Get ready to savor something special: Jamaican Rasta pasta! It's a delicious dish bursting with yummy flavors and bright colors. The creamy, slightly spicy sauce pairs perfectly with tender jerk chicken, and the addition of red, green, and yellow bell peppers adds color and zest. This dish is perfect for anyone who loves good food that's easy to make. It's very addictive!
In this recipe I will guide you through making Jamaican Rasta pasta at home. I'll provide you with a list of all the ingredients you need, a step-by-step cooking process, and some tips to ensure you create the most delicious Rasta pasta that everyone will crave again and again.
Serve this pasta alongside a kale apple slaw and dinner rolls to create a satisfying meal. Let's get started!
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What is Rasta Pasta
Rasta pasta is a popular dish in Jamaican communities. This comforting dish combines pasta with a creamy and spicy sauce, along with vibrant red, green, and yellow bell peppers that can be representative of a Rastafarian flag. The sauce is bursting with Caribbean flavors and has a slight spicy kick to it.
Why You'll Love This Jamaican Rasta Pasta Recipe:
1. Speedy Prep: This Jamaican Rasta pasta can be ready in about 30 minutes, perfect for a quick meal.
2. Simple Ingredients: Most of the ingredients can be found in your pantry and refrigerator, making it an easy and convenient choice.
3. Balanced Meal: The pasta offers a well-rounded combination of carbs, protein, and vegetables, ensuring a complete dish.
4. Budget-Friendly: Despite its restaurant-quality taste, this pasta is an affordable option and a fraction of the cost you'd pay at a restaurant.
Ingredients for Jerk Chicken Pasta
Here's the list of ingredients you need to make Jamaican Rasta Pasta. Each of these ingredients plays a crucial role in creating the delicious and flavorful Rasta pasta with jerk chicken.
1. Penne: Penne pasta serves as the main base of the dish, providing a hearty and great texture that holds the sauce well.
2. Chicken breast: Chicken breast is a protein powerhouse that adds a hearty and savory element to your Rasta Pasta. It complements the spicy jerk seasoning, making the dish more filling. The chicken breast also provides a balanced and complete meal, adding a juicy and tender texture.
3. Mixed Bell Peppers (Red, Green, and Yellow/Orange): These colorful bell peppers add both flavor and vibrant colors to your dish, making it visually appealing while providing a sweet and slightly tangy taste.
4. Garlic: Garlic brings a rich and aromatic flavor to the dish, enhancing the overall taste profile.
5. Green Onion: Green onions contribute a mild, onion-like flavor that compliments the other ingredients and adds a fresh, crisp texture.
6. Jerk Seasoning Jamaican Style: The jerk seasoning infuses the dish with the distinctive and bold flavors of Jamaican cuisine, providing a spicy and smoky kick to the pasta and chicken.
7. Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese adds a creamy, cheesy element to the sauce.
8. Heavy Cream: Heavy cream is the key ingredient for creating the creamy sauce, making it smooth and rich in consistency.
9. Low Sodium Broth: Broth serves as the liquid base for your sauce, adding depth of flavor and moisture while keeping the dish from being too thick.
10. Oil: Oil is used for sautéing and cooking the ingredients, ensuring they are evenly cooked and providing a glossy finish to the sauce.
How to Make Rasta Pasta
Here's a simple step-by-step guide to making Rasta pasta:
Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
- Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces.
- Slice or julienne the bell peppers.
- Mince the garlic.
- Chop the green onions.
- Grate the Parmesan cheese.
Step 2: Prepare the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then season it with salt.
- Add the penne pasta and cook it until it's one minute away from being al dente.
Step 3: Make Jerk Chicken
- Season the chicken breast cubes with some jerk seasoning.
- Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Place the chicken cubes in the skillet and brown them until they are almost cooked.
- Transfer the jerk chicken to a plate.
Step 4: Cook the Vegetables
- In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of oil.
- Cook the red, green, and yellow bell peppers along with the green onions for about 3 minutes, or until they become tender on medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and stir for a minute.
Step 5: Cook the Sauce
- Stir the remaining jerk seasoning into the pan.
- Pour in the heavy cream, lower sodium chicken broth, and Parmesan cheese. Mix everything together.
