Penne alla vodka with sausage features a flavorful homemade vodka tomato sauce with juicy browned sausage. – an easy weeknight dinner that’s ready in under an hour!

Comfort food calls! No one in their right mind can refuse the call of a good pot of penne alla vodka.

We’re even making things a little extra hearty today and calling sausage up for duty! The result is pretty much any pasta-lovers dream dinner.

We’re going to be making tomato vodka sauce from scratch today but don’t be scared, this doesn’t mean hours of simmering! From start to finish you can have this pasta on the table in under an hour.

And the flavors? Well, let’s just say there’s a reason why this recipe is a staple for pasta night in our house.

This Pasta features…

A flavorful creamy vodka tomato sauce
Tender penne pasta and browned sausage bits
Fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese on top

Making the Pasta

(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)

Ingredients You Will Need

Olive oil
Sausage
Shallot
Garlic
Vodka
Whole peeled tomatoes
Tomato paste
Granulated sugar
Italian seasoning
Red pepper flakes
Heavy whipping cream
Penne pasta

Choosing Your Sausage

I like to use a sweet ground Italian sausage for this penne alla vodka. The mild flavor goes very well with the flavorful, creamy tomato vodka sauce.

Alternative sausage options include spicy Italian sausage, chicken sausage, or turkey sausage. You can use both ground sausage or cut-up sausage links, totally your call!

Tips for Perfect Penne alla Vodka

Use fresh garlic and shallot – using these ingredients fresh will build lots of aromatic flavor in the sauce.
Build sauce with whole peeled tomatoes – these will break down into a texture-full sauce with lots of robust flavor.
Add sugar to sauce – a pinch of sugar helps smooth the acidity from the tomatoes.
Simmer sauce uncovered – this will allow steam to escape which helps reduce the sauce quickly.
Cook pasta to al dente – the pasta will continue to cook once added to the warm sauce so make sure you do not overcook it during boiling.
Add heavy cream after simmering – this adds just a touch of richness to the sauce.

Recipe Variations

Try these ideas for a different twist on this pasta.

Make it spicy – add red pepper flakes or minced chili pepper to taste for a spicy sauce.
Use another meat – try ground chicken, beef, pork, or turkey in place of the sausage. Alternatively, you can also skip the meat entirely.
Try another pasta shape – try rigatoni or pappardalle in place of the penne.

Storing Sauce

You can make up the sauce ahead of time for easy reheating and store in refrigerator up to 6 days. Heat over medium heat on stovetop and fold cooked penne into sauce just before serving.

To freeze sauce, allow to cool completely then store in a freezer-safe container, leaving about an inch of open air on top, and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw completely in refrigerator before reheating and serving with penne.

Your next pasta night just got a serious upgrade! You can’t go wrong with this cozy penne on your menu, trust me.

And the mountains of fresh basil + Parm on top your own personal bowl? Very necessary.

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More easy weeknight pasta dishes to try next!

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