Quick and Simple Penne Alla Vodka Recipe

This Easy Penne Alla Vodka is irresistibly creamy, featuring a flavorful tomato-cream sauce enriched with Parmesan and a dash of vodka that’s simple to assemble and absolutely delightful.

Recipe Details

This Penne alla Vodka ranks among our family’s top dishes. It’s rich, creamy, and straightforward to cook. What’s not to love? Your family and friends will thoroughly enjoy being served this dish.

• TASTE: The sauce is made with fragrant garlic and onions, sweet tomatoes, and fresh basil, combining to create a delicious blend. It culminates in creamy, buttery, and nutty notes.
• TEXTURE: With the penne cooked al dente, it has a perfect chewiness paired with a rich, creamy sauce.
• TIME: You can whip this up in just 30 minutes.
• EASE: Despite the numerous ingredients, this dish remains easy to prepare.

What You’ll Need

Ingredient Notes

• Olive oil and Unsalted butter – These prevent the garlic and onion from burning while softening, infusing flavor.
• Yellow onion – Finely chop this so the sauce stays creamy and smooth while adding flavor.
• Garlic cloves – Freshly minced garlic provides optimal flavor, though pre-minced can also be utilized.
• Vodka – This adds a bit of heat and sharpness to the creamy sauce, enhancing and drawing out flavors from the tomatoes and sauce that might otherwise remain subdued.
• Pureed San Marzano tomatoes – Known for their sweet and intense flavor, these tomatoes greatly enhance the sauce.
• Heavy whipping cream – It contributes additional richness to the vodka sauce.
• Parmesan cheese – This nutty, cheesy, and slightly salty addition is delightful.
• Penne pasta – Feel free to use traditional pasta, whole wheat, or a gluten-free variety.
• Basil leaves – These impart a sweet and aromatic flavor, enhancing the dish’s savory aspects.
• Salt & Pepper – To taste.

Add-ins and Substitutions

• Add meat – Incorporating Italian sausage, meatballs, or chopped bacon will significantly boost the flavor of your Penne Alla Vodka.
• Add fresh tomatoes – For a fresher taste and added texture, consider including diced Roma tomatoes.
• Make it allergy-friendly – To create a dairy-free or vegan version, swap in plant-based butter and cheese, and replace heavy cream with coconut milk. For a gluten-free option, use your preferred gluten-free penne pasta.
• Try different pasta – This flavorful sauce works well with various types of pasta, so feel free to enjoy it with rigatoni, ravioli, or linguine.

How to Make Penne alla Vodka

• Cook the penne. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne until it reaches al dente. Drain it without rinsing, and set it aside for later use.

Pro Tip: Do not rinse the pasta after draining it; the residual starch helps the sauce adhere better to the penne.

• Heat the oil and butter. In a large frying pan, warm the olive oil and butter over medium-high heat.
• Add the onion and garlic. Incorporate the diced onion and minced garlic into the skillet and stir until the onion turns translucent.
• Pour in the vodka. Increase the heat to high and add the vodka. Allow it to cook for approximately 1-2 minutes while stirring.

• Add the tomatoes and heavy cream. Incorporate the pureed tomatoes and heavy cream into the sauce, allowing it to simmer on low heat for roughly 3-4 minutes.
• Add the Parmesan and penne. Switch off the heat and take the sauce off the burner. Mix in the grated Parmesan cheese and the cooked penne. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper according to your preference. Finally, garnish with chopped basil and additional Parmesan before serving.

Tips for Cooking

• Salt the pasta water: Adding salt to the boiling water enhances the flavor of the noodles more effectively than adding it afterward.
• Avoid rinsing the pasta: After cooking the penne, skip the rinsing step, as the starch on the pasta’s surface helps the sauce adhere better.
• Season according to taste: Since Parmesan is inherently salty, and the pasta absorbs some salt, be cautious when adding salt to the dish to suit your preference.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of cheese is used in vodka sauce?

I prefer using parmesan cheese in vodka sauce due to its nutty, cheesy flavor. Alternatively, you can opt for ricotta or pecorino romano cheeses.

Is vodka sauce safe for children?

Yes, children can enjoy vodka sauce as most of the alcohol evaporates during cooking, leaving only a negligible amount.