Step 6: Cook All of the Ingredients
- Add the browned chicken, the nearly al dente pasta, and a bit of pasta water to the pan.
- Continue cooking until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce is fully absorbed by the pasta.
Variations and Substitutions
These variations and substitutions provide flexibility in customizing your Rasta Pasta to match your taste preferences and the ingredients you have available. Enjoy experimenting with different combinations!
1. Chicken Options: If you're not a fan of chicken breast, you can easily substitute it with chicken thighs. Keep in mind that chicken thighs require a longer cooking time to ensure they are fully cooked and tender.
2. Seafood Swap: For a different twist, consider replacing the chicken with seafood options like shrimp or salmon. These seafood choices can add a unique and great flavor and texture to your Rasta Pasta.
3. Creamy Sauce Choices: While the traditional Rasta Pasta often includes coconut milk for extra depth of flavor, heavy cream is a wonderful alternative. Coconut milk imparts a tropical richness and a touch of sweetness, while heavy cream contributes to a creamy and indulgent sauce. You can pick either option based on your preference for a classic creamy sauce or a more Caribbean-inspired twist. I honestly enjoy both.
4. Pasta Variety: If you don't have penne pasta on hand, don't worry. You can use other tubular pasta types like rigatoni as a suitable replacement. The key is to select a pasta shape that can hold the sauce effectively.
Tips for Making the Tastiest Rasta Pasta
- Partial Chicken Browning: When browning chicken breast, make sure not to fully cook it, as you'll finish cooking it in the sauce later. This helps the flavors meld and prevents the meat from becoming overcooked and dry.
- Fresh Cheese: Always choose freshly grated cheese because it melts wonderfully. Pre-grated cheese might make your sauce lumpy or gritty.
- Pasta Timing: Cook your pasta until it's about a minute away from being al dente. This ensures that the pasta maintains its ideal texture after further cooking in the sauce.
- Adjust Salt for Sodium-Free Seasoning: If you're using sodium-free jerk seasoning, don't forget to season your pasta with salt to taste. This ensures that your dish isn't lacking in flavor.
- Taste and Season Accordingly: Jerk seasoning brands can vary widely in intensity. Start with the recommended amount in the recipe, but taste your pasta and adjust the seasoning to your liking. You have the freedom to customize the level of spiciness and flavor.
- Lighter Version Option: If you prefer a lighter version of Rasta Pasta, you can adjust the amount of heavy cream or opting for different amounts more quantity of penne (such as using 8 oz of instead of 6 oz of pasta). These modifications allow you to tailor the dish to your dietary preferences.
- Experiment with Vegetables: Feel free to get creative with your vegetable choices by adding spinach, broccoli, or other veggies you love to enhance the nutritional value and flavor of your Rasta Pasta. Just remember that swapping ingredients may impact the final taste and texture of the dish, so be prepared to make a few adjustments as needed to achieve the perfect balance.
- Garnish with Fresh Herbs: A sprinkle of fresh cilantro or parsley can add a burst of freshness and color to your finished dish. Don't hesitate to garnish as you see fit.
FAQ
The Rasta pasta sauce should be thick, creamy, smooth, and saucy enough to generously coat the pasta, much like alfredo sauce. The sauce thickens naturally as it heats, eliminating the need to add flour.
You can easily transform this Rasta Pasta into a vegan delight by omitting the meat and substituting Parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast. Additionally, be sure to replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth for a completely plant-based version.
To achieve a creamy texture without heavy cream, consider replacing it with coconut cream or coconut milk. These alternatives bring a delightful tropical flavor to your Rasta Pasta while maintaining its rich and creamy consistency.
Rasta Pasta is a flavorful dish that strikes a delicate balance between saltiness, spiciness, and sweetness. I intentionally used teaspoon measurements for jerk seasoning to ensure you have control over the saltiness. Since you'll likely be using store-bought jerk seasoning and you may be unsure about the saltiness, it's best to start with a smaller amount and gradually add more to your taste. This way, you can tailor the dish to your salt sensitivity without overwhelming your palate.
