The Best Fluffy Pancakes recipe you will fall in love with. Full of tips and tricks to help you make the best pancakes.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless chicken breast
2 tbsp jerk seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
1 tbsp olive oil
For Rasta Pasta:
- 1 lb penne pasta
1 small onion, roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves, grated or minced
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
½ red bell pepper, julienned
½ green bell pepper, julienned
½ yellow bell pepper, julienned
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 stalk green onion, finely chopped
1¼ cup parmesan cheese
1½ cup heavy whipping cream
1 tbsp jerk seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp smoked paprika
Recipe Video
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate chicken 2-4 hours ahead of time
Sauce will thicken when cooled; add splash of cream when reheating
Store leftovers up to 4 days in refrigerator
This creamy jerk chicken pasta dish from Jamaica is possibly the best pasta recipe you will ever make that will impress the entire family! This dish is totally inspired and somes up the absolute brilliance of how Caribbean meets Italy this plate of peaking flavours, it’s absolutely bursting with sweetness as well as savourynessand a bit of spiciness. The food world hasn’t been able to stop talking about this tropical-inspired recipe for months, and with good reason.
Instead of abandoning everything to catch a plane to the Caribbean, let this dish get you as close as you’ll come to a tropical vacation at your dinner table. The dish is made with sautéed peppers and has a true Jamaican Jerk flavor, added to it is alfredo sauce (AKA COMFORT IN A JAR) in addition to generous helpings of parmesan cheese.
The Italian-and-Caribbean mix here makes for a smacking-good dish that comes together before you know it — just boil the pasta, chop and cook an onion and peppers, toss them into the pot with cooked chicken breast along with tomatoes from a jar of sauce, and dinner is done.
The wonderful thing about this dish is that the less time you waste prepping and cooking, the more time you get with a good home-cooked meal in front of your loved ones.
How Long Does It Take to Make Jamaican Jerk Chicken Pasta?
This tasty Jamaican jerk chicken pasta is a quick and delicious meal that comes together in less than an hour, great for those busy weeknights. The dish includes marinating 1 lb boneless chicken breast with jerk seasoning, cooking 1 lb penne pasta, sautéing colorful bell peppers (red, green + yellow) with onions and aromatics like ginger and garlic followed by adding them to a creamy sauce using 1½ cups heavy whipping cream, 1¼ cup parmesan cheese together with an Alfredo sauce.
Prep is minimal and most of the cooking happens at once, letting families enjoy a restaurant-quality meal without being holed up in the kitchen for hours.
Why You’ll Love This Jerk Chicken Rasta Pasta Recipe
There are several reasons why this easy weeknight dinner recipe may quickly become a family favorite. It’s an easy to cook meal with few simple steps, perfect for those hectic days. If you’ve marinated the chicken in advance, everything will be even more expedited.
This recipe is flexible, so cooks can mix and match it according to their taste buds. Whether you want to make it especially hot, do a vegetarian version or add additional protein, the flexibility is pretty cool. This Italian-Jamaican union is full of carbs (as it should be), cheese, juicy chicken: the perfect, comforting all in one dish for that Sunday cozy evening.
Because with its super filling factor, families can crouch around a bowl of it and get that warm dinner satisfaction by invoking both the comforting taste of old-fashioned food and the spiciness to which many American palates have become accustomed.
What is Rasta Pasta?
Rasta pasta is a famous Jamaican style pasta dish originating from Negril, Jamaica and invented by a woman chef called Lorraine Washington in the 1980s. I just used some orzo pasta and water, throw it in the pot for 10 minutes. My OG dish was fettuccine with tri-coloured peppers. The tricolored bell peppers also resemble the colors of Rastafari, one of Washington’s former customers called it “rasta pasta.”
Here is a quirky dish recipe that became famous in the United States, at least in part because Washington developed it and a Jamaican restaurant in Brooklyn later paid homage to the original invention by creating their own. Since then, the idea has taken on hundreds of forms, but they all capture the light in some way–as expected from a pasta that combines Caribbean flavors with pasta traditions!.
What is Jamaican Jerk Seasoning?
Jerk seasoning represents a bold spice blend that usually includes allspice, cinnamon, dried herbs, clove, cumin, cayenne pepper, and hot pepper flakes. This complex mixture should not be confused with jerk marinade, which offers a wet variation of the seasoning mix.
