Instant Pot Penne Alla Vodka

Penne Alla Vodka a classic Italian pasta dish with smooth and creamy tomato-based sauce. This restaurant fav dishes simple to make at home using the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.

I love to cook food that I have enjoyed in restaurants and this recipe is my attempt to recreate one of those delicious dishes. I have made this pasta on stovetop for a long time and couldn’t wait to try it in my Instant Pot.

Instant Pot

So why Cook Pasta in the Instant Pot? The answer is simple – Cooking the pasta in the Instant Pot gives it a naturally creamy texture as the it does require draining the excess water after pressure cooking. This water adds a great texture and flavor to the final dish.

Tips

Pro tips for perfect Instant Pot Penne Alla Vodka Pasta:

• Add enough water/broth/tomato sauce so that most of the pasta is under the liquids
• Layer the pasta sauce on top of the water or broth and do not mix it in
• For a well cooked pasta, pressure cook pasta for half the time on the pasta box
• For Al dente pasta, pressure cook for half the time on the pasta box minus 1 minute
• Always add cream after the pasta is done pressure cooking
• Quick releasing after pressure cooking will avoid overcooking the pasta

Vodka

Ever wonder what flavors Vodka adds to this pasta dish? Here are few things vodka does:

• Adds a touch of heat and sharpness
• Helps balance the sweetness of tomatoes and cream
• For more info check out this article from Serious Eats
• For any one wondering most of the alcohol in this recipe is evaporated but the traces left unlocks a lot of flavors

Gluten Free

In this recipe I am using gluten free pasta but I also use regular pasta and here are few basic things you may find useful when you are trying to figure out the Instant Pot pasta cook times:

• I love the Trader Joe’s gluten free pasta varieties. I have used the brown rice pasta in this recipe which has cook time of 7 – 10 minutes. So for al dente pasta I pressure cook it for 4 mins followed by quick release
• For regular pasta, check the cooktime on the box. Use half the time to pressure cook pasta for a well cooked pasta or half the time minus one minute for aldente. So if the Package says 10 mins, pressure cook for 5 mins for well cooked pasta or pressure cook for 4 mins for al dente

Types of tomatoes that can be used in this recipe:

• Diced ripe plum tomatoes
• Jar of favorite marinara sauce
• Canned tomato puree
• Puree a can of peeled plum tomatoes and add minced fresh garlic

Process

Step by Step Instant Pot Recipe:

• Turn the Instant Pot to Saute mode and heat oil. Add onions, garlic and red pepper flakes. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes with a glass lid on. Add vodka, mix well and cook for another 2 mins to reduce down the vodka.

•  Add pasta, salt, 2 cups of water and tomato puree . Close the Instant Pot and Manual/pressure cook for 4 minutes (Note, the cook time on Trader Joe’s brown rice pasta is 7-10 mins)

• Quick release and open the lid. Stir in cream. Add parsley and grated cheese. Mix well and Serve hot.

Adding protein or veggies to the Instant Pot Penne Alla Vodka:

• Sauté 1 inch cubes of boneless chicken thighs along with the onions and follow the remaining recipe.
• Sauté shrimp, peas or mushrooms in the Instant Pot as the first step in some oil with salt and pepper. Keep them aside and follow the rest of the recipe. Simply add the sauteeted shrimp or veggies on the pasta before serving
• Stir in few handful of baby spinach in the end just before serving.

More favorite Instant Pot Pasta recipes:

• Pasta Caprese
• Spicy Taco Pasta 
• Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese
• Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce
• Spinach Mushroom Lasagna

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4.5 from 53 votes

Instant Pot Penne Alla Vodka

Italian classic pasta dish made in a creamy tomato, garlic, vodka sauce

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Pasta

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: 6

Calories: 476kcal

Author: Archana Mundhe

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 pound pasta I used Trader Joe’s organic brown rice penne pasta
• ▢ 28 oz tomato puree or marinara sauce
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 1 small onion diced
• ▢ 6 garlic cloves minced
• ▢ 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• ▢ ½ cup vodka
• ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ 2 cups water
• ▢ ½ cup heavy cream
• ▢ ¼ cup parmigiano reggiano grated
• ▢ 1/4 cup Parsley chopped

Instructions

• Turn the Instant Pot to Saute mode and heat oil.
• Add onions, garlic and red pepper flakes. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes with a glass lid on.
• Add vodka, mix well and cook for another 2 mins to reduce down the vodka.
• Add pasta, 2 cups of water and salt. Stir well, making sure to push most of the pasta under the liquids. Layer over the tomato puree or sauce and DO NOT mix. Close the Instant Pot and Manual/pressure cook for 4 minutes (Note, the cook time on Trader Joe’s brown rice pasta is 7-10 mins) followed by Quick Release.
• Stir in cream. Add parsley and grated cheese. Mix well and Serve hot.

Video

Notes

• Add enough water/broth/tomato sauce so that most of the pasta is under the liquids
• Layer the tomato puree or pasta sauce on top of the water or broth and do not mix it in
• For a well cooked pasta, pressure cook pasta for half the time on the pasta box
• For Al dente pasta, pressure cook for half the time on the pasta box minus 1 minute
• Always add cream after the pasta is done pressure cooking
• Quick releasing after pressure cooking will avoid overcooking the pasta

Nutrition

Calories: 476kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 553mg | Potassium: 654mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1310IU | Vitamin C: 19.6mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 3.6mg

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