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Splash of Taste – Vegetarian Recipes

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Home / Vegetarian

Penne alla vodka recipe

Published April 19, 2022 | Updated March 20, 2023 | By Mandy & Jane

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This penne alla vodka recipe is so good, you’ll be hooked after just one bite! The perfect blend of creamy and tangy, it’ll become a firm favorite. Plus, it’s easy to make and can be on the table in just 30 minutes.

Homemade penne alla vodka in a bowl and on a fork.

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Why you’ll love this vodka sauce recipe

  • Quick and easy, you’ll have this delicious pasta dish on the table in just 25 minutes!
  • An ideal quick weeknight dinner or a dinner party treat, this ticks all the boxes!
  • It’s a real crowd-pleaser, and bowls are polished off VERY quickly!
  • It’s 100% vegetarian.

Our penne alla vodka is creamy and delicious, it’s also designed to be super simple and super quick to make.

Ingredients you’ll need to make penne alla vodka sauce

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

Ingredients needed penne pasta, black pepper, red chili flakes, kosher salt, olive oil, garlic, butter, heavy cream, onion, tomato paste, vegetarian Parmesan cheese, water, and parsley.

How to make penne alla vodka sauce with step-by-step instructions

Making the best penne alla vodka recipe is easy if you follow our simple instructions.

A full printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.

First, bring a pan of salted water to a boil and cook your penne pasta according to the package directions.

When draining the pasta, reserve some pasta water for use later.

While the pasta is cooking, in a skillet over medium heat, heat extra virgin olive oil, then add the shallots or onions and sauté them until they start to change their color.

Add extra virgin olive oil, saute onions, add minced garlic.
Heat olive oil, sautee onions, and then add minced garlic.
Stir in tomato paste.
Add tomato paste, stir and cook, then add vodka.
Add heavy cream, red chili flake, salt, and black pepper, stir to combine.
Add cream, chili flakes, salt, and pepper.

Next, add in your minced garlic and sauté for one minute.

Now stir in your tomato paste, let the sauce simmer, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Now add vodka, stir, and cook for a further 3 minutes.

Then add your heavy cream (double cream), red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and black pepper, and stir until fully combined.

Penne pasta being added to vodka sauce.
Add cheese, butter, the reserved pasta water, and penne pasta.
Penne alla vodka, freshly made in a pan.

Now add in freshly grated Parmesan cheese and the reserved pasta water, stir to combine, and cook for a further minute.

Finally, stir in your drained pasta and butter and stir to combine.

Serve immediately and garnish with parsley or fresh basil and Parmesan cheese – enjoy!

We hope you enjoy making and eating our pasta alla vodka recipe and would love to hear how you got on with making it.

Notes and expert tips

  • Don’t like it spicy?
    Either reduce or remove the crushed red pepper flakes.
  • Remember the cheese
    Parmesan cheese isn’t vegetarian, so make sure you buy the vegetarian version of the cheese.
  • Storage
    Keep any leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze the sauce for up to 6 months.
Two bowls of brightly colored pasta and grated cheese.

What do I serve it with?

Serve our creamy penne alla vodka recipe with a fresh green salad, sprinkled with Italian seasoning and a balsamic vinaigrette, crusty bread, garlic bread, air fryer green beans, or air fryer broccoli.

Often penne alla vodka is served with grilled chicken, you could serve it with vegetarian chicken if you like.

Or simply eat it on its own, the choice is yours!

Do I have to use penne pasta?

We love penne pasta with vodka sauce, but no, you don’t have to use penne pasta.

If you haven’t got any penne, then you’ll want to use tubular pasta or pasta that can hold the sauce nicely.

Rigatoni, gnocchetti, paccheri, tortiglioni, would all work and even fusilli can be used.

How do I cook pasta?

The first thing you’ll need to do is to bring a pan of salted water to a boil.

