Penne Alla Vodka

5 from 2 votes

This penne alla vodka is a classic Italian-American dish made with pasta and creamy tomato vodka sauce. A quick and easy 30-minute meal the entire family will love!

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Course: Entree

Cuisine: Italian American

Servings:

Calories: 721kcal

Author: Julie Maestre

Equipment

Blender

Ingredients

12 ounces penne pasta
28 ounces canned peeled whole tomatoes
1/2 cup vodka
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 onion diced
2 garlic cloves minced
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes or to taste
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
3-4 leaves fresh basil
sugar to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to package instructions. While the pasta cooks, prepare the sauce.
Add oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until translucent. Stir in the garlic, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning, and cook until fragrant. Add the vodka and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Place the tomatoes in a large bowl and crush them with your hands. Add the crushed tomatoes to the skillet along with the heavy cream and basil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the sauce to a blender. Blend until smooth.
Add the sauce back to the skillet and season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar. Stir in the butter and parmesan cheese. Check for seasoning and then add the cooked pasta.
Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

Add a good amount of salt, this recipe is extra tasty when you season it generously.
If you don't want to blend the sauce, make sure to crush the tomatoes really well. Also, make sure the onions and garlic are finely minced. The sauce will be a lot chunkier if you don't blend it.
Don't have a regular blender? Use a food processor or immersion blender. If using an immersion blender, make sure to turn off the heat before blending the sauce.
Want the vodka sauce to be extra creamy? Add more heavy cream and parmesan cheese. Also, simmer on low for a few extra minutes to thicken the sauce further.

Nutrition