Mike's Penne A La Vodka Recipe

Snagged from a hospital chef's wife (and it's AMAZING!), this Penne alla Vodka recipe is creamy, rich, and unbelievably delicious! Perfect for a weeknight dinner or impressing guests. Easily scalable to feed a crowd.

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 35 mins

Calories 1264.2 kcal

Protein 41g

Rating Be the first

Recipe Actions

Share this recipe:

Recipe Author

The Forktionary Kitchen Team

Adapted from Food.com, then tested & standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Mike's Penne A La Vodka

Cook Smarter with Sous, Your Kitchen Companion

Missing an ingredient for this Mike's Penne A La Vodka? Need a perfect wine pairing or a healthy side dish idea? Don't guess—ask Sous! Your AI-powered sous-chef is ready to help you swap ingredients, adjust serving sizes, and discover flavor tips in seconds.

How to Make Mike's Penne A La Vodka

Cook penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Sauté for 1 minute, or until fragrant.
Pour in crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, and vodka. Stir well to combine.
Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce has slightly thickened.
Stir in 1 cup of Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
Add the cooked penne to the sauce, along with a little of the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Toss to coat.
Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil (if using).

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

26 g

Sugar

12g

Fat

296g

Carbs

24g

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Main Courses Main Dish / Dinner European Italian The Americas American 30 Minutes Or Less

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

60 Minutes Or Less Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Preparation Main Dish Pasta Pasta Rice And Grains Penne

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make Mike's Penne A La Vodka?

Mike's Penne A La Vodka takes about 45 minutes from start to finish — roughly 10 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.

How many calories are in Mike's Penne A La Vodka?

Mike's Penne A La Vodka has approximately 1264.2 calories per serving, with about 41 g protein, 24 g carbohydrates and 149 g fat.

What ingredients do I need for Mike's Penne A La Vodka?

The key ingredients for Mike's Penne A La Vodka are Heavy Cream, Garlic, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, Vodka, Diced Tomatoes, Parmesan Cheese. See the full list with measurements above.