In a large pot of boiling salted water, add the penne pasta. Cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Sauce Preparation

Sauté Garlic and Add Tomato Sauce

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, sautéing for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Then pour in the tomato sauce and stir to combine.

Add Vodka and Cream

Carefully add the vodka to the skillet. Allow it to simmer for about 5 minutes to cook off some of the alcohol. Then stir in the heavy cream, mixing until the sauce is creamy and well combined.

Season the Sauce

Add the grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper to the sauce. Stir well until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Add the chopped fresh basil and mix to incorporate.

Shrimp Preparation

Cook the Shrimp

In a separate skillet, season the raw shrimp with salt and black pepper. Cook over medium-high heat for about 3-4 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and opaque. Remove from heat.

Combining and Serving

Combine Pasta and Sauce

Add the cooked penne pasta to the sauce in the skillet. Toss to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.

Add Shrimp

Gently fold the cooked shrimp into the pasta and sauce mixture until well combined.

Serve

Serve the Penne Alla Vodka with Shrimp hot, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil if desired.