Penne alla Vodka
Penne alla Vodka brings together crisp pancetta, a tomato-vodka sauce with gentle heat, and a lush swirl of cream for a glossy, well-emulsified coating on every bite. The balance of savory depth, subtle spice, and fresh herbs makes it an inviting weeknight dinner that feels special without extra fuss.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Penne alla Vodka, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 53 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 17 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 46 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 41
- Heart Health
- 73
- Metabolic
- 46
- Digestive
- 24
- Inflammatory
- 27
- Performance
- 37
- General Wellness
- 1
Assemble all the ingredients.
- 2
Set a large pot of salted water over high heat to bring it to a boil. Transfer the tomatoes to a medium bowl and crush them well with your hands, or chop them in a food processor. Set aside.
- 3
While the water heats, make the sauce: Heat the oil and pancetta in a large saucepan or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the pancetta is crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and cook, stirring constantly, until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until it takes on a slight brownish color, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the vodka and cook until reduced by at least half. Stir in the reserved tomatoes and their juices and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.
- 4
While the sauce reduces, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions until slightly firm, 11 to 12 minutes.
- 5
When the sauce has reduced, stir in the heavy cream and pepper and cook for 3 minutes, stirring often. Stir in 1/3 cup cheese, parsley, basil, and pasta until well combined. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired.
- 6
Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and more herbs if desired.
- 7
Serve and enjoy.
- Calories 707.61 kcal High 35%
- Protein 21.4 g Good Source 43%
- Carbohydrate 96.59 g 35%
- Total Fat 25.55 g High 33%
- Saturated Fat 12.11 g High 61%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 57.34 mg Moderate 19%
- Sodium 298.74 mg Moderate 13%
- Dietary Fiber 6.51 g Good Source 23%
- Total Sugars 5.21 g --
- Added Sugars 0.09 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 234.36 mg Moderate 18%
- Iron 3.88 mg Good Source 22%
- Potassium 330.27 mg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin A 64.44 mcg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin C 11.66 mg Moderate 13%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Penne alla Vodka is made with 15 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 30 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Peppercorns, Diced Onion, Fresh Basil, and Fresh Parsley. Each serving provides about 707.61 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Penne alla Vodka made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Peppercorns, Diced Onion, Fresh Basil, Fresh Parsley, Garlic. The full list of 15 is above.
- How long does it take to make Penne alla Vodka?
- About 30 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 707.61 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Penne alla Vodka easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 15 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Penne alla Vodka healthy?
- Penne alla Vodka has an easyChef Pro health score of 42/100. Per serving, it provides 707.61 calories and 21.4 g of protein, or 43% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 298.74 mg (13% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 12.11 g (61% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tomatoes, Garlic, Onions and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.
For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.
Score a recipe free, no app required