Chicken Penne alla Vodka
Chicken Penne alla Vodka is a popular Italian-American pasta dish featuring penne pasta tossed in a creamy, tomato-based vodka sauce with tender pieces of chicken. The sauce typically combines tomatoes, heavy cream, vodka, and aromatics like onion and garlic, creating a rich, slightly tangy flavor profile. It's a staple in many Italian restaurants and home kitchens, known for its comforting and indulgent appeal.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is generally high in carbohydrates from the pasta and fat from the cream and cheese, with a moderate amount of protein from the chicken. Key nutrients include calcium, vitamin C from tomatoes, and energy-dense calories, with a rough estimate of 600-800 calories per serving depending on portion sizes and ingredient ratios.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 450 kcal |
| Protein | 25 g |
| Carbs | 40 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
| Potassium | 350 mg |
| Vitamin A | 450 IU |
| Vitamin C | 8 mg |
| Calcium | 120 mg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.4 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.8 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 280 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, Chicken Penne alla Vodka is a modern Italian-American creation that gained popularity in the 1970s, blending traditional Italian pasta with a creamy twist. Nutritionally, the vodka in the sauce is said to enhance the absorption of lycopene from tomatoes, an antioxidant, though it cooks off during preparation.
