Penne alla Vodka with Meat
Penne alla Vodka with Meat is a rich, creamy Italian-American pasta dish featuring penne pasta tossed in a tomato-based sauce enriched with vodka, cream, and ground meat like beef or sausage. Originating from Italian-American cuisine in the mid-20th century, it's known for its velvety texture and balanced flavors of tangy tomatoes, savory meat, and a subtle kick from the vodka.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is typically high in carbs from the pasta, fat from the cream and meat, and provides a good amount of protein from the meat component. A standard serving can range from 600 to 800 calories, offering key nutrients like iron from the meat, lycopene from tomatoes, and calcium from the dairy.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 480 kcal |
| Protein | 22 g |
| Carbs | 48 g |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
| Potassium | 380 mg |
| Calcium | 120 mg |
| Iron | 3.5 mg |
| Vitamin A | 450 IU |
| Vitamin C | 8 mg |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.2 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 280 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, the vodka in the sauce isn't just for flavor—it helps emulsify and meld the tomato and cream into a smooth, cohesive sauce, a technique that became popular in the 1970s. Nutritionally, the combination of tomatoes and dairy can enhance the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like lycopene, making the dish a surprisingly efficient source of antioxidants.
