Penne Alla Vodka With Ground Beef

Penne alla vodka with ground beef is the grown up, homemade version of Hamburger Helper. This delicious pasta takes pasta with vodka sauce and adds ground beef for a hearty comforting dish with minimal fuss. This cozy dish makes the perfect cold weather 30 meal.

Growing up, I loved Hamburger Helper.

It just screams childhood comfort food doesn’t it? And is there anything better than childhood comfort food?

Yes! Comfort food that takes a childhood classic and puts a grown up spin on it.

That’s exactly what this penne alla vodka with ground beef does- puts a grown up spin on your childhood favorites.

What is penne alla vodka?

Penne alla vodka is an Italian American pasta dish that became quite popular in the 1980s.

The dish combines penne with a creamy tomato sauce that’s laced with vodka. It winds up being a similar sauce to my creamy tomato shrimp pasta with vodka added in.

My version of penne alla vodka adds ground beef to the dish so it is almost like a creamy beefy ziti.

Ingredients Needed

While it may sound fancy, this dish actually has a relatively simple ingredient list.

To make it you’ll need:

• Oil – Olive oil- I don’t recommend substituting this for an alternative oil
• Onion – Dice white, or yellow, onion
• Beef – Lean ground beef
• Seasoning – A blend of salt, pepper, and crushed red peppers
• Tomatoes – A 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes forms the base of this vodka sauce.
• Vodka – 1/2 cup of plain (unflavored) vodka
• Cream – Heavy whipping cream
• Pasta – 4 cups of cooked, drained penne pasta. You can substitute this for another short pasta depending on what you have at home, if needed.
• Cheese – Shredded Parmesan cheese, for serving

Once you’ve gathered all of the ingredients you’re ready to get cooking.

How To Make

This is one of those dinners that is fool proof. You can put this together on your busiest day easily and it will taste fantastic in no time at all.

To make it start by heating a large pot over medium high heat with olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the beef and season it with salt and pepper to taste.

Cook the beef in the hot oil until it is no longer pink, crumbling as it cooks.

Once the meat is browned through, strain the meat to get rid of any excess grease, then return it to the pot.

Stir in the tomatoes, vodka, onion and chili flakes until everything’s evenly combined. Turn the heat up to high and bring the mixture to a boil.

Reduce the heat some, keep stirring the sauce, and allow it to cook until it has reduced by half and thickened slightly.

Remove the pot from heat, add the cream, and stir together until evenly combined.

Add the cooked pasta to the pot, stirring together until it’s well coated in sauce. Then let the mixture sit for a couple minutes while the sauce thickens and soaks into the pasta some.

Sprinkle the pasta with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Storing

While this is best enjoyed fresh, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

When ready to enjoy again reheat in the microwave or on the stove top. If heating on the stovetop you may need to add a little liquid since the pasta tends to absorb the sauce as it sits.

Can You Get Drunk Off Of Vodka Sauce?

Also, because I’ve had several people ask- NO, the short answer is you can’t. Bottom line. This meal is not only safe to serve to children, but one they’ll probably gobble up without complaint.

While it does use alcohol in the recipe, the actual alcohol is cooked off & rendered moot during the cooking process. All that’s left behind is the tangy flavor that’s adhered to & infused the pasta sauce at that point.

Technically, yes there will be the tiniest most minuscule amount of alcohol left in the dish. But it’s like an essence, and such a small amount- it won’t affect anyone: not kids, adults, or pregnant women.

I understand the concern though, I really do. You’ll never actually get drunk eating a dish with vodka sauce in it, but you do have a healthy appreciation for the fact that at some point alcohol was involved.

And last but not least for our FAQ’s section…

What Does The Vodka Actually Do In Vodka Sauce?

Adding alcohol to tomato based dishes is a common thing. In Italy. It’s actually a very Italian thing.

And while I’m not a food scientist, I understand the gist of the reasons behind this cooking method.

The vodka in this vodka sauce recipe serves two functions: first as a flavor enhancer, and secondly as an all natural emulsifier.

The alcohol releases/leeches extra flavor from the tomatoes, making for a more aromatic sauce than you’d be able to get with just the tomato alone.

Cream, a natural fat, doesn’t tend to do well under heat or with acids. Tomatoes are naturally very acidic, making them a tricky pairing.

Adding a little vodka to the mix acts as a natural stabilizer allowing the two to adhere to one another in a creamy, slightly tangy sauce without having to worry about curdling cream or separating during the cooking process.

There’s nothing worse than curdled cream, bitter pasta sauce, or oily tomatoes. A simple vodka sauce is just the trick, and the perfect solution.

Tips and Tricks for Making the Best Penne Alla Vodka

This pasta recipe is pretty easy but a few tips and tricks can help set you up for vodka sauce success.

• First and foremost, make sure you aren’t using flavored vodka! You want regular old vodka, not something with a fancy flavor like caramel or whatever else. Just plain vodka!
• You can use whatever vodka is in your liquor cabinet, but if you’re adding it to the grocery list- it doesn’t need to be the expensive, top shelf stuff.
• Make sure to strain the meat and use lean ground beef. Otherwise, the dish will feel very greasy and heavy because you will have both the beef fat and the heavy cream.
• Don’t skip letting the sauce cook down. The flavor will intensify and the texture of the sauce will be much better.
• Not into heat? Skip the red pepper flakes for a more mild flavor.

Other Easy Pasta And Sauce Recipes

This penne alla vodka with ground beef is my current favorite way to eat vodka sauce. Make it today and see why I love it so much.

Looking for other ways to serve the classic combination of pasta & sauce?

Try these:

• Cast Iron Skillet Ravioli Lasagna
• Baked Spaghetti Pie
• One Pot Spaghetti
• Spaghetti & Meatballs Soup

If you’ve tried these PENNE ALLA VODKA WITH GROUND BEEF, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!