Copycat Carmine’s Penne Alla Vodka Recipe
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Jump to RecipeThis copycat Carmine’s penne alla vodka recipe is a fantastic restaurant-quality dish you can easily make in the comfort of your own home. It’s creamy, velvety, cheesy, and has a wonderful hint of spice.
Ready in under 30 minutes this elegant pasta is simple to make and cooks quick. It’s a great dish for company or entertaining and is a real treat that takes just like the famous version.
Want more delicious copycat pasta recipes? Try our Jerk Chicken Pasta, Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Giardino, and our favorite spinach artichoke alfredo pasta.
This delicious at-home version of the famous Carmine’s penne alla vodka is a wonderful dish you can easily (and inexpensively) make in your own kitchen! Skip the lines and the expensive dinner bill, and enjoy a fantastic penne dish you can make any night of the week.
This copycat pasta dish is quick enough to make on a weeknight, yet elegant enough to serve to guests. Enjoy it with grilled chicken or salmon, a big chopped Italian salad, and garlic bread for a full Italian feast. Note: while this isn’t Carmine’s official recipe, it’s a delicious at-home version I developed in my kitchen to bring to you!
Why This Recipe Works
- It’s creamy, delicious, easy to make, and always a hit!
- A wonderful restaurant copycat that is easy to make at home.
- Fancy and elegant pasta dish for guests.
- Anyone can make this dish by following our step-by-step photos and instructions below!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!
Penne pasta is the base of this dish – a classic tube-shaped noodle with ridges to soak up all that delicious creamy tomato sauce.
And speaking of the sauce, it starts with diced tomatoes (I prefer petite diced tomatoes) mixed with sauteed garlic, onions, salt, pepper, basil and fresh parsley. We finish the dish with a bit of heavy cream for that wonderful velvety texture.
Adding a little bit of vodka into this sauce adds that classic kick and tang! If you don’t have vodka you can always skip it. The alcohol cooks off in the sauce, so don’t worry about having any alcohol in the finished sauce.
Don’t forget the spice level – adding chili flakes into the sauce gives it it’s classic heat! The great thing about this sauce is that you can add as much or as little chili flakes as you’d like to suit your tastes.
I love stirring in some fresh parmesan cheese, as well as finishing the dish off with grated parm.
Additions and Substitutions
Fresh parsley and basil are best for this dish – You can use dried, but if possible use fresh herbs if you can.
If you don’t have penne pasta, you can use any medium-shaped pasta for this dish: rotini, medium shells, or rigatoni are all great choices to enjoy with this creamy sauce.
And if you don’t have vodka, don’t worry – you can skip it and still get that great creamy tomato sauce flavor.
How To Make This Recipe
Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Step 2: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and garlic, and sauté for 3-4 minutes until they begin to brown.
Step 3: Add in the fresh chopped basil, parsley, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then pour in the vodka and allow it to cook off for 1 minute.
Step 4: Add the diced tomatoes and bring the sauce up to a boil. Pour in the cream and reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce begins to thickens.
Step 5: Stir in the 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese, and stir in the salt and pepper. Add in the cooked pasta, and cook for 4-5 minutes until pasta is heated through.
Step 6: Serve with extra cheese for garnish and serve hot.
Recipe FAQs
This sauce is made of tomatoes, fresh garlic, basil, parsley, vodka, with a splash of cream for a rich and velvety texture.
If you have leftover pasta and sauce, store it in an airtight container and enjoy within 2 days. When reheating, stir in an additional 2-3 tablespoons of heavy cream.
You can add in your favorite protein – grilled chicken or shrimp are great options! You could also serve this with a fresh side salad and garlic bread for a complete meal.
More Modern Pasta Recipes
- Yard House Shiitake Garlic Noodles Copycat Recipe
- Baked Ricotta Mac and Cheese Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Cacio e Pepe Copycat Recipe
- Thai Wheat Noodle Salad Recipe
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe (Sam’s Club Copycat)
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Copycat Carmine’s Penne Alla Vodka
Equipment
- Sauce Pan
- Pot
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 lb penne pasta
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ small onion thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup basil chopped
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup vodka
- 2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and garlic, and sauté for 3-4 minutes until they begin to brown.
- Add in the fresh chopped basil, parsley, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then pour in the vodka and allow it to cook off for 1 minute.
- Add the diced tomatoes and bring the sauce up to a boil. Pour in the cream and reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce begins to thickens.
- Stir in the 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese, and stir in the salt and pepper. Add in the cooked pasta, and cook for 4-5 minutes until pasta is heated through.
- Serve with extra cheese for garnish and serve hot. Top with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
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