Easy Penne Alla Vodka

Modified: Mar 15, 2025 by Dina

This Easy Penne Alla Vodka is deliciously creamy. Its flavorful, tomato-cream sauce with lots of Parmesan and a splash of vodka is so tasty and easy to put together.

Table Of Contents

Recipe Details

This Penne alla Vodka is one of our family favorites. It’s richly flavored, creamy, and easy to prepare. What more could you want? You’re going to love serving this dish to all your family and friends.

TASTE: Made with pungent garlic and onions, sweet tomatoes, and fresh basil, there are many parts to this delicious vodka sauce. It’s finished off with creamy, buttery, and nutty flavors.
TEXTURE: The al dente penne has the perfect amount of chew and it’s tossed with a creamy sauce that’s thick and rich.
TIME: This takes just 30 minutes to make.
EASE: There are a lot of ingredients in this recipe, but it’s still so easy to put together.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Penne Alla Vodka: butter, basil, heavy cream, garlic, olive oil, vodka, onion, pureed tomatoes, penne, parmesan, salt, and pepper.

Ingredient Notes

Olive oil and Unsalted butter– These keep the garlic and onion from burning while they soften, adding flavor.
Yellow onion- Finely chop this so it adds flavor but keeps the sauce creamy and smooth.
Garlic cloves- Freshly minced offers the best flavor, but you can use pre-minced, too.
Vodka– This adds a hint of heat and sharpness to the rich and creamy sauce. It enhances and extracts flavors from the tomatoes and sauce that would otherwise stay hidden.
Pureed San Marzano tomatoes– These tomatoes give the sauce a sweet and intense flavor.
Heavy whipping cream– This adds more richness to the vodka sauce.
Parmesan cheese– Nutty, cheesy, and lightly salty, parmesan makes a yummy addition.
Penne pasta– You can use regular pasta, whole wheat, or gluten free.
Basil leaves– This is sweet and pungent, adding a bit of savory flavor.
Salt & Pepper– To taste.

Add-ins and Substitutions

Add meat- Italian sausage, meatballs, and chopped bacon add a lot of flavor to this Penne Alla Vodka.
Add some fresh tomatoes- For more fresh notes and texture, add some diced fresh Roma tomatoes to this recipe.
Make it allergy-friendly- For a dairy-free or vegan alternative, substitute for plant-based butter and cheese, and coconut milk for heavy cream. To make it gluten-free, use your favorite penne pasta GF alternative.
Try different pasta- This tasty sauce can go with any type of pasta you have on hand, so 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 pasta until al dente. Drain it, but don’t rinse it. Set aside for later.

Pro Tip: Drain but don’t rinse the pasta to let the remaining starch help the sauce stick to the penne.

Steps to make Penne Alla Vodka: cook the penne pasta in a pot of salted boiling water, then drain it.

Heat the oil and butter. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium-high heat.
Add the onion and garlic. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pan and stir until the onion becomes translucent.
Pour in the vodka. Bring the heat to high and add the vodka. Let it cook for about 1-2 minutes while stirring.

Steps to make Penne Alla Vodka: heat oil and butter in a skillet, then add garlic and onion to the pan and cook until soft, then add the vodka.

Add the tomatoes and heavy cream. Now add the pureed tomatoes and heavy cream and let the sauce simmer over low heat for about 3-4 minutes.
Add the Parmesan and penne. Now turn off the heat and remove the sauce from the stove. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and cooked pasta. Season it with salt and pepper to your taste. Then garnish it with some chopped basil and some extra Parmesan and serve.

Steps to make Penne Alla Vodka: add tomatoes and heavy cream and then parmesan cheese, finally adding the penne pasta and stirring.

Recipe Tips

Salt the pasta water- Adding salt to the water that the pasta cooks in infuses flavor into the noodles better than adding it afterward.
Don’t rinse the pasta- Once you’ve cooked the penne, don’t rinse it because the remaining starch coating the outside will help the sauce stick.
Add seasoning to taste- Because Parmesan is a saltier cheese and the pasta has been infused with some salty flavor, salt the pasta dish carefully and to your preference.

FAQs

What kind of cheese do you put in vodka sauce?

I like to use parmesan cheese in vodka sauce because of its nutty, cheesy flavor. But you can also use ricotta cheese or pecorino romano.

Can kids have vodka sauce?

Yes, kids can have vodka sauce because once the sauce has been cooked, the alcohol evaporates out of it to a negligible amount.

Serving Suggestions

This delicious Penne alla Vodka goes great with so many dishes. Serve it salad, bread, veggies, and other main dishes.

Make This Recipe in Advance

Make ahead: You can prepare the vodka sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to make the pasta for the dish.

Storing: The dish stores better if the sauce is separate from the penne. Store the vodka sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can keep the pasta in a ziplock bag in the fridge as well.

Freeze: You can freeze the sauce in quart-sized freezer bags for up to 6 months (make sure to leave some space at the top for expansion). To defrost, just leave it in the fridge overnight and warm it on the stovetop, adding fresh pasta before serving.

More Scrumptious Pasta Dishes!

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Full Recipe Instructions

This Penne Alla Vodka is creamy, cheesy, and sweetly flavored with tomatoes and vodka. It’s also incredibly easy to prepare!

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Diet: Vegetarian

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 407kcal

Notes

Add-ins and Substitutes

Add meat- Italian sausage, meatballs, and chopped bacon add a lot of flavor to this Penne Alla Vodka.
Add some fresh tomatoes- For more fresh notes and texture, add some diced fresh Roma tomatoes to this recipe.
Make it allergy-friendly- For a dairy-free or vegan alternative, substitute for plant-based butter and cheese, and coconut milk for heavy cream. To make it gluten-free, use your favorite penne pasta GF alternative.
Try different pasta- This tasty sauce can go with any type of pasta you have on hand, so enjoy it with rigatoni, ravioli, or linguine.

Nutrition

Hi, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I believe life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy to follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a wholesome and delicious meal can come together. I hope you find something you enjoy!

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Easy Penne Alla Vodka – Simply Home Cooked

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