Rasta Pasta Recipe

This creamy Rasta pasta recipe is just the perfect weeknight dinner treat. Its comforting, just a bit spicy and ready in just 30 minutes. Prepare to be amazed by the flavours and creaminess of this jerk chicken pasta!

Rasta pasta is one of those incredibly creamy and comforting pasta recipes that youll find yourself making again and again.

I personally love it because it has loads of bell pepper in it, which makes it not only very flavourful, but also so bright and colourful its a joy to eat it.

Chef Lorraine Washington invented Jamaican Rasta pasta in 1986. She served the pasta to some constructions workers, who pointed out the evident Rasta colours, so thats how the pasta got its name.

Chicken breast — You can use either chicken breast or thighs for Rasta pasta. I prefer diced chicken breast because its leaner.

Jerk seasoning — Store-bought jerk seasoning works great here, but you can also make your own. Make sure you buy a quality one as it really makes a difference when it comes to flavour. Depending on how fiery you want the pasta to be, you can use either mild or hot jerk seasoning.

Olive oil + butter — Using a mix of olive oil and butter means that you can get the creaminess of butter while also benefiting from the higher burn point of the olive oil.

Bell peppers — You can use any colour pepper you want, but to obtain that “Rasta pasta” effect, you should use a mix of red, yellow and green peppers.

Double (heavy) cream — Dont substitute this with single cream (half and half) because the sauce wont be as creamy.

Parmesan — Freshly grated parmesan is always best, but you can also use shop-bought grated parmesan for convenience.

If you liked this creamy Rasta pasta recipe, you might also like some of my other creamy pasta recipes:

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This creamy Rasta pasta recipe is just the perfect weeknight dinner treat. Its comforting, just a bit spicy and ready in just 30 minutes. Prepare to be amazed by the flavours and creaminess of this jerk chicken pasta!

Creamy Rasta Pasta Recipe

This creamy Rasta pasta recipe is just the perfect weeknight dinner treat. It’s comforting, just a bit spicy and ready in just 30 minutes. Prepare to be amazed by the flavours and creaminess of this jerk chicken pasta!

Prep: 10min

Total: 30min

Serving Size: 1

Nutrition Facts: calories 608 calories, Carbohydrate 50 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 124 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 23 grams fat, Fiber 4 grams fiber, Protein 50 grams protein, Saturated Fat 8 grams saturated fat, servingSize 1, Sodium 650 milligrams sodium, Sugar 6 grams sugar, Trans Fat 0 grams trans fat, unSaturated Fat 13 grams unsaturated fat

Ingredients:

• 450 g (1 lb) pasta
• 450 g (1 lb) chicken breast, diced
• 3 tablespoons jerk seasoning, divided
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 20 g (1 tablespoon) unsalted butter
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 spring onions, chopped
• 200 ml (1 cup) chicken stock
• 200 ml (1 cup) double (heavy) cream
• 80 g (1 cup) parmesan, grated
• Fresh parsley, to garnish, optional

Instruction:

1. Place the chicken cubes in a large bowl and toss them in two tablespoons jerk seasoning.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it generously, and cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the package. Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water before draining.
3. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a deep pan or shallow cast-iron casserole and then melt the butter in it.
4. Add the chicken cubes to the pan and cook for 5-6 minutes until cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
5. Add the remaining olive oil to the pan and saute the peppers for 2-3 minutes or until they soften to your likening.
6. Next, add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
7. Stir in the chicken stock and double cream and cook until it starts to thicken.
8. Add the chicken back to the pan and then the cooked pasta. Toss it well until coated in sauce, adding a dash of pasta water if it looks too thick.
9. Stir in the parmesan and serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and freshly sliced spring onions if you like.

Rasta Pasta Recipe

Rasta pasta is creamy pasta tossed with Caribbean style jerk chicken and sauteed bell peppers. This dish is so full of flavor, and makes a great weeknight dinner that can be made in just half an hour! It’s creamy, rich, spicy, and cheesy.

Prep: 5min

Total: 15min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 742 kcal, Carbohydrate 92 g, Protein 40 g, Fat 23 g, Saturated Fat 13 g, Cholesterol 113 mg, Sodium 214 mg, Fiber 6 g, Sugar 7 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 pound (450 grams) pasta
• 2 chicken breasts (or 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (1 tbsp for frying chicken and 1 tbsp for sauteeing bell peppers)
• 3 tablespoons jerk seasoning (1.5 tbsp with the chicken, and 1.5 tbsp goes in the sauce)
• 3 bell peppers (preferably in different colors – sliced)
• ½ cup green onions (sliced)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable or chicken stock
• ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
• ½ cup (80 grams) parmesan cheese (grated)

Instruction:

1. Cook pasta according to the package instructions, take it out at “al dente” as you will cook it more in the next steps.
2. I’m using rotisserie chicken in this recipe, but if you are using raw chicken breast then cube it, toss in jerk seasoning and cook until it’s golden and cooked through. Then remove from the pot, and set aside to add later.
3. Add vegetable oil to a heavy bottomed pot, and saute bell peppers with green onions. Add the minced garlic and cook until it’s fragrant.
4. Add jerk seasoning to the pot.
5. Add heavy cream, chicken and vegetable stock to the pot. Simmer for a few minutes or until the sauce thickens, mix in the parmesan in the sauce and then mix in the pasta.
6. Garnish with chopped chives, green onions or parsley and serve.

Rasta Pasta

FAQ

What is Rasta Pasta sauce made of?

Why do they call it Rasta Pasta?

Is jerk seasoning spicy?

What to pair with jerk chicken?

• White rice, brown rice or cilantro lime rice.
• Fresh salsa.
• Leafy green salad or cucumber salad.
• Roasted potatoes or grilled potatoes.
• Plantains.
• Coleslaw.
• Potato salad.
• Baked potatoes or garlic potatoes.