Instant Pot Penne alla Vodka

cooked tomato sauce pasta in instant pot, with fresh basil and wooden spoon.

This Instant Pot Penne alla Vodka is super fast, easy and ready in under 30 minutes. Toss in some cubed chicken or shrimp for added protein. It's thick, creamy and luxurious!

Course Instant Pot

Cuisine American

Keyword instant pot penne all vodka, instant pot penne pasta

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings Servings

Calories 478kcal

Author Maria Doss

Equipment

instant pot

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
½ cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic chopped
2 to 3 pinches red pepper flakes optional
1 ½ cups marinara sauce I used Prego (tomato, basil and garlic)
1 cup heavy cream
¼ cup Vodka or use water
½ cup Water
¾ teaspoon salt or to taste refer notes
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
8 ounces penne pasta

Additional Ingredients

½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Fresh basil leaves chopped

Instructions

Heat instant pot to saute mode. When hot, add butter and let melt. Stir in chopped onion, garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook, stirring occasionally for about 2 minutes, until onions begin to get translucent.
Press cancel and add marinara sauce, heavy cream, vodka, water, salt, pepper and stir well.
Add penne pasta on top, pressing it gently into the sauce, so it is partially immersed, but do not stir.
Close and lock lid with the valve is sealing position.
Cook on manual for 5 minutes. Let it be in warm mode for additional 5 minutes. When 5 minutes is done, release pressure by turning valve to vent. Open lid and stir in chopped basil.
Tip: Cooking time - The high pressure in the instant pot, forces liquid and moisture into the pasta quickly, thus resulting in pasta cooking a touch tender in the recipe. If you like the pasta al dente, then release pressure as soon as the cook time is done.
Pro tip: As soon as you release pressure, the tomato cream sauce might be thin, but will thicken as it cools. If the sauce has thickened too much for your liking, then just toss few tablespoons of hot water to thin it down.

Notes

Parmesan Cheese - Use freshly grated parmesan cheese or the pre grated ones. Please stay away for the the green jar.

Type of vodka - Since you are not going to taste the vodka, I do not recommend investing in an expensive bottle. Use any leftover vodka at home or any cheap bottle will do the trick.

What to make it alcohol free? Simply replace vodka with water.

Nutrition