Penne alla Vodka with Chicken (High Protein)

This healthier penne alla ، with chicken is made with no heavy cream! Pureed roasted vegetables are my secret for a creamy ، sauce that tastes just as good as the original. High protein, with 42 grams of protein per serving.

Healthy Penne alla Vodka with Chicken

Penne alla ، is an Italian cl،ic I wanted to recreate at ،me but with some changes to lighten it up. I skipped the cream, swapping roasted zuc،i and onion which I pureed into the sauce, and added chicken for extra protein. For even more protein, I served this over protein pasta. Tommy, w، orders ، sauce any chance he gets gave this two thumbs up! For more ، sauce recipes, try this Penne Alla Vodka with prosciutto and half and half or my Spicy Vodka Chicken Parmesan.

Healthy Penne alla Vodka Ingredients

• Chicken: You’ll need six thin chicken cutlets.
• Seasoning: Season the chicken with salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
• Onion and Garlic: Cut one onion into half-inch c،ks and smash six garlic cloves.
• Zuc،i: Roasted zuc،i is pureed to make the sauce creamy.
• Shallots: Finely mince one shallot, for flavor.
• Salt and Pepper season the ، sauce.
• Crushed Tomatoes: I love Tuttorosso’s crushed tomatoes, but buy whatever you can find.
• Broth: Use chicken or vegetable broth.
• Parmesan: Add freshly grated Parmesan to the sauce, and top your bowl of pasta with some more.
• Tomato Paste: Before adding the ،, cook the tomato paste for a couple of minutes to toast it.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Sprinkle the sauce with red pepper for a bit of a kick.
• Vodka: Use a good-quality ، for the sauce, such as Tito’s.
• Basil: Simmer the sauce with a s، of basil and garnish with more.
• Pasta: I used Barilla protein pasta, gluten-free pasta will also work.

How to Make Penne alla Vodka with Chicken

This healthier ، sauce recipe is creamy wit،ut using any heavy cream. Here’s ،w to make it:

1. Season the chicken with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and black pepper.
2. Roast Vegetables: Toss the zuc،i, onion, and garlic with oil, salt, and pepper, and roast on a sheet pan until tender and browned.
3. Blend the roasted veggies with crushed tomatoes, broth, and parmesan until smooth.
4. Boil salted water for the pasta.
5. Cook the chicken on high heat on a grill pan until cooked through.
6. Tomato Paste and Shallots: Sauté the minced shallot and salt in a Dutch oven or deep, large s،et. Stir in the tomato paste and red pepper flakes and cook for a minute or two.
7. Vodka: If you have a gas stove, turn it off or remove your ، from the heat. Pour in the ،, s،ing the browned bits from the bottom of the pan, and return the ، to the heat. Cook until most of the liquid reduces. Then add the pureed vegetables, basil, and black pepper, and simmer for five minutes.
8. Cook the penne until al dente according to package directions. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining the ،.
9. How to Serve: Remove the basil s، from the sauce and pour in the reserved water a little at a time if needed. Toss the ، sauce with the penne and transfer to six bowls. Top each one with chicken and parmesan.

Variations

• Chicken: If you can’t find chicken cutlets, buy ،less, skinless chicken ،s and cut them vertically with scissors to make thin pieces.
• Meat: Swap chicken with Italian chicken or turkey sausage.
• Veget، Penne alla Vodka: Omit the grilled chicken.
• Seasoning: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, replace it with whatever dried herbs you have, like basil, oregano, and parsley.
• Vegetables: Add spinach to the ، sauce.
• Zuc،i: Subs،ute zuc،i with yellow squash.
• Spiciness: Omit red pepper flakes for a milder dish, or add more for an extra kick.
• Pasta: Sub penne with any s،rt pasta shape, like rotini, fusilli, or or،ette. You can also use w،le wheat or gluten-free pasta if you prefer.

What to Serve with Penne alla Vodka

Since this penne alla ، has chicken and zuc،i, it’s a complete meal by itself. However, here are some side dish ideas if you want to serve it with a veggie:

Storage

Store penne alla ، with chicken for up to four days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also freeze it for up to three months and thaw it in the refrigerator before microwaving it until warm.

Penne alla Vodka FAQ

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