Vodka-Infused Penne with Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A smooth and rich penne pasta dish elevated with a subtle vodka infusion and roasted garlic cream sauce. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs penne pasta, vodka, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 520 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place 6 whole garlic cloves on a small piece of foil, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, wrap tightly, and roast for 20 minutes until soft and fragrant.
  2. Step 2: Bring a large pot of salted water with 1 tsp salt to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz penne pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
  3. Step 3: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Carefully add 1/4 cup vodka and cook for 2 minutes to let the alcohol evaporate, stirring gently.
  4. Step 4: Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skins into the skillet and stir to combine with vodka.
  5. Step 5: Add 1 cup heavy cream to the skillet and simmer over medium-low heat for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
  6. Step 6: Toss the drained penne pasta into the skillet with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if needed to loosen the sauce.
  7. Step 7: Stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 2 tbsp chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning and serve immediately.

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