Penne alla Vodka For One

Quick and easy, single serving penne alla vodka - Tender pasta tossed in a rich and creamy tomato and vodka sauce. A restaurant quality meal that takes minutes to make.

Often served with penne, this pasta with vodka sauce can be enjoyed with just about any type of pasta. It's amazing that a sauce made with simple ingredients like onions, tomatoes, cream, and a splash of vodka can come together in minutes to make one of the best homemade pasta sauces you've ever had!

Jump to:

• What Is Vodka Sauce?
• Why This Recipe Works
• Ingredients
• Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
• How To Make Penne Alla Vodka
• Expert Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Variations
• Serving Suggestions
• Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
• Other Single Serving Pasta Sauce Recipes
• Recipe

What Is Vodka Sauce?

Vodka sauce is a popular sauce commonly served with penne pasta or rigatoni. It's a tomato-based sauce with a splash of vodka added which gives the sauce a little bit of tang. The sauce is then softened with a hint of heavy cream which gives vodka sauce its reddish-orange color.

You won't really taste any alcohol in vodka sauce. The alcohol burns off in the cooking process, leaving the delightful tang behind.

Why This Recipe Works

• Made with easy-to-find ingredients: This pantry-friendly pasta alla vodka is made with ingredients you may likely have in your kitchen already. There are no fancy ingredients needed.
• Ready in minutes: One of the beautiful things about this easy pasta recipe is that it can be made in less than 30 minutes. It looks and tastes like a gourmet meal but comes together so quickly.
• Recipe doubles well: This single serving penne alla vodka recipe yields the perfect amount for one person. If you'd like to make enough for two, or to have leftovers to enjoy the next day, simply double the ingredient amounts.

Ingredients

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

To make a small batch of vodka sauce with pasta, you will need:

• Pasta: While penne pasta is a traditional choice for serving with vodka sauce, you can really use whatever kind of pasta you like or have on hand. I love using pasta that has a tubular shape like penne or rigatoni because the middles catch more of the sauce. Use ⅔ cup of dried penne pasta, which is 2 ounces.
• Olive oil:  I use extra virgin olive oil in this penne alla vodka recipe as well as in every other recipe on One Dish Kitchen that calls for olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed form of olive oil. It is an unrefined oil and the highest-quality olive oil you can buy. Because of the way extra virgin olive oil is made, it retains a more true olive taste. It also contains more of the vitamins and minerals found in olives. It's my favorite type of olive oil to use but you may use light olive oil instead.
• Onions and garlic: Chopped onions and garlic add so much flavor to vodka pasta. Definitely don't leave them out.
• Tomatoes: I prefer using canned diced tomatoes. Use half of a (14.5-ounce) can of diced tomatoes along with some of the juice from the can. This amount equals 1 cup/218 grams/7.7-ounces. To measure 1 cup of canned diced tomatoes, spoon the tomatoes along with the juice into a 1-cup measuring cup. You can use 1 cup of canned whole tomatoes (crush the tomatoes with your hands) or 1 cup of canned crushed tomatoes instead.
• Vodka: Use your favorite brand of vodka. I lived in Texas for over 20 years and love using Tito's vodka from Austin, Texas. Vodka adds a touch of heat and a bit of a sharp bite to the sauce, which helps balance the sweetness of the tomatoes and the cream. If you don't drink vodka but still want to use it, consider buying a small bottle similar to the ones they serve on airplane flights. Although I highly recommend using it, you don't have to make vodka sauce with vodka. Instead, use water with a squeeze of lemon.
• Red pepper flakes: I love the heat that the red pepper flakes bring to the dish. It’s subtle and not terribly spicy. Feel free to leave them out if you’d like.
• Heavy cream: Use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream to create a luscious sauce that is silky and rich.
• Parmesan cheese: I prefer using freshly grated or shredded Parmesan cheese because it melts better than pre-packaged cheese. You can use shredded Asiago cheese instead.

See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.

Expert Tips

• Choose your pasta: Although penne is traditionally used. You can use a different kind of pasta. Ziti and rigatoni pasta are great choices but consider using a wide ribbon-like noodle pasta like pappardelle or tagliatelle instead.
• Use a different cheese: The classic vodka sauce recipe calls for parmesan cheese but asiago or gruyere make an incredibly rich and ultra-creamy sauce too.

RELATED: The Best Soup Recipes For One

Frequently Asked Questions

Variations

Although this is the best penne alla vodka recipe as-is, you can add other ingredients for a heartier meal. Consider these incredibly delicious vodka sauce variations:

• Pancetta or bacon: Make a vodka sauce with diced pancetta or bacon by cooking up an ounce of pancetta or 1 strip of bacon over medium heat in a skillet until crisp. Remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Wipe the skillet clean and start the recipe from the top. Crumble and toss the cooked bacon or pancetta into the finished pasta just before topping it with the final addition of parmesan cheese.
• Italian sausage: Cook 3 ounces of ground hot or sweet Italian sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or a spatula. Once the sausage is cooked through and browned, remove it from the skillet with a slotted spoon and let it drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Wipe the pan clean and start the recipe from the top. Toss the crumbled sausage into the finished dish, just before adding the final topping of parmesan cheese.
• Rotisserie chicken: Toss shredded or diced chicken into the pasta and sauce just before topping with parmesan cheese.
• Cooked shrimp: Add cooked shrimp into the pasta and vodka sauce just before topping with parmesan cheese.
• Vegetables: Sauté chopped vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, or mushrooms along with the onions. Continue with the recipe as written.

Serving Suggestions

I love to enjoy a big bowl of pasta with vodka sauce with a crust piece of homemade french bread or a simple cucumber salad.

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this easy penne alla vodka recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:

• Pasta: Hamburger Casserole, Pasta Primavera, Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables, Baked Ziti, Pesto Pasta
• Onions: Cioppino, Zuppa Toscana, Chicken Spaghetti, Ratatouille, Risotto
• Garlic: Guacamole Salad, Roasted Garlic, Olives, and Feta, Pesto, Shrimp Fettuccine, Pork Stir Fry
• Diced tomatoes: Beef Chili, Chicken Cacciatore, Shrimp Creole, Goulash, Vegetarian Chili
• Red pepper flakes: Portobello Mushroom Pizza, Shrimp Scampi, Creamy Vegetable Soup, Broccolini With Sausage
• Heavy Cream: Banana Cream Pie, Vanilla Ice Cream, Alfredo Sauce, Crustless Quiche Lorraine, Mini French Silk Pie
• Parmesan: Parmesan Crisps, Buttered Noodles, Eggplant Parmesan, Hot Spinach Dip, Chicken Cordon Bleu
• Olive oil: Seared Scallops, Spinach Manicotti, Avocado Toast, Vegetable Casserole, Caprese Salad

RELATED: Single Serving Comfort Food Recipes

Other Single Serving Pasta Sauce Recipes

• Pomodoro Sauce
• Alfredo Sauce
• Tomato Sauce
• Meat Sauce

RELATED: 20 Single Serving Meatless Recipes

Enjoy!

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