Welcome to Plan n Cook — plan meals, shop once, cook with less stress.

Home kitchen plans

Penne With Vodka Sauce

Penne With Vodka Sauce

Cuisine:Italian

Course:Sauce

10m prep 20m cook 30m ready

A creamy penne pasta tossed in a tomato-vodka sauce with onion, garlic, and a hint of red pepper flakes. Finished with basil and optional Parmesan.

Ingredients

Servings:
  • 3 tablespoons butter or olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
  • ¼ cup vodka
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 pound dried penne
  • (12 basil leaves, chopped)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • (½ cup grated Parmesan [2 ounces])

Let's Prepare

Collect

Gather these ingredients - no prep needed yet.

  • 3 tablespoons butter or olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
  • ¼ cup vodka
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 pound dried penne
  • (12 basil leaves, chopped)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • (½ cup grated Parmesan [2 ounces])

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Heat in a large skillet over medium heat: 3 tablespoons butter or olive oil

  2. Step 2.

    Add and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes: 1 onion, finely chopped

  3. Step 3.

    Add and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute: 2 large garlic cloves, minced

  4. Step 4.

    Stir in: One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, drained and chopped; ¼ cup vodka; ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

  5. Step 5.

    Simmer briskly for 10 minutes. Stir in and heat through: ½ cup heavy cream

  6. Step 6.

    Meanwhile, cook in a large pot of boiling salted water: 1 pound dried penne

  7. Step 7.

    Stir into the sauce: (12 basil leaves, chopped); Salt and black pepper to taste

  8. Step 8.

    Drain the pasta and add to the sauce. If desired, add: (½ cup grated Parmesan [2 ounces])

  9. Step 9.

    Toss well to coat the pasta with the sauce.

Ratings & reviews

Have you made this? Take a moment and let us know what you think. Sign in to leave a rating.

Get weekly meal ideas

Fresh recipes and planning tips from Plan n Cook.

Plan a week

Drop recipes onto breakfast, lunch, and dinner for every day.

One grocery list

Ingredients combined and scaled to your household servings.

Cook from recipes

Browse the library and public kitchens when you need inspiration.

Keep your kitchen

Save favorites, pantry items, and meal plans in one place.