How to Store Leftover Rasta Pasta
Throw away any cooked rasta pasta that's been sitting out for too long. If it's been left out for more than 2 hours when it's not too hot outside, or 1 hour when it's really hot (above 90°F), it's not safe to eat. You can learn more here.
Now, let's talk about how to keep your leftover chicken pasta fresh:
1. Let the hot pasta cool down to room temperature before you put it in the fridge.
2. Put the leftovers in a container that seals tightly. If you do this right, it can stay good for 3-5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.
That's it! Your pasta will stay yummy and safe to eat if you follow these steps.
How to Reheat Leftover Pasta
Here's a simpler way to reheat rasta pasta:
- Put a single serving of pasta in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Drizzle a little bit of broth, pasta water, or regular water on the pasta. Then, cover the bowl with a lid that you can use in the microwave.
- Heat it up in the microwave for 1 minute at medium power.
- Open the microwave door. If the pasta isn't warm all the way through, give it a good stir. Then, put it back in the microwave for 15-second bursts until it's completely heated.
Alternatively, you can do it this way:
- Put the cooked pasta in a skillet (a pan for frying).
- Add a small amount of water or broth to the skillet.
- Heat the pasta on the stove over medium-low heat for a few minutes. Keep cooking until the pasta is warmed up, and all the liquid is soaked up by the pasta.
Check Out More Pasta Recipes
- Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
- Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta
- Louisiana Chicken Pasta
- Penne Alla Vodka
- Gnocchi with Mascarpone and Tomato Sauce
I hope you'll enjoy this recipe and share it with friends! If you try it and don't mind, please leave me a comment and/or give this recipe a rating. Be sure to subscribe to receive weekly recipes and follow me on Pinterest.
📖 Recipe
Jamaican Rasta Pasta (Jerk Chicken Pasta)
Equipment
- a stock pot
- a sauté pan
- fine-mesh strainer
- a cutting board
Ingredients
- 6 oz dried penne pasta
- 12 oz chicken breast (cut chicken into bite-sized pieces)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 3 oz sliced red bell pepper (about 1 cup)
- 3 oz sliced green bell pepper (about 1 cup)
- 3 oz sliced yellow or orange green pepper (about 1 cup)
- ⅓ cup chopped green onion
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 4½ teaspoons jerk seasoning Jamaican-style (divided) I used Badia Jerk seasoning
- 6 tablespoons heavy cream
- ½ oz freshly grated parmesan cheese (about ¼ cup)
- ¼ cup lower-sodium chicken broth
Method
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then season it with salt. Cook the penne until it's one minute away from being al dente. Reserve at least ¼ cup of pasta water for later.
- Season chicken cubes with 2¼ teaspoons jerk seasoning.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken until almost cooked, then set aside on a plate.
- In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of oil. Cook bell pepper and green onion over medium heat for 3 minutes or until crisp tender.
- Add garlic and cook for about a minute, then stir in 2¼ teaspoons of jerk seasoning.
- Pour in heavy cream, parmesan cheese, chicken broth, and return the chicken to the skillet. Stir for about 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add pasta and around ¼ cup of pasta water. Keep stirring until the pasta is completely covered with the sauce, and the chicken is cooked all the way through. If needed, add more pasta water.
- Taste the dish and add more jerk seasoning in ¼ teaspoon increments as needed.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use Salted Water to Cook Penne. I just added a teaspoon of salt for every 8 cups of water.
- Taste and Season Accordingly: Jerk seasoning brands can vary widely in intensity. Start with the recommended amount in the recipe, but taste your pasta and adjust the seasoning to your liking. You have the freedom to customize the level of spiciness and flavor.
- Partial Chicken Browning: When browning chicken breast, make sure not to fully cook it, as you'll finish cooking it in the sauce later. This helps the flavors meld and prevents the meat from becoming overcooked and dry.
- Lighter Version Option: If you prefer a lighter version of Rasta Pasta, you can adjust the amount of heavy cream or opting for different amounts more quantity of penne (such as using 8 oz of instead of 6 oz of pasta and using ½ cup of heavy cream instead of 6 tablespoons). These modifications allow you to tailor the dish to your dietary preferences.
- Storage. Put the leftovers in a container that seals tightly. If you do this right, it can stay good for 3-5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.
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