The blend creates the distinctive flavor profile that makes Caribbean cuisine so memorable, delivering layers of heat, sweetness, and aromatic complexity in every bite.
Jerk Chicken Rasta Pasta Ingredients
Jerk Chicken Components
The protein foundation requires 1 lb of boneless chicken breast, though chicken thighs work as an excellent alternative for those preferring darker meat. The seasoning blend includes 2 tbsp of jerk seasoning, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp garlic powder, and ½ tsp onion powder.
For cooking, 1 tbsp of olive oil provides the ideal medium, as this oil maintains a higher smoke point that makes it great for properly searing the chicken.
Rasta Pasta Base
You’ll be building that just-right sauce on 1 lb. of penne: It holds the sauce (you guessed it) just right. The Aromatic Base: 1 small onion, roughly chopped.3 to 4 garlic CRUSHED or MINCED (you can grate them for flavor too) 1 tsp fresh ginger (grated to release all the flavour).
The famous pepper trio is ½ red bell pepper julienned, ½ green bell pepper julienned and ½ yellow bell pepper julienned. New additions are 2 sprigs of fresh thyme for that new taste and a bit of color, plus 1 stalk finely diced green onion.
The creamy base of the sauce includes 1¼ cup of parmesan cheese, and 1½ cup of heavy whipping cream really makes things decadent. Cooks should not substitute half and half here, as it doesn’t give the same richness in the end.
Other spices are 1tbsp jerk seasoning, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper and ½ teaspoon smoked paprika.
How to Make Rasta Pasta with Jerk Chicken
Cook Penne Pasta
Begin by bringing a large pot of water to boil. Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package, ensuring it reaches the proper texture for sauce adherence.
Marinate and Cook Jerk Chicken
Marinate the chicken breast with jerk marinade, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. This step can be done hours ahead for deeper flavor penetration.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then sear the chicken on both sides for 10-15 minutes until cooked through and charred on the outside. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees F for food safety.
Saute Aromatics
Using the same skillet, saute the bell peppers and onions until fragrant, then add the green onion, garlic, and ginger. Saute for about 1 minute, being careful not to burn these delicate aromatics.
Make Alfredo Sauce
Add heavy whipping cream, jerk marinade, salt, pepper, and paprika to the skillet, bringing the mixture to a simmer over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add the parmesan cheese and stir well until fully incorporated, creating a smooth, creamy base.
Add the Chicken & Serve
Roughly chop the jerk chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and add them to the sauce along with the cooked pasta. Mix well until all pasta noodles are thoroughly coated. Serve immediately and enjoy this flavorful creation.
Recipe Substitutions
The versatility of this recipe allows for numerous adaptations. Instead of penne pasta, cooks can use bow tie, rigatoni, fettuccine, or any favorite pasta shape.
For protein variations, other options can replace chicken effectively. Consider shrimp, salmon, or andouille sausage for different flavor profiles. Those who enjoy fusion cuisine might also appreciate how this recipe pairs well with other international dishes like shrimp and chicken fried rice or chicken bibimbap for a complete multicultural dining experience.
Those wanting a vegetarian rasta pasta can create a meatless meal using a blend of favorite vegetables and mushrooms as a great protein substitute.
For vegan rasta pasta, omit the chicken entirely and use a vegan parmesan cheese alternative. Instead of heavy cream, coconut milk provides an excellent dairy-free option.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. When reheating, use either the stovetop or microwave method, heating in intervals and stirring between sessions until heated completely.
The sauce will thicken once refrigerated, so diners may need to add a splash of heavy cream to adjust the consistency back to its original creamy texture.
Can Rasta Pasta with Jerk Chicken Be Made Ahead?
Absolutely! Meal preparation enthusiasts can make the whole dish ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 4 days. Alternatively, cooks can prepare the jerk chicken in advance and just make the pasta when ready to eat, providing flexibility for busy schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rasta Pasta Sauce Made of?
Rasta pasta sauce combines jerk seasoning, bell peppers, cream, parmesan cheese, and pasta into one cohesive mixture.
Is Rasta Pasta With Jerk Chicken Spicy?
This recipe delivers moderately spicy heat. Those who want less intense flavor should use less jerk seasoning, but adventurous eaters who want to kick it up a notch can add jalapenos or finely chopped scotch bonnet peppers for extra fire.
