Penne with Spicy Vodka Sauce {Gluten Free}

Quick and easy Penne with a Spicy Vodka Sauce is the perfect meal for company!

This post is done as a collaboration with Fresh First Chicken Sausage. All opinions are my own.

The Eating Out Challenge

My husband and I have some great friends who are experts at finding the best restaurants to eat at. Luckily, they also seem to be in the know about which restaurants have a gluten free option. While the food is always amazing; generally, it can be pretty pricey (this is Miami after all). Awhile back we went to an Italian Restaurant that offered a Gluten Free Penne Pasta with a Spicy Vodka Sauce. That was incredible. I was in love with it, and so was my husband, so of course, I had to recreate it. Not trying to be conceited, but mine is even better, just ask my husband!

First Fresh

Not to long ago I was contacted by First Fresh and up and coming Gluten Free Chicken Sausage company. The wife of the founder has Celiac Disease, so the company has a vested interest in making products that are not only delicious but safe for Celiacs. Currently, they offer Sausage Breakfast Links, Mild Italian Sausage, and a Hot Sausage. Normally I use a pork based Mild Italian Sausage for this recipe, but the chicken Mild Italian Sausage from First Fresh has 78% less fat than pork sausage so I decided to give it a shot, and I’m glad I did. It is soo good. I had no idea so much flavor could be packed into a sausage without all the fat.

I knew that this sausage would be PERFECT for this Spicy Vodka Sauce.

Spicy Vodka Sauce

This sauce is one of the easiest you will ever make; it has seven ingredients: Mild Italian Sausage, Garlic, Red Pepper Flakes, Crushed Tomatoes, Cream, Vodka, and Parmesan Cheese. If you aren’t a fan of spicy, just leave out the Red Pepper Flakes. I like to serve it with my Cheesy, Garlic Biscuits (my version of a Red Lobster Biscuit- Recipe coming soon!) and a bit of salad. It is fairly inexpensive to make and can feed a crowd.

A Few Notes:

• There is a whole cup of cream in this. You could use half, but cream comes in one cup containers so you might as well just use it all.
• Use gluten free vodka. Most are, but always double check your ingredients.
• If you cannot find gluten free penne pasta, you could use another type, I’ve used rotini and is was fine, you just want pasta that will hold up to the sauce.

I hope you love this recipe as much as we do!

Happy Gluten Free Eating!

Print Recipe

4.22 from 14 votes

Penne with Spicy Vodka Sauce {Gluten Free}

Ingredients

• 1 12 ounce box gluten free penne pasta
• 8 ounces gluten free Mild Italian Sausage I used Fresh First Chicken Sausage
• 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 cup cream
• 1/4 cup gluten free vodka
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Boil pasta according to package directions for al dente. Do not over cook.
• Brown 8 ounces of sausage with garlic and red pepper. Break up sausage into small pieces.
• Add crushed tomatoes, bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add vodka and simmer another 5 minutes.
• Stir in cream and Parmesan cheese. Allow to simmer for three minutes.
• Toss cooked pasta in sauce.
• Serve with shredded Parmesan cheese.