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Quick Instant Pot Vodka Pasta
Is it pasta night yet? Well, with this recipe, now it’ll be pasta night!
I love to use my Instant Pot when I’m a tired or busy but want to still cook my own food. I’ve never actually made pasta in my Instant Pot, but I heard so many good things about it that I finally had to give it a try!
Additionally, Penne alla Vodka had been on my bucket list for such a long time. I had been wanting to make it for literally YEARS! To kick off my new Instant Pot theme for September on my YouTube channel and to try pasta for the first time in the Instant Pot… making a vodka sauce was just the perfect opportunity! Have you been wanting to try Instant Pot pasta for a long time? How about vodka sauce? This recipe will give you the chance to check those items off your bucket list! It’s one of themes in my Live to Cook one-month challenge to motivate you to explore your potential in the kitchen, so be sure to check that out and make this recipe as part of the challenge! Get this free guide, along with my 5 top tips to get inspired in the kitchen Make Cooking Fun!, by signing up for my newsletter! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see your delicious creations!
Check out the video to follow along as I prepare this easy and super tasty penne alla vodka in the Instant Pot! I’ve got all the details there and break down the recipe tangibly. I love to share the video to complement the written recipe to give you all the tools so you can be set up for success! Let’s get cooking!
What is Penne Alla Vodka?▼
Penne alla Vodka is exactly how it sounds. It’s an Italian penne pasta dish with a creamy and smooth tomato sauce, enhanced with a touch of vodka. Penne alla vodka can be vegetarian or proteins such as chicken, sausage, pancetta or bacon can be added. The penne alla vodka recipe I’ll be sharing in this post will be vegetarian, but I’ll mention variations with added protein later on in the post. Penne alla vodka was originated in Italy in the 1980s and it spread to the United States, being popular in discos - perhaps because of the alcohol in the dish!
This pasta recipe is quite minimalist, but the vodka and creamy sauce truly shine to make it a very special dish, and it can be on the table in a flash!
Why Make Penne Alla Vodka in the Instant Pot?
- You’re a pasta lover
- A restaurant classic brought to your home
- A rich, smooth homemade sauce
- You’ve got vodka that needs to be consumed
- One-pot dish!
- Quicker than cooking over the stove
- Excellent for a crowd as a lot can fit in the Instant Pot!
What Pasta Shape Should I use for Penne alla vodka?▼
The name of the dish is “Penne alla Vodka,” so penne is typically used. However, if you’ve decided to make this dish for an impromptu dinner, I totally understand! I have those moments too! If you don’t wanna go to the store to get penne but have other pasta shapes, then that’s fine for sure. Here are some other shapes that will work well with this recipe:
- Farfalle: Also known as bowties. I really enjoy using this shape! The sauce will nicely coat the pasta, as bowties are typically used in cream sauces.
- Ziti: Ziti is like large penne noodles with round holes. They’re an awesome substitute for penne and the sauce will cling onto the ziti in a similar way to penne.
- Rigatoni: Rigatoni is also similar to penne but with straight edges and the noodles are wider. Another excellent substitute, they’re fat with large holes so lots of sauce will get in there, and it’ll be really satisfying!
- Fusilli: These are the curly twirl shapes! The sauce will get into the crevices, plus they always make for a pretty plate!
- Calamarata: These are big circular short tubes, and at restaurants vodka sauce is often served with this shape!
- Maccheroni: These are straight medium-sized tubes, very similar to ziti. However, these are smooth noodles whereas ziti has ridges. The sauce may not fully coat the pasta as it would for rigatoni, ziti, or penne, but you’ll still get some sauciness in the holes and the dish will be delicious!
- Wheels: They’re so much fun and they have ridges that will allow for the sauce to stick to the pasta!
What Vodka Should I Use?▼
You can use any vodka that you would drink. However, you probably want to get the highest quality vodka you can afford for the best results. I used Absolut Vodka.
What Kind of Tomatoes Should I use?▼
I love to use Italian San Marzano tomatoes for my special sauces. I like to use San Marzano tomatoes because unlike regular tomatoes, they are less acidic and instead are more sweet. I strongly recommend you purchase this as it will really make a difference! I can only get them in a can here, but if you can get fresh San Marzano tomatoes, then lucky you! That would certainly be best!