Suggestions for Serving

This delightful Penne alla Vodka pairs wonderfully with numerous dishes. Serve it with salads, bread, vegetables, and other main courses.

• Meats: Pair this dish with your preferred protein, such as Cast Iron Ribeye Steak or Air Fryer Shrimp with Yum Yum Sauce.
• Salads: Begin your meal with a refreshing salad like Easy Antipasto Salad (low carb), Spinach Pomegranate Salad, or Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad.
• Sides: Enjoy your Penne alla Vodka with sides like Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Oven Baked), Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, and Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges.
• Bread: Bread is always a perfect accompaniment to pasta. Consider serving it with Garlic Cheese Bread or Focaccia Bread with Herbed Dipping Oil.

Preparation Ahead of Time

Make-ahead: You can prepare the vodka sauce beforehand and keep it in the refrigerator until you’re set to cook the pasta for the meal.

Storage: This dish retains quality better when the sauce is stored separately from the penne. Keep the vodka sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days, and you can also store the pasta in a zip-lock bag in the refrigerator.

Freezing: You can freeze the vodka sauce for longer storage. Be sure to let it cool down before transferring to an airtight container or freezer bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.

You can store the sauce in quart-sized freezer bags for up to six months, ensuring you leave some room at the top to allow for expansion during freezing. For defrosting, place it in the refrigerator overnight, then simply warm it on the stovetop and add fresh pasta just before serving.

Additional Delicious Pasta Recipes!

• 
  Pasta Pomodoro Recipe
• 
  Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta
• 
  Asparagus Pasta
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  Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta (VIDEO)

Complete Recipe Instructions

Simple Penne Alla Vodka

This Penne Alla Vodka features a creamy and cheesy sauce, accentuated by the sweetness of tomatoes and vodka. Plus, it’s very straightforward to make!

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Course:
Main CourseCuisine:
ItalianDiet:
Vegetarian

Prep Time:

15 minutes
minutes
Cook Time:

15 minutes
minutes
Total Time:

30 minutes
minutes

Servings:
8Calories:

407
kcal Author:
Dina

Ingredients

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  1 tablespoon olive oil
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  1 tablespoon unsalted butter
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  1/2 medium yellow onion finely chopped
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  2 garlic cloves minced
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  1/4 cup vodka
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  28 oz canned puréed San Marzano tomatoes
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  1 cup heavy whipping cream
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  1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
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  1 lb penne pasta
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  2 basil leaves chopped (for garnish)
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  Salt and pepper to taste

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Boil 1 pound of penne pasta in a large pot of salted water. Once it reaches al dente, drain the pasta without rinsing, then set it aside.

In a spacious skillet, combine 1 tablespoon of olive oil with 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat.

Next, introduce 1/2 of a medium yellow onion, chopped, along with 2 minced garlic cloves into the skillet. Sauté until the onion turns translucent.

Increase the heat to high and pour in 1/4 cup of vodka, allowing it to simmer for approximately 1-2 minutes while stirring continuously.

Now incorporate 28 oz of canned puréed San Marzano tomatoes and 1 cup of heavy whipping cream. Allow the sauce to simmer on low heat for about 3-4 minutes.

Next, turn off the heat and take the sauce off the burner. Stir in 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and fold in the cooked penne. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to your preference.

Finally, garnish with fresh chopped basil and a sprinkle of additional grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Variations and Substitutes

• Incorporate meat- Italian sausage, meatballs, and diced bacon can deliver a robust flavor to this Penne Alla Vodka.
• Add fresh tomatoes- To enhance freshness and texture, consider including diced fresh Roma tomatoes in this dish.
• Make it allergen-friendly- For a dairy-free or vegan option, swap out for plant-based butter and cheese, and use coconut milk instead of heavy cream. Opt for a gluten-free penne pasta alternative to cater to gluten sensitivities.
• Experiment with different pasta- This delicious sauce can complement any type of pasta on hand, so feel free to enjoy it with rigatoni, ravioli, or linguine.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 407kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 116mg | Potassium: 402mg | Dietary Fiber: 3g |

Sugar: 5g
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Vitamin A: 1362IU

|

Vitamin C: 15mg

|

Calcium: 113mg

|

Iron: 1mg