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Penne Alla Vodka (Vodka Cream Pasta) Recipe | 1-Minute Video
Penne Alla Vodka (Vodka Cream Pasta)
This Penne Alla Vodka recipe is easy to make, full of rich flavors, and absolutely delicious! Feel free to add some roasted veggies and/or proteins into the dish if you’d like.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces dried penne pasta (or I used fettuccine)
- 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 medium shallots or half a medium red onion, peeled and finely diced (about 2/3 cup)
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 cup vodka
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes*
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup torn or julienned fresh basil leaves, divided
- grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large stockpot of generously-salted water. Once you reach step 5 below (adding in the heavy cream), add the pasta to the salted water and cook al dente according to package instructions. Drain.
- Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add shallots (or red onion), and saute for 4-5 minutes until soft, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and continue sauteing for 1-2 more minutes, or until the garlic is fragrant, stirring occasionally.
- Add vodka, and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the sauce has reduced by half, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and crushed red pepper flakes, and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the sauce reaches a simmer. Then reduce heat to medium-low, and continue simmering for about 20-30 minutes, until the sauce has reduced by almost half.
- Stir in the heavy cream and half (1/4 cup) of the basil. (<–This is also about the time you should begin cooking the pasta.) Reduce heat to low and let the sauce continue to simmer until the pasta has cooked.
- Once the pasta is ready, return it to the stockpot and pour the sauce on top. Toss the pasta until it is evenly coated with the sauce.
- Serve immediately, garnished with the extra basil and Parmesan cheese.
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
The Absolute BEST!!!! Totally loved this… I added a 2nd can of Crushed Tomatoes for extra sauce. Seriously my favorite ever!!! Thanks for the recipe!
This was so delicious. Just like every other recipe we’ve tried from your site! Thank you again for sharing!
This pasta looks brilliant. I always experiment with different ingredients while cooking pasta to get the best taste out of it. Now I can’t wait to make this delicious looking pasta.
Try steeping the red pepper flakes in the vodka ahead of time. An hour will do the trick, but I keep a small jar of red pepper flakes sleeping in vodka in my cupboard at all times for making my version of this dish. You get a deeper flavor from the pepper flakes this way and it spreads evenly through every bite.
I’ve been craving pasta lately! Vodka sauce is one of my favorites, but I’ve never tried making it from scratch at home before. This recipe makes it sound easy! I can’t wait to give it a shot soon.
We hope you enjoy this Jenna! :D
Amazing choice! I tried it yesterday and had to comment it went better than expected :) have you tried doing the recipes that Italian Restaurant Barilla proposes? https://www.barillarestaurants.com/menu/Pasta
Would love to hear your opinion, I went the other day and after having a great lunch there decided to try it.
Thanks!!! And God bless italian food!
Sergio
Thank you Sergio — we’re happy you enjoyed this!
I love how passionate you are! The part about the boyfriend always needing moooore pasta – very recognizable. I wonder how he will like this recipe… Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Vivian! We hope you enjoy! :)
This looks delicious! I’ve never tried vodka cream before, but I’m looking forward to it! :)