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So many good things to share on this snowy Wednesday!

Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Penne Alla Vodka | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Thing one, this luscious Penne Alla Vodka. It’s creamy, cheesy, a little boozy flavored (but not alcoholy cause all of the vodka cooks out), SUPER EASY and DELICIOUS. The sauce is made in the crockpot, so it’s kind of perfect for those nights when all you can muster up the energy to do is boil some pasta and call it a day…aka TODAY.

I’m feeling like since it’s December, and we’re all still getting used to the cold, that nothing seems more perfect or cozier than a giant bowl of pasta, sauce and cheese. Just add some crusty bread, maybe a warm fire and call it a day…literally. I’m saying all this because it’s currently snowing like crazy out (lovin’ it) and I am currently huddled by my heater, staying all toasty warm but wishing I had a bowl of this pasta in front of me. <-truth. Anybody in the same boat or what? I hear you midwest people got some snow…are you loving it or hating it?

For me, the entire month of December should be filled with snowy days and nights. It’s just one more excuse to eat pasta, watch Christmas movies, and drink hot chocolate. Obviously.

Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Penne Alla Vodka | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Penne Alla Vodka | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Thing two, Monday night was spent watching my little sister, Asher perform in the town play of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child <–seriously. Not sure how my little ski town decided to put on a Harry Potter play, but they did, and it was awesome…or I mean, fun…or I mean, entertaining. Let’s just say it was hard to keep a straight face throughout the performance. None of the kids were older than ten or eleven, so as you can imagine, it’s was a little all over the place. Asher didn’t have many lines, but for one of them, she was standing in the wrong spot on stage (in the dark). The teacher literally picked her up and moved her into the spotlight all while she continued speaking…freaking hilarious. I almost wasn’t going to go because I’m slightly swamped with end of the year work, but when Asher called to ask me to come, I just could not say no. Glad I went too, because it was so fun to see Asher in the play. I’m clearly biased, but she was the best…and the cutest!

Plus, I finally got to see my younger brother, Red who’s been traveling for over a month. It was a short catch up, but I mean, at least I got to say hey to the kid, right?

This would have been the perfect dinner to have waiting for everyone at home, but the fam all decided they wanted to go out. I unfortunately had to get home to finish some things up, so I got to drive home solo in the snow storm. Luckily I’m used to the snow and have good tires. In all honesty, I have seen worse weather around here (I just don’t usually have to drive in it!), but I really enjoyed seeing all the Christmas lights in Breckenridge that seemed to highlight the falling snow. <–major dork alert.

Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Penne Alla Vodka | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestCrockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Penne Alla Vodka | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Anyway, this penne alla vodka has been my go-to dish to make on Sunday nights and then serve the leftovers throughout the week. This dish makes a lot of sauce so it’s great the first night served over pasta, but then you could totally get creative with the leftovers. I’m talking pizza, pasta bakes, served with eggs, the options are kind of endless!

If you’re serving this to kids, don’t worry about the alcohol, it all gets burned off during cooking (first you boil the sauce, and then you cook it for a min of 4 hours!). All that you’re left with is a deliciously flavored tomato sauce.

A must do with this dish though? Top it with lots and lots of freshly grated parmesan and serve it with crusty bread for scooping up extra sauce.

SOO GOOD.

Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Penne Alla Vodka | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Penne Alla Vodka.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 582 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil, onion, garlic, crushed red pepper, and dried oregano in a large skillet over medium low heat. Cook, stirring often until the onion is soft and the garlic fragrant, about 10 minutes. Add the vodka, raise the heat, and bring the mixture to a boil, boil 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add to the bowl of your crockpot along with the tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes and large pinch of salt + pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. Transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the crockpot and stir in the the cream and the parmesan. Cook uncovered on high for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and boil the pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain.
  • Divide the pasta among plates and top with the sauce, fresh oregano and grated parmesan. Eat!

