Instant Pot Penne alla Vodka with Sausage – inspired by our favorite Italian restaurant. SUPER easy to make with only a 4 minute cooking time. This pasta tastes just as good (if not better) than any restaurant! Italian sausage, garlic, red pepper flakes, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, onion, penne pasta, and heavy cream. All you need is a salad and some garlic bread for a restaurant-quality meal any night of the week. Give this delicious penne alla vodka recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
Set the pressure cooker on Sauté. Cook Italian sausage until no longer pink. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 30 seconds and turn off Instant Pot.
Add some chicken broth to the hot insert and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom.
Add in the remaining chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, onion, vodka, penne, salt. Stir to coat the pasta. Press the pasta down into the liquid.
Cover, lock the lid into place and seal. Set the Instant Pot on Pressure Cook High for 4 minutes.
Once it is finished cooking, Quick Release the steam and turn off the pressure cooker.
Unlock the lid and stir heavy cream into the pasta. Add more cream if you want a creamier/pinker sauce.
Notes:
I used Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage. Can substitute regular breakfast sausage and add some Italian seasoning to the sauce.
It is important to scrape up any browned bits from the insert. That will help prevent you from getting the BURN notice.
Can substitute chicken for Italian sausage.
Can substitute water for the chicken broth.
Adjust the red pepper flakes to your personal preference.
Can add more heavy cream for a creamier/pinker pasta.
Gianmarco's serves their Penne a la Vodka with mushrooms and green peas. If you want to add those to the pasta, sauté the mushrooms with the sausage and add the green peas in with the heavy cream.