Shrimp with Vodka Sauce is a easy dinner recipe that is ready in just 30 minutes. Plump shrimp are tossed in a tomato-based sauce creamy sauce made made with heavy cream and vodka.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- The creamy vodka sauce is the yummiest pasta sauce ever!
- It's a shrimp recipe you will come back to time and again and the whole family will love it.
- This 30 minute recipe makes weeknights a whole lot easier.
🥘 Ingredients
White onion
Unsalted butter
Garlic cloves
Vodka, any brand will work here.
Fresh whole tomatoes
Heavy cream
Vegetable bouillon concentrate (or 1 bouillon cube)
Red pepper flakes, to add as little or as much heat as desired.
Penne pasta, feel free to use whole wheat pasta or regular pasta.
Large shrimp, buy fresh shrimp that has been peeled and deveined shrimp with the tails already removed.
🔪 Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, until al dente.
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat until hot.
- Add the butter to the hot skillet and heat until melted and bubbly. Add onion and and cook for 3 minutes, until softened. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute more.
- Add vodka to the onion mixture and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, heavy cream, and bouillon. Increase heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Simmer 15 minutes, until sauce will begins to thicken.
- While sauce is simmering, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in shrimp adding salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 6 minutes, stirring periodically, until shrimp is no longer opaque
- Remove shrimp from heat and let cool.
- Add cooked pasta to sauce along with shrimp. Stir to combine. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
🥄 Equipment
Large skillet, to cook the shrimp and make the sauce
Large pot: to cook the pasta
Flat head wooden spoon, for stirring
Chef knife, for chopping the tomatoes and shrimp
Cutting board
🥫Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days.
📖 Variations
- If desired, substitute olive oil for the butter.
💭 Tips
- If using frozen shrimp, thaw it quickly by running under cold water. Pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess water.
📚 Related Recipes
Shrimp with Squash and Penne is another quick and easy meal for fans of shrimp recipes with pasta.
Everyone loves this Cheesy Penne Chicken Pasta.
Applebee's Shrimp and Broccoli with Pasta is one of my personal favorites!
🍽 Serve with...
Serve with a garnish of fresh basil and a sprinkling of grated parmesan cheese and a slice of crusty bread.
🏫 The last word
I personally like to use penne pasta for this recipe. I like the fact that sauce also flows through the hole of the pasta, allowing sauce to pool inside the pasta.
When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Shrimp with Vodka Sauce and Penne
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Ingredients
For the sauce
- ½ onion , chopped
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- ½ cup vodka
- 3 medium tomatoes diced
- 1½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon better than boullion vegetable concentrate or 1 bouillon cube
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes , optional
- 8 ounces penne pasta ,cooked according to package directions
For the shrimp
- 1 pound large shrimp
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- salt , to taste (optional)
- black pepper , to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, until al dente.Heat a large skillet over medium high heat until hot.
- Add the butter to the hot skillet and heat until melted and bubbly. Add onion and and cook for 3 minutes, until softened. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute more. Add vodka to the onion mixture and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Stir in tomatoes, heavy cream, and bouillon. Increase heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Simmer 15 minutes, until sauce will begins to thicken.
- While sauce is simmering, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in shrimp adding salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 6 minutes, stirring periodically, until shrimp is no longer opaque
- Remove shrimp from heat and let cool.Add cooked pasta to sauce along with shrimp. Stir to combine. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Joanna says
Yummy, that sounds fantastic!
Shelby says
Sure, I think it would work as a sauce over breaded pork chopes 🙂
Gay says
Vodka sauce sounds good. Would it work with breaded porkchops?
Mads says
Do you use a high quality vodka for this or will any ole thing do?
I happen to have everything on hand and it looks delicious!
tandysinclair.com says
vodka and shrimps, you cannot go wrong!
Patsyk says
Fabulous recipe, Shelby! I love when it all comes together using what you have on hand. I would have a hard time not polishing of this meal!
Ruth Daniels says
It's all I can do to keep from licking the screen! Thanks so much for sharing with Presto Pasta Nights.
Gotta go... I'm drooling on the keyboard.
Inspired by eRecipeCards says
Great reminder I haven't made a vodka sauce in some time... Make extra, it;s great on a hamburger too
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
Sounds just delicious, Shelby! Definitely on the to-try list.
bellini says
Grumpy is right of course. This sauce would be wonderful Shelby.As far as eating like a King, just make double the recipe and live on leftovers for those days when you are both too busy to cook:D
Mari says
You got my attention with the shrimps and vodka. I am sure it is delicious!
Kathleen says
This sounds amazing! Probably better than the original!!!
Nutmeg Nanny says
I love vodka sauce! I love that it's spicy and includes shrimp...yum!
Pegasuslegend says
The flavors are just what we like here will have to try this one out soon!
TeaLady says
Have seen and wanted to Try PW's Penne, but haven't yet. Glad to know can do with vodka. Looks delish.