Our whole family adores this grilled chicken vodka pasta! Juicy grilled chicken is tossed with penne that is coated in a super silky vodka sauce. Served with lots of shaved parmesan and fresh basil! This is delicious.
If you need a crowd pleasing dinner, this is it!
My grilled chicken over penne blanketed in silky vodka sauce is dreamy! Topped with lots of shaved parmesan cheese and fresh basil, it tastes so comforting, nostalgic and wonderful. It’s the most delicious dish you can make for dinner. And it’s super easy!
This is the most favorite meal in our house right now. It tastes like a restaurant meal, you know?
I might be aging myself when I say that first dates as a teenager were held at Olive Garden in the good old days. Nothing like a hearty pasta dish packed with garlic on the first date! But really, this sort of meal does remind me of a comforting, delicious dish at a good Italian restaurant – even though it might be nowhere near authentic.
First up, we all love the vodka sauce! Using the tomato pasta in the sauce gives it such a wonderful depth of flavor and a sweetness that is unmatched. It is so silky smooth and I love how it coats the noodles.
I have NEVER been a tomato sauce girl – growing up I didn’t enjoy it at all. My mom made pasta once a week and it always included some sort of red sauce and I always threw.a.tantrum. When I was pregnant with Max, I started craving marinara sauce. And ever since, I learned to love it more.
But! The vodka sauce has my heart. It has always been my go-to, the option I would choose over any other sauce. I love the silkiness and the lack of texture. It’s like a nice blanket over the noodle and that’s it!
The grilled chicken is also a hit in our house. It’s one thing everyone can agree on. And especially when it’s grilled; we all love it. Again, there is just something that makes it extra delicious when paired with the pasta!
Before grilling, I season it all over with salt, pepper, garlic powder and italian seasoning. This complements the vodka sauce and works well – but you can use any seasoning that you love. It’s really customizable!
Then to finish things off, shaved parmesan and fresh basil. They just take things over the top – especially the shaved parm. A slice of that with the warm saucy noodles – ah! It’s my favorite thing.
This meal technically isn’t anything that is overly special, but it FEELS like it is. It tastes like it is. It’s cozy and just tastes really fantastic – we all look forward to it. Serve it with a big greens salad and some garlic bread… yes.
Is this a meal that your whole house would go wild for?!
We can never get enough!
Grilled Chicken Vodka Pasta
Grilled Chicken Vodka Pasta
Our whole family adores this grilled chicken vodka pasta! Juicy grilled chicken is tossed with penne that is coated in a super silky vodka sauce. Served with lots of shaved parmesan and fresh basil! This is delicious.
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Preheat the grill to high for at least 10 minutes. I like mine around 500 or 550 degrees.
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Season the chicken all over with the salt, pepper, italian seasoning and garlic powder. Place the chicken on the grates and grill for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Remove the chicken and let it rest on a pan. Do not slice it until you’re ready to toss with the pasta!
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Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the directions. While the water is boiling, start the sauce. Remember to reserve your starchy pasta water.
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Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, stir in the shallots and garlic with a big pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the onions soften. Add in the tomato paste and stir, cooking for 5 minutes. The color will darken – this is where the flavor is!
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Stream in the vodka and stir, scraping the brown bits and flavor from the bottom. Stir in ¾ cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir in the heavy cream and parmesan, stirring until the cheese melts. Taste and season the sauce with more salt and pepper if needed. You can also stream in a bit more pasta water here if you want it slightly thinner.
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Add the penne pasta directly to the sauce and toss well. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl. Slice the chicken. Top the pasta with the grilled chicken, shaved parmesan and fresh basil. Serve!
Thrills me.
