This creamy vodka sauce has the slightest hint of smokiness from the bacon and will have your mouth watering in no time. 
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Those nights I just want to whip something up quickly and still give my family a fulfilling meal that doesn’t involve opening up the freezer…say hello to this creamy dreamy bacon vodka sauce.
This sauce was the first real homemade dinner I made as a newlywed. My mom read the recipe to me over the phone and I jotted it down on my cute little rooster recipe card.
There is minimal chopping so the prep is quick. And the bacon in this recipe makes the dish. There is a slight smokiness to the sauce, but the bacon flavor is not overwhelming at all. It also adds a nice texture to the dish.
I may or may not be adding some extra bacon for The Boy. 
I don’t know about your house, but when the scent of bacon carries through our home, I have little visitors in my kitchen begging for dinner. 
And as if the bacon isn’t enough to make our mouths water, I add onions and garlic and let everything saute until the bacon is crisp and the onions are caramelized. 
From here on, it doesn’t get any easier…
Add your favorite sauce and bring to a slow boil.
Add a heaping mound of salty parmesan.
Add the cream that makes this dish oh so rich. 
Now give it that special zing and add the vodka. 
Give it a good stir and let it simmer and allow some of the vodka to burn off.
I add the raw shrimp right to the sauce. The shrimp flavor permeates into the sauce giving another layer of deliciousness. 
I serve over penne pasta with some warm crispy bread. And please, garnish this dish with some fresh parsley for brightness and color.
It’s still as delicious as the day I first made it for my honey.
Do you remember the first meal you made?
- 4 slices of bacon diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 small onion diced
- 18 oz. marinara sauce
- 2 oz. parmesan cheese
- 6 oz. cream
- 2 oz. vodka
- salt and pepper to taste
- pasta
- parsley for garnish
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In a warm pan, add diced bacon and sauté for 3 minutes.
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Add the onion to the bacon and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
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Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
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Once the bacon is crisp and onions have caramelized, add your favorite marinara sauce.
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Stir and bring to a small boil.
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Add the parmesan and stir to combine.
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Add the cream and stir to combine.
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Stir in the vodka, reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes.
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Add the shrimp to the sauce and cook until shrimp are throughly cooked.
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Top sauce with additional parmesan and some fresh parsley and serve over your favorite pasta.
If you want some heat to this, add some red pepper flakes to the bacon, onion, and garlic mixture.
For an alternative, try with scallops.
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