein to the dish, like this Juicy Grilled Chicken or Garlic Butter Shrimp, to make it a more filling meal.

For a complete Italian-inspired dinner, serve this One-Pot Pasta Alla Vodka alongside some bruschetta appetizers and tiramisu for dessert. Buon appetit!

5 from 1 vote

One-Pot Pasta Alla Vodka Recipe

This one-pot pasta all vodka is made with all Trader Joe's ingredients for easy prep and made in one pot for easy clean up! It's flavorful, delicious, and a great way to have a quick weeknight dinner on a busy day!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 6
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Ingredients 

  • 25 oz. Trader Joe’s ala vodka pasta sauce
  • 2 cups water
  • 9 oz. Trader Joe’s canned eggplant tomato and onions
  • 8 oz. Trader Joe’s rigatoni pasta, or any short pasta
  • 8 oz. Trader Joe’s chopped frozen spinach
  • ½ cup Trader Joe’s shaved parmesan cheese

Instructions 

  • Heat the vodka sauce, water, and eggplant mixture in a large pot over medium/high heat. Bring to a gentle boil.
    A pot containing tomato soup with herbs and vegetables visible on the surface.
  • Add the rigatoni pasta to the pot and stir to combine. Turn the heat down to medium/low and let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes, stirring periodically to make sure the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
    Pot of tomato soup with pasta on a kitchen counter.
  • Add the frozen spinach to the pot and stir until the spinach thaws and warms. Continue to let the pasta sauce simmer until the pasta is cooked to al dente.
    Pasta with tomato sauce and spinach in a white pot.
  • Remove from heat, top with parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.
    A pot of tomato-based pasta with spinach, garnished with grated cheese and herbs.

Tips & Notes

  • All of these ingredients are from Trader Joe’s. Feel free to use other branded ingredients; know the flavors will change slightly. If you are unable to find the Trader Joe’s eggplant and tomatoes, just use a can of diced tomatoes.

Watch It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”7PxDZMOj” upload-date=”2024-04-12T16:01:07.000Z” name=”One-Pot Pasta Alla Vodka” description=”Love Trader Joe’s? Love pasta? Well, this One-Pot Pasta Alla Vodka was made just for you! Made with all Trader Joe’s ingredients, from the pasta sauce down to the parmesan cheese, this quick weeknight dinner is ready in only 20 minutes with absolutely no prep required.” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]

Nutrition

Calories: 219 kcal, Carbohydrates: 38 g, Protein: 11 g, Fat: 3 g, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 7 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.

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About Lee Funke

Lee is the founder of Fit Foodie Finds and based in Minneapolis, MN. She started this website in 2010 as a way to share her love for real food and wellness. The internet has changed so much since then and so has Fit Foodie Finds. Today we're a female-run recipe website publishing hundreds of tried and true recipes developed and tested by our team.

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Robin
Robin
April 28, 2024 11:29 pm

5 stars
Love this easy recipe and that it basically is just pantry staples. I used 16 oz of pasta and doubled the water.

Emily Richter
April 29, 2024 9:44 am
Reply to  Robin

Me too!