What Does Penne Alla Vodka Taste Like?▼
The vodka evaporates while cooking, and if cooked well, you will not notice any vodka at all! Vodka actually helps make a richer and more flavorful tomato sauce which you are sure to enjoy.
Can You Get Drunk From Penne Alla Vodka? Can Kids Have Vodka Sauce?▼
No, you can’t. If the vodka is thoroughly cooked through, then the small amount of alcohol will evaporate during the process. Therefore, it’s safe for kids to enjoy in this delicious pasta recipe, making it family-friendly and excellent to get dinner on the table in a pinch! However, perhaps be mindful of the serving size if making this for young children.
What Does The Vodka Do In Penne Alla Vodka? Can I Omit It?▼
Technically you can but then it won’t be Penne alla Vodka anymore! Vodka is in the name, so it’s pretty much a requirement, and the addition. Most prominently, the vodka will unlock the hidden flavor within the tomatoes and intensify it. This is why it is important to use an appropriate amount of vodka and to cook it out well. If there is undiluted vodka left in the tomato sauce, it will actually overpower the flavor of the tomatoes.
Vodka also helps to thicken the sauce and balances out the richness from the creaminess. Without the addition of vodka, you’ll basically just have a creamy tomato penne pasta. That’s fine, but defeats the purpose this recipe is trying to achieve.
Is Vodka Sauce Spicy?▼
I will be making the vodka sauce a bit spicy in this recipe with the help of Bomba. Bomba is a spicy paste made from Calabrian chilies. If you don’t want your vodka sauce to be spicy, then you can omit this.
Tools Needed
Ingredients for Instant Pot Penne Alla Vodka
Time to review the ingredients for this penne alla vodka. Check out the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card at the bottom of this post or click the “Jump to Recipe” button to see all ingredient quantities, the recipe instructions and to save the recipe for later. You can also scale the recipe based on how much you want to make. I definitely recommend you make a lot because depending on your Instant Pot model, you can put a lot of pasta in there!
- Vodka: Whatever vodka you have will work. With the rest of it, you can explore cocktails, make vanilla, soaked fruits, use it to make other sauces with chicken or beef, or even use it for desserts!
- Butter and olive oil: We’ll use these to sauté the onion and garlic in the sauce.
- Tomatoes: I’m using a can of San Marzano tomatoes. You could use passata strained tomatoes and add some sugar for the sweetness.
- Pasta: Traditionally, as the name suggests, you would use penne pasta. In the spirit of a one-pot Instant Pot pasta recipe, it’ll be cooked with our sauce!
- Onion: I’m using red onions, but you can use your favorite kind. The onion will be finely chopped.
- Cream cheese: I’ll be using full fat cream cheese here. Other vodka sauce recipes use heavy cream, but I really love how cream cheese adds some more body along with the creaminess to the sauce. If you use a lower fat cream cheese, it will make your sauce liquidy and won’t add the same texture.
- Bomba: Added for spice.
- Garlic: Minced garlic will be added to the sauce for great flavor!
- Parmesan cheese: Always get the block and grate it yourself for best results please! I really believe the pre-grated packaged Parmesan is like sawdust!
- Parsley: Freshly chopped parsley will be added for garnish.
- Salt and pepper: To taste.
How to Make the Tastiest Instant Pot Penne Alla Vodka
Set the Instant Pot to Saute mode on High.
Once hot, add olive oil and butter. Add the bomba and cook out for 2-3 minutes or until sizzling and aromatic.
Add onions and cook 2-3 minutes or until they start to turn translucent. Add garlic and cook until the onions have completely softened.
Add the vodka and cook it down until most of the alcohol has evaporated.
Add the pasta and mix well. Add water and arrange the pasta so that most of it is under the water. Add crushed tomatoes over the top along with at least 1 tsp of salt.
Close the Instant Pot lid and hit Cancel. Set Instant Pot to Pressure Cook mode on Normal heat and High pressure for 4 minutes. Set the valve to Sealing mode.
Once the timer has gone off, let pressure release naturally for 1-2 minutes. Then perform a manual pressure release by carefully turning the valve to Venting mode.
