Penne with Vodka Sauce
Penne with Vodka Sauce is a quick and easy weeknight meal everyone is sure to love.
Prep Time0 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Course: 30 minutes or less, dinner, Entree, Pasta, Sausage
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 30 minute meals, penne with vodka sauce
Servings: 4
Calories: 761kcal
- 16 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 2 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoon vodka
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- 3 tablespoon fresh basil chopped
Place a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Add the sausage and cook, crumbling until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain any grease.
Stir in red pepper flakes, garlic and crushed tomatoes. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 25 minutes.
While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook according to package directions, usually 9-11 minutes. Drain, rinse and set aside.
Stir the vodka, heavy cream and parmesan into the skillet with the sausage and tomatoes. Bring back up to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Stir in the cooked pasta until coated. Top with fresh basil.
Divide into bowls and serve, topping with additional basil and Parmesan cheese if desired.
Substitutions: italian sausage can be replaced with ground beef, pancetta or chicken breast. Heavy cream can be replaced with half-and-half.
Serve with: buttered peas, garden salad, garlic bread, sauvignon blanc.
FAQs: vodka evaporates when it is cooked. The dish will not taste like vodka. Alternatively, use gin or water with a squeeze of lemon juice to replace the vodka. Thicken the sauce more by adding additional Parmesan cheese.
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 761kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 1307mg | Potassium: 981mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1140IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 269mg | Iron: 6mg