One-Pot Penne alla Vodka

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Total: 35 min
  • Active: 30 min
You don't have to cook pasta and sauce separately anymore. In our version of this classic dish, all the ingredients come together in one pot and the pasta cooks while the sauce reduces and thickens.
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Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 tablespoons tomato paste

Pinch red pepper flakes

One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes

12 ounces penne (see Cook's Note)

1/2 cup vodka

Kosher salt

1/3 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Handful basil leaves, torn

Directions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the tomato paste and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring to coat the onions, about 1 minute. Add the canned tomatoes, penne, vodka, 1 teaspoon salt and 3 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has reduced by about half and thickened, about 12 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream, half the Parmesan and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Divide the penne among 4 bowls and garnish with the remaining Parmesan and torn basil leaves.

Cook’s Note

The success of this recipe is dependent upon the specific pasta shape suggested, so we don't recommend substitutions.

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Michelle West

This is for sure a 5 star recipe!! We absolutely LOVED it!! I was pretty worried about how much water I was reducing but it all worked out, it did take a little longer than the recipe said but it was all good. Served with a side of asparagus and cheesy garlic bread 🙂

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