Penne alla Vodka Pasta - Dinner at the Zoo

This penne alla vodka is tender penne pasta tossed in a rich and delicious tomato, vodka and cream sauce. Add a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and you’ll have a restaurant quality meal in the comfort of your own home.

I always order penne alla vodka at my local Italian restaurant. That creamy and flavorful sauce just can’t be beat! Luckily it’s super easy to make pasta alla vodka – in 30 minutes you’ll have an amazing dinner on the table. Try this dish with some Italian meatballs, grilled chicken tenders or grilled shrimp skewers for added protein.

Penne alla vodka is one of those simple recipes that has minimal ingredients but is just so delicious and satisfying. My homemade version tastes just like the dish I get at our local Italian restaurant. The key to amazing pasta alla vodka is to get the best quality ingredients that you can afford. This is a dinner time staple at my house along with other kid friendly classics such as chicken broccoli Alfredo.

Penne Alla Vodka Ingredients

To make this recipe, you will need penne pasta, butter, garlic, red pepper flakes, tomatoes, vodka, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper and parsley.

How Do You Make Penne Alla Vodka?

The first step is to put your pasta up to boil in a large pot, and while the pasta is cooking it’s time to make the sauce. The vodka sauce starts with sautéed garlic, butter and tomato puree. Place those ingredients in a pan, then add in the vodka. Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes, then stir in heavy cream, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Toss the cooked al dente pasta with the sauce. Garnish with more parmesan cheese, red chili flakes and parsley, then serve and enjoy.

Tips For The Perfect Dish

• Make sure you let the sauce simmer for long enough so that the alcohol will cook off. If you don’t cook the sauce for long enough, you may end up with a harsh aftertaste from the alcohol.
• You can make this sauce a day before you plan to use it. Simply reheat it on the stove while your pasta cooks, then toss everything together and serve.
• Leftovers will stay fresh in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can reheat your pasta in the microwave, or on the stove over low heat.
• Do not use the green can of parmesan cheese for this dish. Look for a high quality grated or shaved parmesan, or buy a block of it and grate it yourself.
• The parsley adds a hint of fresh flavor and color to the dish. Fresh basil is also a great choice.

Flavor Variations

This dish is great as-is, but you can add other ingredients for a heartier meal, or to customize the flavors to your tastes.

• Protein: Feel free to add some garlic butter shrimp, ground beef, pancetta, Italian sausage, bacon, prosciutto or grilled chicken breast to this dish. For a vegetarian version, you can stir in a can of cannellini beans.
• Vegetables: Amp up the flavor and nutrition with veggies such as onions cooked in a little olive oil, grilled zucchini, bell peppers, roasted mushrooms or grilled eggplant.
• Pasta: No penne pasta on hand? This recipe will work with most types of short pasta including farfalle, rigatoni, fusilli and cavatappi.
• Cheese: If you’re a cheese lover, try adding another type of Italian cheese to the mix such as fresh mozzarella balls, provolone or fontina.

This vodka sauce is so good that sometimes I skip the penne altogether and use ravioli or tortellini instead. You could even use this sauce in a lasagna for a fun twist on an old classic.

When you’re in the mood for Italian food, definitely give this penne alla vodka a try. You’ll be surprised at how authentic (and delicious) it is!

More Great Pasta Recipes

Penne Alla Vodka video