Penne Alla Vodka is made up of tender pasta that’s tossed in a rich and creamy tomato and vodka based sauce. Along with Italian seasoning, aromatics, and fresh Parmesan, you can’t go wrong with this classic pasta dish for dinner any night!
Other classic Italian-American pasta favorites to add to your dinner menu include the best spaghetti sauce topped with our favorite homemade meatballs!
Easy Penne Alla Vodka Recipe
I am a sucker for quick and easy pasta dishes and penne alla vodka is no exception. While we are a bit partial to creamy alfredo sauce in this house, I’m also smitten with this Italian classic. The creamy tomato sauce is full of rich flavor, served over perfectly al dente pasta and topped with a generous amount of parmesan. Yum! Another reason to love this vodka sauce pasta? You can prepare the sauce while the pasta is cooking so dinner is on the table in under 30 minutes.
What is Penne Alla Vodka?
Penne Alla Vodka is an Italian dish made with penne pasta coated in a creamy tomato and vodka infused sauce. It’s a simple but popular dish made with just a few simple ingredients – tomato paste, heavy cream, vodka, and a few seasonings. Some recipes will incorporate ground beef or use canned tomatoes. I prefer the tomato paste version and usually add diced bacon.
Ingredients Needed
This easy pasta recipe is made with just a handful of main ingredients and a few seasonings.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Penne pasta – The star pasta that this dish is named after.
- Bacon – Because BACON. Makes the dish a little more hearty and adds great smoky, salty flavor.
- Onion & garlic – Aromatics to give the sauce flavor.
- Olive oil – Used for sautéing.
- Tomato paste – Tomato paste gives the sauce a richer taste and creamier texture, compared to canned tomatoes.
- Seasonings – Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper are all that’s needed.
- Heavy cream – Makes the sauce velvety!
- Parmesan – Use freshly grated for optimal flavor.
- Vodka – Enhances the other flavors. (Notes on this below.)
What Does the Vodka Do in Penne Alla Vodka?
Vodka has a peppery, herbal taste that it lends to the pasta sauce while enhancing the flavors of the tomato. It also acts as a binder that helps to create the creamy texture of the sauce and prevents the heavy cream from separating. Similar to cooking with wine, the alcohol completely cooks off, leaving just rich, wonderful flavor without a strong liquor aftertaste.
Can You Make Penne Alla Vodka Without Vodka?
Yes. The vodka can simply be omitted for those who don’t want to use alcohol – nothing needs to be added in its place. However, if the sauce seems too thick, you can add just a little extra pasta water (or chicken broth) to help get it to the right consistency.
How to Make Penne All Vodka
Here’s a summary of how to make this classic Italian dish.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Cook the pasta. Cook the penne to al dente. Reserve 1 cup of cooking water.
- Cook the bacon. Cook the bacon until brown and crisp. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of grease.
- Prepare the sauce. Sauté the onions in olive oil and bacon grease. Then add the garlic. Stir in the tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and half of the pasta water. Simmer for 2 minutes. Add in the heavy cream, vodka, and bacon. Simmer for an additional 4 minutes. Add extra pasta water if needed.
- Add the parmesan and serve. Stir in the parmesan and toss until the cooked pasta is fully coated. Serve and enjoy.
Tips & Variations
Want to add some extra protein? Or worried about the vodka flavor? Here’s some helpful advice.
- Let it simmer to cook off the alcohol. The most important part of making this vodka pasta sauce is that you allow it to simmer long enough to cook off the alcohol. If you don’t, you will end up with a bitter vodka aftertaste. On the same note, you don’t want to simmer it too long or you’ll lose the flavor benefits of the vodka.
- Add extra protein. For a heartier dish, you can stir in cooked chicken, shrimp, ground beef or Italian sausage to this vodka sauce pasta.
- Make it vegetarian. For a vegetarian pasta dish, simply omit the bacon. You can also stir in a can of cannellini beans.
- Make it extra cheesy. You can add other Italian cheeses to the sauce or to top the pasta, like mozzarella or provolone.
- Switch up the noodles. While penne is the most common, any short noodle works with this sauce. You can even get unconventional and use cheese raviolis or tortellini.
Serving Suggestions
Garlic bread is a must when serving this penne with vodka sauce! You’ll definitely want to soak up every last drop of sauce from the bowl. I also like to serve it with a simple side salad or caesar salad.
Before serving, I also add a hearty amount of freshly grated parmesan to the top as well. You can also add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a bit of spice, if desired.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
- How to store leftovers. Store any leftover penne alla vodka in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- How to reheat leftovers. The easiest way to reheat the leftovers is to pop them in the microwave. You may need to add a splash of water, milk, or chicken broth to thin it out.
- Can I freeze vodka pasta sauce? Yes! Once it cools, transfer to a freezer safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
More Easy Pasta Recipes:
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Lasagna Roll Ups
- Chicken Pot Pie Noodles
- Shrimp Scampi Pasta
- Bacon and Peas Pasta
- Baked Feta Pasta
- Pasta e Ceci
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Penne Alla Vodka
Ingredients
- 16 ounces dried penne pasta
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon , diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion , diced
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/4 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese , plus more for serving
- freshly chopped parsley , for garnish
- garlic bread , for serving, optional
Instructions
- Cook the penne pasta al dente, according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- In the meantime, in a large nonstick saucepan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until it's browned, about 5-7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a towel-lined plate to drain. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the grease from the pan.
- To the pan with the bit of bacon grease, add in the olive oil and onion; sauté for about 3 minutes until softened and translucent. Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 20 seconds.
- Stir in the tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and half of the reserved pasta water. Allow the mixture to simmer for 2 minutes over medium-low heat.
- Add in the heavy cream, vodka, and reserved cooked bacon. Allow it to simmer for about 4 minutes. (If the sauce is too thick, you can add in some more of the pasta water.)
- Stir in the parmesan cheese until melted and incorporated. Toss with the cooked pasta until fully coated.
- Serve portions in bowls and pass some freshly grated Parmesan cheese at the table.
I’m so particular about penne alla vodka and have been trying to replicate my favorite restaurant version and this is way better than that! So amazingly simple and delicious. I will make this forever.