You add salt to the water because pasta isn’t very flavourful on its own and the salt adds a touch of flavor.

Always cook pasta according to the package directions, but remember, you want your tender penne pasta to be al dente, so it’s still firm to the bite – you don’t want mushy overcooked pasta!

How much vodka is in vodka sauce?

Not a great amount, in our vodka sauce recipe we use just 3 tablespoons of vodka.

Bowls of pasta with vodka sauce.

Penne alla vodka without vodka

If you don’t want to include the vodka, then simply leave it out of the sauce.

Be warned, it will make a difference to the sauce, the vodka adds a peppery taste and enhances the taste of the tomatoes, and helps to create a super creamy sauce.

But it’s totally possible to make penne vodka sauce without the vodka.

Do I use fresh or canned tomatoes?

This recipe is all about speed and ease, imagine you’ve just got home from work after a busy day and all you want to do is eat something tasty, but something easy – this is that recipe.

We’ve used Italian tomato paste, you could use tomato sauce or passata, as it’s known, but tomato paste helps to thicken the sauce.

Using sauce means that you don’t have to get out the food processor, so less cleaning up!

Try to buy a brand that makes it with Italian tomatoes.

Of course, you can use fresh tomatoes, they would have absolutely delicious flavor, but as we’ve said, our recipe is for convenience.

A bowl of freshly made vodka penne.

How do I store vodka sauce?

Our creamy penne alla vodka sauce stores well when kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

It does freeze well for up to 6 months, but we’d recommend freezing the sauce separately from the cooked pasta.

More tasty pasta dishes for you to enjoy

If you like our penne alla vodka, then why not try out our other pasta recipes?

  • Pasta alla Norma
  • Penne arrabiata
  • Mushroom pasta
  • Pasta alla Sorrentina
  • Gigi Hadid pasta
pasta à la norma with eggplants.

Pasta alla Norma recipe

Penne arrabiata in a pot and ready to eat.

Penne arrabiata pasta recipe

A bowl of mushroom pasta.

Mushroom pasta recipe

A homemade bowl of pasta alla sorrentina on a board.

Pasta alla sorrentina

A bowl of Gigi Hadid pasta with a fork and cheese grate by the side.

Gigi Hadid pasta: spicy vodka pasta

Penne alla vodka on a fork.
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Penne Alla Vodka Recipe

This penne alla vodka recipe is the perfect balance of creamy and spicy. The vodka adds a smoothness to the dish while the crushed red pepper flakes give it a little bit of a kick. This dish is perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a casual gathering with friends. Penne alla vodka features penne pasta in a creamy tomato sauce that is spiked with vodka and finished with parmesan cheese. It's delicious!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time30 mins
Servings4
Calories923
Course: Main course
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Mandy Applegate | Splash of Taste
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Utensils

Large pan
Microplane
Microplane

Ingredients

  • pinch Salt
  • 8 oz Penne pasta
  • ½ cup Extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 Shallots
  • 4 Garlic minced
  • ½ cup Tomato paste
  • 3 tbsp Vodka
  • 1½ cup Heavy cream (double cream)
  • 2 tsp Red chili flakes
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • ½ tsp Black pepper
  • ½ cup Vegetarian Parmesan cheese finely grated
  • ½ cup Reserved water
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1 tbsp Parsley chopped
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • First, bring a pan of salted water to a boil and cook your penne pasta according to the package directions. When draining the pasta, reserve some pasta water for use later
    pinch Salt, 8 oz Penne pasta
  • While the pasta is cooking, in a skillet over medium heat, heat extra virgin olive oil, then add the shallots or onions and sauté them until they start to change their color. Next, add in your minced garlic and sauté for one minute. Now stir in your tomato paste, let the sauce simmer, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Now add vodka, stir, and cook for a further 3 minutes
    ½ cup Extra virgin olive oil, 2 Shallots, 4 Garlic, ½ cup Tomato paste, 3 tbsp Vodka
  • Then add your heavy cream (double cream), red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and black pepper and stir until fully combined. Now add in freshly grated Parmesan cheese and the reserved pasta water, stir to combine, and cook for a further minute. Finally, stir in your drained pasta and butter and stir to combine. Serve immediately and garnish with parsley or fresh basil and Parmesan cheese – enjoy!
    1½ cup Heavy cream (double cream), 2 tsp Red chili flakes, Kosher salt, ½ tsp Black pepper, ½ cup Vegetarian Parmesan cheese, ½ cup Reserved water, 2 tbsp Butter, 1 tbsp Parsley

