Easy penne alla vodka recipe

Indulgently creamy, cheesy, full of tomato flavor, and incredibly easy to make, our penne alla vodka ticks all the boxes of a simple, great-tasting pasta dish. Each time we’ve served this to friends and family, the reaction is insane, they LOVE it!

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Why you’ll love this vodka sauce recipe

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.

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.

Prefer not to use vodka?

If you can’t 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.

What do I serve it with?

Serve our penne alla vodka 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 a vegetarian chicken if you like.

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

How do I store vodka sauce?

Our 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.

Notes and expert tips

More tasty pasta dishes for you to enjoy

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

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.

Full measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the printable 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.

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.

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 penne alla vodka recipe and would love to hear how you got on with making it.

Please leave a comment below or feel free to ask any questions you may have.

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