Chicken Vodka Pasta

This Chicken Vodka Pasta is a restaurant-quality penne alla vodka that's perfect for date nights, yet simple enough for a weeknight dinner. The creamy tomato vodka sauce is rich, smooth, luxurious, and packed with flavor. Prefer it without vodka? Just swap the vodka for water!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword breast vodka, chicken alla vodka, chicken and pasta with vodka sauce, chicken penne vodka, chicken vodka sauce, penne alla vodka with chicken

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Servings Servings

Calories 567kcal

Author Maria Doss

Ingredients

8 ounces penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter unsalted
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized chunks
½ cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves chopped
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes use more or less
1 ½ cups marinara sauce I used Prego (tomato, basil and garlic)
1 cup heavy cream
¼ cup Vodka (or use water)
½ to ¾ teaspoon salt (I used ¾ teaspoon)
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Fresh basil leaves chopped

Instructions

Cook pasta until al dente and drain.
Heat a large saute pan over medium heat. Add butter when hot and let melt. Add chicken and spread them into a single layer. Let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes, without disturbing.
Add onion, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes and black pepper to the chicken, cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes or until chicken is almost cooked and onion is translucent.
Stir in marinara sauce, heavy cream and vodka (or water). Cook, stirring occasionally for 7 to 10 minutes or until the sauce has reduced slightly and thickened.
Stir in cooked pasta, parmesan cheese and basil. Toss well and serve.

Video

Notes

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.

Chicken thighs – Use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts.

Make it alcohol free – Replace vodka with water to make a kid friendly vodka sauce pasta with chciken

Make it healthy – Use canned coconut milk instead of heavy cream.

Make it spicy – Increase red pepper flakes to about 1 tablespoon or more to make a spicy penne vodka.

Nutrition