Put it in your dinner!
Maybe you were wondering if Ben worked for Buca di Beppo in high school, and has had an unnatural obsession with their mouthwatering, homestyle Italian food ever since? You were? Good.
He routinely asks me to scour the internet for copykat recipes of theirs to make for dinner, like Meatball Roulade.
Meatball Roulade? What the heck is meatball roulade?! A roll of meatballs? That actually doesn’t sound half bad…
Usually I talk him off the ledge, as these restaurant style recipes can take hours to handcraft and simmer – time I just don’t have during the busy work week – and are way too heavy to indulge in on the regular.
“Hmm, why don’t we have a salad instead?!” I’ll suggest.
“That is not the same.” he’ll reply.
Well my man finally threw out a request I just couldn’t refuse – to recreate one of his all-time favorite Bucca dishes: Penne a la Vodka.
Pasta (my favorite) and marinara sauce, laced with cheese (my second favorite) and vodka (my third favorite)? Sold! (It’s been a long week, people!)
Restaurant style Penne a la Vodka typically overwhelms marinara sauce with heavy cream and tons of pasta, but the recipe I used tonight called for skim milk, healthy(er) whole wheat penne, and just a wee bit of parmesan cheese.
Since I scaled back on the serving size you’d normally get at a restaurant too, I was able to add a seasoned, grilled chicken breast on top. Yay, volume!
(PS this Mr BBQ Grill Pan ROCKS!)
Got to splurge a bit with broiled mozz on top! 
Lighter Penne a la Vodka
From Health.com
Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
1 pound whole-grain penne
16oz good quality marinara sauce (I used Gino’s)
1 1/2 cups skim milk
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup vodka
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
6-8 chicken breasts
garlic powder, salt & pepper
shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions:
1. Bring marinara sauce to a simmer over medium heat in a large saucepan. Slowly add milk, whisking to combine, and bring back to a simmer. Lower heat and continue to simmer until sauce thickens, ~5 minutes.
2. Add crushed red pepper flakes and vodka to the marinara sauce. Continue simmering for at least 10 more minutes.
3. Pound chicken breasts flat, spray each side with non-stick spray, and season with garlic powder, salt & pepper. Grill or sauté in a skillet until cooked through.
4. Meanwhile, boil a large pot of water. Add a generous dash of salt and pour in pasta. Cook to al dente, drain and return to the pot. Pour in sauce and parmesan cheese. Mix to combine.
5. Top each portion of pasta with a chicken breast and mozzarella cheese. Broil until golden brown.
I’ll admit, I’ve never actually had Penne a la Vodka before, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I thought this was delish! I think I would like it even better with regular white pasta though. The whole grain is a little too off the beaten path for an Italian dish like this. Ben’s not home from work yet, so I’m anxious to see what he thinks too. 
The bite from the vodka was just noticeable, but not so much as to where I was like, ok I’m eating vodka for dinner.
Which, as much as I like a splash in my Arnold Palmer, Watermelon Cooler and Lemonade, I’m not in the habit of doing.
And, as much as as I’d like to partake in any one of the above beverages this evening, there is STILL laundry to be done. How do two people accumulate SO much?! I’ll never understand it! Oh, life.
Have a great night!
~~~~~
Would you/do you ever cook with vodka or other alcohol?
One of my all time favorite recipes I’ve ever posted on IGE is Wine Braised Beef Shepard’s Pie. omggggggg.
I really want to start cooking with vodka and wines! The flavors you get from them are so rich and good!
You can totally drink while doing laundry! Makes it way more fun. I never clean without a glass of wine on the side.
I agree… cleaning with some booze just makes it less painful
Beef Bourgionon (sp?!) with liquor! YUM!
Mmmm that looks SO good. I love vodka sauce but generally just buy it at Trader Joe’s – you’ve inspired me to try crafting it myself now though!
It’s Wednesday! Long week already? Giiirl, I hear you on that… if I don’t stop crying randomly, my boyfriend is going to skip the pasta/sauce/cheese and go straight for the bottle.
Also: I put bourbon in pretty much anything I can even halfway justify. It’s actually a really stellar addition to a lot of BBQ or teriyaki-type marinades. And in baked goods. Pecan pie + bourbon = heaven.
Beef+red wine is the most amazing combination. It’s been too long since I’ve used the combination. Maybe I’ll change that this weekend. Thanks for the idea!
i love penne a la vodka. so good! can’t wait to try your variation!
i would and do cook with alcohol! vodka cream sauce is one of my all time favorites. averie at loveveggiesandyoga.com posted a mouthwatering rum oatmeal raisin cookie recipe. YUM!
