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Home » Recipes » Main Entrées

Penne alla Vodka with Chicken

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Modified: Sep 17, 2025 · Published: Jun 10, 2022 by AmyG · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

What's more Italian than Penne alla Vodka with Chicken? Indulge in the rich and flavorful combination of a rose vodka sauce paired with a chicken protein.

The combination of perfectly cooked penne, creamy tomato-based sauce, aromatic herbs, and savory chicken creates mouthwatering flavors that will leave you craving for more.

Like pasta dishes? Try my recipe for Papardelle with Short Rib Ragu, Sicilian Baked Lolli, Creamy Burrata Pasta, or even my Tender Stuffed Cabbage Rolls.

Penne all vodka with chicken in a white bowl and saute pan in background
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  • Here's Why You'll Love this Penne alla Vodka Recipe with Chicken
  • Ingredients Needed for Penne Vodka with Chicken
  • How to Make Chicken Penne alla Vodka recipe
  • Storage
  • Meal Prep Tips
  • Substitutions and Variations
  • Equipment
  • Other Main Dishes
  • Recipe Details
  • Meal Prep Tips
  • PIN It Here
  • Food Safety
  • Comments

This classic Italian pasta dish takes on a delightful twist by adding tender and succulent chicken pieces to the creamy sauce.

Here's Why You'll Love this Penne alla Vodka Recipe with Chicken

  • Irresistible Flavor: The creamy vodka sauce infused with rich tomato flavors and aromatic herbs creates a delectable taste that will leave your taste buds delighted.
  • Perfect Harmony of Textures: The tender and juicy chicken perfectly complements the al dente penne pasta, adding a satisfying texture contrast to each bite.
  • Comforting and Satisfying: Penne alla Vodka with chicken is a comforting and hearty dish that fills you up and satisfies your cravings, making it a perfect choice for a satisfying meal.
  • Versatile and Crowd-Pleasing: This dish is versatile and can be enjoyed as a weeknight dinner or served as a crowd-pleasing option for gatherings and special occasions, impressing your guests with its flavorful combination.

The inspiration for penne alla vodka chicken came from another great recipe for Pasta alla Panna Sauce. If you like a creamy egg sauce with pancetta pieces, you will also want to try Pasta all Carbonara sauce.

This chicken alla vodka recipe can be made with boneless skinless chicken or just skinless chicken breasts. For more tender chicken pieces, use chicken thighs or chicken drumsticks.

This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients Needed for Penne Vodka with Chicken

This penne alla vodka recipe with chicken is made with a few ingredients that you'll want to source in advance if you plan on making this amazing dish.

Chicken alla vodka recipe ingredients include: vodka, heavy cream, chicken, pancetta or bacon, penne pasta, butter, parmesan cheese, marinara sauce, salt, water, and basil.

Vodka enhances the flavor of the dish and adds a touch of sophistication.

Heavy Cream brings a creaminess to the dish and helps to thicken the sauce

Tomato Sauce adds a tart and savory flavor and brightens up the sauce making it a rose color

Chicken adds a bit of protein to a dish that normally would be only carbohydrates

Pancetta or Bacon adds a nice salty bite

Parmesan Cheese adds a salty and savory taste to this dish

See recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Chicken Penne alla Vodka recipe

It may seem overwhelming to make a penne in vodka sauce, but if you take it one step at a time it's as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Season chicken and roast, grill or fry until cooked. Remove skin and shred or slice into small pieces. Set aside.

onion and pancetta in a skillet

In a large fry pan sauté garlic, pancetta and onions in butter. Add tomato puree. Bring to boil and let simmer for 15 minutes.

pancetta in tomato sauce

Add tomato puree. Bring to boil and let simmer for 15 minutes.

Adding heavy cream to sauce to make vodka sauce

Add cream and cheese, bring to a boil stirring constantly until thick. Pour vodka into skillet. Remove from heat and cover.

roasted chicken in a white bowl

Add chicken to pan.

Cook pasta as per manufacturer's directions. Reserve a cup of pasta water, then drain pasta.

mixing penne in vodka sauce

Scoop pasta into fry pan/skillet with sauce.

Penne alla vodka in a skillet

Mix and to combine the pasta and sauce.

Serve in bowls, garnished with chopped basil, parmesan shavings and fresh ground pepper.

Storage

If you have leftovers for this penne alla vodka with chicken it can be stored in an airtight container for a few days.

Freezing leftovers is not recommended because the chicken vodka recipe is made with heavy cream and freezing and thawing is unpredictable which can cause the cream to spoil.

Meal Prep Tips

Chicken - make the chicken in advance using a toaster oven or air fryer. Use thighs, drumsticks for tender cuts of meat. More fatty, more tender. Remove skin and shred and then set aside to add to sauce at the end.

Pasta Water - remember to reserve some pasta water, just in case the penne look too dry. Add as needed.

Substitutions and Variations

This penne alla vodka is amazing on its own, but it you want to try variations, here are some ideas:

  • Hot Red Peppers - add chili flakes or red peppers to the sauce to heat things up
  • Vegetarian - eliminate meat to make this a vegetarian meal
  • Noodles - use spaghetti, linguini or any other type of pasta
  • Tofu - add soy protein as a vegetarian option.
  • Salmon - substitute the chicken with salmon to make a pescatarian penne alla salmone

Of course, if you have other ideas on how to personalize this pasta dish, go for it.

I'd love to here about your ideas, drop a comment below to let me know how you made this your own.

