I’m sharing this recipe for penne vodka with chicken and you have to keep reading for a quick tip to make the dish just a touch more healthy but still just as tasty!
Penne alla vodka is a classic Italian dish that most people enjoy, so I always love to re-create those type of dishes at home in my own kitchen. I did it here with my recipe for a take on a classic chicken parmesan too.
What ingredients do you need to make this pasta dish?
- Kosher salt
- Penne or Rigatoni (like these)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Garlic cloves
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Chicken breasts
- Vodka
- Plain yogurt
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Dried basil (or loose fresh basil leaves)
I have been asked a few times is there real vodka in penne alla vodka? And yup, there sure is! You add vodka on top of your cooked chicken to start the process. But, don’t worry, you cook most of the vodka off so you’re not left with much alcohol at all.
And while we’re talking this step in the process, I wanted to be sure to note that if you like to get your chicken a bit more brown, make sure not to mess with it/stir it every two seconds – although I know that can be tempting.
Traditionally, vodka sauce is made with a heavy cream to make it rich and delicious. I opted to make this dish slightly more healthy by simply using yogurt instead! If you prefer using heavy cream, you can still do that – it’s a simple 1 to 1 substitute.
Can you use any kind of yogurt?
- I would use plain yogurt, but you can use Greek yogurt (it’s a bit more tangy) or nut yogurt (I would suggest soy or cashew. I do not recommend using coconut or almond yogurt because it is too sweet.
How to make penne vodka with chicken?
- Cook pasta, with 1 teaspoon salt, according to package instructions.
- In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, cook for one minute, and add chicken breast cubes. Cook, stirring until chicken starts to brown and is cooked through – about 5 minutes.
- Add the vodka and cook until vodka is nearly evaporated.
- Add the tomatoes and remaining salt and let come to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 1 minute, or until slightly thickened. Add the yogurt and simmer for 2 more minutes.
- Add the pasta and stir until the pasta is well coated in the sauce. Spoon pasta into bowl. Add parmesan on top.
- Basil may be added on top or you can mix it into the pasta during cooking. This is optional.
I love finishing my penne vodka with chicken (and really all of my pasta dishes) with a sprinkle of fresh parmesan. Tasty, comforting and delicious!
Penne Vodka with Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt divided
- 1 pound rigatoni
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed
- 1 pound chicken breasts cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1/3 cup vodka
- 1 can crushed tomatoes 28-ounce
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated. Plus more for serving.
- 1 teaspoon dried basil or 1/4 cup loose fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Cook pasta with 1 teaspoon salt according to package instructions
- In a large pot heat oil over medium-high heat, add the garlic and red pepper flakes (cook for one minute) and chicken breast cubes. Cook, stirring until chicken starts to brown and is cooked through - about 5 min.
- Add the vodka and cook until vodka is nearly evaporated.
- Add the tomatoes and remaining salt and let come to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 1- minutes, or until slightly thickened. Add the yogurt and simmer for 2 more minutes.
- Add the pasta and stir until the pasta is well coated in the sauce. Put pasta in bowl - add parmesan on top and basil if you would like (you can mix this in with the pasta if you prefer)
Leave a Reply