[X]

Home > Recipes > Makeover Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce

Makeover Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce Recipe

Makeover Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Read reviews (9)

Rate recipe

Makeover Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce is still creamy, rich and restaurant-quality special, but it now has less than half the original recipe’s fat and cholesterol. Even our pros had a hard time telling them apart. Debra Torres - Clarion, Pennsylvania

This recipe is:

Healthy

Diabetic Friendly

[X]

Rate Makeover Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce Recipe

Click on stars to rate

Would you make this recipe again?

Write a review

[X]

Makeover Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce Recipe

Prep: 15 min. Cook: 40 min.

Yield: 8 Servings

15 40 55

Ingredients

1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (one 28 ounces, one 14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1/4 cup vodka
1 package (12 ounces) whole wheat penne pasta
2 teaspoons prepared pesto
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a large saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in tomatoes and vodka. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, cook penne according to package directions.
Stir the pesto, salt and pepper flakes into tomato mixture. In a small bowl, combine flour and cream until smooth; stir into pan. Add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Drain penne; serve with sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. Yield: 8 servings.

Nutritional Facts 2/3 cup pasta with 2/3 cups sauce and 1 tablespoon cheese equals 324 calories, 11 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 27 mg cholesterol, 379 mg sodium, 44 g carbohydrate, 7 g fiber, 12 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 vegetable, 2 fat.

Originally published as Makeover Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce in Healthy Cooking June/July 2010, p21

Full-Bodied White Wine

Enjoy this recipe with a full-bodied white wine such as Chardonnay or Viognier.

More recipes like this:

Recipe Slideshows

Browse slideshows featuring our best recipes, holiday ideas, easy how-tos, cooking tips, and more!

Get Recipes >

Top 10 Recipes

A collection of our favorite, highest-rated recipes—including the best dessert, dinner and holiday recipes.

Get Recipes >

Reviews for Makeover Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce

Makeover Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce

Tell us what you think of this recipe.
Did you modify it? Would you make it again? Rate it today! >

Rate and Review this Recipe

(1-9) of 9 reviews

Sort Reviews:

Reviewed on Jan. 17, 2013 by lduckworth

This was a big hit at our home - I will make this again.

Reviewed on Nov. 07, 2011 by agnes24

Hubby really liked it. I thought it was a little bland but I didn't have any pesto so that could be why. I substituted 14.5 oz of spaghetti sauce for one of the cans of tomatoes because I needed to use it up and my family doesn't like tomato chunks anyway. Also, I substituted 2% milk because we never have whole milk. It was still good but next time I'll make sure I add pesto. Oh and one large onion seemed way too much!

Reviewed on Feb. 14, 2011 by benenati

Great recipe. I purchase a store bought oven roasted chicken and cut pieces of the flavorful chicken up and add it to the sauce. I also throw in some frozen peas right before serving. A quick and delicious meal that all my boys (5 of them ) thoroughly enjoy. Don't forget the garlic bread for scooping up the sauce!!!

Reviewed on Oct. 26, 2010 by kruzcats

This recipe was wonderful. I used regular penne pasta instead of the wheat, and added a little more pepper flakes. I will definitely make this again and again!! Super Yum!

Reviewed on Sep. 19, 2010 by mjlouk

The whole family liked this one! Even my super picky 4 year old ate it - after some coaxing.

Reviewed on Aug. 10, 2010 by coffman

This is the first time I have had Vodka Cream Sauce and it was excellent and very flavorful. I will definitely be making this again.

Reviewed on Jul. 30, 2010 by karenna72

If this is a lightened version I can't even imagine the real thing this recipe was a hit!

Reviewed on Jun. 02, 2010 by avalonblythe

I made this for my parents and my husband for a special dinner. It was impressive and fairly easy. I added chicken... it would've lacked something without it. It was a big hit, although it wasn't my favorite. I think next time I make it I'm going to try shrimp instead.

Reviewed on May. 24, 2010 by conniekitchen

I made this for dinner and it is to die for. I used roasted tomatos that I made and frooze and they added another level of flavor. I also used boe tie wheat pasta as it has more surface for the sauce to adhere to. I will never have to go out to dinner to have this for dinner as I can make it at home in less than one hour. I served it with romain lettuce that I cut the head in half and spraied each with oil and grilded them on the grill then topped them with dressing and fetta chesse. Outstanding dinner.