It was penne alla vodka. This is reflexive at this point for good reason. There is that perfect balance of acidity, richness, and great dandy of tang. It's comfort food and Italian elevated at the same time.

This baked version of our favorite dish, penne alla vodka, is easy to prep and minimal clean up for a low lift weeknight meal. I do it all in one pan (no boiling pasta separately!) and it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare—leaving you to do what you choose while dinner slowly rises in the oven.

The pasta cooks right in the pan, meaning it's soaking in tons of sauce, seasonings, and so on. For instance, we found that, once everyone was in the oven together, the whole dish feels more cohesive down the line. It's a win… win. Convenient. Tasty.

Baked Penne alla Vodka Tips and Tricks

  • Make sure it's with a good quality tomato sauce. We didn't so make sure you're using a fresh and flavorful tomato sauce if you're not making your own. However, we like Victoria or like Rao's, both found in bulk at Costco.
  • Don't skip the vodka. We've done this before out of the belief that vodka is unnecessary, and in fact it is necessary! It adds that good bite that gives room for the sauce to emulsify to a smooth cohesive texture. If you don't want to drink alcohol, then water and a squeeze of lemon juice are a good substitute.
  • Stir the pasta as little as possible, keep it as submerged as you can throughout the process. In thinking of this advice, there are two times to remember it: when you first put the pasta in the oven, and once you mix it, when you put it back in to cook uncovered. Some of the noodles may fall out but the pasta should be at least partially covered with liquid so that they do cook well.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Make it extra cheesy: For an extra creamy pasta, add mozzarella on top or dolloped with ricotta.
  • Add other vegetables: Ripened, green peas, roasted eggplant, sautéed or caramelised mushrooms would make great match for a tofu dip. We'd also suggest mixing in your cooked vegetables a few minutes before sprinkling on the shredded cheese just before the pasta begins to bake for 10-minutes altogether.
  • Add protein: Instead of cooked soy curls we like to add them but you could also add grilled chicken, chicken cutlet, or Italian sausage. For the pasta, you'll cook the protein again and then add them in before the cheese, or you can serve side by side with the pasta.
  • Add spice: For an arrabbiata sauce, add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of red chili flakes, and nothing more, with the rest of the seasonings.