Farfalle a la Vodka with Chicken

Rich tomato sauce gets a boost with the addition of vodka, cream, and ground chicken — and tender farfalle (bow tie) pasta ties it all together. Perfect to enjoy for lunch or dinner, my Farfalle a la Vodka with Chicken is quick and easy to prepare.

I’ll tell you this much — this pasta did not last long once it was ready to be served! And I don’t blame them. There is just something about the blend of tomato sauce and heavy whipping cream that gets you every time. Am I right?

So what is vodka sauce?

Created as a sauce in Italian-American cuisine, vodka sauce combines tomato sauce, vodka, herbs, and cream. Vodka sauce wouldn’t be vodka sauce without vodka. It balances out the sweetness of the tomatoes and the heavy cream and adds a welcoming bite.

The vodka in the name of this dish can make some question the percentage of alcohol, however, you won’t get a buzz from this recipe. The entire family can enjoy this dish as the heat from the cooking process takes away those worries. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a vodka martini on the side. 🙂

If I could describe this dish in a single word I would go with “rustic”. The spice from the crushed red pepper flakes and cayenne red pepper is subtle yet ever-present. Also, I add a tiny amount of sugar in this recipe. The sugar along with the Parmesan cheese cut the tartness sometimes found in tomatoes.

What type of pasta should I use with vodka sauce?

I choose to go with a thick and short noodle pasta with the thoughts of all of these flavors blending together. Bow tie pasta soaks up just the right amount of sauce and is the perfect base for creamy sauces. You can also go with penne pasta (the more classic route), pappardelle, or tagliatelle.

How to Make Farfalle a la Vodka with Chicken:

This is a simple recipe to put together that doesn’t take much time from start to finish and it all starts with preparing the chicken.

Add the ground chicken to a large bowl and season with all chicken seasonings. After blending the seasonings into the chicken, cook until the pink is removed from the meat while continuing to break it into smaller pieces. Remove the chicken from the heat and place into a bowl until the sauce is prepared.

You can now start working on the vodka sauce.

Add butter to your medium-heated pan then add minced garlic and flour into the pan as the butter melts. Stir ingredients, add the vodka, and cook on high heat for 3 to 5 minutes.

Lower the heat back to a medium temperature so you can add in the chicken stock. You’ll cook the stock for a minute before adding the heavy cream and remaining sauce seasonings. Add the crushed tomatoes, sugar, and stir in the Parmesan cheese.

Once you add the Parmesan cheese you can begin to boil the pasta for the instructed time. I typically wait to make my pasta at the end while my sauce is cooking to ensure it is fresh making it really easy to blend with the sauce in a later step.

Allow your sauce to simmer for 7 minutes while the pasta is cooking.

Once the pasta is done, drain it from water. Add pasta and cooked ground chicken into the same pan with the sauce and fold all ingredients together. Simmer for an additional five minutes.

This pasta is perfect for large gatherings and I can say that everyone will be highly impressed with the level of flavor this dish brings to the table. Give this Farfalle a la Vodka with Chicken a spot on your dinner table when you want to give your normal spaghetti night a twist. Enjoy!

Looking for other quick and easy pasta recipes? Check out my…

• Gluten-Free Chicken Gouda Penne Pasta 
• Creamy Chicken Roasted Poblano Pasta
• Creamy Mushroom Stroganoff

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