Penne Vodka with Chicken Recipe

The perfect Penne Vodka with Chicken is only a few steps away. Juicy, tender chicken and pasta tossed in a homemade vodka sauce is the ultimate dinner! My family loves penne vodka – it is always something we order when we eat Italian food in a restaurant. With inflation – and eating out being so expensive now – what better way to eat what we love by being able to make it at home. This is by far the closest recipe to restaurant quality Penne Vodka that I have found and it is super easy to make.

Penne Vodka with Chicken Ingredients

1 pound penne pasta

1 pound chicken breasts

1 28-oz can of whole peeled tomatoes

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, finely grated

1/3 cup Plain vodka

3/4 Cup Half & Half

1 medium sweet onion, chopped

3 large garlic cloves, chopped

1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons Olive Oil

Dash hot pepper flakes

Fresh basil (optional for garnish)

Directions

1. Cook your chicken – Coat the chicken in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and you can sauté it in a frying pan until cooked through to 165 degrees or bake on a baking sheet at 425 degrees for 17-20 minutes.
2. Sauté the onions and garlic – In a pot over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, onion, garland cook for 4-5 minutes.
3. Add the tomatoes and vodka – Add in your tomatoes and mash with a potato masher. Stir in the vodka. Leave uncovered and let cook over medium heat until it is simmering (about 5 minutes).
4. Add the flavor – Add 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, parmesan, and salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer over medium-low heat, uncovered, for at least 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
5. Slice the chicken – While the sauce is simmering, make sure to take your chicken out of the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Then slice the chicken into bite size chunks.
6. Cook your pasta – Boil your penne pasta until al-dente, according to the box directions.

Final Touches

1. Blend the sauce – When the sauce has simmered for at least 20 minutes, blend it using and immersion blender until it is smooth. Add half and half, hot pepper flakes, and salt to taste. Blend for 10 more seconds. Keep sauce on low heat until heated through.
2. Combine – Add drained pasta and chicken to the sauce. Stir until each piece of penne is well-coated with sauce.
3. Serve – Plate and garnish with fresh basil if desired and more parmesan cheese.

This recipe is so versatile and additional ingredients can be added according to your taste. You can add peas, pancetta, shrimp, spinach, prosciutto, bacon, or sausage. You can even use the sauce plain with pasta and no chicken.

I hope you love this recipe for Penne Vodka with Chicken as much as my family and I do. What is your go-to favorite for Italian dishes?

Check out my Pinterest for more recipes and meal planning ideas. If you’re interested to see what’s on our menu for November – you can check out my monthly meal plan here. Happy cooking!