I make my pie crusts with equal parts vodka and water. Whatever amount of water you use add the same of vodka. The dough will be easier to roll out and the vodka evaporates. mmmmmmmmmm yummy.
There’s no reason you can’t enjoy a little Arnold Palmer in between laundry loads tonight! It makes chores go by faster
Vodka is a great addition to pasta sauces but one of my favorite liquors to use is whiskey.
I have a recipe for a steak marinade that is just amazing and the whiskey in it gives a smokey sweetness and makes the steak sooo tender.
Vodka in pasta sauce?? You have captured my college girl heart.
I totally want to try this sometime, looks awesome! and about the laundry, I accumulate about two loads a week by myself it’s ridiculous!
I cook with wine all the time, and of course baking with booze (a la rum balls
However, I did just win 12 bottles of bloody mary mix and I’d love to get creative with that in the kitchen. Any ideas?
Cooking with alcohol is one area I am scared of in the kitchen for some reason! I have used wine a couple times but that is it. I think I am afraid the liquor taste will come through too much?
Not only am I totally sold on this recipe AND the grill pan, but you have me CRAVING a Watermelon Cooler! I use red and white wines a lot when cooking but I’ve never ventured into vodka territory… I think I will be making that exact dinner sometime very, very soon!
Another fantastic looking meal…………….YUM! I made lasagna last wknd, froze some of it…………so good……….and I love adding extra garlic………that garlic press is fun to use………:)
Where does one buy such an itty-bitty, teeny-tiny bottle of vodka? I have only ever purchased the economy size (plastic) bottle from Costco, just as I only purchase my wine by the 5 Liter bottle (er…. box, if I’m being honest). lol
Teehee – it actually looks small in the picture, but it’s a normal fifth!
Speaking of pans…I like the Mr. BBQ’s idea…I don’t have one and just mentioned I’d like a panini maker for Christmas, however, I think I might like this pan all the more… your thoughts? Also, any idea for brand of fry pan I should snag…I need 2 new ones and would like to get some that last??
I HEART my Cuisinart Griddler, so I would get that above the pan. But it’s nice to have both options! http://astore.amazon.com/iogiea09-20/detail/B002YD99Y4
Oh yeah…the vodka, LEMON DROPS!!!!!!!!
I LOVE penne a la vodka! I just started making it over the summer and it’s so easy. I was scarred in college when my roommate didn’t cook the alcohol off… bleh.
Another recipe I make with alcohol is a beef brisket baked in beer. It’s amazing
Yum, I’m coming to your place for dinner!
Penne with vodka sauce is one of my favorites! I absolute love vodka sauce. It’s so good
I love cooking beef in red wine. It adds so much flavor to the dish.
My man is a beer fan so I’ve used that in several recipes, its fun. (he is so excited to have just brewed his own beer with a kit I got him for his birthday, its cute!!)
PS-I feel you on the laundry- there is just two of us as well and its nuts- I wonder how whole families deal with laundry, it must just be non stop!
It’s nothing compared to homemade, but TJs has a really good Vodka sauce! But then again, does TJs have much that’s NOT really good? I’ll never know how they do it.
Ooo, I’ll have to try that!
hahaha, I love the post title. Too cute.
So I have a big favor to ask, can you write a post about wedding registries? Having been married for a bit, what would you recommend engaged women registering for? I’d LOVE to see a post on that.
This post should be perfect for you! http://iowagirleats.com/2010/10/24/these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things-kitchen-edition/
This is great! Any recommendations for outside of the kitchen?
Sounds/looks delishioso!
that looks good!never cooked w/booze but drank/drink plenty of it! ha! i tried to train myself to eat whole wheat pasta….just couldn’t cotton to it. no matter how long i cooked it, it was just too tough.
Penna alla vodka is my FAVORITE and this looks way easier than the recipe I usually use..thanks!!!
I love ya, IGE, but you lost me at Smirnoff. Try Svedka next time. Or an even cheaper vodka. Smirnoff is garbage, IMHO.
My favorite thing to do is deglaze the pan I cooked mushrooms in and make a quick wine sauce. Heck, deglazing anything with wine is a good idea
Made this tonight-DELISH! I was craving a chicken parm type dish, checked your blog (as I do every am) and bam-dinner was served
Try it with Barilla PLUS pasta — it has fiber and protein but manages to taste a lot like white pasta — only better. And there is no “grainy” texture.
That’s what I’m going to use to make this!
This looks great! Vodka pairs well with so many things, I’m glad it came out well in the pasta sauce!