Notes

  • Don’t like it spicy?
    Either reduce or remove the crushed red pepper flakes
  • Remember the cheese
    Parmesan cheese isn’t vegetarian, so make sure you buy the vegetarian version of the cheese
  • Storage
    Keep any leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze the sauce for up to 6 months

Nutrition

Calories: 923kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 69g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 30g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 554mg | Potassium: 639mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2475IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 249mg | Iron: 3mg

Disclaimer

Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.

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About Mandy

A vegetarian for over 35 years, Mandy has taught herself to be creative in the kitchen. Traveling extensively, Mandy loves learning and adapting vegetarian recipes from across the world. Read more...

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Comments

  1. lynn polito says

    April 19, 2022 at 1:27 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing! My whole family loved this recipe!

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      April 23, 2022 at 7:24 am

      So pleased to hear this 🙂

  2. Alexandra Bala says

    April 19, 2022 at 8:06 pm

    5 stars
    Perfecto! So so good! I love this recipe. Easy steps toa delicious dish!

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      April 23, 2022 at 7:25 am

      Thanks – we’re glad you found the recipe easy to follow 🙂

  3. Linda says

    April 20, 2022 at 6:24 am

    5 stars
    I’m all about pasta and this one is so creamy and comforting.

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      April 23, 2022 at 7:25 am

      Isn’t it! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

  4. Sherry says

    April 20, 2022 at 11:44 am

    5 stars
    You and Jane make the best pasta dishes and this Penne Alla Vodka recipe is no exception. So creamy and full of flavor, my whole family loved this pasta recipe!!

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      April 23, 2022 at 7:26 am

      Thank you SO much for your kind words, that means a lot to us both 🙂

  5. Susannah says

    April 20, 2022 at 12:45 pm

    5 stars
    This is my favorite dish to order at a local Italian place. I definitely enjoyed trying my hand at it at home for date night in. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      April 23, 2022 at 7:26 am

      It’s lovely when you can make restaurant food at home, so pleased you enjoyed it!

  6. Jenn says

    April 20, 2022 at 1:14 pm

    5 stars
    This is what I’m talking about! This pasta recipe is divine! So creamy, so cheesy – just about perfect!

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      April 23, 2022 at 7:27 am

      That’s great to hear! You can’t beat cheesy and creamy can you?! 🙂

  7. Patrice says

    April 21, 2022 at 11:35 pm

    5 stars
    I love a good pasta and this one was creamy and very flavorful.

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      April 23, 2022 at 7:27 am

      We’re really pleased you enjoyed it 🙂

  8. Claire says

    April 25, 2022 at 1:28 am

    5 stars
    This was so comforting and delicious!!!
    I reduced the chilli so the kids would eat it, but otherwise followed it word for word.
    Definitely a keeper!

    Reply
  9. Rupali says

    April 25, 2022 at 11:18 am

    5 stars
    What a beautiful dish! Never thought of using vodka in a pasta dish. It’s brilliant!

    Reply
  10. Kathy Hester says

    April 26, 2022 at 5:04 pm

    5 stars
    This was so amazing – my family already asked me to make it again!

    Reply

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We love sharing our vegetarian food and drink recipes with you. If you’re cutting down on meat, going vegetarian or vegan, there’s something delicious to eat and drink for you here
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