Equipment

You don't need a lot of equipment to make this chicken alla vodka recipe. You will need some pots, preferably non stick, to make your pasta and the cream vodka sauce. You'll also need to cook your chicken using oven and baking sheet, stove and frypan a toaster oven or air fryer.

Is there Bacon in Vodka Sauce?

Traditionally vodka sauce does not contain bacon. Normally vodka sauce is made with heavy cream, sauce and vodka. You can add chicken, bacon, pancetta, sausage or any other meat to personalize vodka sauce for your own liking.

How alcoholic is vodka sauce over pasta?

The alcohol in vodka sauce evaporates during cooking, leaving only the distinct flavor of the vodka in the rose sauce. You can't get drunk from pasta vodka sauce.

How are vodka penne cooked?

The penne pasta is boiled first until al dente. Then added to the vodka sauce to finish and serve.

Other Main Dishes

  • Penne Pasta with Sunday Sauce in a white bowl
    Classic Sunday Sauce Recipe from Nonna's Kitchen
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    Quick and Easy Hearty Sausage Tortellini Soup
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    Easy to Make Crispy Prosciutto Pasta
  • roast chicken stuffed under the skin in a black roasting pan
    Stuffed Chicken Sicilian Style from My Mother's Kitchen

Recipe Details

Penne all vodka with chicken in a white bowl

Penne alla Vodka with Chicken

https://easyhomemaderecipes.ca
AmyG
What's more Italian than Penne alla Vodka with Chicken? Indulge in the rich and flavorful combination of a rose vodka sauce paired with a chicken protein.
The combination of perfectly cooked penne, creamy tomato-based sauce, aromatic herbs, and savory chicken creates mouthwatering flavors that will leave you craving for more.
Like pasta dishes? Try my recipe for Papardelle with Short Rib Ragu, Sicilian Baked Lolli, or even my Tender Stuffed Cabbage Rolls.
5 from 6 votes
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Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Main Entrées
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4
Calories 939 kcal

Equipment

  • Pots and Pans
  • wooden cutting board
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • Knives
  • spider strainer

Ingredients
  

Chicken:

  • 8 oz chicken breast
  • salt and pepper to taste

Sauce:

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 cup tomato puree
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 9 oz pancetta cubed (or bacon)
  • 2 oz vodka

Pasta:

  • 9 oz pasta penne or tubed like pasta

Instructions
 

  • Season chicken and roast, grill or fry until cooked. Remove skin and shred or slice into small pieces. Set aside.
    8 oz chicken breast, salt and pepper
  • In a large fry pan sauté garlic, pancetta and onions butter. Add tomato puree. Bring to boil and let simmer for 15 minutes.
    2 tbsp butter, 1 clove garlic, 1 onion, 1 cup tomato puree, 9 oz pancetta
  • Add cream and cheese, bring to a boil stirring constantly until thick. Add vodka and stir until alcohol has evaporated. Remove from heat and cover. Add chicken.
    1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup parmesan cheese, 2 oz vodka
  • Cook pasta as per manufacturer's directions. Reserve a cup of pasta water, then drain pasta.
    9 oz pasta
  • Pour pasta into fry pan/skillet with sauce and heat and mix to combine the pasta and sauce.
  • Serve in bowls, garnished with parmesan shavings, chopped basil and fresh ground pepper.

Notes

Meal Prep Tips

Chicken - make the chicken in advance using a toaster oven or air fryer. Use thighs, drumsticks for tender cuts of meat. More fatty, more tender. Remove skin and shred and then set aside to add to sauce at the end.
Pasta Water - remember to reserve some pasta water, just in case the penne look too dry. Add as needed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 939kcalCarbohydrates: 59gProtein: 36gFat: 58gSaturated Fat: 28gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 169mgSodium: 773mgPotassium: 879mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1522IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 228mgIron: 3mg
Keyword chicken, pasta, penne alla vodka, vodka sauce
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

PIN It Here

Penne alla vodka recipe with chicken PIN for pinterest

Food Safety

Note that the storage guidelines provided on this page and site are estimates from personal experiences. We are all adults and as an adult you are responsible to ensure that the food you eat is safe to eat. Since, I'm not a food safety expert, you are responsible to review your local guidelines on food storage prior to storing any food left-overs.

Remember to:

  • Not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
  • Wash hands after touching raw meat
  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food unattended
  • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
  • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

For Canadian Guidelines check the Government of Canada Food Safety Guidelines or see more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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Comments

    5 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

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  1. Ieva says

    May 26, 2023 at 3:08 am

    5 stars
    Great recipe! We had some leftover vodka in the cupboard, and this recipe was a great use for it. Delicious sauce and very filling.

    Reply
  2. Anjali says

    May 26, 2023 at 2:54 am

    5 stars
    This was such an easy and delicious dinner for our family!! Felt like we brought an Italian restaurant to our house!

    Reply
  3. Rachna says

    May 25, 2023 at 11:39 pm

    5 stars
    Vodka sauce is such a hit with pasta. We make it regularly at home. Adding chicken to it makes it more flavorful. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  4. veenaazmanov says

    May 25, 2023 at 10:21 pm

    5 stars
    A unique combination of vodka sauce to this pasta recipe. Perfect for Dinner time. My family to enjoy this happy meal.

    Reply
  5. Nikki says

    May 25, 2023 at 9:04 pm

    5 stars
    I am loving the addition of the chicken in this penne alla vodka. It's a perfect meal for my family.

    Reply

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