Notes

*You can use the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar in place of the 1/4 cup olive oil.
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Crockpot Sun-Dried Tomato Penne Alla Vodka | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

ps. since you already have the vodka out, may I recommend these festive Pomegranate Moscow Mules?! Happy Wednesday!

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Comments

    1. HI there! This pasta keeps well for up to 4 days in the fridge. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan

  1. 5 stars
    Hi, I know this recipe was posted a few years ago, but I wanted to thank you for sharing it. I’ve made it countless times (as written) and it’s one of my favorite recipes ever. I’ve encouraged many friends and family members to make it; it’s so good.

  2. Can I do this is a 4-qt crockpot – or will it overflow? 🙂 (My 6-qt is busy caramelizing onions today.)

    1. It will be a tight fit, but don’t think it will overflow. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan

  3. 5 stars
    Have you tried cooking the pasta in the crock pot with the sauce? Or, can cooked pasta be added back into the sauce, mixed and served? I know the latter seems obvious, but until Ive tried a recipe I like to ask. 🙂 Thank you – and especially for the always great recipes and stories!

    1. HI! I don’t love cooking the pasta in the sauce, but you can stir cooked pasta into the sauce. That is great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?

  4. If making this on the stove do I follow the same order of directions with the ingredients as the slow cooker? Or throw everything in a pot at once? Thanks I’m excited!

    1. I would follow the same directions as the slow cooker. That will be great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?

  5. So I am in the middle of making this and not done, but I have a comment on the blender part. I didn’t want to skip it because I don’t like chunky sauce. So, I had enough common sense to not fill the blender up all the way–due to the heat/steam/pressure.
    However, I still had a difficult time–and a mess. Maybe I am a novice “cook”—-compared to the others that have commented—but please insert how to carefully blend hot stuff in a blender. BTW, it smells wonderful–and I can wait to eat this!

    1. Hey Maria, I like to let the sauce sit a few minutes before blending so that it’s not too hot. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you loved this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?

  6. 5 stars
    I made this lovely recipe this evening and it was a HUGE hit amongst the kids and the adults. I am so happy I stumbled upon this recipe and plan to make it again and again and again! I do not have a slow cooker so I slow cooked it in the oven as suggested in one of the comments, worked out perfectly!

    1. HI! Just cook the sauce on high pressure for 15 minutes. Then add the pasta as directed for the crockpot version. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan

  7. We are a dairy free family, I usually sub heavy cream with coconut milk/cream. Do you think it would work in the crockpot recipe?

    1. Hey Jessica! I am sure canned coconut milk will be delicious. I love using coconut milk in place of cream. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan

  8. More than one year later, I am making this again, a couple of substitutions. Always lovely and yummy.

  9. One year later and I am making this recipe, again. I had to let you know that if I eliminate one ingredient and substitute that for this or that, it is still, overall, a yummy recipet.

    1. Sure! I would follow the directions for the crockpot, but just cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂

  10. No crockpot here, but I’ve got a gorgeous LeCreuset pot. How long and at what temp do you think I can bake in the oven? Looks delicious. Just found your blog and I’m already crying inside bc it’s so pretty!!!

    1. I would simmer the sauce on the stove over low-medium heat for 2-3 hours or up to all day on low, stirring every hour or so. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂

  11. 5 stars
    The first time I made this I looked at my hubby and said, “I’ll never buy another jar of vodka sauce again!” It’s AMAZING. I’m planning to make a double recipe and freeze it. Would you recommend not adding the cheese and cream before freezing? Seems like it could separate when reheating? Thanks!

    1. HI! I think the adding the cheese and cream should probably be fine. I have not had issues with it separating. Please let me know if you have other questions. So glad you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂

    1. So sorry about that. That is a typo. All fixed. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! :

      1. Hi, I was wondering if you could brown some hot Italian sausage and then put it in the crockpot for the entire time the sauce is cooking?