Open the lid and stir gently to release any pasta that may have stuck together due to the starch from the pasta. Add the cream cheese and stir well until combined.
Grate in Parmesan cheese, preferably using a microplane. Mix well, taste and adjust for seasoning.
Serve, topped with more Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.
Serve hot and enjoy!
Tips for a Lip-smacking Instant Pot Penne Alla Vodka
- Use crushed Calabrian chili peppers for an interesting twist of sweet-spicy flavor instead of chili flakes.
- Hand crushed the canned San Marzano type tomatoes for a pleasant pulpy sauce texture.
- Perform a manual pressure release after the 1-2 minutes of natural release time.
- Stir carefully to un-stick any pasta that may have become sticky due to excess starch in the water.
What If I Don’t have an Instant Pot?▼
You can follow the same steps up until adding the vodka to the Instant pot in a pan.
The key differences will be:
- Cook the pasta in a boiling pot of water.
- Add tomatoes to the onion mixture and simmer gently with a pinch of salt until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Reserve about 1/2 cup of water from the pot of pasta.
- Add cooked pasta to the tomato sauce along with cream cheese or cream.
- Add reserved water as required to adjust consistency.
- Garnish with parmesan and parsley.
Serving Suggestions for Penne Alla Vodka
I certainly recommend you have some garlic bread! This will be a very saucy pasta, so you’ll have plenty of sauce left over to scoop up! You don’t want a drop to be left behind!
If you’re looking for an appetizer, I totally recommend some Fried Mozzarella Sticks. Try dipping your mozza sticks in the vodka sauce, I bet that’ll blow you away! You may also like some Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings for an appetizer.
Want some greens? You can’t go wrong with my Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad!
Variations of Instant Pot Penne Alla Vodka
There are plenty of ways you can switch up your Penne alla Vodka! Here are some ideas:
- Protein: I kept this Penne alla Vodka recipe vegetarian, but feel free to add in protein if desired! You could add in sausage, grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken, bacon, shrimp, prosciutto or pancetta. You could even use ground veal, beef, pork, or a mix of minced meats!
- Greens: Swap the parsley for freshly chopped basil, oregano, or a mix of the herbs. You could even add in spinach or peas if you’d like.
- Pasta shape: Check out the earlier section and switch up the pasta shape for a different experience enjoying the wonderful vodka sauce!
How to Store▼
Store your pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’ll stay good for about 3 to 4 days because of the heavy cream in the sauce. You can reheat your Penne alla Vodka in the microwave for about two minutes, stirring frequently to ensure it is entirely warmed through.
Penne Pasta Recipes: Where Vodka Sauce Fits In
Penne is a tubular pasta cut on the diagonal, and on most boxes it is ridged down the outside. Those two details are the entire reason it dominates saucy recipes: the tube traps sauce inside while the ridges hold it outside. Search for penne pasta recipes and you land in a handful of families. Arrabbiata is tomato, garlic and chili with no dairy at all. Pesto is basil, oil and cheese, no cooking of the sauce. Alfredo is dairy and Parmesan with no tomato. Bolognese is a long-simmered meat sauce. Primavera loads the pan with vegetables like zucchini and peppers. Baked penne goes into the oven under cheese.
Vodka sauce, which is what this page is, sits deliberately in between two of those. It has the tomato base of an arrabbiata and the dairy richness of an alfredo, and the vodka is the bridge. The alcohol cooks off entirely before the pasta goes in, so what you taste is not the spirit; vodka pulls out aroma compounds in the tomato that neither water nor fat will release on their own, which is why the finished sauce reads rounder and sweeter than a plain tomato cream sauce made the same way. If you want the same one-pot method with a different personality, leave out the cream cheese and Parmesan for something much closer to arrabbiata, or stir a handful of sliced zucchini in with the onions for a primavera lean.
