Creamy Penne alla Vodka

Penne alla vodka in a skillet topped with parmesan cheese and parsley.

No ratings yet

Penne alla Vodka is an easy pasta recipe made with a smooth and creamy tomato vodka sauce and simple ingredients. Perfect for weeknights or entertaining!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Dinners, Pasta, Vegetarian + Vegan

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: pasta alla vodka, penne alla vodka, vodka pasta

Servings: servings

Author: Danae Halliday

Ingredients

1 pound penne pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup diced yellow onion
2 cloves garlic grated or minced (1 teaspoon)
1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes or to taste
1/2 cup vodka
28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
Salt to taste 1 used about 1 teaspoon
Black pepper to taste
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh parsley or basil for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until it's al dente. Reserve some of the pasta water before draining it.
While the pasta cooks make the sauce. In a deep large skillet or pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add in the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for another 30 seconds. Pour in the vodka and cook until it's reduced by about half, 2-3 minutes.
Add in the crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Stir everything together and turn the heat down. Let the sauce simmer for 10 minutes and has reduced. Partially cover the pan or pot with a lid to prevent it from splattering.
Remove the sauce from the heat and use an immersion stick blender to puree it. You may need to transfer the sauce to a container with taller sides for it to puree properly. You can also add the sauce to a blender. If using a blender, make sure it's vented so the lid doesn't blow off and make a mess.
Once the sauce is smooth return it to the pan or pot. Withe the heat on low, stir in the heavy cream until it's incorporated and the color of the sauce is a pinkish-orange color.
Add the pasta and Parmesan cheese into the sauce and stir everything together until the pasta is coated and the cheese is melted. Taste for seasoning then serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan cheese and chopped basil or parsley for garnish.

Nutrition