Healthy Penne alla Vodka with Chicken
Penne alla vodka is an Italian classic I wanted to recreate at home but with some changes to lighten it up. I skipped the cream, swapping roasted zucchini and onion which I pureed into the sauce. For more protein, I served this over protein pasta and added chicken breast. Tommy, who orders vodka sauce any chance he gets gave this two thumbs up! For more vodka sauce recipes, try this Penne Alla Vodka with prosciutto and half and half or my Spicy Vodka Chicken Parmesan.
Healthy Penne alla Vodka Ingredients
Chicken Breast: You’ll need six thin chicken cutlets. See more chicken breast recipes here. Seasoning: Season the chicken with salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Onion and Garlic: Cut one onion into half-inch chunks and smash six garlic cloves. Zucchini: Roasted zucchini is pureed to make the sauce creamy. Shallots: Finely mince one shallot, for flavor. Salt and Pepper season the vodka sauce. Crushed Tomatoes: I love Tuttorosso’s crushed tomatoes, but buy whatever you can find. Broth: Use chicken or vegetable broth. Parmesan: Add freshly grated Parmesan to the sauce, and top your bowl of pasta with some more. Tomato Paste: Before adding the vodka, cook the tomato paste for a couple of minutes to toast it. Red Pepper Flakes: Sprinkle the sauce with red pepper for a bit of a kick. Vodka: Use a good-quality vodka for the sauce, such as Tito’s. Basil: Simmer the sauce with a sprig of basil and garnish with more. Pasta: I used Barilla protein pasta, gluten-free pasta will also work.
How to Make Penne alla Vodka with Chicken
This healthier vodka sauce recipe is creamy without using any heavy cream. Here’s how to make it:
Variations
Chicken: If you can’t find chicken cutlets, buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut them vertically with scissors to make thin pieces. Meat: Swap chicken with Italian chicken or turkey sausage. Vegetarian Penne alla Vodka: Omit the grilled chicken. Seasoning: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, replace it with whatever dried herbs you have, like basil, oregano, and parsley. Vegetables: Add spinach to the vodka sauce. Zucchini: Substitute zucchini with yellow squash. Spiciness: Omit red pepper flakes for a milder dish, or add more for an extra kick. Pasta: Sub penne with any short pasta shape, like rotini, fusilli, or orecchiette. You can also use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta if you prefer.
What to Serve with Penne alla Vodka
Since this penne alla vodka has chicken and zucchini, it’s a complete meal by itself. However, here are some side dish ideas if you want to serve it with a veggie:
Italian Side Salad Roasted Asparagus Wilted Spinach with Garlic Garlic Butter Mushrooms
Storage
Store penne alla vodka with chicken for up to four days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also freeze it for up to three months and thaw it in the refrigerator before microwaving it until warm.
More Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
Penne with Brussels Sprouts and Meat Ragu Instant Pot Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs Baby Pasta Shells with Asparagus and Marinara Turkey Sausage and Tomato Sauce over Pasta Spaghetti Carbonara