Getting Al Dente Penne Out of an Instant Pot
The one thing people get wrong with one-pot pasta is the timing, because there is no draining and no tasting halfway through. The numbers in this recipe are calibrated as a set: 16 oz of penne, 2 1/2 cups of water, and 4 minutes at high pressure. As a rough rule, pressure-cook time lands near a third of what the box asks for on the stovetop, so 4 minutes suits a penne labelled 11 to 12 minutes; if your brand cooks quicker than that, drop to 3. The natural release matters just as much. One to two minutes and then a manual release is the trick, because residual heat keeps working on the pasta the whole time it sits, and a long natural release will take you well past al dente into soft. Stir gently when the lid comes off to loosen anything the starch has glued together, and remember the 3 cloves of garlic go in after the onions have softened, not before, or they will catch and turn bitter under saute mode. Serve with garlic bread and a sharp side salad to cut the richness.
Other Easy Instant Pot Recipes!
Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments! If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to post it on social media and tag it with #cookingwithanadi and mention me @cooking.with.anadi. Thank you!
Recipe by Anadi Misra
Make creamy Instant Pot Penne alla Vodka in one pot with minimal effort. Rich, velvety sauce clings to every noodle for a quick and satisfying dinner the whole family will love.
Instant Pot
Rate this recipe ✦
10 min
Prep
30 min
Cook
40 min
Total
4
servings
easy
Level
Ingredients
Ingredients
Tap any quantity to scale
- (15 ml) olive oilShop →
- (7 g) butter
- (120 ml) vodka
- (8 g) Bomba(large)Shop →
- medium sized onion(finely chopped)
- garlic(minced)
- (794 g) canned San Marzano tomatoes(hand crushed)Shop →
- (454 g) penne pastaShop →
- (600 ml) water
- (60 ml) cream cheese
- (30 g) Parmesan cheese(finely grated, plus more for topping)
- parsley(for garnish)Shop →
- salt(to taste)Shop →
- pepper(to taste)Shop →
Instructions
- 1
Set the Instant Pot to Saute mode on High.
Set the Instant Pot to Saute mode on High.
- 2
Once hot, add olive oil and butter. Add the tomato paste and cook out for 2-3 minutes or until sizzling and aromatic.
Once hot, add olive oil and butter. Add the tomato paste and cook out for 2-3 minutes or until sizzling and aromatic.
- 3
Add onions and cook 2-3 minutes or until they start to turn translucent. Add garlic and cook until the onions have completely softened.
Add onions and cook 2-3 minutes or until they start to turn translucent. Add garlic and cook until the onions have completely softened.
- 4
Add the vodka and cook it down until most of the alcohol has evaporated.
Add the vodka and cook it down until most of the alcohol has evaporated.
- 5
Add the pasta and mix well. Add water and arrange the pasta so that most of it is under the water. Add crushed tomatoes over the top along with at least 1 tsp of salt.
Add the pasta and mix well. Add water and arrange the pasta so that most of it is under the water. Add crushed tomatoes over the top along with at least 1 tsp of salt.
- 6
Close the Instant Pot lid and hit Cancel. Set Instant Pot to Pressure Cook mode on Normal heat and High pressure for 4 minutes. Set the valve to Sealing mode.
Close the Instant Pot lid and hit Cancel. Set Instant Pot to Pressure Cook mode on Normal heat and High pressure for 4 minutes. Set the valve to Sealing mode.
- 7
Once the timer has gone off, let pressure release naturally for 1-2 minutes. Then perform a manual pressure release by carefully turning the valve to Venting mode.
Once the timer has gone off, let pressure release naturally for 1-2 minutes. Then perform a manual pressure release by carefully turning the valve to Venting mode.
- 8
Open the lid and stir gently to release any pasta that may have stuck together due to the starch from the pasta. Add the cream cheese and stir well until combined.
Open the lid and stir gently to release any pasta that may have stuck together due to the starch from the pasta. Add the cream cheese and stir well until combined.
- 9
Grate in Parmesan cheese, preferably using a microplane. Mix well, taste and adjust for seasoning.
Grate in Parmesan cheese, preferably using a microplane. Mix well, taste and adjust for seasoning.
- 10
Serve, topped with more parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.
Serve, topped with more parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.
Notes
- •If you cannot find Bomba or Calabrian chili peppers, use 1-3 teaspoons of red chilli flakes.
Did you make this recipe? Tag @cooking.with.anadi on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingwithanadi
Tested & written in Anadi’s kitchen
Recipe history
- April 16, 2026 — Reworked and refreshed for the 2026 relaunch — new photography, restructured and standardized ingredients & instructions.
Filed under
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