Jamaican Rasta Pasta Recipe

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Easy Jamaican rasta pasta recipe that is flavorful, creamy, and made with colored bell peppers, chicken, cream, parmesan cheese, and seasoning.

This jerk chicken pasta is quick to make and a perfect main dish for brunch or dinner. Learn how to make rasta pasta from scratch with this step by step guide plus video recipe.

Rasta pasta is packed full of flavor, creamy, spicy, and tasty. It takes less than 30 minutes to cook and you can get this delicious meal on the table with little effort.

I mentioned in my fried spaghetti post how much we love pasta dishes and this jerk chicken pasta is in the top 10 of our favorite pasta recipes. It’s that good!

Rasta pasta is what you get when Jamaican jerk seasoning meets Italian pasta. A fusion dish that is creamy, flavorful, and delicious.

My daughters love the cheesy, colorful, and spiciness of Jamaican rasta pasta. Me? I love it because not only is it delicious but it is a quick, inexpensive meal that I can rustle up for dinner any night of the week and all I need are a few ingredients.

What is Rasta Pasta?

Rasta pasta is a Caribbean pasta dish that is made with colorful bell peppers, chicken, heavy cream or coconut milk, parmesan cheese, jerk seasoning and pasta.

The name Rasta is from Rastafari or the Rastafarian culture. The dish got its name from the colors of the bell peppers (red, green, yellow) and the jerk seasoning which is associated with Jamaica and Rastafarianism.

Rastafarians are strict vegans and even though this dish is usually cooked with chicken, shrimp, or oxtail, it can also be made vegan. It’s easily customizable.

Rasta Pasta Recipe

This rasta pasta recipe is easy to follow and it can be adapted to suit your dietary needs and taste buds.

I have made many variations of this dish since I first cooked it. I have used whole grain penne, fusilli, and bow tie pasta, I have made it with chicken and with shrimps and I have never been disappointed with the results.

Here’s my version and If you follow this step by step failproof recipe, you will get delicious jerk chicken pasta that will have your family asking for more.

Ingredients

Detailed ingredient list and directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Chicken– I use chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs. To cook as a vegan meal, cook without the chicken or substitute.

Pasta– My favorite pasta to use is the penne because I like the way the seasoning stays on the penne and goes into the hollow of the pasta. You can use fettuccine, linguine, fusilli, Rotini, bow tie pasta, or any other short pasta.

Bell peppers – Red, Yellow and Green bell peppers.

Garlic

Jerk seasoning– I use my homemade jerk seasoning. It’s easy and quick to make and you can make it in less than 5 minutes. If using store-bought, make sure it’s a trusted brand as the quality of seasoning used will impact the outcome of your dish.

Spring onions – Also called scallions or green onions.

Parmesan Cheese – If in the UK, you can use one labeled as Parmigiano Reggiano.

Heavy cream– You can substitute for double cream or Coconut milk. I like to use coconut milk once in a while for that coconut flavor.

Broth – Chicken broth or if making it vegan, use vegetable broth.

Oil– Vegetable, sunflower, or coconut oil.

Salt

Parsley – To garnish (optional)

How to Make Rasta Pasta

Season the chicken breasts with salt and half of the jerk seasoning. Mix well.

If you have time leave to marinate for about an hour. If not move on to the next step.

Add oil in a skillet, frying pan or pot, then add in the seasoned chicken breasts. Leave to cook for about 7 minutes then turn over to cook and brown the other side for another 7 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate, cut and set aside.

Cook the pasta- boil water in a large pot, salt the water, add your pasta, stir, and cook according to the packet instructions or until it is al dente.

When it’s cooked, drain in a colander and run under cold water to shock the pasta and stop the cooking process. Set aside.

Do not overcook your pasta or cover while boiling.

Add a tablespoon of oil to a pot, then add in the bell peppers, garlic, spring onions. Sautee for a minute then add the remaining half of the jerk seasoning.

Stir then add in the heavy cream or coconut milk, and broth to the pot. Stir and let it thicken (this takes about 4-6 minutes) before adding the parmesan cheese.

When the cheese is melted, add the pasta and chicken to the pot then mix until well combined.

Let it simmer for a few minutes and garnish with the chopped parsley.

Take off heat and serve.

Variations

Rasta Pasta can be made with different types of pasta and meat. For the meat, you can substitute the chicken for these other variations.

Oxtail Rasta Pasta – substitute the chicken for oxtail and follow the same process detailed in this post.

Shrimp Rasta Pasta – Substitute the chicken for shrimps. I love shrimps and I like to use jumbo shrimps for this as not only is it delicious, but it’s faster to cook than chicken. You only need to brown the shrimps for 2 minutes on each side instead of 7 minutes for chicken.

Vegetarian Rasta Pasta – Substitute chicken for Tofu or other acceptable substitutes and use coconut milk. Also, use vegetable bouillon.

Serving suggestion

This dish is usually served as a main dish. Simply dish into a plate, dig in and enjoy the cheesy, flavorful deliciousness. You can serve with healthy drinks like carrot juice, fruit-infused water, or strawberry lemonade.

Dessert suggestions are Madeira cake, coconut cake or jam and cream-filled sponge cake.

How to Store

To store leftovers, put in an airtight container or freezer bags, label, and store.

In the fridge– Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

In the freezer– Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To reheat– Put in the fridge overnight to defrost and heat up on the stove or microwave when ready to eat. It can also be heated in the microwave from frozen.

Tips for making the best Jamaican Rasta Pasta

• Cook your pasta Al dente. Your pasta should have a soft bite when you bite into it.
• You can adjust the jerk seasoning to suit your taste and add more peppers if you like it spicier.
• This recipe uses three colors of Bell pepper; red, yellow, and green. You can adjust based on what you have available.
• You can use already cooked jerk chicken, If doing so skip the first step and move to step 3 of the directions.
• It’s best served hot.
• You can use more parmesan cheese if you desire.

Check out these easy Jamaican rice and peas and curry goat recipe.

FAQ

Can I use long pasta?

Yes, you can. Although it’s best cooked with short pasta like penne and fusilli, you can use long pasta such as spaghetti, fettuccine, tagliatelle, and any other of your choice.

Why is it called rasta pasta?

The name rasta is from the Rastafarian culture and the color of the bell peppers and jerk seasoning used in the recipe is linked to Jamaica and rastafarianism.

What is Jamaican jerk seasoning?

Jamaican jerk seasoning is a mixture of spices that consist of hot peppers – scotch bonnet, allspice, and ingredients like cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, and others. It is named after a method of cooking native to Jamaica where meat is marinated with hot spice blend and holes poked in the meat to infuse flavor. It is a star ingredient in this recipe.

More pasta recipes on the blog

Spaghetti and meatballs

Instant pot pasta

Italian pasta salad

Garlic butter shrimp pasta

I hope you love this recipe as much as we do. If you find this post helpful, rate it 5 stars and leave me a comment below. I love reading from you.

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