Penne alla Vodka

You’ll never believe how easy this delicious Penne alla Vodka is to make at home! Penne pasta tossed in a homemade creamy red sauce that has lots of flavor and is like dining in an expensive Italian restaurant right at home!

This creamy penne alla vodka recipe is the perfect dish for anything from a fancy dinner night to a quick and easy meal on a busy day. And if you’re not a fan of alcohol, not to worry! The alcohol cook outs and really just enhances the flavor of the dish.

I like to cook a protein to serve with this dish too! Sometimes I’ll make air fryer chicken parmesan or air fryer chicken breast to serve on top of each bowl. And I tend to make some breadsticks or garlic bread too! No matter what you choose to serve with this pasta recipe, it is absolutely delicious.

Pair this pasta dish with a tossed salad and breadsticks for an easy Italian meal.

Why You’ll Love Penne alla Vodka

• This easy penne alla vodka recipe is perfect for a quick dinner on busy evenings during the week. Weeknight meals made easy!
• It’s a fabulous comfort food dish on a cold evening or after a long day. There’s nothing like a cozy bowl of pasta for dinner.
• This easy pasta recipe will only take you 17 minutes to complete from start to finish!

Ingredients for Penne alla Vodka

• Penne pasta – Use your favorite brand of penne pasta for this dish. You can also use any other type of pasta your prefer.
• Water – You’ll need 8 cups of water in order to boil your pasta. For extra flavor, add a bit of salt to your pasta water before boiling the noodles.
• Oil – You can use any oil you would like. Avocado oil, canola, olive, or anything else.
• Tomato basil soup – This is the key to this super easy pasta recipe. Use tomato basil soup as the base for your pasta. I used Progresso brand, but any will do.
• Vodka – You will cook out the alcohol content, but I still suggest using a decent quality of vodka for best flavor.
• Heavy cream – The trick to making the tomato sauce so creamy and smooth.
• Grated parmesan cheese – I highly recommend shredding your own fresh parmesan cheesy for extra cheesy goodness.

How to make Easy Penne alla Vodka

In a large saucepan or pot, bring the water, pasta, and oil to a boil over medium-high heat. Allow the pasta to boil for 10-12 minutes, or until its al dente.

Strain the noodles and set them aside.

In a separate sauce pan, combine the vodka and soup. Heat until boiling and stir frequently.

Once boiling, reduce the temperature and let the mixture simmer for 10-15 minutes. You will want the sauce to thicken and for the mixture to no longer smell of alcohol.

Then, stir in the heavy cream and parmesan cheese and cook for another 1-3 minutes, stirring constantly.

Gently toss the cooked pasta in the vodka sauce until combined.

Serve immediately, topped with extra parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

How long does Penne alla Vodka last?

You can store leftovers in the fridge or freezer.

FRIDGE: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

FREEZER: To store it in the freezer, place leftovers in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for 1-2 months.

How to Reheat Leftovers

To reheat, add a little splash of water to each serving. Or, make a little bit of extra sauce to add to your leftovers if they’re really dry. You can reheat on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave.

Is penne alla vodka safe for kids to eat?

As long as you cook your sauce long enough for the alcohol content to cook out, yes! Let your sauce simmer long enough to thicken and for the alcohol smell to go away. A good rule of thumb is if you can still smell the alcohol, it still needs to cook a bit longer.

Can I use different cheeses?

Sure! I prefer parmesan in this recipe, but you could swap it out for mozzarella or even cheddar. With any cheese, be sure to melt over medium-low heat and stir consistently to keep the sauce from burning.

Can I use tomato soup instead of tomato basil soup?

Sure! The tomato basil soup adds more flavor, but you can use regular tomato soup if you prefer. Whatever you choose, be sure you don’t use a soup that is too thick.

Can I add meat to penne alla vodka?

Absolutely! You can add some cooked Italian sausage, grilled chicken or even meatballs to this pasta dish. Ground beef or ground turkey would also be tasty! Pancetta and bacon are also great additions.

What to serve with penne alla vodka

Serve this pasta dish with delicious sides like a tossed salad and breadsticks for an easy Italian meal. Or serve with some veggies! Air fryer asparagus and roasted broccoli would go great with this dish.

Or go for some extra cozy sides like homemade crescent rolls or roasted vegetables.

Pasta is always a good idea, don’t you agree? So, that means that penne alla vodka is always a good idea too!

More Easy Pasta Recipes You’ll Love

• This Beef Ragu will have you believing you flew to Italy for dinner…it’s just that good!
• Chicken Primavera is a light and colorful dish featuring tender chicken and a variety of fresh vegetables, all tossed in a flavorful ceamy sauce, making it a perfect choice for a healthy and delicious meal.
• Everyone needs a good Baked Rigatoni recipe, and this is it!
• If Chicken Alfredo is your go-to pasta dish, then you’re going to love this super easy recipe.
• Chicken Tetrazzini may sound like it’s too fancy to cook at home, but this recipe makes it really simple!